Potential Tariffs & Golden, CO.

[Jeb]

Sal,

I am sure going to try, I already got in the mud once and it was never meant that way at all. Soooo, all I can do is try my best sir...

[KeepCalm&Carrion]

I believe that we are all astute enough to discuss he tariffs and skirt the politics, right?

sal

The two are so interwoven, I don't think it's really possible. That said, I admire your optimism, and I wish the company well during these uncertain times.

[Wartstein]

It appears the EU has caved. We all win! Yay

Really just as a neutral input, no political or any opinion at all attached (but I happen to be in Europe and sometimes a bit astonished of what gets transported in some US news outlets concerning things over here).

What the EU apparently actually has done is renewing the exact same offer they made already weeks before (!) these tariffs were implemented: A zero for zero deal to the US for cars and other industrial goods.

They also say that offer still remains on the table, but not forever, and that they are preparing counter / retaliating tariffs by themselves (which then might get implemented or not).

I also appears from what the EU leaders state, that they feel Europe is in a strong position, but the US not so much. (What I don´t like here is generally the imo more and more hostile language on both sides..)

Again, I just want to offer the perspective as I get it directly here in Europe, no personal opinions, and I am most likely far from seeing / understanding all that´s going on here.

[Jeb]

Wartstein

Our (usa) single biggest problem is our news media, they tell us all sorts of stuff and usually sensationalized it to the point it's not about what is right or wrong but what keeps things stirred up.

We don't get the news straight up. It's more what the media and their hidden agendas have in store for us to swallow like bait.

I think if we could just get the news for the day and what's actually going on, we all would be way better off world wide.

[Mrj]

I love you all too much to fight or ingage this topic in depth. I’m Pro-America and I’m part of a Military family. I hope everyone finds peace in knowing we are all humans and humans are wrong 50% of the time. Let’s all stay brothers and sisters in iron!! Regardless cost.

[Aladinsane]

I love you all too much to fight or ingage this topic in depth. I’m Pro-America and I’m part of a Military family. I hope everyone finds peace in knowing we are all humans and humans are wrong 50% of the time. Let’s all stay brothers and sisters in iron!! Regardless cost.

I second this!

[Mat_ski]

I love you all too much to fight or ingage this topic in depth. I’m Pro-America and I’m part of a Military family. I hope everyone finds peace in knowing we are all humans and humans are wrong 50% of the time. Let’s all stay brothers and sisters in iron!! Regardless cost.

Cheers!

[rabbitanarchy14]

I feel because of map I have bought less and less (down to like 1 spyderco purchase a year or less) let alone any tariffs. The simple fact that year over year map has a bigger increase than pay increases has priced them out of value buys years ago and now should strictly be bonus purchases. I have since been buying more benchmade and microtechs. Hopefully someday spyderco will look at map and realize it hurt sales than made more sales.

[jwesley235]

I have since been buying more benchmade and microtechs.

So because you think Spydercos are overpriced, you've been buying more Microtechs and Benchmades?

[Wartstein]

I love you all too much to fight or ingage this topic in depth. I’m Pro-America and I’m part of a Military family. I hope everyone finds peace in knowing we are all humans and humans are wrong 50% of the time. Let’s all stay brothers and sisters in iron!! Regardless cost.

Well said!!

I hope (and actually am certain) that my previous post does not sound in any way like "fighting" or "arguing", let alone in a political context!
I have high respect for being "pro home country" and in no way want to see a "fight" between EU and US, and of course even less here on this forum.
I´ve also been to the US three times (unfortunately always just for a few weeks) and only have great memories!

I just wanted to offer the perspective I get here directly in Europe, and from all I hear the EU is far from "caving", things seem to be a lot more complicated than "imposing tariffs till the other side caves and offers a better deal".

And sometimes I get indeed the impression that quite some media outlets in the US tend to alter or even distort news in order to match the "agenda" or political direction they happen to favor. Sure this is also the case in Europe and probably anywhere in the world, but imo not to that extreme.

Again, just my subjective impression from watching and reading both European and US news.

[sal]

Appreciate all of the input on tariffs and we appreciate also that we are trying our best to avoid political discussion, which I feel that very few of us really have a handle on what is really happening globally due to all of the media which is often trying to manipulate opinion to their point of view.

I believe that the people want peace, success and to be able to live our lives without conflict. Keep an open mind (drafty brain) and think for yourself. Don't let the "corrupticians" govern your thinking.

sal

[horzuff]

I feel because of map I have bought less and less (down to like 1 spyderco purchase a year or less) let alone any tariffs. The simple fact that year over year map has a bigger increase than pay increases has priced them out of value buys years ago and now should strictly be bonus purchases. I have since been buying more benchmade and microtechs. Hopefully someday spyderco will look at map and realize it hurt sales than made more sales.

While I could potentially accept Microtech as they recently entered the less premium markets with their RAM-LOK offerings (though they are yet another crossbar-like lock, ball bearing offering on the market, regardless how decent the MSI is) the Benchmade argument seems departed from actual reality as BM's price hikes are way bigger than Spydercos and seem to be accelerating

[xceptnl]

I feel because of map I have bought less and less (down to like 1 spyderco purchase a year or less) let alone any tariffs. The simple fact that year over year map has a bigger increase than pay increases has priced them out of value buys years ago and now should strictly be bonus purchases. I have since been buying more benchmade and microtechs. Hopefully someday spyderco will look at map and realize it hurt sales than made more sales.

While I could potentially accept Microtech as they recently entered the less premium markets with their RAM-LOK offerings (though they are yet another crossbar-like lock, ball bearing offering on the market, regardless how decent the MSI is) the Benchmade argument seems departed from actual reality as BM's price hikes are way bigger than Spydercos and seem to be accelerating

I would agree with thison both accounts. I stopped even looking at new BM models over a decade ago. Their definition of value and mine do not align anymore.

[paladin]

I've bought less BNIB blades because of higher prices in general-- before this.

Now with the tariffs, I will buy even fewer <near zero> new knives.

In my younger years I worked for a friend who fabricated + outfitted fiberglass bass boats and we went through a few economic downturns. He claimed recessions didn't scare him because folks who could no longer afford Rangers would buy our brand. He said fishermen would always find a way to fish.

I think secondary / gray markets will thrive. Knife nerds will find a way to nerd out.

[xceptnl]

Knife nerds will find a way to nerd out.

You been reading my journal Paladin?

[Wartstein]

After looking into it a bit it is also not entirely clear to me why these tariffs are labeled "reciprocal"...

It's just typical political doublespeak. The tariff on each country is calculated purely from the trade deficit and exports to the US, so are completely divorced from tariffs and other regulatory actions each country is implementing against the US. The formula is also based on an incorrect assumption that the elasticity of import demand with respect to import prices and the elasticity of import prices with respect to tariffs cancel each other out. But they don't, which essentially makes the tariffs 4 times larger than they should be. Amateur hour.

Thanks for the reply!

Yes, this was and still is a bit confusing and as far as I can understand perhaps not totally thought through or at least misleading...?

With "reciprocal tariffs" they are giving the impression that if country A has tariffs of xx percent on import goods from the US, now the US will charge the same xx percent of tariffs on import goods from country A (an approach that could be discussed in itself already).

But in reality taking the trade deficit as main factor for calculating these "reciprocal" tariffs is something else...

I mean, as others have explained already and better, a trade deficit does not inherently have to be a bad thing, but could potentially mean just the opposite.. like in "US doing so well that US citicens can afford more than people in country A... and so US citicens will buy more US produced stuff but also more from country A than country A from the US".

Having as a main goal to eliminate all trade deficits seems a bit short sighted to me.
But what do I know... (not meant ironically, I am really not an expert in trade and economics)

[Naperville]

I have since been buying more benchmade and microtechs.

So because you think Spydercos are overpriced, you've been buying more Microtechs and Benchmades?

[Naperville]

...I am really not an expert in trade and economics

Don't feel bad. There is only one Warren Buffet and he is not perfect. The rest of us are amateurs and would be wise to take a look at whatever he suggests, but most don't.

[bobnikon]

All I know is that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer when the markets take dives like these. Numerous rich people have publicly stated just that. One famous line "I love bad markets. You can do very well in a bad market." The rich are able to leverage their holdings and buy big as prices fall. Then when there is the inevitable recovery, they are that much richer.

Lots of layers to the tariff onion.

[rabbitanarchy14]

I feel because of map I have bought less and less (down to like 1 spyderco purchase a year or less) let alone any tariffs. The simple fact that year over year map has a bigger increase than pay increases has priced them out of value buys years ago and now should strictly be bonus purchases. I have since been buying more benchmade and microtechs. Hopefully someday spyderco will look at map and realize it hurt sales than made more sales.

While I could potentially accept Microtech as they recently entered the less premium markets with their RAM-LOK offerings (though they are yet another crossbar-like lock, ball bearing offering on the market, regardless how decent the MSI is) the Benchmade argument seems departed from actual reality as BM's price hikes are way bigger than Spydercos and seem to be accelerating

I have to agree with Bench’s new price hikes. I guess I do not quite know how to word it. I used to buy spydercos a few a month at a time, many years back. They introduced map and after a few years it wasn’t a value purchase it turned into buying something more expensive and turned into a premium knife price or close to it. Unless it’s a sprint in a steel I like. I could pay just more and try other American ish lol knife brands. It’s just my 2 cents whenever tariffs and map and politics all collide value gets lost a little.