• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan
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joebone

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Jun 21, 2011
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What do you haters think we get for each bass? Do you think that we get the MSRP? What is an assembled 19mm street for...why are lefties more money? What would make anyone happy? how much should we sell them for to make everyone happy with a 90K investment?

For the record it is a 21 day window total.....I said black and msrp to begin with...I would have been better off not making the offer....

Here is the final deal...(BTW one person ordered and already canceled.....)

I will sell you the basses at $1,999.99....Through Shopatron...same deal with the color and choices....you have to make a non refundable 50% deposit....I will donate all of the proceeds to Pediatric Kidney Research...If there are 125 takers for this I will take that money and donate it to the Casey Lee Ball Foundation and make you the basses... (that comes to $249,875.00) if not I will refund the doposits immediately after the window closes....We support research at Seattle Childrens Hospital, Texas Childrens Hospital, Mattel Childrens Hospital at UCLA and Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. The same three week window applies...one week is gone.

That is a very sporting offer on price and on use of the funds!

Meanwhile, I"m the one who ordered and canceled, BUT it's because one of your staff called me this afternoon after I placed my Shopatron order, and said that the deposit was non-refundable under any and all circumstances! I never understood that to be the deal (and suspect you didn't either), but if that's what your staff was telling me, then I had no choice but to ask for cancellation. Half an hour later I hear from yet another of your staff, saying that the first person got it wrong and all the company was seeking to confirm is that once the 125 threshold is hit, the orders can't be canceled. Sounds fair to me, so I have email in to your first staffer, simply seeking written clarification on the deal so I can reinstate on the Shopatron.

So once this is sorted out, I'm back in. However, it may well be that the 125-unit threshold won't be hit. I can fully understand your reasons for insisting on that threshold, and even understand your cost structure as evident from the initial Shopatron listing.

I'll lift your email on deal terms over to TB. I fear this threshold won't be hit; it won't be for lack of trying on my behalf, but it also won't be the first time in my life that I see a deal not closing, even though it makes sense for all concerned. Whatever. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him do the backstroke.

Best,

jk
 

tunaman4u2

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Yeah its generous, but again its done in a way thats patronizing to the haters so its not going to change their opinion... and the fanboys are going to praise BP up & down.

It sucks that BP is in a no win situation... it shouldn't be this way but it is.
 

Big Poppa

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How in the world can this be patronizing....I also said from the start that your deposit was non refundable unless we didnt hit the 125...

Lets go back to the original discussion ....It was said that I was denying the public something that they really wanted....I tried to explain our business model and finally said..."Ok if they buy them Ill make them..." That wasnt good enough

Now I am giving 100% of the money away....and Im patronizing?

Really I would love to make this work and give everybody what they want..I am doing this as close as I can and it is still not enough.

How about the people who arent planning on buying find something else to do..There are a lot of problems in the world...If the people that want them have anything else they need to make their decision, let me know......I have to stay with the limited color however.
 

farkus

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Sep 11, 2010
Messages
5
I don't post much here, but just wanted to say I just placed an order for one of these based on the price reduction and the fact that BP put his money where his mouth is, so to speak, and the fact that it will go to charity is the kicker.
I work in sales/distribution and I can understand how the perception is that all sellers make a huge GM %. I'm no MBA, but small runs are not as profitable, I wouldn't think.
Now please excuse me while I go put a few things on CL to pay for this thing.:D
 

tunaman4u2

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How in the world can this be patronizing....

Haters are still hating... it doesn't seem like you can please em... its gotten pretty stupid over there on TB now with wild accusations of how & where the charity funds will be distributed. Personal & with no grounds

This got so ugly. Talk about negativity ruining what should have been a great opportunity to have a new product from EBMM. I've been neutral for a while but now I see what BP has to deal with.
You name me another company that innovates like a a Bongo, Reflex, Big Al, Gamechanger and gets so much crap for it... BP is trying, sure it could have been executed in a more friendly manner but I don't think its possible to have pleased these people... and thats not fair. The negativity got to BP... I can see why
 

bovinehost

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Jan 16, 2003
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Dall-Ass, TX
It's a bass. A BASS. You strike it in such a way and it makes bass-y sounds. Some are really good! Some really suck! Many people like different basses.

A bunch of people said they would like one a little different. This difference can be measured in tiny little units called "millimeters". But they were pretty sure they would sell like crazy if only this company would make them. They would buy them up like hotcakes. It was a no-brainer.

But then a few other people got together and said it was BAD. It was a PLOT. They got mad because they want to hear soothing platitudes and corp-speak from the man who runs the company, but he doesn't know how to do that very well. He's a funny guy! He thinks if you're acting like a jack-ass, someone should say, as directly as possible, "You're acting like a jack-ass." Those "few other people" don't like that. And they fail to realize that the man who runs this company is pretty funny, will buy you lunch for no good reason and maybe throw a party every now and then for a few hundred pasty-faced dweebs on the internet. He's a funny guy!

Anyway, that boss guy said, in non-corporate platitudes, "If there are enough of you guys who want a bass like this, I'll build it for you." But the few people who weren't going to buy one anyway worked as hard as they could to make it seem like something other than what it was. It's what they do. And they think that if you 'get it' and like this boss guy, you're a 'fanboi'. I think I'm one of those! oh noze!

But it's not as complex as they'd like you to think and it hardly matters if you like the boss a lot or not. It's a bass - I think I said that before. It's a little bit different, but not by much! Hardly any at all, really.

I think if you want a bass like that, though, you should get one if you can.

And that if you don't, then don't get one. But meantime, also STFU about things you don't know anything about.

That's what I do all the time, and - for whatever reasons - a lot of people like me (not my wife).
 

farkus

Member
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Sep 11, 2010
Messages
5
Bovine: I hope they hit 125 because I would love to have one. Stupid question ( maybe ) but assuming all this moves forward, will there be any differentiation between the the first 125 and whatever production runs may follow? Just curious.
BTW, what is the best microbrew pub in Dallas? I will be there in September.
 

Big Poppa

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The Casey Lee Ball Foundation is the largest private pediatric kidney foundation in the world. For over 18 years I have dedicated much of my time to help kids live longer with the over 50 terminal pediatric kidney diseases. I have given time, money ,blood, sweat and tears. The CLB has brought drugs to the market, taught doctors worldwide new protocals and improved the both the quality of life and life expectancy of thousands. My son is alive after going code blue twice and is still carrying my right kidney.

How dare any of you go there.

I am out of the conversation and will await the conclusion of the ordering window hoping like hell that I can write that check.

Please stop and think about what some of you are suggesting or saying...
 

bovinehost

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I don't particularly enjoy telling people what....first, I don't think is any of their business, and second, I find it uncomfortable to wave the "I'm A Personal Friend Of Sterling Ball" flag because it's easy to come off in a way I don't want to be, but a few of us who still frequent 'the other place' for whatever reasons did mention that anyone who talks BS about your support of pediatric kidney research has no idea what they're talking about.

I'll carry that flag for you any day, sir.
 

madbassplaya

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Feb 28, 2010
Messages
200
This has clearly gotten out of hand and areas that shouldn't have been discussed have. :(
 

narud

Member
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Nov 16, 2010
Messages
8
2k seems like a pretty fair deal for a bass that previously didnt exist if you are a die hard 19mm guy. i paid a premium to get a jazz 5'er with narrow spacing from a custom builder because thats what i needed as a player not as just a whim.
 

Big Poppa

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Coachella & SLO, California
OK Everybody please just stop....Im out. I hope I write the check. You know that when someone finally crosses the line? We are there. Lets just hope Koogie doesnt see it. hahaha

This thread will stay open as long as it is friendly, and fair...and about getting a bass that was not avialable before. If if keeps up all of the toxic vomit Ill close it.

Please take this as a fair warning. I am about done with the whole thing.
 

joebone

Active member
Joined
Jun 21, 2011
Messages
25
I'm disgusted. If Sterling Ball is sponsor of a pediatric kidney foundation with a family member's name attached, you'd think that even the dimmest of bulbs would make the connection, realize that there is a difficult backstory, graciously acknowledge Ball's commitment to the cause, and leave it alone.

All of this started over the possibility of a SR5 with wider neck/bridge spacing. It's devolved into a free-floating referendum on the motives, business acumen and ethics of a successful manufacturer, fueled largely by a bunch of nincompoops with lots of opinions on all sides of the issue but no real dog in the fight. Meanwhile, those of us with real interest in obtaining a wider SR are now hostage to this BS, with the predecessor EBBM thread shut down, and now with both TB threads shut down. Unbelievable.

Once the EBBM folks get squared away on the communication issues I described earlier, I'm back in, and I'm staying in for the duration. Unfortunately, the background noise has now taken center stage and I fear that those with real interest in the wide-format SR will be SOL, through no fault of their own.

Ouch.
 

narud

Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2010
Messages
8
I'm disgusted. If Sterling Ball is sponsor of a pediatric kidney foundation with a family member's name attached, you'd think that even the dimmest of bulbs would make the connection, realize that there is a difficult backstory, graciously acknowledge Ball's commitment to the cause, and leave it alone.

All of this started over the possibility of a SR5 with wider neck/bridge spacing. It's devolved into a free-floating referendum on the motives, business acumen and ethics of a successful manufacturer, fueled largely by a bunch of nincompoops with lots of opinions on all sides of the issue but no real dog in the fight. Meanwhile, those of us with real interest in obtaining a wider SR are now hostage to this BS, with the predecessor EBBM thread shut down, and now with both TB threads shut down. Unbelievable.

Once the EBBM folks get squared away on the communication issues I described earlier, I'm back in, and I'm staying in for the duration. Unfortunately, the background noise has now taken center stage and I fear that those with real interest in the wide-format SR will be SOL, through no fault of their own.

Ouch.

why dont you guys take it to your facebooks or whatever and try and spread the word past talkbass? maybe an email over to bassplayer could get it on their website?
 
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