The extraordinary high MSRP really upsets people, but what these people do not understand that the high MSRP is a business strategy. Cold Steel does not want you buying knives from them. You buy a knife from Cold Steel Ventra California, unless it is a close out, you are going to pay MSRP.
Cold Steel wants you to buy knives from their dealers. Dealers offer much better pricing.
This a business strategy and it works. Cold Steel can sell a lot more knives this way. Dealers have to maintain inventories so they have to buy product. Dealers have to carry the risk of unsold inventory, just like car dealer ships. The high MSRP means Cold Steel is not competing with its dealer network, at least not competing for intelligent shoppers.
This a one tenet of the Religion of Cold Steel hate from BadForums. Apparently you are only allowed to design, market, and sell products which you manufacture in house. This is a idea begot from unhappy broom pushers who will never advance beyond broom pushing.
I wish these broom pushers would fold up their Nokia’s, IPAD’s, their Androids, their Dell Computers, all their electronics, and simply fade away. Because none of their electronics are made in a factory owned by the brand name.
The point is that far too many people believe that:
a) Cold Steel makes their own stuff in house,
b) Cold Steel makes their own axes, tomahawks and swords.
c) Cold Steel is all American made,
d) Cold Steel are the most honest makers out their with a great design team who doesn't steal other's plans and make them without paying royalties.
e) Cold Steel has never undercut their retailers.
To
ALL of the above statements--Bullcrap!
If someone says that
"they make"--that is incorrect...Call it goddamn semantics if you will but had they said CS
"has made for them" is an entirely different statement, all together...When the company claims that they make something, then they should, don't you think!
I like Cold Steel's early knives, I have eighteen of them, all different models, now I won't touch them for they are either Chi-Comm made or overly over-priced for their Japan and Taiwan made goods and I have no qualms of buying from either of those two countries.
As to their MSRP being high--guess what, then their selling prices to the distributors are just as high--50% (or whatever it is) discount is the same for a $300.00 SK5 or $665.00 San Mai kukhri or a $19.00 Roach Belly...Sure you can get them cheaper on the street (after they've added their markup) but you're not going to be paying $150.00 for the San Mai Kukhri now are you--try $ $180 for the SK5, $390.00 for the San Mai and $12.95 for the roach Belly--prices are from
Knife Center but comparable to other Internet retailers.
Also, have you noticed that the prices of the blades that were made in China have gone up by around 30% since they are now being made (some again) in Taiwan.
As to outsourcing, every company does to some extent--Your brand new GM vehicle is probably 65% American made parts (now what percent of those parts are partly outsourced you/I won't know) where the other parts come from--Japan, Europe, China, Mexico, you'll probably never know and 25% of the GM shareholders' profits will go to Toyota.
How many knife companies use American made steel for their blades? Not many...Swedish, German, Japanese definately...How many use USA made nylon or synthetic materials for their sheaths and handles? Not many...But at least they make them themselves and make them in the USA.