Why no Benchmade forum?

[zenheretic]

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.

Reads like AnyCorporationinUSA speak to me. Really, spend about 15 minutes on a business news website reading only Corporate announcements. They all say everything and nothing.

What did you want them to say?

As a pharmacist, I've answered the same questions so many times, I'm sure you would think it was a canned phrase written by a pack of lawyers and psychologists. How many different ways should they be expected to answer the same question.

 

[HoB]

What did you want them to say?

Actually, I didn't expect them to say anything in particular (what I would like to hear from them is a different thing and does nothing to the matter). All I wanted to point out, is why this is very likely a "form letter", since this is what Gollnick seemed to question, and in fact you've made my point for me, far more eloquently than I could have done.

 

[Gollnick]

So, please do answer my question to you:


What, exactly -- do pray tell us -- do you think they should have done? Send a singing pajamagram? What is it that you expect????

 

[HoB]

Ummmh??? Didn't I answer that already?

Actually, I didn't expect them to say anything in particular....

I was not about to answer your last question, I thought I made that clear. But then again you probably knew the answer to your first two questions already.

But fine: What I would have LIKED to hear (very different from what I would have expected to hear) is a straight forward and honest answer under reference to the history that BM has had already at BF, no pyjamagram (whatever that is) necessary....but I am fully aware that this is wishful thinking.

 

[yablanowitz]

What I would expect from them, IF I got any response at all, is a form letter. In other words, exactly what he received. For some strange reason, I doubt the OP was the first person to ask them that question. I also doubt he will be the last. If I was answering e-mail there, I would have that whole thing saved as a text file. Change the name, copy and paste into the reply window, hit send. Repeat for the next person who asks.

Like I said, form letters are great if you are the one sending them out.

 

[DaveH]

I fail to see what the big deal is, there is a benchmade forum it's just not here.

 

[zenheretic]

I fail to see what the big deal is, there is a benchmade forum it's just not here.

Well heck, there is plenty of Benchmade product discussion here as well.

 

[zenheretic]

Actually, I didn't expect them to say anything in particular (what I would like to hear from them is a different thing and does nothing to the matter). All I wanted to point out, is why this is very likely a "form letter", since this is what Gollnick seemed to question, and in fact you've made my point for me, far more eloquently than I could have done.

:foot: You are welcome.

 

[Monstermash]

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 ... 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

What he said!

 

[Monstermash]

I fail to see what the big deal is, there is a benchmade forum it's just not here.

I guess the "big deal" is that the BM forum is under their control. As the site admin they can delete any subject they deem fit. If someone has a major concern with a product and starts a thread like" Benchmades Suck" and then trashes them in the thread BM can just delete the content and/or ban the poster.

That being said, it's the reason I like forums such as BF. Yes the manufacturer has input but not control. I spend much of my time here on the Kershaw forum, not because I own a bunch of them, but because I like the content and it's entertaining. Also the fact that Thomas W. (National sales manager) spends a good deal of time there helping and/or commenting is a great addition to the forum.
You can't seriously tell me BM couldn't contribute to BF if they wanted. Yeah it's tough for a manufacturer to take it on the chin and be there to answer for it, but Kershaw seems to do a good job of it.

 

[DaveH]

You can't seriously tell me BM couldn't contribute to BF if they wanted. Yeah it's tough for a manufacturer to take it on the chin and be there to answer for it, but Kershaw seems to do a good job of it.

Simple, buy a knife form a company that participates here then.

 

[Monstermash]

Simple, buy a knife form a company that participates here then.

I wish it was just that simple, but it's not. I don't choose which knife company I do business with based only on the fact that they may or may not paricipate in a forum.

I own quite a few knives and have bought each of them for different reasons. I really like Benchmade knives, they make a great product. It's just disappointing that they don't choose to participate in BF.C Personally I think it would be a great marketing tool for them. I know it changed the way I feel about Kershaw after I had a problem with one of their knives.

Some of you have indicated that the answer I received from BM is acceptable, but to me it just seemed like a canned answer that you get whenever you ask a question someone doesn't want to answer. It's like when you ask a politician a question and you get some BS answer because they don't want to offend the wrong person or group of persons.

Regardless, I'll still visit BF and I'm sure I'll enjoy myself. It would just be better if BM was involved.

 

[hardheart]

I don't see the appeal most of the time. Talk about unreleased models is generally too hush hush to even bother with. Release dates always get pushed back, which is just the reality, but also makes it kind of pointless to announce anything too soon. QC/warranty/etc. concerns always get a reply of 'send it in' or 'call', so starting a thread on a specific sub-forum is pointless.

BM doesn't do the sprint runs and special editions the way Kershaw and Spyderco do, so they don't have much to ask of the community, and I'm fine with how they operate. They come out with designs at some point, and I buy them if I like them. If I have a problem with one, I send it in.

Anyone can start a "Benchmade sucks" thread on BF, and other than just wanting to personally insult an employee in the process, I don't see why they need to have a rep here to read it.

And where is the demand for a Kabar, or Ontario, or someone else forum? Not sure why there is this disproportionate expectation for BM to do it.