Considering I see Kamui as a target for converting players over from it is with a heavy heart that I have to say I agree with them on this one... To ship a tip 1st class costs the price of the envelope, the labor to package it and .66 cents IF you DON"T track it... They would have to track them or you can guarantee they would get the old "I never got it routine" from someone...
The tip offer was for advertisement to get players to try their tips that maybe had not tried them... If they send out tips then you can just sell it for your money back to someone who already uses and likes Kamui... Which would totally defeat the purpose...
If the voucher is transferable maybe someone would be willing to buy them off of the guys that cannot get to an authorized repair center or do their own tips......
I may end up doing Ki-Tech Samplers as PPV incentives at some point and I will have to SEND tips but if I had repair centers stocking the Ki-Techs I would likely do it the same was as Bertone...
My only thoughts are that they should have been very clear up front as to what the voucher was for... Maybe they were and we all missed it....
Chris
Considering I see Kamui as a target for converting players over from it is with a heavy heart that I have to say I agree with them on this one... To ship a tip 1st class costs the price of the envelope, the labor to package it and .66 cents IF you DON"T track it... They would have to track them or you can guarantee they would get the old "I never got it routine" from someone...
The tip offer was for advertisement to get players to try their tips that maybe had not tried them... If they send out tips then you can just sell it for your money back to someone who already uses and likes Kamui... Which would totally defeat the purpose...
If the voucher is transferable maybe someone would be willing to buy them off of the guys that cannot get to an authorized repair center or do their own tips......
I may end up doing Ki-Tech Samplers as PPV incentives at some point and I will have to SEND tips but if I had repair centers stocking the Ki-Techs I would likely do it the same was as Bertone...
My only thoughts are that they should have been very clear up front as to what the voucher was for... Maybe they were and we all missed it....
Chris
"Authorized" tip installer, sigh. You think you've heard it all then something like this comes along. Do they have to take a 1 year class to glue a piece of leather to a bit of plastic and then trim off the excess?
I really like the performance of kamui tips, but I think they are way overpriced like their chalk. Won't be long before you can no longer buy them without having them installed by an authorized tip installer, I bet. Good thing there are plenty of tips on the market with good performance and no bs.
I always assume that any "free" incentive to purchase something will turn out to be worthless. Making you jump through hoops to redeem an offer is an old trick; 95-99% of those "offers" are never used...by design.
Sad to see that Kamui is using the same tactics. I guess they don't understand that the company is at the point in its product life cycle that reputation is everything.
Although I myself am an authorized Kamui "tip installer"..... I fully have to agree with the frustration of having to be an "authorized tip installer". I mean it's just a darn leather tip, it ain't rocket science...... or even science for that matter.
ALL I had to do to become an authorized tip installer is send in a pic of myself standing next to my lathe. It is MY lathe but how do they know that ??? And just because I own a lathe, does not justify me KNOWING how to install tips. I thought the authorization process was kinda lame myself, but it ain't my company and I just did as I was instructed.
You actually probably have more "authorized" installers close to you than you realize.
Hey Straighpool, its too bad you see things this way. Have you considered this:
1) Why do you think Kamui tips perform so well, so consistently? Why does everyone like them? Might it have anything to do with the quality of the manufacturing, the quality control, the research and development? These things cost money. I mean, saying they are overpriced implies that you know the ins and outs of the tip business, how much it costs them to produce, etc. I doubt this. If you truly believe some other tip is as good, you would be crazy no to use that other one if it is so much cheaper. To me, I have a tip on my cue long enough, and play enough pool with it, that the differences in cost are irrelevant. I replace my tip maybe once or twice a year. If I pay $20 for a Kamui or $10 for something almost as good, I simply don't see that $10 as a savings...I see it as a waste.
2) Are you a tip installer? Are you aware that the installation techniques can *greatly* effect the performance of the tip? Your comment oversimplifying the installation indicates that you don't have a very in depth understanding of the procedure, or how much it can influence the way the tip plays.
3) I'm sure you are aware of the idea of a "dealer network". Manufacturers have an interest in protecting the value of their products, and also protecting the business of their distributors and installers. By controlling the distribution of their tips, Kamui is able to keep a better hand on the value and quality of its product, as well as protecting the interests of the installers. In the scenario where the gentleman had to drive a great distance...I'd probably just send him a tip. But if there is an authorized installer nearby, why not use them? If you have a "regular guy" you go to, why isn't he an authorized installer?
Some things to consider...
KMRUNOUT
Actually, I would say quite the opposite. See my previous post. I think it is specifically to protect its reputation that Kamui uses a network of authorized dealers and installers.
KMRUNOUT
Tom makes the best tip for the price available today
Tom make a better tip than Kamui regardless of the price
I still play with a Moori Quick but that is because I am a dinosaur... Most of my customers prefer the Ultra Skins.
I agree with this 100%With all due respect...if I was Kamui and I saw this post...I'd have one less "authorized installer".
KMRUNOUT
With all due respect...if I was Kamui and I saw this post...I'd have one less "authorized installer".
KMRUNOUT
do you have a clue my friend how much a tip costs them???
even a little clue??
i think not
but let me know
all the best,
smokey
Ordered an on-line pay-per-view that I would have ordered anyway, As a bonus they offered a FREE Kamui tip. Instead of a tip I received a voucher. Had to go online and find an authorized Kamui tio installer, who would install my FREE kamui tip for the normal installation charge.
The Problem:
They want me to drive 240 miles roundtrip to the nearest authorized Kamui tip installer.
I'm not really out anything. I guess Ill install another Sniper (I really love those tips) and try to find someway to survive without my FREE Kamui tip.
I'm old and I see so much of this crap that I'm barely upset enough to post this.
Smokey, Chris (The Renfro) is quite qualified to speak on the matter. He is selling his own brand of tips that he is bringing to market, and has recently shipped out many free tips to folks here to try.
So, yes, he probably has a pretty good idea what a tip costs them.
I hope all is well with you, Smokey.
I'm sure I am being petty here, but I saw the ad for the voucher and almost thought about buying the 3 day package even though I would only have time to watch one day. The reason I almost bought the whole package was for the "voucher for a Free Kamui clear tip"... not for a voucher for a "Free Kamui tip installed by an authorized dealer".
I make my own cues and have my own shop, I would of been pretty upset if I found out after the fact I had to go somewhere other than my own garage to put the "free" tip on.
I know I have no real right to say anything about this, as I decided not to bother to buy it with my schedule limitations ... but it definitely reminds me to read the fine print in any offer.
Ordered an on-line pay-per-view that I would have ordered anyway, As a bonus they offered a FREE Kamui tip. Instead of a tip I received a voucher. Had to go online and find an authorized Kamui tio installer, who would install my FREE kamui tip for the normal installation charge.
The Problem:
They want me to drive 240 miles roundtrip to the nearest authorized Kamui tip installer.
I'm not really out anything. I guess Ill install another Sniper (I really love those tips) and try to find someway to survive without my FREE Kamui tip.
I'm old and I see so much of this crap that I'm barely upset enough to post this.
Hey Straighpool, its too bad you see things this way. Have you considered this:
1) Why do you think Kamui tips perform so well, so consistently? Why does everyone like them? Might it have anything to do with the quality of the manufacturing, the quality control, the research and development? These things cost money. I mean, saying they are overpriced implies that you know the ins and outs of the tip business, how much it costs them to produce, etc. I doubt this. If you truly believe some other tip is as good, you would be crazy no to use that other one if it is so much cheaper. To me, I have a tip on my cue long enough, and play enough pool with it, that the differences in cost are irrelevant. I replace my tip maybe once or twice a year. If I pay $20 for a Kamui or $10 for something almost as good, I simply don't see that $10 as a savings...I see it as a waste.
2) Are you a tip installer? Are you aware that the installation techniques can *greatly* effect the performance of the tip? Your comment oversimplifying the installation indicates that you don't have a very in depth understanding of the procedure, or how much it can influence the way the tip plays.
3) I'm sure you are aware of the idea of a "dealer network". Manufacturers have an interest in protecting the value of their products, and also protecting the business of their distributors and installers. By controlling the distribution of their tips, Kamui is able to keep a better hand on the value and quality of its product, as well as protecting the interests of the installers. In the scenario where the gentleman had to drive a great distance...I'd probably just send him a tip. But if there is an authorized installer nearby, why not use them? If you have a "regular guy" you go to, why isn't he an authorized installer?
Some things to consider...
KMRUNOUT
OK, perhaps I'm a lucky one. Within a day of my emailing Kamui, I was advised my nearest authorized installer is at a local hall I frequent:
Hello, and thank you for contacting KamuiTips.com. According to the information you submitted, the closest installer is Don Liebes in Greensboro, North CarolinaPhone: 336-856-8800 Email: don@gatecitybilliards.com Please contact Don for authorized Kamui Tips service Thank you,KamuiTips.com
I don't get some folk here. A company could award someone in a contest a $1000 cue and some would b1tch you had to drop 82 cents in gas to go to the post office because you were at the pool hall when they tried to deliver. Good God, give Mark a reasonable chance to try and clear this up with Kamui. Or maybe, just maybe, you could email Kamui direct and explain you are 120 miles from the nearest authorized dealer - can you please just mail me my FREE tip?
But no, it's more fun to b1tch because Megan Fox didn't bring your tip and a lathe to your house and give you a happy ending.