Why no Benchmade forum?

Monstermash

Monstermash

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Jan 13, 2008
Messages
28
Hey all,

I'm new the the forum and have posted a few times in the Kershaw sub-forum and the SOG sub-forum.

I was curious as to why there isn't a Benchmade Sub-forum?

Anyone...

Anyone...

Bueller...

Anyone???
 
We don't make up forums by ourselves. The company has to want one here and provide some participation, like a moderator. Benchmade isn't interested. (I'm moving this to Service & Support, where forum policy questions belong.)
 
Ooops, Sorry I posted in the wrong section. Thanks for the answers. It's about what I expected.

Anyone know why BM isn't interested in participating?

I have to say that I was really turned off by a problem I had with a Kershaw but because they have a sub-forum and the way Thomas W handled it, I have reconsidered my position.

Has anyone ever approached BM about having one?

Thanks in advance.
 
Who is anyone? You could ask them if you like, or they could ask here. It's not something that always works out well. We've had a long time forum flame out, and a short term forum never catch on.

Looking at the success of the Kershaw forum today, you might not realize it is very recent. It really requires some dedication on the part of the manufacturer, and that often means some employee with the will and ability to communicate.
 
Alrighty then.

I just sent an email to BM asking why don't they participate. We'll see if I get a response.

I relayed my problem with Kershaw and the fact that they participated and how it was handled to see if it would spark an interest.

I'll keep you guys in the loop if I hear back from them.
 
Benchmade has their own forum site on their own website.

You'll notice that BF.C is not the only online knife discussion site where Benchmade does not have a company-sponsored forum. Aside from their own forum on their own site, they do not, as far as I know, sponsor a forum on any other site.

There is now one mega, several major, and a plurality* of minor knife discussion sites on the net both here in the US and also internationally (and Benchmade markets internationally). Unfortunately, some people like to try and make the whole thing quite political. It's impossible for Benchmade to provide staff for all those forums and to steer a clear course through all the politics. So, Benchmade, very wisely, I think, chooses to have their own forum on their own site.

It's not that Benchmade is not welcome here at BF.C. I'm sure that if Les asked, Spark would create the forum instantly for them. But, we have to understand and respect their position in all of this. If they sponsor a forum on BF.C and not on some other forum, certain people who are potential customers of Benchmade's will see that as a personal insult. And, unfortunately, as successful as they are, Benchmade just can't afford to staff a forum on every knife discussion site on the internet.






* Plurality... it's a favorite word of mine.
 
Chuck, that explanation would be understandable if it weren't for the fact that Spyderco seem to be able to make it work, and work very well. Were there is a will, there is a way.
 
Spyderco does many things differently than Benchmade. That's business. Each company persues its own strategy which it thinks will propel it to success in its own way.

Two things are very important to know:

1) If Benchmade wanted a forum here, I'm sure that Spark would welcome them under the same terms as all the other manufacturers and makers who have forums here. It is NOT the case that Benchmade is not welcome here.

2) Benchmade does not have sponsored forums on other forum sites. They just don't do sponsored forums on outside websites. So, it is NOT the case that Benchmade has singled-out bf.c for exclusion.

So, nothing should be inferred from the lack of a Benchmade-sponsored forum on bf.c other than that Benchmade does not, as part of its strategy, do sponsored forums.

If other companies choose to do sponsored forums, that is the strategic decision of those companies.
 
I would predict there would be a constant negative tenor on any BM forum here do to their history of copying spyderco designs. (IMO, YMMV)
 
DaveH said:
I would predict there would be a constant negative tenor on any BM forum here do to their history of copying spyderco designs. (IMO, YMMV)
Click to expand...

Hmmmm....Copying Spyderco's designs??? Thats an interesting statement. I would like to know which designs you are referring to.
I ask this because I'm really not enamored with most of the Spyderco knives I've seen and I like almost everything I see from BM.


Anyway.....

Here is the response from BM:

Thomas,

I want to thank you for contacting us.

We don't participate on other forums officially due to having our own
at www.benchmadeforum.com.
Right now we just don't have the capacity to monitor forum posts, as we
are busy with exciting products and services that don't allow for the
time it would take to keep up on Blade Forums, or other Forums.

I do hope that this gives you a better understanding. I also want you
to know that if you ever have a concern or just a question please feel
free to contact me.

Tye Williams
Benchmade Customer Service
800-800-7427 ext-155
tye@benchmade.com


So how's that for a pre-canned answer. Pretty lame IMO.
 
I do too. It sounds like the truth: they don''t feel the need to get involved in other websites when they have their core busines to deal with, including inhouse ways of communicating with customers. Which they do quite well.
 
Gollnick said:
I can't see what's "lame" about that.
Click to expand...

He got a form letter by e-mail. While form letters are fine if you are sending, they always feel lame when you are receiving, even though they may be giving a hundred people a day the same answer because they asked the same question. At least it didn't start "To whom it may concern". That would really be lame.
 
I don't even like Benchmade, yet I think it is fine response. The service rep even gave his full name, his phone number, and an invitation to call him if you have further questions. Although since their letter seemed complete, I couldn't fathom a reason why someone would have further questions on the matter.

They would rather spend their resources in other facets. Just one of several ways to do business.
 
yablanowitz said:
He got a form letter by e-mail. While form letters are fine if you are sending, they always feel lame when you are receiving...
Click to expand...

How do you know it's a "form letter?"

It's addressed to him by name and it specifically addresses his question about bf.c.

What about it makes you think that it's a "form letter?"

What, exactly -- do pray tell us -- do you think they should have done? Send a singing pajamagram? What is it that you expect????
 
Gollnick said:
How do you know it's a "form letter?"
Click to expand...

Well, it is fairly general and politically phrased. I think it is rather obvious that this question has been answered in this manner by them before.

Right now we just don't have the capacity to monitor forum posts, as we
are busy with exciting products and services that don't allow for the
time it would take to keep up on Blade Forums, or other Forums

So that would imply that Spyderco or Kershaw are not busy with exciting products and services....as those companies DO have the capacity to monitor forum posts :rolleyes:... As BM knows that other companies do that, and as they know that other companies are likely equally busy it is actually insulting of them to assume that the reader wouldn't notice that this email doesn't really answer the questions....

...because the REAL question is: why don't they take the time to maintain a public forum? Why do they feel that it is not worth their time to maintain a representation either here or at a different major forum? But then again BM seems to have their own ideas about certain things. Reminds me a bit of Indian Motorcycles.

MM: As to the "similarity" of certain Spyderco and BM designs, this is a dead horse that is probably best not beaten further. If you hang out here for a while, you will probably see this referred to on occasion
 
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