In what way is that a marketing success? If he just released them to all of dogdom, they would have sold extremely well based on the pictures and specs alone. But they were released only to those at Blade and sold only to those at Blade. Explain how selling fewer knives at a given price is better marketing than selling more knives at the same given price.
Marketing and sales are different.
He may well create more demand in the long run or re-enforce his brand by sacrificing short term sales.
On the other hand he may not,but my point it that marketing is not necessarily about moving units today or tomorrow. It can have other objectives.
Given that Blade was only a week or so ago, it's probably not fair to assess a Test Team as a martketing tool, if indeed that is part of the Test Team's role.
I rather hope HornDog is right an its more about tweaking the details than an actual conscious marketing manoeuvre. I think the "make great products at a reasonable price, with excellence via word of mouth of very satisfied customers" marketing plan has worked really well for the SYKCO and they don't need gimicks to market their products, all they need to do is keep selling them and these boards, Blade Forums and all you Dogs are all the marketing required.
