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Post by LG Martial Arts on Feb 19, 2015 17:01:57 GMT
I just got a letter from Windlass - it seems that they're halting wholesale pricing for ALL retailers (excluding costumes and LARP gear). If you ever wanted to get a Windlass sword or other weapon from your favorite store, now's the time since the pricing will change starting March 1st.
February 13, 2015 Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to inform you of a change to our wholesale program. We will no longer be able to provide a discount on any items currently being manufactured by Windlass Steelcrafts effective March 1, 2015. This has been necessitated by the market, rising labor & material cost and the resulting low margins. Orders received after this date will not be processed for Windlass Steelcrafts items which include armor, shields, helmets, swords, daggers, etc. This is a decision that was not arrived at lightly. However due to market constraints we are forced to pull back the offerings. Your company has been a good reseller for our brands and we would like to continue business with you through our other lines which include clothing/costumes/accessories from our garment manufacturing company R.S.Windlass & Sons. We value your business and sincerely regret any inconvenience to it this may cause. Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely, Mr. Pradeep Windlass President Windlass Steelcrafts subsidiaries in the USA
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Post by Afoo on Feb 19, 2015 17:19:59 GMT
Time to make it rain.....
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Post by William Swiger on Feb 19, 2015 20:54:27 GMT
Looks to me like they will be competing more possibly with Cold Steel on some similar models. VA, Del Tin and a couple others are well above Windlass/MRL regular pricing.
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Post by Bryan Heff on Feb 19, 2015 21:32:18 GMT
Pradeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (in that Captain Kirk sort of scream)
So does this mean KOA and other retailer prices will go up? I imagine so...well that sux. Not that I really bought Windlass stuff from KOA, usually grabbed my Windlass stuff via Deal of the Day or second hand market.
again I say..
Pradeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Feb 19, 2015 22:16:51 GMT
Yes, the rep I spoke to said this will affect all retailers. Prices will go up after current stock is depleted. If you've ever wanted to get a Windlass model, better do it before prices go up - either that, or buy on the secondary market.
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Post by Voltan on Feb 19, 2015 22:32:56 GMT
Yes, the rep I spoke to said this will affect all retailers. Prices will go up after current stock is depleted. If you've ever wanted to get a Windlass model, better do it before prices go up - either that, or buy on the secondary market. No kidding there, time is short indeed. Glad I already have the Windlass pieces I wanted. As the word gets out, I imagine KOA's stock will deplete rapidly.
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Post by JGonzalez on Feb 19, 2015 23:26:07 GMT
Pradeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (in that Captain Kirk sort of scream) So does this mean KOA and other retailer prices will go up? I imagine so...well that sux. Not that I really bought Windlass stuff from KOA, usually grabbed my Windlass stuff via Deal of the Day or second hand market. again I say.. Pradeep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a guy in town whose official license plate reads "KHAAAAN"
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Feb 20, 2015 11:29:02 GMT
They will price themselves right out of business, their swords dont compare to the higher price bracket offerings.
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Post by William Swiger on Feb 20, 2015 12:37:55 GMT
For me it is not a big deal as I have owned every Windlass sword I was interested in. Still have more than a few in the man cave.
Even at MRL/Windlass prices, they are still a good entry level option on some models.
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Scott
Member
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Post by Scott on Feb 20, 2015 12:39:26 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks it's weird that their response to rising costs is to get rid of wholesale discounts?
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Feb 20, 2015 12:52:08 GMT
Am I the only one who thinks it's weird that their response to rising costs is to get rid of wholesale discounts? That was actually my first thought - getting rid of wholesale prices for retailers like KOA or smaller businesses like mine makes no (business) sense. Like Wes stated before, I think this is going to have a negative effect on their bottom line in the long term. The short term effect of having all of their products sold/ordered before March 1st will not really affect their long term problems imho, and will really only make things worse for the company.
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Feb 20, 2015 14:31:15 GMT
And this is why KOA still is waiting for the Eglinton basket hilt. They will get them after March 1. Might as well order one straight from MRL then. Which is what I will do now. How is the MRL sharpening service? Want to bet Universal and Weapon Edge will soon follow. If Chinese factories pick up on this and start doing Euro swords for the old Windlass prices, the old Indian families are done. Dealers in far away places, with much higher costs, like Irongate in Finland, will fold or will turn to other brands if they have the stamina. Some smart Chinese gentleman is going to buy the Windlass brand name before long. And with the Chinese penchant to actually listen to their costumers they will survive. Windlass never did something with the complaints about taperless swords, too light stock, etc, etc. They did not have to, because the sword side of the enterprise is just a side show. They are big in hotel chains and such. If they want to survive this price hike, they better start with listening pronto. I do not hold my breath.
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Razor
Senior Forumite
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Post by Razor on Feb 20, 2015 15:51:28 GMT
And this is why KOA still is waiting for the Eglinton basket hilt. They will get them after March 1. Might as well order one straight from MRL then. Which is what I will do now. How is the MRL sharpening service? Want to bet Universal and Weapon Edge will soon follow. If Chinese factories pick up on this and start doing Euro swords for the old Windlass prices, the old Indian families are done. Dealers in far away places, with much higher costs, like Irongate in Finland, will fold or will turn to other brands if they have the stamina. Some smart Chinese gentleman is going to buy the Windlass brand name before long. And with the Chinese penchant to actually listen to their costumers they will survive. Windlass never did something with the complaints about taperless swords, too light stock, etc, etc. They did not have to, because the sword side of the enterprise is just a side show. They are big in hotel chains and such. If they want to survive this price hike, they better start with listening pronto. I do not hold my breath. MRL sharpening service is about the same as KOA(secondary bevel).
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Feb 20, 2015 18:59:00 GMT
Thanks Razor.
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Post by jwest on Feb 20, 2015 22:43:57 GMT
Bad move. The low price point is what sells their product. Why would someone pay MRL prices when Hanwei Tinkers can be purchased for around two hundred dollars? Maybe KOA will start selling more stuff from the retailers in the Czech Republic.
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Feb 21, 2015 0:41:59 GMT
Unwelcome news and it'll certainly make me think twice about buying a majority of their products, but I'm mainly concerned with the few items that MRL doesn't seem to stock that you can get on KoA, such as their Russian Kindjal and Qama; both are on backorder on KoA, but are they going to be restocked in the future? If not, it looks like I need to start lurking on eBay if I ever want to get them.
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Post by nddave on Feb 22, 2015 3:51:55 GMT
Sad to see. Hopefully they keep the weekend deals though, they're actually better than KOA most of the time. Unfortunately it's only one weekend and you never know if it'll be a worthwhile sword or some dagger or larp thing...
Benefit is on most worthy models you're only paying $40-50 more on MRL than KOA so it's not too much of a bite to the wallet. Will definitely be taking the Classic Medieval off my wish list and into my home. The rest on my list won't gouge me too bad with the price hike. It's still a smaller price raise than Hanwei. Plus there's the 10% discount from SBG and their mailing list if you get the magazines.
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Post by Afoo on Feb 22, 2015 5:48:23 GMT
so, I do not usually look at MRL - I only went there today because I wanted the Munich sword, but its backordered on KoA. I did notice that the MRL price matches the "retail price" (MRSP) listed on KoA (ie: for the Munich sword KoA gives a retail price of 265, but sells it for 209) Is it possible that MRL has already raised their prices to match this new development? I do not remember the price of the Munich on MRL prior to this news, so I cannot say
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Post by jwest on Feb 22, 2015 6:33:11 GMT
Unwelcome news and it'll certainly make me think twice about buying a majority of their products, but I'm mainly concerned with the few items that MRL doesn't seem to stock that you can get on KoA, such as their Russian Kindjal and Qama; both are on backorder on KoA, but are they going to be restocked in the future? If not, it looks like I need to start lurking on eBay if I ever want to get them. The Kindjal is at Atlanta Cutlery. Russian Kindjal Reproduction Military Issue Weapon
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Feb 22, 2015 14:40:54 GMT
FYI, Museum Replicas is owned by Atlanta Cutlery... both companies were bought by Windlass in 1995 windlass.com/about-us/
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