I can't figure out for the life of me why no one at Benchmade HQ listens to their customer base. The market has extreme demand for a channel handled titanium Bali. The discontinuation of the 4X series, IMO, was one of the worst business blunders any knife company has ever made.

That said I can understand the drive to progress. Benchmade, why not make some solid channel handled special editions of the existing knives like the 51, 32 and 53? If not channeled handled versions, solid Ti sandwich construction. I realize it'd be more expensive, but people are OBVIOUSLY comfortable with paying 300$ for a beat up 42. I'm sure you guys can make a channel handled or solid sandwich knife for a reasonable sum of money. Why does no one at BM HQ understand this?

quote:

Originally posted by Dingo:
I can't figure out for the life of me why no one at Benchmade HQ listens to their customer base. The market has extreme demand for a channel handled titanium Bali. The discontinuation of the 4X series, IMO, was one of the worst business blunders any knife company has ever made.

That said I can understand the drive to progress. Benchmade, why not make some solid channel handled special editions of the existing knives like the 51, 32 and 53? If not channeled handled versions, solid Ti sandwich construction. I realize it'd be more expensive, but people are OBVIOUSLY comfortable with paying 300$ for a beat up 42. I'm sure you guys can make a channel handled or solid sandwich knife for a reasonable sum of money. Why does no one at BM HQ understand this?

i couldn't agree more

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Dingo:
IMO, was one of the worst business blunders any knife company has ever made.

And that is all it is, your opinion. Until you have knowledge of the 4x vs 5x margins and the quantity sold, any claim to it being a business blunder is unsubstantiated.

I don't mean to pick on you, merely point out that we don't really know either way if it was a success or failure as we don't have any quality information.

I'm sure their margins were less on the 42. That's why they discontinued it. They had the 51 and the 42 out at the same time and couldn't sell 51's because the 42 was superior but their margins were worse. The answer to BM was to discontinue the 42 rather than raise the price. The better business decision is to raise the price on the 42 and still give your customers the choice rather than offer an inferior product, IMO, at the same price as the old one.

quote:

Originally posted by canadianknifenut:

quote:

Originally posted by Dingo:
IMO, was one of the worst business blunders any knife company has ever made.

And that is all it is, your opinion. Until you have knowledge of the 4x vs 5x margins and the quantity sold, any claim to it being a business blunder is unsubstantiated.

I don't mean to pick on you, merely point out that we don't really know either way if it was a success or failure as we don't have any quality information.

you seem to pick on people....he's just offering his opinion

is that not OK with you?

quote:

Originally posted by Jedi:
you seem to pick on people....he's just offering his opinion

is that not OK with you?

It is perfectly ok, and had you read my second sentence where I stated "I don't mean to pick on you", perhaps you would realize I was challenging the claim which Dingo made in his initial post, which I disagreed with. Judging by his response, aka justification of his opening point, he was not offended by me challenging his idea, but in fact showed resolve by backing it up.

If you are going to state something on an open internet discussion forum, then be prepared to discuss it, which I may point out he was. Stating an idea, having someone challenge it, and the subsequent defense of that idea is a great way to improve critical thinking. I would think you of all people with your PHD would realize that making a claim/drawing conclusions opens that claim to questioning.

As for picking on ppl I would challenge you find a post of mine other than the one directed at you yesterday where I personally called out a forum member for anything. I may challenge their ideas which they post, but again, I challenge you to find a post where I "pick on" someone in an unjustified manner.

My apologies for the derailing of the thread, I just felt compelled to respond to Jedi Calling me out. Ill will post a rebuttal to your, rebuttal to try to get it back on the rails.

quote:

Originally posted by Dingo:
The better business decision is to raise the price on the 42 and still give your customers the choice rather than offer an inferior product

I would challenge this statement of consumer choice and say the better business decision was to have one or the other, not both. Whether that was a 42 at a higher price or a 51 at the current price point is up for debate, which is I guess your original point.

The issue with having both is that you are essentially engaging to two distinct manufacturing processes to sell 1/2 of many of each type. - The markets are somewhat the same and by having two products in the same market space they are essentially cannibalizing each others demand - By making only one type (in this case the 51), you are streamlining the processes and gaining economies of scale in the procurement and production process.

If you were to simplify greatly, lets say they sold fifty 42's/ year and fifty 51's/per year. It is probably a better business decision to discontinue the 42, sell ninty 51's (as some ppl won't convert) and gain the economies of scale of streamlined production.

For the record as well, I am not picking on your or anyone, I just like to debate lol, keeps critical thinking skills on their toes

not a big deal but don't challenge me to find a post of yours where you call out another member then tell me i can't use a valid example where you did it to me.

and what does my phd have to do with this?

I can't figure out for the life of me why no one at Benchmade HQ listens to their customer base. The market has extreme demand for a channel handled zimak Bali with pin pivots and 400 series blades. The discontinuation of these models, IMO, was one of the worst business blunders any knife company has ever made.

And look at the titanium handled 4X series being discontinued. Cold Steel has that market to themselves now - OOPS, Cold Steel stopped making them years ago.

Well, look at the Spyderco, Kershaw, Gerber, Buck, etc. Ti channel balis - OOPS, there are none.

Jeepers, that Ti channel handled Bali market must be huge, what with the numerous companies rushing to meet the demend.



Parody, folks.



Now, for something completely different.

I wonder if that Scandium alloy from S&W would make a decent handle material for a bali.