Not great news about Spyderco.

[captain spaulding]

I should of realized DKS said sell and not advertise when I agreed with him so I can take some of the blame off his back. Speaking of which, everyone needs to pump the brakes. It was a honest mistake or recollection of what he read. It was corrected and everyone is now even more familiar with MAP pricing before. Its a win, win.

[jekostas]

How does it differentiate them from their lower products?

Advertised pricing affects consumer perception of products because people equate higher price with higher quality, regardless of whether it's true or not.  If you can successfully present your goods as luxury goods higher prices will actually lead to higher overall sales due to the perception of exclusivity.

Using a MAP and/or higher pricing can also help differentiate between different product lines from the same manufacturer.  Consider Honda/Acura and Toyota/Lexus.  Same companies, same factories, but a price and perception difference.  I've already brought up Benchmade/H&K but Benchmade has always done this sort of thing with their "Classes" of knives (eg. Red/Blue/Black/Gold).

[AimlessWanderer]

I should of realized DKS said sell and not advertise when I agreed with him so I can take some of the blame off his back. Speaking of which, everyone needs to pump the brakes. It was a honest mistake or recollection of what he read. It was corrected and everyone is now even more familiar with MAP pricing before. Its a win, win.

Well said Cap'n

My interpretation for what it's worth:

Applying a minimum advertised price is a manufacturers way of trying to prevent their product appearing to be devalued in the marketplace. However, techniques such as discounts at checkout, or buy one and get a free something-or-other, will still enable retailers to push the price war that little bit further.

Market forces will prevail. Retailers will do what they have to in order to get sales, and if the customer isn't happy with the advertised price, they won't pay without additional incentive.

Oh, and I have no idea what is being said on other forums, I don't use them. I work on the assumption that if it's worth knowing, someone will post it here. Saves me trawling through the higher percentage of garbage posted on other forums, and getting frustrated by a higher percentage of clueless obnoxious arseholes. MTO is the only forum I need for the sharp and shineys. Just my personal take on the matter, and no disrespect intended nor insults implied to those who frequent other forums.

[dks]

My problem was with the word spreading.
What I wrote was based on what hapenned previously.
Spreading implies that I am intentionally and regularly trying to pass a wrong message to many people.
I will not be stopped from writing my thoughts by bullying tactics of this kind.

[this_is_nascar]

My problem was with the word spreading.
What I wrote was based on what hapenned previously.
Spreading implies that I am intentionally and regularly trying to pass a wrong message to many people.
I will not be stopped from writing my thoughts by bullying tactics of this kind.

My response was never meant as a tactic of any kind, let alone one of bullying.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[SteveC]

 

[powernoodle]

Its impossible to get bullied if you punch the purported bully in the snout.  Problem solved!  Not that I have ever seen any such behavior here. 

  << a round of Foster's lager for anyone who wants one.

As for MAP pricing, I stopped buying Benchmade when they did it, and will stop buying Spyderco.  I brilliantly noted on a big knife forum that Sypderco's MAPP will result in a 22% increase in the cost of some models relative to Amazon pricing.  That's bull hockey.  It burns me on several levels, some of which cannot be discussed here.   

I may buy a Spyderco again someday, but it will drastically reduce if not eliminate my Spyderco purchases.  If every consumer said no thanks to price-fixing, it would disappear.

[shark_za]

It also allows the smaller B&M shops to "compete" with the online sellers.
Theoretically.

[captain spaulding]

It also allows the smaller B&M shops to "compete" with the online sellers.
Theoretically.

Maybe....

I heard that Benchmade makes retailers carry a certain minimum selection of knives. If they cannot afford or have the business to support the minimum then they can not carry any Benchmade products.

Just what I heard a year or so ago. I have no idea if it is true or not.