Price Increase FAQ

On September 28, 2012, the price on many Saddleback products will be raised. Below are some FAQs to address some questions you might have about the increase. Be sure to check out my letter for the full story. If you still have questions, give the shop a call.

We are raising prices 10%-22%, even though our wholesale and manufacturing costs have risen much more than that since our last price adjustment in September 2009. This increase is absolutely necessary for us to continue to offer the highest quality leather products that you've come to expect from Saddleback.

The increase on some designs is higher due to three primary factors:

1)Benchmade Craftsmanship - Most of Dave’s designs are made on the main floor of our manufacturing facility. But there are a few select designs, like our suitcase, that require so much time and skill to make that we created a special workshop to assemble them in. The suitcases have hand-built frames and are finished with hand-sewn boot cord. They’re assembled by skilled craftsmen and women with years, if not decades, of experience. It takes a lot of time and a true leather artisan to craft our suitcases and we make sure to pay them accordingly.

2) Some designs require larger hides - Finding a consistent supply of quality hides that meet our blemish standards and are large enough for our bigger designs is a constant challenge. Whole hides also take a lot more time and expense to produce than half hides, which is how most leather is purchased. You might think that two half hides cost the same or more than one whole hide, but actually the opposite is true. Very large hides cost more per square foot than smaller hides.

3) R & D - Dave is obsessed with Quality. He is constantly reevaluating his designs, looking for ways to make them even better than they already are. If he finds a better stitching method, a stronger thread, a stickier glue, or a stouter rivet, he’ll tweak the design. One example of this is the polystyrene material we’re currently using in the suitcase walls. It’s lighter and stronger (and more expensive) than the plastic we used in previous models. Quality is in the details.

The Classic Duffel, Beast Duffel, and small, medium and large Suitcases fall into one or more of the three factors listed above. The price increase on these products will be 22%.

We will not be increasing prices on the Gadget Sleeves in size Small and Medium, the Tow Belt and Old Bull belt, the Unisex Bracelet, the Monitor Pad and the Wide Belt Pouch.

We know inventory and out of stock situations recently have been very stressful for us and annoying for you. If the item you would like to purchase isn't in stock, please contact customer service and we will ensure that your order is locked in at the original price. However, if the item you would like to order isn't going up in price (see above FAQ), this won't apply.

Sure. You can send it back in brand new condition within 30 days, but to keep things simple, we don't actually process exchanges. We just offer refunds. That means you can order that new item when you're ready. You don't have to wait on us. Or if you prefer, you can wait until we tell you that your refund has been processed and place your order at that time. Please allow ten business days for your refund to process once we receive it.

The last time we adjusted prices was September of 2009. We will only ever raise prices as a direct response to rising costs of materials and manufacturing. If costs continue to increase as they have, we may be compelled to do another slight price adjustment in 2013.