Spyderco Forums

I am confused about something. Why do the brick and mortar stores only sell Spyderco's at MSRP? it does not make sense to me. There are all these knife places online that sell spydies for far less than the actual knife shops or MSRP. Is this an agreement they have with Sal and Spyderco, to keep their dealer status?

There is a great knife shop here in ftworth, they were even recently on some storage wars TV show. I know the guys there, and I would love to support their business, but I cannot afford to buy knives from them at MSRP, when I can get them from places like CS, KC, etc. I am told that they are only aloud to sell at MSRP, or they could lose their dealer ability.... is this a myth?

Please help me support the local dealer.....

I don't think that spyderco makes them sell at msrp. There are b&m stores that also sell online, like New Graham. You can buy in store at the same discount price as the web.

There are some that sell at full MSRP. But as far as I have seen, there are many that sell as well discounted prices. 3 that I know of up here in Canada and I am sure that there will be more mentioned in the US as well.
B&M have a lot more overhead though and so probably try to make more off their knives to make up for that.

Overhead, volume and profit. Spyderco can't help them unless the enforce a strict MAP structure.

The B&M shops need to focus on selection, expertise, and service. Loyal customers will return at higher profit margins than online for the perks.

And it isn't just Spyderco knives. Most B&M stores sell every knife brand for MSRP. An internet store is cheaper to run (no physical storefront to maintain), so they are able to still make a profit with slimmer margins. I think you'll find that this pricing gap holds true for lots of things -not just knives- with B&M selling closer to MSRP than online stores: books (Amazon was probably why Borders closed so many of their stores), record stores, electronics, etc.

Hector Castro wrote:I am told that they are only aloud to sell at MSRP, or they could lose their dealer ability.... is this a myth?

Depends. If they said that specifically about Spyderco, it's a myth. Spyderco does not dictate selling price. Not sure if there are any knife companies that do, but would not totally rule out there being at least one.

Has anyone tried to "haggle" over the price? Everyone knows you don't pay sticker for a new car. Maybe the stores who have a MSRP pricetag on the knife will come down a little if you ask. Also mention the inet prices. I've heard several people say they got a good deal at the local store they frequent. Especially if you get more than one knife. For people who only own one or two knives at a time just to use it wouldn't matter as much as it does for folks who are more enthusiastic about knives.

I've never bought a knife in a store. Well, not lately I mean. I bought a knife once in a while at Wal Mart, Lowes and stores like that but they were about $20 so it wasn't a big deal. In fact most of my knife purchases (prior to the past 5-6 years) were before there was an internet. I would love to have a local store with a nice selection and good people to talk to. I'd never pay MSRP, but a little higher than inet prices would be ok for the ability to hold a knive before buying, service, etc. After all, the stores do have electric bills, employee salaries, and a lot more expense than the inet sites have.

Jack

araneae wrote:I don't think that spyderco makes them sell at msrp. There are b&m stores that also sell online, like New Graham. You can buy in store at the same discount price as the web.

He's right, New Graham is a true B&M store and they sell at great prices that match their online prices plus ...

jackknifeh wrote:Has anyone tried to "haggle" over the price? Everyone knows you don't pay sticker for a new car. Maybe the stores who have a MSRP pricetag on the knife will come down a little if you ask. Also mention the inet prices. I've heard several people say they got a good deal at the local store they frequent. Especially if you get more than one knife. For people who only own one or two knives at a time just to use it wouldn't matter as much as it does for folks who are more enthusiastic about knives.

... New Graham (Mike) was willing to give me even better pricing that his listed discounts when I purchased multiple knives from him. I made the 2-1/2 hour drive to purchase a BM 806 and BM 960 and Protech Cibatta. He cut me a sweet deal and I have been waiting for another chance to go back.

I have one shop near me and they sell at MSRP. The people that work there have no idea what there selling. I asked them why they are so high and they said they were at a reasonable price. So I showed them the price of a online Endura and they said crap, you can buy 2 of them for the same price. They also said that they didn't even get that much for employee discount.

.357 mag wrote:I have one shop near me and they sell at MSRP. The people that work there have no idea what there selling. I asked them why they are so high and they said they were at a reasonable price. So I showed them the price of a online Endura and they said crap, you can buy 2 of them for the same price. They also said that they didn't even get that much for employee discount.

I've wondered what I'd do if I saw someone (young lady buying a gift for BF/husband for instance) in a store looking at knives WAY higher than they should be (or what they can be gotten for)? I guess I should mind my own business.

Jack

I have a local Flint Creek Outfitters that carries Orvis, Spyderco, BM, and higher end camping, hunting gear. They have some nice knives, but NOT at discount.
Sonny

I've seen both stores that sell at MSRP and those that sell below. But usually even if they are below they still aren't reasonably priced like the sales people try to say they are. I totally understand the more expensive overhead, I work in a store that constantly gets eaten alive by internet prices (sometimes our suppliers start online stores with wholesale prices... that really sucks). But we do what we have to do to stay competitive. What I have found is the people who know what knives they are selling are more willing to work with you but there are many that don't have a clue and think because the shelf tag says "SALE" or "GREAT DEAL" that it is in fact an amazing price for the knife...

What is ridiculous is when some of these stores sell knives ABOVE MSRP. There is a place near me that does that almost across the board... They have an all black Manix2 that has literally been on their shelf over a year... and the price only goes UP?!?!? Right now its a "Great Deal" at $200... MSRP is 179.99... They say regular price is like 220-230 or something... Those employees are the ones who don't have a clue. The store just recently started this knife thing and it is going horribly. It's sad b/c they're 5 mins from my house and they have some awesome knives that never will sell.

What stinks is that where I live, I can't even have this dilemma. There are no Spyderco dealers nearby to speak of, unless you count Gander Mtn, and they usually have only one in stock (seems to always be a stainless Delica).

If you're considering buying a knife whose design you're not familiar with, go into the ripoff B&M store, decide if you like it, then go home and order it from a non-ripoff online vendor. Do them the favor of telling them that you're aware you can get that knife for almost 50% less online.

I don't buy any of the explanations provided for B&M shops having ripoff prices--not when there are vendors who operate both B&M and online, at the same reasonable price. I think "greed" sums it up for the most part.

Knutty wrote:If you're considering buying a knife whose design you're not familiar with, go into the ripoff B&M store, decide if you like it, then go home and order it from a non-ripoff online vendor. Do them the favor of telling them that you're aware you can get that knife for almost 50% less online.

I don't buy any of the explanations provided for B&M shops having ripoff prices--not when there are vendors who operate both B&M and online, at the same reasonable price. I think "greed" sums it up for the most part.

+1 to greed!

A brick and mortar store has many times the expenses of an online one. I ran one for years selling auto performance parts. While it's not free (as most people think) and there is some risk of loss, its nickles on the dollar compared to even owning a booth in a popular mall let alone your own building.

You could say the same thing to anyone. People buy overstock fashion online for fractions less or things from Amazon over popular bookstores. It's often expenses over greed. Economics vs morality.

There are plenty of benefits of buying at B&M locations. If you are buying a single knife to last you a while it's nice to hold a bunch and talk to someone if you lack the knowledge. If you are a collector (regardless of that definition) it's a very inefficient route.

There is one great reason why some places have a physical storefront and an online one with similar pricing: Consistency. They often sell multiple times online what they do at "the shop" so it's a symbiotic relationship. At the store they do sharpenings or talk people into expensive customs. On the most superficial level it makes them look/feel like a professional outfit so if one pocket is lacking the cash the other makes up for it.

Knutty wrote:If you're considering buying a knife whose design you're not familiar with, go into the ripoff B&M store, decide if you like it, then go home and order it from a non-ripoff online vendor. Do them the favor of telling them that you're aware you can get that knife for almost 50% less online.

I don't buy any of the explanations provided for B&M shops having ripoff prices--not when there are vendors who operate both B&M and online, at the same reasonable price. I think "greed" sums it up for the most part.

I'm sorry, but I disagree with this practice. B&M stores have higher overhead, including having "demo" items in stock that everyone wants to look at, but they want to buy an "untouched" new-in-box item. I don't think it's fair to the B&M stores to use their time and handle their merchandise, then order from online.

I used to work at a camera store, and it was frustrating having people come in to look at cameras, take up your time, look at your demo models, then have them go purchase the camera mail order.

The employee may have no choice in the pricing. I have only seen a few stores that will match internet prices on stuff, and don't know of any knife stores around me that do.

Knutty wrote:If you're considering buying a knife whose design you're not familiar with, go into the ripoff B&M store, decide if you like it, then go home and order it from a non-ripoff online vendor. Do them the favor of telling them that you're aware you can get that knife for almost 50% less online.

I don't buy any of the explanations provided for B&M shops having ripoff prices--not when there are vendors who operate both B&M and online, at the same reasonable price. I think "greed" sums it up for the most part.

I won't even bother to read the rest of the posts but will say this in response:

You should buy this explanation: Overhead at a traditional B&M store is enormous. With tangible overhead, employee costs, rent or mortgage, insurance, theft, higher utility and tax rates than you care to even imagine. I think you jump, or rather conjecture to shun B&M stores, is premature at best.
Please be careful so that you do not rush to judgement.

I'm all for Bm stores. I buy local often. The store I speak of as been around for 40 years with the same owners. Everything in there store is full MSRP. I don't know there financial background but would think there building would be paid off. Taxes and utilities are a given as they are with internet stores.

My idea of a perfect B&M store:

http://www.countryknives.com/

Yea the knives are EXPENSIVE! The selection of discontinued Spyderco's is insane though. Knives 10 years old w/o having to deal with fakes or frauds.