ZT 2019 Price Increase

ZT has been too expensive for me for a long time. To me, knives are hand tools. I can't realize the value when they cost as much, or more, than the power tools that I actually need for my business. I reevaluated my knife hobby and get enjoyment without spending as much as I used to. I've eyeballed some high zoot knives since then, and then I ask myself, what does it do that one of the many knives I already own doesn't? Now, there is this one Hartkopf lockback... Ah, Bugger.
 
I just want to take a moment to say that the community response to this thread has been great and the response from mods and dealers especially has been very informative and appreciated. Thanks guys! I will miss the days when I could get a good ZT for $200, but who knows what they'll drop this weekend at Shot show. Might be a few designs that I'd happily pay $260 for.
 
So here is an interesting point. ZT is still cheaper than the comparable Chinese manufacturers.

When you do a comparison of specs to specs between We Knives and Reate knives, even with the price increases, ZT is still a better value.

Exercise: Head over to your favorite knife dealer, search all We Knives. Then sort by lowest price to highest price. Do the same with Reate, and the same with ZT. You will see that ZT is cheaper than Reate (by a good margin) and the same price as We knives (but with better warranty support.

I love all three companies, but the numbers don't lie. So while I definitely understand the sentiment of price increases pushing us to a new geographic location or company, I don't like seeing misinformation presented as fact.

Reate Knives: I have owned at least 30 or more. In the last two years, each one I purchased was $300+
We Knives: I have owned at least 15, or more, and they are all around $250 each (not looking at the G10 and D2 models).
ZT Knives: I have owned at least 40, or more. Aside from the Limited Editions, the standard production models average around $240.

I omitted Kizer from the list because I don't put them on par with the three companies listed above. And, while there may be new companies on the market that are cheaper, they are not as established as the three listed above.

As an earlier person pointed out, the new steel tariffs are playing a big factor in the ZT prices increases.

*As always, I couldn't care less what you purchase, but I'm always up for a worthwhile discussion.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
I agree. I think this is something folks forget. Manufacturing (and business of any type) hinges on people. It's a difficult thing to wrap your head around at times when what you want costs more than you think it should.

I run into it this way: I have a good worker. He/she makes a fair wage, and then they learn something that makes them faster at what they do. That increased speed makes them more valuable, so I give them a raise. Their efficiency makes the company more money so they earn more, they've earned it.

Now, at a certain point, they can't move any faster, be more efficient, or create more revenue through their labor. I have increased my price of my product already to cover material cost, overhead, and given them a wage increase that keeps pace with cost of living, say 3%. However, they still see themselves as a good, reliable, employee who earns for the business...and they do. However, they feel their worth is maybe 7% more. The numbers don't say 7%. They say 3% because we are operating at capacity of demand. But they FEEL 7% and I want to keep them because they are a good worker and I dont want retrain someone else.

So here are my options: Live the American Dream, "grow the pie" or some such jargon to go into a new Avenue of the business (which could be very risky even if the gains are to be made) where this superstar employee can spread his/her wings and off we sail on a grand money fueled adventure. However, maybe I like where I am. Maybe I dont want to grow the pie over 4% wages. Maybe the investment to grow costs 20% of my year to year and with the signs pointing towards a natural dip in the economy that's a foolish endeavor.

My other option...raise my prices a bit. What little I may lose from being "too high" I make up for in retaining my most valuable asset, my employee.

We all want to be paid what we are worth. A good company looks out for that.
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This is such a valuable truth, it should be a sticky.
 
unwisefool said:
Well not just the cost of a sheet if steel is what drives pricing. For most companies, their biggest expense, as well as asset, is their employees. Employees like to get raises and bonuses, healthcare costs keep going up, there are retirement funds to worry about as well as various insurance costs.
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Well considering the enormous raises and health benefits and retirement funds to look forward to, that I've gotten over the last 45 years cutting meat (I make exactly $1.25 more an hour than I did in 1990), my boss should live like a king. Wait, he actually does.

I suspect that our current economy isn't as "rosy" as our beloved governors would have us believe.
 
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Steely_Gunz said:
I agree. I think this is something folks forget. Manufacturing (and business of any type) hinges on people. It's a difficult thing to wrap your head around at times when what you want costs more than you think it should.

I run into it this way: I have a good worker. He/she makes a fair wage, and then they learn something that makes them faster at what they do. That increased speed makes them more valuable, so I give them a raise. Their efficiency makes the company more money so they earn more, they've earned it.

Now, at a certain point, they can't move any faster, be more efficient, or create more revenue through their labor. I have increased my price of my product already to cover material cost, overhead, and given them a wage increase that keeps pace with cost of living, say 3%. However, they still see themselves as a good, reliable, employee who earns for the business...and they do. However, they feel their worth is maybe 7% more. The numbers don't say 7%. They say 3% because we are operating at capacity of demand. But they FEEL 7% and I want to keep them because they are a good worker and I dont want retrain someone else.

So here are my options: Live the American Dream, "grow the pie" or some such jargon to go into a new Avenue of the business (which could be very risky even if the gains are to be made) where this superstar employee can spread his/her wings and off we sail on a grand money fueled adventure. However, maybe I like where I am. Maybe I dont want to grow the pie over 4% wages. Maybe the investment to grow costs 20% of my year to year and with the signs pointing towards a natural dip in the economy that's a foolish endeavor.

My other option...raise my prices a bit. What little I may lose from being "too high" I make up for in retaining my most valuable asset, my employee.

We all want to be paid what we are worth. A good company looks out for that.
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Bingo, correct answer.
 
ZT and WE compare well in pricing, quality, etc. and both concentrate on titanium frame locks with steel insert and ball-bearing flippers.

ZT 0470 is $260 with 20CV, CF inlay on one side, Aluminum backspacer and stamped titanium clip. WE Wisp is $245 with S35VN, CF inlay on both sides, CF backspacer and machined titanium clip.
 
vanadium said:
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That's around 2.72% per year, so just under the rate of inflation. Thanks for posting that. Maybe ZT should have smaller annual bumps in line with the rate of inflation, instead of waiting and having to raise them more.
 
is what it is......accept it or dont.

the secondary market gives everyone an optional choice.

remember this. companies and owners make the bigger money when business makes money, cause they take all the risk. all of it.

employees are valuable and ultra important, but they dont take the risk of business loses with their own money. if they do they are owners not employees.
 
xzonin13 said:
The point isn't the reasoning behind it, it's just surprising that ZT did it after going so long without doing it.
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Maybe that is precisely the reason for doing a 2019 price increase as their margins were shrinking over time. Not worried about the price increase; if I want a ZT, I'll decide based on current pricing and go from there.
 
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