Micro ToolClip not available until July

[thebullfrog]

Why do I think you would try and justify it? Well, partly just to provide counter-point. Let's face it, you can't have a good argument, err conversation, without an opposing view  Partly because often times you know things that we don't, and for all I know you have some super-secret information about the situation that I don't. And while I don't think you owe any loyalty to anybody, and are certainly not one to suck up to any one company or another, at the same time I wouldn't expect you to wind up burning any bridges and may or may not need to take some discretion in what you say. That is all I meant by that, not any kind of accusation that you are "buddy-buddy" with any person or company or anything like that.

 As for why would the multi-tool crowd be such a low priority? Well you said it yourself: a lot of them make a half-hearted attempt. Trying half assed, then wondering why you failed and decide the market isn't worthwhile is kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy isn't it? If the multi-tool industry really were so irrelevant, I fail to see how Victorinox/Wenger, Leatherman, Gerber, and yes SOG, would be doing so well in this arena. Anywhere you go "Swiss army knife" and "Leatherman" are ubiquitous terms, just about any random person knows what they are. The market can't be THAT small now can it? I understand SOG is a (damn good generally) knife maker first, and tool maker second. Just as the inverse is true of Leatherman. But look at it this way: Leatherman doesn't announce some fancy new knife every so often, promise it by some date, then repeatedly fail to deliver, now do they? Just because it's a secondary product line, doesn't mean you act like your customers of that product line are of lesser importance to you. A customer is a customer, period.

As for their promises to customers not being an issue until the internet got big? Too effing bad SOG, the internet IS big, many many people buy most of their stuff online, especially from companies like SOG who have a rather small retail presence (to his day I have seen 3 places in person carry any SOG items at all). Fancy sites like this one DO exist. A lot of them in fact. SOG needs to learn to deal with that fact a bit more maturely.

Like you said, SOG is a very successful company, and have been around a long time, but a lot of their customer base, both tool and knife, has been very vocally upset with them lately, and they have done little to nothing about it. I remember when Chris@SOG used to always be around and very helpful on various forums. Since people started getting fed up with some of their recent decisions, I hardly ever see the guy anywhere any more (I lurk on several knife forums). Also: while it's true that not all they do can be all bad if they are as successful as they are, it's also true that they recently sold out to an investment firm so it is entirely possible that they aren't as successful lately as they would have us believe, and if that is the case (obviously, I don't know if it is) then maybe it's continuing practices like vaporware tools that are helping cause the problems.

[Grant Lamontagne]

The sell out to an investment firm allowed them to acquire ToolLogic a few months ago, so obviously they can't be doing that bad.

Why are we a low priority?  Because we all balk at a  multitool that costs over $100.  Leatherman is the only manufacturer so far to be able to produce a $100 plus tool (Charge TTi) over $100 and actuially manage to sell it.  They are hoping to do it again with the MUT, but the bottom line is, no one pays that much for multitools.  However, as a knife forum lurker, I'm sure you are aware that you just barely scratch the surface for a knife at $100.  Knives which have less part and spend a lot less time on the drawing board and testing phases because there is a lot less to them.  Which means, lower investment, higher profit.  Multitools are higher investment, lower profit.

Then there's the fact that yes, at the moment, utility does seem to be higher valued than "tacticool" as lots of knife manufacturers are coming out with tools, or at least adding bottle openers, glass punches and/or screwdrivers to their knives, but then this happened in the 90's as well, which by the way is when all the great "collectible" multitools came out.  Things like the Flair, the Pulse, Kershaw's A-100, the Vic SportRatchet and AutoTool, Wenger's Swiss Business Tool and SwissGrip, Spyderco's SpydeRench and so on.  The market is on the upswing right now, which is why everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.  The great thing about bandwagons is the low sides, which allows folks to jump off it as quickly as they jumped on.

Yes the 'net has changed the way businesses operate, and SOG has actually been pretty good about taking advantage of that- the fact that Chris@SOG is on the forums enough that you know who he is is proof of that.  How many folks from other companies do you see here or on other forums?  Each company just does things their own way, and you can't expect a corporation to change overnight.

Def

[thebullfrog]

Oh believe me, the fact that Chris@SOG is awesome IMO. I was simply responding to your statement that people in relatively large numbers hearing of release dates, projects in the works, etc. is more widely spread because of the internet. If people seeing these "promises" broken is truly an effect of the internet, then SOG clearly needs to take that into better account when it comes to releasing information too soon.

I understand the vast rift in profit margins between a knife and a multi, and yes a $100 is barely entry level in many cases in the knife world, and yes, us multi-tool buyers are indeed cheap smurfs. But I believe that if you, as a company, are going to put out a product, than you need to have the same dedication to it, and treat the consumers of that product exactly the same as your primary customer, otherwise don't bother at all.

I am aware of the investment firm/ Tool Logic connection, but none of us know the full story. Was the Tool Logic acquisition the only reason? If they didn't have the money themselves to buy another company, was it really such a good idea to do it? I was just saying that it is possible there's more problems behind the scene than we know of. It is also entirely possible that the only real issue is they need to start being more careful about how/when they announce products. The fact is, we as customers have no idea what is going on over there, unless Chris decides to suddenly show up and tell us himself.  I know that from my end, after seeing this pattern over and over again, I'm not in too big a hurry to hand them any more of my money, because I don't like what I see. Honestly, I wish Chris would post here and give us better information about WTF is going on lately with all their issues in getting tools released, and prematurely announcing things. But as we've alredy seemed to establish, we are multi-tool buyers and therefore SOG doesn't give a rats ass about us. If something like say, the Vulcan (I LOVE mine BTW) had been repeatedly delayed or even cancelled, you bet Chris would be on Bladeforums, Knife Forums, etc. explaining what it is up. Same thing happens over here, and we get ignored. Now I know Vic, LM, etc. don't even HAVE a rep. on any forums anywhere, so in a sense SOG has a lead there, but at least they treat the customers of all their products with an equal amount of indifference lol.

In all honesty, I love SOG, when I sold all my knives, my SOG is the only thing I kept, I bought a second Powerlock after hating (and breaking) my first one, because I had faith they addressed the flaws in the old model (for the most part they did), my one experience with their cust. service was simply perfect. They ARE a great company. I'm just tired of them repeatedly promising such cool new things, and then not being able to deliver on time, or ever for that matter. After the third tool in a row they did this with, multiple times with each tool in fact, I'm just sick of feeling like I'm getting lied to all the time.

[ari6126]

I'm just tired of them repeatedly promising such cool new things, and then not being able to deliver on time, or ever for that matter.

I think this why people are so upset with SOG. The stuff is cool. In terms of the PowerCut, how many other multitools out there were similar? The ToolClip is so exciting because for about the same price as a Style, you get a full size tool. As much as people say SOG isn't innovating, if they weren't we wouldn't be getting so upset.

A side note, Def, why is there no advertising from the Multitool brands here? It seems like this would be the perfect place for Leatherman and SOG to buy some banner ads. I mean this site is kind of a big deal. Isn't it worth over $40000?

[Sazabi]

A side note, Def, why is there no advertising from the Multitool brands here? It seems like this would be the perfect place for Leatherman and SOG to buy some banner ads. I mean this site is kind of a big deal. Isn't it worth over $40000?

It would be my thought that if they were to do that, the companies in question would be able to hold sway over negative reviews and the like; no different from how some magazines are barred from negative reviews due to the company having full-page ads. :/

[thebullfrog]

In theory Sazabi, you could be correct, in reality however I really couldn't see Grant ever allowing that to happen in any way. On a related note however, by not having the major manufacturers advertise here, it eliminates the possibility of anyone ever being able to accuse Grant of exactly that if they disagree about the quality of some item.

[Sazabi]

In theory Sazabi, you could be correct, in reality however I really couldn't see Grant ever allowing that to happen in any way. On a related note however, by not having the major manufacturers advertise here, it eliminates the possibility of anyone ever being able to accuse Grant of exactly that if they disagree about the quality of some item.

I know Grant wouldn't let that happen, I was just playing Devil's advocate, is all.

[Grant Lamontagne]

As I said before, I'm a whore, just not a cheap whore.  If Leatherman, SOG, Gerber or anyone else was to call me up tomorrow and offer me enough money, I'd sign Multitool.org over to them with no hesitation.  And, I'd be sure to send you all postcards from my new hacienda in an undisclosed location.  You'll all appreciate that as the postcard will include gratuitous shots of my new "wives."



Seriously, we have been very careful about our advertising in the past, which is why you don't see a lot of ads here compared to other sites.  We consider advertising dollars from dealers as they are folks who are just like the rest of us- working stiffs trying to make a buck.  Manufacturers do not advertise here because we are a great source of info for them, and they don't want to sully the waters.  The only way I would accept money from any of the manufacturers for advertising is if I took the same amount from all of them so we could maintain our unbiased look at things.

Whether I would have a bought and paid for opinion isn't the issue here- it's the insinuation that I'd be biased if anyone paid for a review that I'm concerned about.  Right now we are in a good place- everyone hates me pretty much the same...

Def

[6thtexas]

Well, looks like the Micro Toolclip isn't listed or shown on the SOG website now.

Has it truly went the way of the powercut?

[Chako]

Hope not. I prepaid for one of each of the Multitool.org models. 

[jekostas]

Well, looks like the Micro Toolclip isn't listed or shown on the SOG website now.

Has it truly went the way of the powercut?

The Micro ToolClip is still up on the website if you do a Google search and jump straight to the product page and the "Preorder" link still exists, but it's been removed from the item listing from the directory.  There have been no press releases about it either.

Not exactly encouraging.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Well, looks like the Micro Toolclip isn't listed or shown on the SOG website now.

Has it truly went the way of the powercut?

Information pending... I have some info that is not yet confirmed/official.  I will of course pass it along as soon as it's more than a rumor.

Def

[Chako]

Sounds good Def. I hope they don't cancel it.

[dbnyc]

I'm very eager to get one or two of these, to have an option for the pocket clip spot in my current rotation (which currently consists of my bladeless Octane or nothing.)

These are unique in having a pocket clip, so a regular SAK, even those with more implements (disregarding the big pliers) doesn't really fit in the same category at least as far as my carry is concerned.

[scrappy]

My guess is it is cancelled and sog has plans to eventually leave the multitool market