I heard that some knife makers make models specifically for Wal-Mart, at lower standers than non-Wal-Mart models.

Any truth to that?

I have no idea if it is true but I always found it strange that a Spyderco Native with S30V blade was only $35 at Walmart and everywhere else had them for at least $60. The Spyderco website even had them listed for I think $85.

WOW! I had never heard that. I would be surprised if a well-known maker would be willing to sell something less than their standard, b/c once you leave the store, no one knows where you bought it.

Perhaps they can price them lower than everyone else b/c they probably buy them in quantities of thousands at a time.

A Wal-Mart Native was my first, but not last Native. It's in no way inferior to Spyderco's sold elsewhere.

Wal-Mart can buy in such HUGE quantities and demand a low wholesale price, that they can sell at a lower profit %.

BTW- Just received my Toxic-Green USN Endura, AWESOME knife!

I got my Kershaw Blur there... had to send it back to oregon because the blade tip broke... but I actually believe that had more to do with blade design (very narrow tip on a tanto blade) than anything else. They covered it by warranty just like any other of their knives.

Well, I know that Walmart does try to force all suppliers to reduce costs as much as possible, and a lower quality doesn't seem to be an issue.

I have heard from a few different sources that the HD TV's sold at Walmart have cheaper components in them than those sold at electronic dealers, even when they have the same manufacturer and model. This is due to the high volume required and the ever present need to cut costs.

I know this is based on hearsay but I would not be surprised if that were true. We have a friend of the family who is a master electrician. He advised me never to buy power tools from the big makers at Home Depot because they use cheaper internal components than ones you buy elsewhere. He frequently serviced his own tools and has seen the differences.

The folding hunter series from Buck are the same at Walmart as anywhere else.

are the natives still available at walmart for that price?

Check out Wal Mart online, they have deals on Delicas in VG-10 steel and the budget priced Byrd models. Jump on these before they're gone too.

quote:

Originally posted by Zenmeister:
Check out Wal Mart online, they have deals on Delicas in VG-10 steel and the budget priced Byrd models. Jump on these before they're gone too.

You can get just about the same deal (maybe $2 more) from places like New Graham. I'd rather send my cash to NGK than Walmart.

I have heard this before too. Not about knives but about other products. My Father in Law is pretty high up in one of the big box retailers (not Wal-Mart) and I asked him about it awhile ago. If the model number is the same, the product is the same. Hands down, across the board. Home Depot, Sears, Wal-Mart or Bobs Big TV warehouse it doesn't matter.

You will see some variation in model numbers from place to place, and there will be some differences. So the Milwakee power saw you bought at Ace may look exactly like the one you found at Home Depot, but the model number may be 800-90009 vs 800-9009. That would be two different products. Sometimes stores do this in order to obtain a special price. Wal-Mart cannot match the price of the Sony TV at Target because even though the specs may be identical the models are slightly different. And price matching is the biggest reason they do it.

If the model number on the knife you buy at Wal-Mart is the same as the one on the shelf at Bass Pro, it is the same knife. Wal-Mart has all kinds of ways they can make that knife cheaper.

I do know for a fact that stores like Walmart do this kind of thing with other products. I remember sitting down one night with some friends to watch a NEW copy of The Fast and the Furious some years ago and finidng out, to my amazment, that it was an "edited" copy of the movie. They do this a lot with music which is why I no longer buy those kinds of stuff there anymore.

As far as knives go, it would not surprise me. If you notice as far as the "Walmart" knives goes they come in what is called "blister packs." Knives like the Spyderco Native come in boxes unless the retailer specifically asks for it in a "blister pack." When it is sold like this to the retailer the price is different. I bought a Ka-Bar Mule folder this way and it was $20 cheaper. The store actually asked if I had a preference when I paid for it. Walmart where I live doesn't sell any knives at this time NOT in blister packs and haven't sold the Native since the 4th design change of the knife (Native 4) came out.

quote:

Originally posted by ram229:
I do know for a fact that stores like Walmart do this kind of thing with other products. I remember sitting down one night with some friends to watch a NEW copy of The Fast and the Furious some years ago and finidng out, to my amazment, that it was an "edited" copy of the movie. They do this a lot with music which is why I no longer buy those kinds of stuff there anymore.

As far as knives go, it would not surprise me. If you notice as far as the "Walmart" knives goes they come in what is called "blister packs." Knives like the Spyderco Native come in boxes unless the retailer specifically asks for it in a "blister pack." When it is sold like this to the retailer the price is different. I bought a Ka-Bar Mule folder this way and it was $20 cheaper. The store actually asked if I had a preference when I paid for it. Walmart where I live doesn't sell any knives at this time NOT in blister packs and haven't sold the Native since the 4th design change of the knife (Native 4) came out.

You are correct, Wal-Mart sells edited media material. The part number for that DVD will be different from the part number at a different store selling the unedited content version.

I will say it again, if the model number is the same, the product is the same. If it is not, then it may not be the same product.

I'm not saying Wal-Mart does not have a contract with benchmade or ka-bar or anyone else to provide them cheaper quality knives. What I am saying is that it isn't a secret, just look at the model number and it will tell you.

Here is an example, the Kershaw Blur found on Wal-Marts website has a model number of 1670TBLKSTWM


The Blur found on Kershaws website has a model number of 1670TBLKST

And the one on sears website shows 1670TBLKST

Notice the WM at the end of the model number for Walmarts. My guess is it stands for Wal-Mart. I also guess you won't find that model number anywhere else since it is a model made only for Wal-Mart. If you look at the descriptions you get this difference on the handle type

Wal-Mart

quote:

Handle: black aluminum

Kershaw

quote:

Handle: 6061-T6 anodized aluminum with Trac-Tec inserts

Are they really different? I don't know, but the description is and so it is possible they are slightly different. The one at Wal-Mart is $18 less than sears and $42 less than the MSP. Anyway, the point is the product could certainly be different but the model number will tell you if it is or not. And as I said before, this is really about price matching alot of the time. Here is the price matching details on the Sears website

quote:

If you find a lower price on an identical branded item with the same features (in Home Electronics identical brand and model number) currently available for sale at another local competitor retail store, Sears will match that price plus, give you 10% of the difference.

That does say home electronics on it, but I bet if you try to take an ad for the kershaw blur you find from Wal-Mart to Sears they will not price match it based on the different model number.

Wal-Mart Blur

Kershaw Blur

Sears Blur

Just some follow up info. Cool to hear right from the horses mouth like this. Read Sal's response about the Native.



http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40671

http://www.spyderco.com/forums...=362438&postcount=14

My first Native came from NGK; I bought it based on Agony's review and photos. Then I lost it.

The one I have now came from SuperWalMart in Phoenix, AZ. I've noticed no difference between them.

I purchased a CRKT there about a year ago. I wasnt looking for a knife, but purchased it solely on how cheap it was. I own other CRKTs and it seemed like a deal I couldnt pass up. I ended up taking it back within a few days. I dont know if the model I purchased was just a really cheap model, but I own other M16 models and was happy with them. This one was not up to par.

I once heard that the pocket clip on the Wal-Mart Spyderco Natives is a lower quality than on typical Spydercos. I think I remember hearing that the black coating is painted on instead of applied using some other process. Spyderco did this to save money.

By the way, I got one from Wal-Mart and really like it. But, the black coating on the clip is easily scratched.

Joe Mamma

I had a very nice Gerber Multi Tool and misplaced it. I found what I thought was an identical one at WM. As soon as I got home and used it I could see an enormous difference in the pliers, the blades etc. I would have never bought it had I known it and have never seen one as nice and tight as my original.

I bought one of the Natives from Walmart when they were first available. Lost it, then bought another from NG. So far as I could tell, there was no difference between the two. I much prefer the Native FRN to the other existing variants to the Native (Native 3 & 4). I believe they also made one that had a carbon fiber handle and ZDP 189 steel blade. I still prefer the FRN version. By far and away the best small folding knife I've ever had and the best price for what you get.