I don't think that having the a) time, b) funds, c) ability and d) priorities to travel to BLADE means that an individual is necessarily any more loyal than others. I am sure that there are a lot of people that show greater loyalty to the Bussekin brands via a), b), c) or d) individually, and have substantial or focused interest in the knives that are equal to anyone else. But, the term "loyalty" is very subjective - most companies would measure it via exclusivity of the relationship to the customer within that market or the amount of revenue from the customer, rather than via attendance at a remote event.
I don't think that having the a) time, b) funds, c) ability and d) priorities to travel to BLADE means that an individual is necessarily any more loyal than others. I am sure that there are a lot of people that show greater loyalty to the Bussekin brands via a), b), c) or d) individually, and have substantial or focused interest in the knives that are equal to anyone else. But, the term "loyalty" is very subjective - most companies would measure it via exclusivity of the relationship to the customer within that market or the amount of revenue from the customer, rather than via attendance at a remote event.
Here here Raoul!
Some of us live in a different countries.
In my case on the other side of the world, in a different hemisphere, which makes Blade a pretty expensive proposition (especially if you actually intend to walk away with some of the superlative steel on offer!!!!), much as I'd love to attend one.
I don't really know if internet customers are the lowest priority - if we are so be it.
But we internet customers don't have to like it - or bear it in silence.
For the record I've been completely happy with my few Busse and SYKCO Internet purchases and the service has been outstanding, but I do get disappointed with "the tyranny of distance" and the disadvantages it entails.
Not the Busse Bros fault or a problem for them to address, but as some of the others have said, attendance at a show is not the necessarily a reasonable measure of loyalty.
It makes me sad (and it sticks in the craw) that a speculator who doesn't really care a hoot about a Bussekin other than as a commodity that he can turn around at a hefty markup, but who can make it to Blade or another show can purchase the rarest and finest on offer and put it on the 'Bay the week after for a hefty margin or 6 months later at 100%+ markup. But the people who really do appreciate (or have a real use for) the knives might not be able to get them for love nor money. I don't see a lot lot loyalty in the example of the speculator, but using the standard "took the time and had the money to attend blade (or some other show)" that speculator is a fine, loyal fan while some others who might only ever buy Bussekins and never sell them (no matter how many or how few), because they truly admire and appreciate them might be considered less loyal.
Being able to attend a show is really more an accident of geography than a measure of loyalty in my mind.
Again I re-iterate the above is not directed at the Busse Bros and their sales/marketing choices, but is directed at the notion that attendance at a show which merely requires funds (which in many cases is an accident in choosing parents) or lucky geography is a meaningful measure of loyalty or dedication to a product/brand/marque.
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