Author Topic: Oh Boy - Alembic Goodies From Cafepress.com (Read 333 times)

poor_nigel · « **on:** December 24, 2003, 02:38:20 PM »

Oh joy, the box of stuff I ordered last Friday and paid 2nd Day Air on just arrived on Wednesday. Hey, this stuff was not cheap, but that is OK, as it is Alembic stuff, so really high quality, right.... Well, not this time. The decal was cut off center, so a portion of the one ray is slightly cut out. The hat came in the wrong color, and it is really cheap, cheap, cheap. Embarrassingly cheap. The box with the tile on the top is very poorly made and whoever made it even bent a hinge putting it on, so it does not even come together 'close.' The mug is less than spectacular, believe me, for the price anyway. It would be a decent buy for 10.00, since it has the Alembic logo on it. Let's face it, Alembic guitars and basses are very, very expensive, BUT - you expect the best and get it, eh...

I know I am going to get flamed here, but I fear nothing when I am in the right, and ya gotta take the punches as they come, right Mica... The truth hurts, and the truth is I am really unimpressed with what was sent to me. However, I will give credit where credit is due. I do like the hooded sweat shirt I got. It is far larger than I imagined it would be, but I like it, and it is made well. I buy Alembic basses, so it is a given that I do not mind paying for quality. However . . . Four out of five is a really poor score, guyz and galz. You are letting others tarnish your reputation by selling less than worthy - hey, four out of five - merchandise with your name on it.

I am not looking to get my money back, as it was only a hundred dollar order. I just want others to beware of the items mentioned here and the deficits I found in what came to my door. I will happily go on the radio to gush over the hooded sweatshirts, though . . . . . . . . .

Thomas K. Shaw
Temporarily Unsatisfied Customer

Ya, I want some CheesyPoofs. I feel better already.

Five minutes later . . . OK, I played with the hat a bit and it is not as cheap as it looks. I just hate white hats, and it does look cheaper than it is . . grumble . . . However, the decal and the box really are whacked. I am not changing my position on those at all. And I expected a thicker, nicer coffee cup. OK, I am done sniveling, bring on the angry mob.

Note - Moderator, please forward all my e-mails for the next month to Micheal Jackson's box. He knows how to deal with mobs. Thank you.

bracheen · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2003, 09:54:24 AM »

Santa left me one of the crew neck sweatshirts. It's quite nice. It's a good quality material and the logo is well done and seems like it will be durable. Of course I'll only be able to wear it about two weeks out of the year. There are still flowers in bloom outside.

Sam
Quite content with the best wife in the world.

eastcoastepic · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2003, 11:39:14 AM »

I guess these items are not made in Santa Rosa!
For the record, my decals are OK, and the sweatshirt is top quality, and a good fit to boot. Perhaps Mica can open an accessory production facility on-site!!?? Happy holidays to all........
Chris

wideload · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2003, 03:14:06 PM »

I received the Alembic Travel Mug for Christmas, and I must say I find the bottom-of-the-cup extension to be much improved over my previous mug, with more control of the midrange bite of my current blend!
Happy New Year!

Larry

dannobasso · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2003, 07:36:32 AM »

I'm ordering a bunch o stuff. I just wish the clothing was available in black! Gigging is a dirty business. Need something to hide the schmutz of set-up and break-down.

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2003, 11:05:23 AM »

Hey Tim,

I ordered a journal and it came bound backwards. The people at Cafepress were very nice and replaced it immediately and even sent it by second day air.

They have a 100% money back guarantee. If you're unhappy with some of the merchandise, write or call them and I know they'll make it right for you.

I've got some plans for merchandising in 2004, and part of what will influence what I purchase is what sells at the Cafepress shop.

Dan - just for you, I'm getting black shirts with a white logo. You want the logo small on the pocket or larger and centered. Did you know you were going to be a clothing designer?

bigredbass · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2004, 09:29:26 PM »

Mica:

I know all of us will have LOTS of ideas for logo gear, but I wish an ALEMBIC strap was part of your considerations.

I will continue to hope that one day Reunion Blues would once again make straps. In the 80s I purchased two of the same model that would make the heaviest bass feel wightless, and I kick myself every day that I let 'em get away, as they were surely well-built enough to be used today.

I have had great luck however, with Levy's, from Canada. Well made, and I'm a sucker for the Canadian Maritimes . . . best lobster in the world from the Bay of Fundy. I really should go see Levy's in Nova Scotia some day.

Happy New Year !

J o e y

David Houck · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2004, 08:15:18 AM »

Joey; I didn't see any straps at the Reunion Blues web site. However, I did find some here:
http://www.dpguitars.com/ReuStr.html

musikill · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2004, 12:28:26 PM »

I have recently purchased a Comfort Strap from www.bassguitarstrings.us

The design is different from any I have seen before. If you play an SC you need this strap and the short strap length (comes in short and long) is just right for the SC if you wear a coat size of 42 or less (maybe up to a 44) but if you are larger I think you would need a long - short worked well for me. these straps cost something like $35.00.
greg

bigredbass · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2004, 12:41:45 AM »

dh:

I cannot believe you found this listing!

I eMailed the guy tonight and will wait nervously till he replies.

The strap is the 2222. If you look on the picture it's the oxblood colored one with the 2 brass buckles. It was ingenious in that it was stiched in such a way that the padding did not draw down to a narrow crease the buried into your shoulder. Plus, all of RB's leather goods are built to last forever. I cannot recommend this strap enough, and God willing, this guy has 'em.

Thanks again, Dave !

J o e y

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2004, 05:38:48 AM »

That's a substantial looking strap and I can see why you would like it. I hope they have one for you. Sometimes online vendors are slack on updating their websites; but maybe this place ordered a large inventory and still have some.

mica · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2004, 11:09:03 AM »

Hey Joey,

Just so you know, there will be an announcement (on the Club forst, of course) about some very nice Alembic straps we are having made for us. We've been pleased with the samples we've tested and I just sent the logo artwork off before Christmas so they can emboss the leather.

We've been thinking of accessories and merchandise forever. It's so fun I actually get to develop some of these products this year!

poor_nigel · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2004, 09:46:39 AM »

Good straps are probably harder to find than good basses. I own one I love, and three I dislike a lot. A nice, thick, quality Alembic strap should sell very well. My main deficit is that I like suede, and good straps made of suede are rare indeed. Here is hoping . . . .
BTW - I have at least semi-accepted all the stuff I bought from CafeExpress (Not worth the hassle of shipping back), except that damn white, thin-as-paper hat. But it does look good on my South Park Timmy doll, as he rocks - TIM-MAH!!!!

bigredbass · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2004, 10:43:27 PM »

Mica:

That's TERRIFIC !

Thanks for letting me know, and I can't wait to see your results. I've developed an eye for ALEMBIC's design themes, so I'll be looking forward to this.

And you know, we Americans are horribly 'label'-conscious, so I'm sure a logo (surely it's trademarked!) driven merchandise line could be very profitable. We've all become billboards for Tommy, Polo, the 49ers, and on and on and on. Why not ALEMBIC?

J o e y