Over the years, Sal have repeatedly claimed that increase in price of raw material is propelling the astronomical increases in Spyderco knives' prices, year after year...
Let's take a look at one example:
Spyderco Tenacious and Ontario Rat 1 were both released approximately 12 years ago, made with similar materials and sold at around the same at that time around $25 dollars on Amazon
Tenacious is made in China, known for cheap labor, labor and human right abuses and corner cutting and generally lower quality knives.
Rat 1 is made in Taiwan, a democracy with much higher wages and known for much higher quality in fit and finish.
Fast forward 12 years later to today:
Rat 1 cost on Amazon = $25 to $28 depending on the day for AUS 8 model (today priced at $25.14) looking back it is cheaper today than it was 8 years ago
Tenacious cost on Amazon = $51 to $58 depending on the day for 8cr13mov (today priced at $51.10) looking back 8-10 years seems like most people got it between $25 - $29 with one fluke who got it for $15
Generally speaking AUS 8 is considered a better steel than 8cr13mov although performance wise they are similar.
Also worth of noting is that for around $50 to $60, a bunch of new Chinese manufactures such as TwoSun are offering Titanium framelock with D2 steel on ball bearing.
I've edited the following to take out offensive content as pointed out by a mod regarding "fanboy".
Given the above fact, one can logically conclude that Sal repeated statement "spyderco is not charging as much as the market can bear" is untrue. Spyderco IS charging at much as the market can bear and it only has to do with profit and not "increase in material costs".
Spyderco is a company for profit, which is only normal. But for a for profit company to masquerade as an altruistic company in the interest of serving knife addicts while blaming price increases on external factors is hypocritical. While it's true Spyderco is serving knife addicts but that is also their market and that is their business where profit is derived.
Just drop the pretense, if Spyderco come out and just say yes I believe Spyderco design, innovation and brand is worth the price premium I can respect that. Or just don't say anything at all about price increases.
Respectfully!
Let's take a look at one example:
Spyderco Tenacious and Ontario Rat 1 were both released approximately 12 years ago, made with similar materials and sold at around the same at that time around $25 dollars on Amazon
Tenacious is made in China, known for cheap labor, labor and human right abuses and corner cutting and generally lower quality knives.
Rat 1 is made in Taiwan, a democracy with much higher wages and known for much higher quality in fit and finish.
Fast forward 12 years later to today:
Rat 1 cost on Amazon = $25 to $28 depending on the day for AUS 8 model (today priced at $25.14) looking back it is cheaper today than it was 8 years ago
Tenacious cost on Amazon = $51 to $58 depending on the day for 8cr13mov (today priced at $51.10) looking back 8-10 years seems like most people got it between $25 - $29 with one fluke who got it for $15
Generally speaking AUS 8 is considered a better steel than 8cr13mov although performance wise they are similar.
Also worth of noting is that for around $50 to $60, a bunch of new Chinese manufactures such as TwoSun are offering Titanium framelock with D2 steel on ball bearing.
I've edited the following to take out offensive content as pointed out by a mod regarding "fanboy".
Given the above fact, one can logically conclude that Sal repeated statement "spyderco is not charging as much as the market can bear" is untrue. Spyderco IS charging at much as the market can bear and it only has to do with profit and not "increase in material costs".
Spyderco is a company for profit, which is only normal. But for a for profit company to masquerade as an altruistic company in the interest of serving knife addicts while blaming price increases on external factors is hypocritical. While it's true Spyderco is serving knife addicts but that is also their market and that is their business where profit is derived.
Just drop the pretense, if Spyderco come out and just say yes I believe Spyderco design, innovation and brand is worth the price premium I can respect that. Or just don't say anything at all about price increases.
Respectfully!
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