Vendors and EFLers, Empower yourself

[Reginald Rutledge]

This will be my last rant!

I've heard from customers in the past that they went to another vendor wanting to order something and because of their association with me, they would not take their order. They felt that I would magically steal their idea. Anybody who knows anything about decals will tell you there is no way you can copy a sheet of decals and reproduce them. It can be done but its not worth the time. I've got a pretty high IQ so I probably would never have a need to steal anybody's ideas.

Another case is when a vendor decides he is going to throw his support behind one manufacturer. He advocates one manufacturer but trash others.

It even happens with EFLers. "I will only support the wears of Miggle", said one coach. After losing 43-7 against a coach of similar experience, he does not realize that maybe, like in the words of Bobby Bowden, "Um gonna get me one of them".

My point is you are given a blessing to empower yourself. By empowering yourself, I mean not limiting your buying affairs to one company, whether its Miggle, Buzzball, or Footballfigures.com. It becomes a rude awakening when you go to tournaments and think you've got the best stuff but because the powers to be made the decision for all not to use something, you find yourself ousted in the early rounds. You walk away feeling like you were the victim of a random driveby shooting.

Or if you are a vendor, you lose out on the undeniable windfall of having 100 customers instead of 10 out of principle and love for the owner of an EFL company. Don't limit yourselves! You have been blessed with the sacrifices of others to see a game evolve and you as vendors and EFLers would be smart in taking advantage of all the resources at your disposal. A limited mind results in limits in one's life.

Just my opinion,

Reg

[Kansas Bill]

Originally Posted by Reginald Rutledge

Or if you are a vendor, you lose out on the undeniable windfall of having 100 customers instead of 10 out of principle and love for the owner of an EFL company. Don't limit yourselves! You have been blessed with the sacrifices of others to see a game evolve and you as vendors and EFLers would be smart in taking advantage of all the resources at your disposal. A limited mind results in limits in one's life.

Just my opinion,

Reg

Yep.. I have had one person say something to the effect of me not "needing" to buy anymore Miggle TTC's.. because of our Tornado Alley F5 base. My comment is.. I don't "need" any of it.. But I "want" em.. And I will continue to anxiously await the arrival of the new convention bases... every year.. And every year I'll buy at least 96 of them... And really, the only difference between the new teals and the orange ones is color.... Doesn't matter.. I want the new colors..

Which reminds me Reginald... If I keep dilly dallying around, I'm gonna miss your sale on figures...

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

Like I said in the past posts. "The consumers have the power" OUR MONEY speaks volumes. I buy WHAT I WANT, WHEN I WANT. If I created a post stating I want to buy electric football figures and I have a $100.00 bucks to spend I bet only 50% of the companies would respond. Why? I am only one voice. However, if fifty people said I have a hundred to spend, then all would respond! There is a market out there and thats why Dewayne and McFarlane are now entering the mix. They listen to the consumer. As far as copying or stealing ideas I don't know anything about that but there seems to be things going on behind the scenes that we don't either know about or don't care to know about. Personally I don't care. Just give me a quality product for a fair price. I have bought just about everything there is to buy in this hobby from everyone. Everyone has treated me with respect and kindness. Why? I have something they want. My money.

NCH,

Its not really about getting someone's money so much as it is about expressing yourself and generating a quality product so that others will want to buy it from you.

My general philosophy is that the harder I work and the more sincere I am about the project, the more attention it will get and others will want to buy it as well.

When I did the decals, I did them for myself, not for others. When they were good enough for me I began to offer them out to the community.

My prices are about to drop way down in the very near future so even more people will be able to get them much cheaper than before.

Never focus on the reward, just enjoy the work at hand.

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

DM,

I understand where you are coming from but I'm sure your'e not in business to loose money. Expression and self worth is good for the individual but unfortunetly it always comes down to money. You sale an awsome product for a good price and you should be PROUD! In my opinion you SHOULD NOT lower your price. Your product should and does speak for itself.

I appreciate that and I have thought about leaving the price unchanged. But it was my view that eventually, once the decals caught on and were tested and approved by the community, that a drop in price would eventually take place.

The idea is to get it out to the people. Remember when Big screen TVs were $3,000.00 dollars. They are now on sale at Wal Mart for $999.99.

Just a natural process.

Until my website (EF Planet) is finished, the price of $50.00 will stick. After the drop, decals for custom uniforms will still remain at $50.00.

[Coach K-LO]

Originally Posted by Reginald Rutledge

This will be my last rant!

I've heard from customers in the past that they went to another vendor wanting to order something and because of their association with me, they would not take their order. They felt that I would magically steal their idea. Anybody who knows anything about decals will tell you there is no way you can copy a sheet of decals and reproduce them. It can be done but its not worth the time. I've got a pretty high IQ so I probably would never have a need to steal anybody's ideas....A limited mind results in limits in one's life.

Just my opinion,

Reg

In my attempts to get started in doing some decals (which has since been moved to back-burner) somebody I inquired about some help refused for the reasons along the line of your post, Reggie. I just wanted to have the next wave of stuff to deck out my teams.

I have purchased products form most anyone who sells them - from decals to figures to bases to facemasks to chinstraps to big boards and have enjoyed them all. Having spent out on this varity, I have my favorites that go to regularly, but there are also places that I cannot purchase a thing from.
Ever since the first day I got my first game, I have always loved EFL and having the abillity to have them now look real on my shelf is testament to all those who have moved the hobby to another level.

Thank You All!

Reg.

Let's clear this up right now. You are definatley not speaking of me in this regard. You and I have never spoken. I would be honored to have someone of your caliber to try my stuff. I have put all I had into it...I copied no one, asked no one for help. To do so would have been underhanded in my opinion. Plus, I don't need their help anyway as I can take care of my own business.

The mentality of "give me NOW!!" will hinder people in this thing of ours from moving forward. You are right about being self-reliant. It is the best policy.

You are friends with Big Lock and that is enough for me. Eventually, when I do my EF Planet site, I want to do an internet radio interview with you so I guess we will have to rap sometime between now and then. I've wanted us to link up but the time I want to spend on it is not available at the moment. There are others in the hobby as well who I want to meet but haven't had the time as of yet.

Just wanted to be clear that I was not on your "list." If you need anything from me, just ask.

Take Care and Keep Mashin'

[Reginald Rutledge]

Decalmaster,

I've got no list! I was not really even pointing at any individual. I think its great that you do what you do. I love your energy. That's a good thing. We will eventually meet each other and hang out.

Take care Bro,

Reg

If everyone of us would support every manufacturer of something in the electric football business, it'd be a great world, wouldn't it?
But really that's not always feasable. I only have so much money to spend on my favorite hobby. I spread my wealth around: Reggie's figures this month, Miggle bases and Electric Gridiron facemasks last month, Tornado Alley F5 bases recently, stuff off of ebay over the winter. There are some things I simply don't need (I can't decal to save my life, so I won't be buying decals. But, I'll have some good painter/decaller do a team for me this summer).
In a nutshell, look past the bickering and buy whatever it is that thrills you. I love everything about electric football, and will support EVERYONE.