original comments redacted



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2023 07:29AM by Chris Catignani.

I don’t know about Mudhole/AT doing good things for us. Buying great brands and product lines just to shut them down isn’t very builder friendly. Exclusive retail/distribution deals are contrary to service and choice. I have to pay a shipping charge and wait extra time to get one part from Florida that is made in Oregon where I reside. If custom rod building was a bigger pursuit, a word starting with “M” would be getting talked about.

Kendall Cikanek Wrote:
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> I don’t know about Mudhole/AT doing good things for us.

They are primarily/soley responsible for driving the growth of this industry for the last 15 years.

Tom - I appreciate your perspective on the topic - you are uniquely positioned to see a big picture. Respectfully - I'd submit that 'the industry' and the individual rod builder are two separate entities. I for one, am not interested in enriching the Wal-Mart of rodbuilding anymore than absolutely necessary. So, while the 'Industry' may somehow show a greater profit if MH is maximizing their bottom line, I'd much rather support the smaller companies that seem to value the small shop builder and are courting my business with more than gimmicky slogans. The vendors I use are not showing any signs of going out of business - it's almost like they still make money, and I make just a little bit more money to reinvest in my little side business, all while I'm charging my customer the same (and paying my Excise Tax and other tax obligations from my LLC). To be clear, I'm not foolish enough to think that there is anything more than some supplemental income to be made here, but I'm trying to build a business here to give me a bit of spending money (eventually) and more importantly, something to occupy my mind and body when I retire (which unfortunately is still 10 years away).

Billy - please feel free to use Fanboy Venom if you'd like. You seem rather fond of the term. I won't copyright it. Although, I'm also a professional musician (another side project), and I'm thinking it would make a pretty cool band name for my 2000's Garage Rock revival project.....

You can’t be a fanboy as an employee/contractor/affiliate.

Kendall Cikanek Wrote:
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> You can’t be a fanboy as an
> employee/contractor/affiliate.


But I can post facts. Name one other company or organization who can dispute what I said. If you'd like you can combine the entire industry in your reply and still it won't come close for what MH doesto grow rodbuilding.

Who is a contractor affiliate or employee? I'm none of those, I just run The NERBs and like the rest of the industry, make a lot of money off the people MH introduces to this industry.

Hey Billy I think (and tell me if I'm wrong) that Kendall was talking to and about Rick and not you.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Billy, this is your own post on stripersonline, dated 2/4/2022, “ Thanks Drew. I have a lot of potential plans with Mudhole. This is a big step in the right direction for me, and for The Art”. I don’t know why so many involved are so evasive about Mudhole and AT.

Kendall Cikanek Wrote:
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> I have a lot of > potential plans with Mudhole. This is a big step in the right direction for me, and for The Art”.
> I don’t know why so many involved are so evasive about Mudhole and AT.

We were talking about designing a line of SW blanks, and doing Advanced Classes. They also allowed me to use their facility for 3 NERBs events. No contract. No affiliation. No employment.

I would just say congratulations to Mud Hole and AT. Both have brought us some great products.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2023 11:08PM by Marc Morrone.