The Price of the FORUM KNIFE?

[DaddyBarlow]

Unfortunately the polls left one VERY IMPORTANT criteria out, the PRICE people are willing to pay! Its being brought up over & over by many of forum members, and obviously people know its very critical to sell a knife that people can afford to buy.

Shoot, every forum member would love a limited edition G10 Native or G10 Anything, for $80 or even a $100. Of course it won't happen. But I asking why not. :confused:

The Forums & the Internet have helped spread the word about how great Spyderco knives really are, so why not reward the forum members with a Forum Knife that they WANT & with PRICE that they really can afford?

I can't believe you can't still make money selling a G10 Forum Knife for $99.95 by direct sales only. I bet you would sell-out 1000-1500 knives in a few weeks. AND at that price maybe people would actually use them!

Unfortunately a $200 G-10 Forum knife Or a $100 FRN Forum Knife won't sell. And that is in the history books.

People don't & will not pay $100+ for a FRN knife...yeah the current Native has an MSRP of $94.95 right now. BUT No one ever pays that, ever, more like $60.00-$65.00 or less, if you do an Internet search.

The Forum Knives never sold well when they came out, because people were force to pay the actual MSRP for them...which obviously was too high.

IMHO, the people on these forums should be rewarded with High-quality (G10 / black coated-blade VG-10, etc.) Forum Knife at an affordable price.

Give them what they want & with a PRICE that's reasonable and they will sell. Maybe even 2 at a time! :D

[smcfalls13]

You guys are gonna get sick of me really quickly, since I keep changing my position. :o

I would love an inexpensive G-10 handled forum knife. I would love to have a high quality :spyder: at a cheap price. But according to those here longer than I, Spyderco took a heavy loss on all the previous forum knives. If it was strictly business, I would have stopped even thinking of producing a forum knife if that happened to me.

The fact that Sal is still open to the option of a forum knife is promising, but I don't think we have the right to ask for a certain price. We're already asking Spyderco to take a risk on a knife that may not sell, again. We're also asking for specific details that may or may not fit into acceptable costs. Asking for all these modifications to existing models and then asking for a low cost just does not quite seem fair to Spyderco.

Now that I've changed my opinion several times, let me finally clarify my feeling on the issue.

-I don't care what model is used, everything offered so far is acceptable to me.
-I don't care what the handle is made of, but I do prefer a color.
-I prefer VG-10, but I will go with the majority who prefer S30V
-I would like an inexpensive knife, but I realize that such a knife would either be not up to the quality that Sal wants, or a low profit item for Spyderco. Neither of which is fair.

Just my opinion, and I might be in the minority, so I'll go with whatever the forum decides.

[OutofGum]

Although not realistic, it would be nice to have a forum knife that uses steel that no other spydie uses (maybe d2). I don't see that happening for a limited edition so either vg-10 or s30v would be fine.
I would be willing to spend up to 160 for something with premium steel and g-10 scales... maybe more if I was actually looking at it.

Unfortunately a $200 G-10 Forum knife Or a $100 FRN Forum Knife won't sell. And that is in the history books.

Any more info on this?

[sal]

DaddyBarlow offers a valid point.

If we get to make a forum knife? And we want to try to keep the price as low as possible? It will have to:

1. Be consumer direct only. Dealers would not be involved.
2. Be paid for, at least a deposit, in advance.
3. Price would not include shipping or duties. Shipping / duties cost to many parts of the world are sometimes more than the cost of the knife.
4. Have enough seriously interested customers to make 300 pieces minimum for Golden-made, 500 pieces minimum for Seki-made.
5. Have very little tooling costs.

We're always interested to try to please our customers. We have not had much success in the past on forum models. Perhaps we can pull this off if those interested understand the investment in time, expense and effort.

sal

[Vincent]

Shoot, every forum member would love a limited edition G10 Native or G10 Anything, for $80 or even a $100. Of course it won't happen. But I asking why not. :confused:

I wouldent want a Gold native for $20.

I just dont like the knife, kinda think it sucks.

[boxer93]

DaddyBarlow offers a valid point.

If we get to make a forum knife? And we want to try to keep the price as low as possible? It will have to:

1. Be consumer direct only. Dealers would not be involved.
2. Be paid for, at least a deposit, in advance.
3. Price would not include shipping or duties. Shipping / duties cost to many parts of the world are sometimes more than the cost of the knife.
4. Have enough seriously interested customers to make 300 pieces minimum for Golden-made, 500 pieces minimum for Seki-made.
5. Have very little tooling costs.

We're always interested to try to please our customers. We have not had much success in the past on forum models. Perhaps we can pull this off if those interested understand the investment in time, expense and effort.

sal

I like these ideas. I have very good experience sending packages internationally. I'd be willing to assist International forumites if the times comes. USPS envelope $5. small risk but great service. Maybe we should make this more like a barn raising. I could plan my vacation time to do the assembly :eek:
As for what I feel the important telling option would be #2.
My 3 cents US.
Chris

[Yojimbo]

Sal is right, most non US Forumites have too pay double the MSRP price.
Maybe one of us who lives in the States and is a thrustworthy and long time member can invent the non profit "Spyderco Forumites Fund". We donate money to the fund (say by coïncidence the MSRP) and the SFF donates us as a way of appraisal a gift in the form of the 2005 forum knife. The shipment would be in a personal enveloppe because it is a charity gift.

This way the SFF can give Sal feedback about the interrest in the fund, and the fund could also act as a non profit fund for other projects ( a :spyder: forumite in financial trouble, a babyshower for Tazkristi's baby, a member with high medical bills etc)

with a Paypal account we could donate money into the fund.

Anyone with a lot of spare time, good will and honesty interrested?

[druid]

To think it is obvious, that Sal making a very solid effort here. While I don't know at this point absolutely positively whether I would get this form knife. I I already have a G 10 native and have a very small collection. I am very torn out what to say I will take it no matter what. I think we could have kind of headcount what you decide the exact model and price and then everybody to post the form model number for awhile.

[Vincent]

I dont know if this works in Europe,

But when shipping to canada,

All you have to do is say that the package is a present and their are no customs taxes and stuff.

does that work in Europe, works in most countries.

[The Deacon]

DaddyBarlow offers a valid point.

If we get to make a forum knife? And we want to try to keep the price as low as possible? It will have to:

1. Be consumer direct only. Dealers would not be involved.
2. Be paid for, at least a deposit, in advance.
3. Price would not include shipping or duties. Shipping / duties cost to many parts of the world are sometimes more than the cost of the knife.
4. Have enough seriously interested customers to make 300 pieces minimum for Golden-made, 500 pieces minimum for Seki-made.
5. Have very little tooling costs.

We're always interested to try to please our customers. We have not had much success in the past on forum models. Perhaps we can pull this off if those interested understand the investment in time, expense and effort.

sal

On the basis of that Sal, it seems Golden made would be the way to go. I would guess it will be difficult enough getting pre-orders for 300, trying for 500 would almost insure a no-go. Would the dual liner Native you mentioned in another thread meet the "low tooling cost" criterion? If not, would there be a chance of a tan FRN C41 as someone suggested? That would keep the cost within reason.

[Ted]

... USPS envelope $5. small risk but great service. ...

Indeed! :p :D

[Vincent]

hasent their already been a native forum knife.

why another one?

[RWL]

I like these ideas. I have very good experience sending packages internationally. I'd be willing to assist International forumites if the times comes. USPS envelope $5. small risk but great service. Maybe we should make this more like a barn raising. I could plan my vacation time to do the assembly :eek:
As for what I feel the important telling option would be #2.
My 3 cents US.
Chris

I agree with you also Chris, Sal needs to know how many people will commit by prepaying. That could be a very big task to mail out knives for the International forumites :eek: , but I would be concerned that not paying the import taxes there is the chance of them not getting their knives, then who would be responible for replacing the knife and mailing it again ? It does suck that these taxes can make a 80.00 dollar knife go 120.00 or more, but the person would get the knife that way, it is no fun losing knives to customs, you still get the package the knives come in, you get excited opening it wanting to see your new knife and all you get is a blue paper that tell you that home land security has seized your knives

[Vincent]

here guys

France
http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?C ... 1&Ounces=1

Belgium
http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?C ... 1&Ounces=1

GB or ireland
http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?C ... 1&Ounces=1

germany
http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?C ... 1&Ounces=1

Italy wont be great
http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?C ... 1&Ounces=1

netherlands
http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?C ... 1&Ounces=1

sweden
http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?C ... 1&Ounces=1

Denmark
http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?C ... 1&Ounces=1





Shipping is not expensive at all.

[Ted]

I agree with you also Chris, Sal needs to know how many people will commit by prepaying. That could be a very big task to mail out knives for the International forumites :eek: , but I would be concerned that not paying the import taxes there is the chance of them not getting their knives, then who would be responible for replacing the knife and mailing it again ? It does suck that these taxes can make a 80.00 dollar knife go 120.00 or more, but the person would get the knife that way, it is no fun losing knives to customs, you still get the package the knives come in, you get excited opening it wanting to see your new knife and all you get is a blue paper that tell you that home land security has seized your knives

RWL, if customs or the post-office were to inspect the package & knife, they will normally put a paper in the mailbox saying the the knife can be picked up at the post office with an additional charge of $xxxx for VAT & Import.
However, these USPS Global Priority flat-rate envelopes tend to slip along most custom officers and post officers hands however :rolleyes:
(and not only where I live from what I've been told...)

[druid]

My thoughts

I would love to pledge come rain or shine to buy the form model however I have very small collection and for example I already have a g 10 native. So if that were the form model I would probably step aside.

I would love to buy and be part of the R&D process for the swank knife but it isn't really a niche I need to fill in the price needs to be over $120 which are probably would that don't know if I could afford it.

This is a great deal for me to get a piece with personal value at a good price and reasonable shipping because I live in the United States so I really have little to loosen in this deal.

I think this is a very generous offer to sal would have to change the normal way things are priced and shipped to give us as offer and all to our advantage at least my advantage.

I dictated this through a voice to text program songs are if it sounds like I'm speaking a language sometimes "exactly''

I think we need to put our money down in advance and post our form knife number with pride.

But again I can just buy anything in any price so that much as I would love to commit to buy no matter I just can't in good faith at this point.

[RWL]

hasent their already been a native forum knife.

why another one?

Maybe you need to read Sal's post again and look at line 5 he put in his post

[Vincent]

Maybe you need to read Sal's post again and look at line 5 he put in his post

so would the other number of knives they make.

All the way from 01-99

All the same.

[Yojimbo]

Vincent, next to the shipping we need to pay 21 % VAT+ 10 % importtax + a customs fee and in some countries the VAT is 33% of the MSRP! I ordered a WTC knife and i need to pay besides the 250$ cost and shipping 79.5968 $ extra! 80 $ extra! that knife that costs you 235 $ costs me 329 $!

I would like to add that Spyderco shipped it for 25$ although when i make the calculations UPS would charge up to 49$ for the same parcel!

So please stop annoying us international Forumites by beeing a smartass and by making calculations without knowing all the factors.

sorry if i sound annoyed but i am getting annoyed.

[Vincent]

cant you just say its a present.