Come on Benchmade!
To whom it may concern:
I feel like I shouldn't have to beg you to do something to save yourselves but here we are.
I love your products and your service has always been top tier.
I own dozens and dozens of your knives.
I've recommended them countless times both in person and online.
I've bought them as gifts for friends and family.
That being said the past few days have been what amounts to a dumpster fire on a runaway train.
The gun destruction was bad. Really bad.
The political donations were worse.
The lack of any sort of coordinated response has been...flabbergasting.
First there was no response at all while the online outrage escalated. Then, there was the non-response response posted online and things started getting completely out of hand.
Finally, Les released the video response which basically failed to address the issue completely.
The poor marketing guy made an attempt on Gresham's show but was woefully unprepared for what he was dealing with. Now, nothing but silence on this issue. The largest PR crisis you've ever faced and it still has not been properly addressed.
This is not going to blow over in a couple days or weeks or months or years.
Ask Zumbo, or Springfield Armory or Dick's sporting goods.
People. Are. Furious.
On some level, people at Benchmade have to know how closely your company is tied to the gun industry. You buy ads in gun magazines. You go to SHOT and the NRA convention. You manufactured a series of knives emblazoned with the NRA logo. Hell, I can't even buy a Benchmade anywhere but A GUN SHOP within 100 miles of here! Some of those gun shops have already removed your products from their stores.
My heart goes out to those dedicated Benchmade employees who did nothing to cause this but may now have to suffer the consequences. Everyone I've dealt with at Benchmade both on the phone and on this forum has been a pleasure. Friendly, helpful and made me feel like a valued customer.
There has been damage done that may never be remedied but it is not too late to stop the bleeding before it's gets worse. But you have to do SOMETHING!
APOLOGIZE. For real. Companies, being run by humans, are imperfect. We make mistakes. Many people want to forgive but you have to ask.
EXPLAIN. Tell us what you're going to do to try to fix this.
TAKE ACTION. Follow through and show your commitment to the 2nd amendment rights that a vast majority of your customers hold so sacred.
I am just some guy on the internet who really likes your products. I can't make you do anything. I really want to keep buying your knives and I want others to as well. But only you can save yourselves.
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Transgressions aside.
This whole thing has been handled with the utmost incompetence.
Should have took a page. Lynn Thomson handled this perfectly. With class, honestly and integrity. And took no dirty shots. As a matter of fact..Lynn took a couple of clean ones.
I've seen none of that from Benchmade thus far. Quite the contrary.
Who's laughing at Lynn now? Nobody.
I certainly won't anymore. Cold Steel will be getting more of my business, for sure.
Les and Jr should have went in the feild, rolled their sleeves up, and shot some firearms..apologized, sincerely... spoke about plans forward and reaffirmed their commitment to 2A.
..all, while eating apple pie.
A token 5 figure donation wouldn't hurt.All that's for free. Because the product and staff have been stellar in my experience. Customer Service, exemplary.
I hear there are some new changes coming for CS.
Those aren't the changes I would be concerned w/ at present.
Transgressions moved back, front 'n center.
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Stating to think BKC is hoping if they stay shut up this whole thing will blow over. Either that or they flat out don’t care what people think
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patrick posted:Les and Jr should have went in the field, rolled their sleeves up, and shot some firearms..apologized, sincerely... spoke about plans forward and reaffirmed their commitment to 2A.
Man, if they've have done that, I would have been a bigger supporter than ever before. But, alas, I just bought my first Zero Tolerance a few minutes ago. (I had already cancelled my GC Bugout order).
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Man, if they've have done that, I would have been a bigger supporter than ever before. But, alas, I just bought my first Zero Tolerance a few minutes ago. (I had already cancelled my GC Bugout order).+ price going up + charging pocket clip +.......
oh, boy,
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I have no interest in buying other brands. I've got more Benchmades than several generations of my descendants could wear out. I'll just use what I have but I'm waiting to see before I buy any more. I cancelled my Gold Class Bugout as well (and the 535 is my favorite knife ever) and bought a couple Glocks instead.
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glocker199 posted:I have no interest in buying other brands. I've got more Benchmades than several generations of my descendants could wear out. I'll just use what I have but I'm waiting to see before I buy any more. I cancelled my Gold Class Bugout as well (and the 535 is my favorite knife ever) and bought a couple Glocks instead.
I lost count of how many BMKs I've got. Was hoping that my boys would get a good price for my collection when I'm dead and gone. Now I'm wondering how all this is going to affect resale value on my GCs, LEs, Customs and just plain old BMKs?
I too was getting ready to push the button on a GC Bugout. Stopped and started looking at a Kimber Pro CDP that I've wanted for a bit. Oh well... So it cost a few more bucks!
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sre1 posted:patrick posted:Les and Jr should have went in the field, rolled their sleeves up, and shot some firearms..apologized, sincerely... spoke about plans forward and reaffirmed their commitment to 2A.
Man, if they've have done that, I would have been a bigger supporter than ever before. But, alas, I just bought my first Zero Tolerance a few minutes ago. (I had already cancelled my GC Bugout order).
The 0450CF is nice IMHO
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I always like to think that BKC reads these post.
I know Jason reads some parts of the Forum and not some others and then he has to bring it to the attention of someone who cares.
Well thought out and written post Glocker
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A few years ago I retired an 18 year old Case that I had carried everyday the entire time, and ever since I retired it I have been a loyal Benchmade fan. This whole fiasco has really kicked me in the gut and left me feeling like I've just been spit in the face too.
The cutting up guns wasn't so much what bothered me (well, it did a little, but not all on it's own). What really bothered me is what has come out since then. It has left me wondering whether I can ever support them again, even if they do finally apologize...I mean a serious heartfelt apology to their customers, Many, maybe even the overwhelming majority of whom are also gun owners (myself included). Might be an issue of too little, too late.
I have not been incredibly pressed about purchasing any other knives lately, as finances have been directed in other areas of life. That said, I have been having trouble even carrying my knives with me because nowadays they are almost exclusively Benchmade. Two Cold Steel Recons (one mini) and one SOG are the others. Point here is that I have just completed the purchase of my first, and probably not my last Spyderco. Got a Manix 2 coming in, and eventually gonna get a Native 5 to replace my Nakamura. Sad, because I have enjoyed carrying and using it every day since I bought it.
Thanks for nothing, Benchmade!!!
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/|\, real hardship Glocker!😂
sounds like lots of members giving up buying Benchmade’s for Lent or a seven year drought - not sure which.
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billhammer posted:/|\, real hardship Glocker!😂
sounds like lots of members giving up buying Benchmade’s for Lent or a seven year drought - not sure which.
Benchmade better hope only Lent. My bugout gold came into my brick and mortar. I couldn't leave him hanging (another one is in the case, so someone left him hanging). I bought it and looked it over. It is a Marty special (number 88) and looks great, but I had to put it away. It was making me feel dirty. Carrying the Chris Reeve Sebenza I found in my sock drawer. It is ok, I guess. At least it doesn't make me think about the whole situation. I haven't carried the Sebenza since I got it maybe 5 years ago. Got to say, it is better than ok.
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The real issue for me at this point hasn't been the cutting of guns and the donations, it's been the response since all this was brought to light. Seriously, you clowns should of learned a lesson from prior events like this that occurred and hired a PR firm immediately to handle this incident. Instead, you have been repeatedly tripping over your feet with stupid interviews and pointless yapping since this started.
Combine this with the Gold Class MAP change, which BY THE WAY isn't what you said it was, you raised the dealer cost and the MAP, so while the dealer is coming out slightly ahead on the 15% Benchmade is also making more profit since wholesale went up. Now we apparently have the clip cost about to be added. I mean seriously, you have literally priced yourself up into the zone of several other US made knife makers to the point cost wise you aren't the best value for the dollar anymore.
I have 50 Benchmades, my next closest brand now is WE with about 8. My dealer who has been great to me has already ordered my Bugout GC...this will be the last Benchmade I buy in the short term, and possibly period. I am also debating on whether I am going to dump about 40 of my BM's to help fund the purchase of a bunch of other stuff I have been wanting at Bladeshow this year.
I probably spend about $3,000 a year on Benchmade (I have spent over $1,000 this year before this trainwreck), so congratulations on actually making me expand my horizon into areas I probably wouldn't of ever considered prior to last week.
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Damn great display Halflife!
If you do decide to let those 40 BMKs go cheap hit me up!
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HalfLife,
I hear you and agree. The response or lack thereof is what is killing me. Making life even more difficult during a hard time.
When you get that bugout hold it against an LED light for about two minutes. It glows bright.
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Had a 940 on pre-order and cancelled the order. My CC was refunded so I bought a Bark River as I have a collection of those as well and do enjoy a well built fixed blade. I don't have to worry about Mr. Stewart stabbing me in the back. Years ago I started collecting made in the USA Spyderco's and that is what I have been carrying since this whole fiasco went down. I always thought my Benchmades were an investment. Not anymore, I'll probably lose my ass when I start selling them off.
Isn't Les's kid in charge now? Nothing but silence...now would be a good time to step up and show some leadership. Honestly Benchmade should hire a CEO that has a lot of experience and is known to be a Pro 2nd Amendment person. Based off what has been attempts at salvaging their reputations (or silence) Benchamde folks are in over their heads. Time for a change....
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halflife78 posted:
Combine this with the Gold Class MAP change, which BY THE WAY isn't what you said it was, you raised the dealer cost and the MAP, so while the dealer is coming out slightly ahead on the 15% Benchmade is also making more profit since wholesale went up. Now we apparently have the clip cost about to be added. I mean seriously, you have literally priced yourself up into the zone of several other US made knife makers to the point cost wise you aren't the best value for the dollar anymore.
They have to do the donation. Where do you think the $ come from?
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Are anybody still looking forward to a Forum knife?
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Just the Bedlam one
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tu posted:
Just the Bedlam one
/|\,+1
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billhammer posted:tu posted:
Just the Bedlam one
/|\,+1
+2!
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It would be nice if we can get one for a deeeep discount.
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arcsupply posted:
Are anybody still looking forward to a Forum knife?
Ha! If it were a GC Fixed Bedlam, I’d tell them to pound sand.
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They have little to apologize for other than maybe not just saying something like, "We donated a lot of money to local politicans to gain access and hopefully influence. Yes, like every company, we were trying to buy our own politicians. Get over it."
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I've had at least one, usually two Benchmades in my pockets since the 870 and 812 came out. It saddens me, but I've bought my last one.
I haven't been very active in here for a bit; that's about to be even less.
Ah, those were the days.
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unicorn posted:
They have little to apologize for other than maybe not just saying something like, "We donated a lot of money to local politicans to gain access and hopefully influence. Yes, like every company, we were trying to buy our own politicians. Get over it."
Hey, " My Pretty Pony"..
Do you really live under a rainbow, running through fields of marshmallows and gumdrops..?
Or are you just some guy, dressed up in a donkey costume, w/ an empty toilet paper roll taped to your forehead?
Oh, hey Sparkles ...your "horn" is crooked..
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/|\, Unicorn apologies. I don’t always agree with Patrick but his posts always entertain.
Patrick, you still watching double episodes of My Little Pony with granddaughter? 🦄🤫
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arcsupply posted:Man, if they've have done that, I would have been a bigger supporter than ever before. But, alas, I just bought my first Zero Tolerance a few minutes ago. (I had already cancelled my GC Bugout order).
+ price going up + charging pocket clip +.......
oh, boy,
If you don't mind me askin, what did ya get? I've been looking at more & more of them
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Don't step in front of me Bill..it's not safe.
You are my east coast brother, ..tho' trapped behind the walls in that police state (hold fast, soldier. Rescue plan in effect..waiting on weather. Stand-by
) when I start to flail, I tend to black out...wouldn't want you to get caught accidentally...cause, we friends.. sincerely
Oh, and to your question..
Yes
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