Michael.. just read that Shakespeare bought Falcon too? Wanna check truth out on that one? Brad Tharp is who posted it, so I believe it, just don't want to.
OMG!!! If that's true I guess I need to hurry out and buy a couple of rods before all the good ones turn into cheap Shakespere P.O.S. I can see it now...a Cara combo with a no bearing spin-cast reel all for only $24.95!! :>0
And Sooner...don't know if you shop at Bass Pro Shops...but 80% of their house rods are made by none other than Shakespeare...
I do know that after the Santee tournament most of the Pflueger Pros were in meetings with Shakespeare here in Columbia SC. There were some complaints about Trion rods breaking frequently.
I am heading to Houstin in mere hours to meet with the Shakespere folks....
As of right now I do not know my status with the company, the sales for4ce will be replaced with Shakespere's, but they are looking for a person to do my "other" duties (Pro Staff coordinator).
I will post more when I can.
Mini
PS they want me Houston for the next MONTH, so it does loo a little promising.
PSS Any rod made by All Star in that factory will never be a POS....All Star has some of the finest craftsmen and women and women in the industry.
Mini, Good luck to you. I'm sure those guys in Houston will see that they NEED a guy like you on their team. Keep a positive attitude, like it looks like you currently have and all will be great.
I'm hopful you are right about the quality of the product that will continue to come from All Star. I only have one of their rods now but it is one of my favorites and I drool on those Titanium rods everytime I go to BPS. I just know how things go when big corporations buy up smaller speciality manufacturers. The accountants tell the design engineers what to do and the plant manager how many to produce per hour. We can all think of examples from Lawn Boy mowers to Famous Amos Cookies.
First, you're not just All-Star, you're pro-staff for BPS as well. It would be completely STUPID to drop someone whose hands are in the industry the way yours are.
BUT, by the same token, I'm disappointed in All-Star for selling out to them, and for not trying to protect any of the sales force. Sounds like personal greed to me.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.I can't see them keeping you there for a month if they were going to let you go . I'm thinking you can hold your own against anybody in the industry and Shakespheare is savvy enough to see that. Enough said!
He's on his way to Houston now,......he'll be fine,...he'll come home with a new job,...a promotion,...and I'll get an even sweeeeter rod/reel deal for '05 and beyond!!,..and he'll be buyin' MY Jack and Cokes for the next 3 years!!! Life will be A-OK!!..
The bulk of BPS rods have been manufactured by a private Chinese company for years. (Lontan) The same company makes Berkley brand rods as well as a couple others. The BPS rods are exclusively made to our spec.'s and sold solely under our name. Not trying to disagree, just stating the facts.
Trep,....it'll NEVER happen,...especially after I buy Shakespear!!! LOL
Tex,.....Jack in Cokes,....Limes in Corona's...grillin' in the winter,....20lbs of TOADS in the livewll and it STILL ain't enough...it's a cruel world out there but it's life in MI.!!! Wouldn't have it any other way!! HA!!
The only thing that should go in Jack is maybe, a couple of ice cubes. Besides, the sugar in the coke will throw off the taste of the stogie! BTW I got a couple Opus' for you and Mini for the rod. Once I get a couple tubes, I will send em up!
OK I don't know SQUAT about Jack, colored labels and the like, BUT I agree with Tex Beer that NEEDs Lime isn't RIGHT!! That means it wasen't brewed right to start from! Sorry to all my Southoftheborder friends!!
Now a nice summer wheat with a little lemon BREWED into it, mmmmmm sweet!!
You can pour that "whiskey" into anything you want... the sewer, even... But, don't you ever pour good bourbon into anything but a glass of ice and a spray of water to soothe the wife's nerves that I don't drink it straight!
Trep and Tex, Corona's dont "need" the lime. The lime just enhances it a bit. I dont like any beer with fruit brewed in it(its just wrong) but Corona's and lime are quite refeshing. Ill still take a nut brown over one any day.Trep if you ever brew a nut brown and want to get rid of any just send them my way, ill make sure i put them to good use.
Give me those limes for my Gin 'n Tonic. I'm not a whiskey drinker, especially Scotch. Just never could aquire the taste for the stuff. Burbon on the rocks is OK.
As far as beer is concerned I like those dark amber brews. Limes need not apply.
We're talking about an American company being sold to a company known for shipping their work overseas, a whole sales force that's no longer needed, and one of our own whose future is questionable and you guys are talking drinks...
in my own infamous words... "I don't stand for much, but I'll drink to anything" .
Snowcone - Mini's in Houston, nothing we can do to change/fix that All-Star got bought. We can't fix the problem and we've all provided our "web" support for Mini. I KNOW he'd want us ALL to have a drink in his honor as he get's ready to find out about his new future what EVER that may hold!
Jim B - Love a good Nut Brown, may just have to do that next. Just opened up my Kolsh and Stout batches MMM!!!
Reelax folks,...he's going to come out of this smelling like a Rose!! (IMHO,....in an even BETTER position than he was when AS was privately owned,..just my guess though)