The current situation regarding the lack of availability of REVO shafts reminds me of Nintendo's 2016 release of the NES Classic. Production outpaced demand to an extreme amount such that the devices simply weren't available. This led to excessively high secondary market prices - the few people who had managed to acquire them were selling this $60 device for up to $500 dollars. Similarly, a quick ebay search reveals that the $499 REVO shaft is selling for $650-700. Not yet at the NES level of gouging, but significantly higher than retail, especially considering that there are still many detractors who claim the price is already too high.
Nintendo suffered an extensive public backlash for the incident, primarily for their lack of explanation or engagement with their customers. Those customers, older gamers buying the system for nostalgic reasons, often elected to boycott the product and the company. I personally fell into this category and will never again give Nintendo one red cent. I am concerned about the negative effect this situation is having on the Predator customer base. I've been a dedicated Predator customer for years, and while I am not yet ready to boycott Predator, at some point it will happen if the situation is not resolved.
Being more open with the customers would go a long way towards mitigating the ill effects of this situation. What is causing the lack of availability? If production is at a complete standstill, what is causing that? What is being done to rectify the situation? If something is being produced, then there should be *some* availability somewhere, even if it was trickling out month by month. If you are applying all production to new full cue orders only, then you are doing your existing customers a huge disservice. I'm not going to buy a $1400 cue to obtain a $500 shaft when I already have several Predator butts. I get that this isn't a simple matter of "turning up the spigot", but if you want your customers to stay your customers, you have to let us know that the faucet is at least running.
And it isn't just the retail consumer who is apparently in the dark: calls to suppliers indicate that they have no idea what is going on or when the stock may be available. I've been quoted everything from November to March, and according to other posts on this site some people have already been waiting for months. When your customers don't know what is happening, and your retailers don't know what is happening, that's a dangerous situation, especially considering that your monopoly on the market is about to disappear.
The best rule of business I've ever heard was "never get in the way of customers trying to give you money", but it seems you are doing exactly that. You have created a product that people want, and at an unprecedented price point: it is a true shame to see you effectively squandering this opportunity and your customers' good will.
Nintendo suffered an extensive public backlash for the incident, primarily for their lack of explanation or engagement with their customers. Those customers, older gamers buying the system for nostalgic reasons, often elected to boycott the product and the company. I personally fell into this category and will never again give Nintendo one red cent. I am concerned about the negative effect this situation is having on the Predator customer base. I've been a dedicated Predator customer for years, and while I am not yet ready to boycott Predator, at some point it will happen if the situation is not resolved.
Being more open with the customers would go a long way towards mitigating the ill effects of this situation. What is causing the lack of availability? If production is at a complete standstill, what is causing that? What is being done to rectify the situation? If something is being produced, then there should be *some* availability somewhere, even if it was trickling out month by month. If you are applying all production to new full cue orders only, then you are doing your existing customers a huge disservice. I'm not going to buy a $1400 cue to obtain a $500 shaft when I already have several Predator butts. I get that this isn't a simple matter of "turning up the spigot", but if you want your customers to stay your customers, you have to let us know that the faucet is at least running.
And it isn't just the retail consumer who is apparently in the dark: calls to suppliers indicate that they have no idea what is going on or when the stock may be available. I've been quoted everything from November to March, and according to other posts on this site some people have already been waiting for months. When your customers don't know what is happening, and your retailers don't know what is happening, that's a dangerous situation, especially considering that your monopoly on the market is about to disappear.
The best rule of business I've ever heard was "never get in the way of customers trying to give you money", but it seems you are doing exactly that. You have created a product that people want, and at an unprecedented price point: it is a true shame to see you effectively squandering this opportunity and your customers' good will.
