Quote from: scrappy on November 02, 2010, 03:31:49 PMI agree, I will just buy less. their knives are not very competative. For example I can find waves on amazon for 57 new and swiss tools are pushing 100 everywhere.When did this happen??? This thread got me looking around and I am genuinely surprised by vic prices. Now I wish I would have picked up a workchamp when they were in the $50 range. Man I've been out of the loop on this stuff.
I agree, I will just buy less. their knives are not very competative. For example I can find waves on amazon for 57 new and swiss tools are pushing 100 everywhere.
Quote from: frugalscotty on November 04, 2010, 07:01:59 PMQuote from: glorn on November 04, 2010, 04:51:37 AM..I really did think the "kids" were gonna grab hold of the SAK as a must have.The problem with this is many of the places "kids" frequent these days prohibit knives of any kind.Just to clarify, by "kids" I mean 20 somethings.
Quote from: glorn on November 04, 2010, 04:51:37 AM..I really did think the "kids" were gonna grab hold of the SAK as a must have.The problem with this is many of the places "kids" frequent these days prohibit knives of any kind.
..I really did think the "kids" were gonna grab hold of the SAK as a must have.
Quote from: glorn on November 04, 2010, 10:44:51 PMQuote from: frugalscotty on November 04, 2010, 07:01:59 PMQuote from: glorn on November 04, 2010, 04:51:37 AM..I really did think the "kids" were gonna grab hold of the SAK as a must have.The problem with this is many of the places "kids" frequent these days prohibit knives of any kind.Just to clarify, by "kids" I mean 20 somethings.You've got some really good ideas there Unfortunately at least in many countries its not going to happen. A SAK over here is seen by too many (not all) people as a knife first and tool second. And due to the slant of media coverage over the last few years a knife is seen by those people as being a weapon. Yes this even applies to little SAKs. A SAK is something that has to be used very discreetly in public. Even if public perception could be changed, which isn't impossible, there are enough places that don't allow anything pointy or sharp that to some carrying a SAK would be an inconvenience not a help.At present in the UK pocket carrying a SAK or similar is fast going the way of pipe smoking. I suspect very soon it just won't happen at all. If I was Victorinox I wouldn't be looking at how to expand my market, I'd be looking at making something else entirely.
Quote from: Neil on November 06, 2010, 12:23:29 PMQuote from: glorn on November 04, 2010, 10:44:51 PMQuote from: frugalscotty on November 04, 2010, 07:01:59 PMQuote from: glorn on November 04, 2010, 04:51:37 AM..I really did think the "kids" were gonna grab hold of the SAK as a must have.The problem with this is many of the places "kids" frequent these days prohibit knives of any kind.Just to clarify, by "kids" I mean 20 somethings.You've got some really good ideas there Unfortunately at least in many countries its not going to happen. A SAK over here is seen by too many (not all) people as a knife first and tool second. And due to the slant of media coverage over the last few years a knife is seen by those people as being a weapon. Yes this even applies to little SAKs. A SAK is something that has to be used very discreetly in public. Even if public perception could be changed, which isn't impossible, there are enough places that don't allow anything pointy or sharp that to some carrying a SAK would be an inconvenience not a help.At present in the UK pocket carrying a SAK or similar is fast going the way of pipe smoking. I suspect very soon it just won't happen at all. If I was Victorinox I wouldn't be looking at how to expand my market, I'd be looking at making something else entirely.That may be one of the saddest things I've read in a while.
Thing is, like was said earlier, a lot of people never actually buy Vic stuff from B&M places. Somebody mentioned it before and I agree, I see the stuff sit there for many months or years. Working in retail for over ten years in several places that sell Vic stuff, I never once personally saw a single Vic item go out the door. All the places I've worked would stock only a couple on the shelf, and keep fewer and fewer on hand as time goes by. Leatherman stuff flies off the shelf, but people seem to either see SAK's as "old fashioned", just not "gadgety" enough, or more often than not they just can't differentiate between the real thing and the countless knock-offs. So many people have tried and been disappointed with knock-offs they never want to buy a SAK again, especially bad since usually they think the knockoff they had WAS the real thing. It seems the people who know the difference tend to buy the stuff online for the cheaper prices, and far far better availability (I have NEVER seen a Cybertool or many other models in a B&M), if this policy kills a lot of internet business it could be a real problem for them.
I do think the US is where the "SAK craze" (if it were to happen) would have to take place. The SAK fits so many US trends right now that it isn't even funny. All it would take is a few tweaks (more cellidor colors, maybe a custom option) and some very basic but well targeted marketing. For example, look at how Sharpie is marketed in the US. A great example of what is actually essentially just an office supply item turned into a "must have" pop culture juggernaut.And a SAK has so much more appeal than a permanent marker. But when Sharpie rolled out the stainless steel model.. it was handed out to celebrities with a lot of media coverage.Hell, they were using David Beckham in the TV spots.
bringing this thread back, i spent the last few days in munich, and i was very happy to see a number of places carrying some types of saks and guess what, everything was newer models, nothing left there for ages. i also visited a small but apparently busy store in marienplatz with victorinox (a more or less complete line and a heritage model on offer) and other knives, and to my joy, there were a number of folks there looking at saks and buying, germans and tourists. I was happy to see really lots of people stopping by. I bought a spartan with bayern scales. seems there are indeed people who still buy saks!
Quote from: trailmaster on November 15, 2010, 12:14:48 PMbringing this thread back, i spent the last few days in munich, and i was very happy to see a number of places carrying some types of saks and guess what, everything was newer models, nothing left there for ages. i also visited a small but apparently busy store in marienplatz with victorinox (a more or less complete line and a heritage model on offer) and other knives, and to my joy, there were a number of folks there looking at saks and buying, germans and tourists. I was happy to see really lots of people stopping by. I bought a spartan with bayern scales. seems there are indeed people who still buy saks!I've visited that same shop in Marienplatz every now and again. I think around here SAKs are more in use than Leathermans, as the latter are so expensive here, whereas SAKs are relatively cheap.