ZT LE's to be Consumer Direct only

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evltcat said:
Thank you for finding and posting this!!!! :thumbup:
Guess we will have to wait for the hot stuff like the 0392 & 0454... :(
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You'd be waiting longer if the LE's were being sent to dealers. When Kai gets done making a batch, they can throw them up on their website instead of having to ship them to multiple dealers across the country. Those dealers then have to take their time inventoring the knives, sending out emails from the people who took pre-orders, and whatever steps are taken to actually posting the knife on their website.
 
Even the best dealers wind up selling their ZT LEs at or close to MSRP. Finding one for MAP is TOUGH!!

The problem is dealers who take pre-orders without even knowing if they are getting knives; overselling the hell out of pre-orders; giving out false info about deliveries to get pre-orders.

That's not to mention the price gougers.

I could honestly see SOME dealers being happy with the decision. No more jockeying for allotments or dealing with customer questions on knives you don't make a real ton of money on compared to regular production pieces.
 
Sounds like a good idea in general. I'm sure we all know someone that has preordered an LE from a dealer, thought they were all set and later on found out they were not going to get a knife.
 
It's not going to change the amount of knives ZT makes , the lists will fill in minutes, people will have all their family members buying one each...secondary will still be inflated and they will still be sold on the auction site.

I'm not trying to be negative just realistic.

Make no mistake this is all to familiar IMO.
 
bigmark408 said:
It's not going to change the amount of knives ZT makes , the lists will fill in minutes, people will have all their family members buying one each...secondary will still be inflated and they will still be sold on the auction site.

I'm not trying to be negative just realistic.

Make no mistake this is all to familiar IMO.
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Not really. From my understanding the issue was most dealers DID have a 1 per home or individual rule however quite a few would be willing to over look that policy if you phoned in. (They gotta make money why not make it all in one shot?)
ZEro tolerance doens't have to do this or care.
That's how an acquaintance of mine has 7 New Tilts.
 
I applaud ZT for cashing in a little bit on their insanely popular LE knives and also for simplifying the process. Let's hope that this move encourages the company to produce the LE knives in greater quantities than they have in the past.
 
Ummm I don't know about you guys, but the past few LE's I've bought have been at or above msrp.
 
Luis G. said:
Not really. From my understanding the issue was most dealers DID have a 1 per home or individual rule however quite a few would be willing to over look that policy if you phoned in. (They gotta make money why not make it all in one shot?)
ZEro tolerance doens't have to do this or care.
That's how an acquaintance of mine has 7 New Tilts.
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My point is that people will still find ways to buy multiples buy whatever means they can.
 
Thanks for the info. I really want to get my hands on a 0392.
 
austonh said:
I applaud ZT for cashing in a little bit on their insanely popular LE knives and also for simplifying the process. Let's hope that this move encourages the company to produce the LE knives in greater quantities than they have in the past.
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Why would it ?

How big of runs would you like to see ?

Like regular production runs so everyone can get one ?
 
bigmark408 said:
Why would it ?

How big of runs would you like to see ?

Like regular production runs so everyone can get one ?
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Works for me.

Assuming that each individual unit is earning more profit compared to their current business model of quantity manufacturing, it might. Thomas has mentioned that their bread and butter are the knives that they stock in retail stores like Walmart and Dick's sporting goods and so forth. Basically the Kai knives carry the lion-share of the profit for the company. Assuming that by selling direct and likely doubling their profit per unit for each LE ZT knife; it might encourage either Thomas, or his bosses to produce more LE knives and possibly in greater quantity. Currently the USA produced KAI knives and the ZT knives all fight for time on the production line.

It's a hope and a dream, but only time will tell.
 
austonh said:
Works for me.

Assuming that each individual unit is earning more profit compared to their current business model of quantity manufacturing, it might. Thomas has mentioned that their bread and butter are the knives that they stock in retail stores like Walmart and Dick's sporting goods and so forth. Basically the Kai knives carry the lion-share of the profit for the company. Assuming that by selling direct and likely doubling their profit per unit for each LE ZT knife; it might encourage either Thomas, or his bosses to produce more LE knives and possibly in greater quantity. Currently the USA produced KAI knives and the ZT knives all fight for time on the production line.

It's a hope and a dream, but only time will tell.
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It is a hope and dream and mine also but i just don't see it happening (IMO).

These LP runs are exactly that, working with "exotics" something always comes up in the production process that changes the numbers.

Historically this has been the case.
 
Hard Knocks said:
Wow I had no idea the markup was so high. In my line of business we have a margin we stick to that keeps us competitive but still keeps the lights on and kids fed. This puts the actual retail consumer cost well under msrp. Evidently this doesn't hold true for ZT LE's--thank you for the polite, knowledgeable correction :thumbup:

Is this only true for the LE's?

Regards,

Dave
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My pleasure, Dave.

I do think it is the limited editions only if you are asking about the markups - many of these LEs for ZT and Kershaw stretch the abilities of materials and manufacturing, and often result in very small runs.

We know how persistent, bordering on rabid, that some of us knife collectors can be. Add in the fact that the demand for these LE knives is global, you have the makings for a classic market system supply and demand show.

The new process will hurt some dealers, and I have friends who have taken care of me over the years in getting the LE versions and often at MAP or less, I just made a gentlemen's agreement that I wouldn't flip the knife for a quick profit; an agreement that I take very seriously.

There will still be people buying and flipping, but now dealers won't be in on the cut, any profit goes to Kai.

Since the Tilt, I have been paying closer and closer to MSRP anyway.

At the very least, for the consumer, one place one price will take some of the uncertainty out of the game.

It might take some of the fun of the chase; that depends on the individual to decide.

best

mqqn
 
bigmark408 said:
Why would it ?

How big of runs would you like to see ?

Like regular production runs so everyone can get one ?
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Why would it encourage more quantities of LE knives? That's a fairly simple question to answer. You're taking the entire dealer factor out of producing these. More money in Kai's pocket.
 
I think it has less of a monetary reason and more of a concern of a customer satisfaction not having to play games/having better control over how they are distributed
 
nwmetalbug said:
I think it has less of a monetary reason and more of a concern of a customer satisfaction not having to play games/having better control over how they are distributed
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Indeed. I do appreciate them addressing this (at least trying to).
 
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