Cassette Bi-Level

catalyst112 · Posted: Sep 01, 2004 1:27 am Post subject: Cassette Bi-Level

anyone know when the pre-ordered cassettes are suppose to arrive. i called the local shop today and they have no idea when they are getting them in. word on the street is Thomas doesn't ship everything at the same pace they are demanded.
maybe he should take Economics 100. if demand is high, supply is high

kento911 · Kickflip Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3657 City: Phoenix

ummmm ok thats not really an economically sound statement if supply is LOW ie no stores have any, then demand is HIGH (notice how everybody wants one) sooooo economically shipping only a little at a time keeps demand high by making sure the available supply is lower than the consumers demand creating what is known as a surplus of demand. This in effect raises the equalibrium price of said object (notice how everybody is willing to pay full price or more for one). An example of the oposite of this would be showing how many 2004 K-39's were and are still available and how much the price dropped below list due to the amount of availability. If you dont belive me show this to you econ teacher, but Im pretty sure Thomas knows a little about econ he does run two successful companies

Morphine · Backside 180 Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 1207 City: 706omg

Yeah not to mentioned one of them survived without a sale for a whole year :O

Gotta be doing something right. I think the shipping date is in 2 weeks. If I get a job quickly, I can have enough to buy a Bi-level AND an Integrity! *doin the happy dance*

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

You should do a search on this site about the bi-level. Itch, the cassette rep, has been releasing bits of information that you might be interested in. One in particular had to do with the fact that a hurricane swept through orlando not too long ago and they were left without power for quite some time. Thomas wanted to call a number of shops about their orders (to basically confirm them), but he couldn't because he didn't have a working phone line.

But you're right, he's not very good at doing business...

nick · Posted: Sep 01, 2004 2:05 pm Post subject:

catalyst112 · Posted: Sep 01, 2004 3:53 pm Post subject:

if demand is high and supply is low, yes there is a surplus of demand moving the equilibrium up. but if demands are not met then consumers will look elsewhere for their product. definition of marketing: find a need and fill it. the need has been established for a very long time, filling it seems to be a bit of a problem. i dont mind waiting an extra two weeks or so for a cassette, but i can't say the same for the next guy. its not like this is the first year cassette hasn't reached all possible consumers, thus maximizing profitability. several shops last year on the west coast didn't know when to receive their orders, just like this year, ergo consumers bought kampus or hyperlite wakeskates. im not the one who said thomas isn't running cassette like it could be, the shops he supplies do. but the straight answer i was looking for was the given by electricsnow, thank you.

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

In which case, I had better clarify that my very last sentence was meant to be taken sarcastically.

Seriously, cassette isn't the only business to ship late or have issues, and this sort of thing isn't limited to the wake industry either. Obviously, integrity had issues in the beginning, the dvs wakeskate shoes weren't out on time, certain skate companies (which shall remain nameless...coughdwindlecoughcough) are not good with customer service, etc. And you know, neither was the old fourstar dist. (I have no idea what they'll be like now). And that list isn't limited to those examples either.

You know, some kids are loyal and some don't really care about that sort of thing. And I know that cassette would never have wanted things to go like this (people seem to forget that or ignore that), but it really tested their devotion to wakeskating. Thomas still has the same team he started with before the whole quality issue, and I know he's really psyched on this new deck (or the whole line, for that matter) that's coming out.

Honestly, I think he's doing a really good thing by checking in with all of his shops to make sure they want what they ordered, after everything that's happened and the fact that the season is almost over in many areas. At least he's not sending them a bunch of stuff that they'll have to worry about selling later on (you know, some companies have quotas and such, and they push extra product onto the shops).

and catalyst112, I know exactly what you mean when you say you're not sure what the next guy will do (regarding "these issues"). I was already concerned about that when I heard some larger shops were canceling orders, and kids were already buying other boards. I think that if the bi-level is as good as it's said to be, I don't think there will be much of an issue. I just think that things will work themselves out (or maybe I'm naive and idealistic). And there could have been a number of reasons as to why the west coast shops were having issues last season (if in fact the problems were limited to last season. Remember that last summer liquid was having problems, which would have affected cassette. There could be another explanation, but I'll just leave it at that).

Ok, so if anyone wants me to start making some longer posts, feel free to request them at any time. because, you know, I can make them longer if you want...

catalyst112 · Posted: Sep 02, 2004 12:42 am Post subject:

Nothing has changed my want for a cassette. ill wait til next season if it takes that long. once the bi-level does hit i know that those people who purchased other boards will be kicking themselves. again, im not trying to downplay thomas or cassette. he's not only my favorite rider but a great guy in person too. im just a little anxious like the rest of us. if something does happen with his connections to the west coast then ill most likely end up buying it from buywake or something. nothing will stop me from getting my cassette.

byronnash · Pop Shuvit Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 104 City: Charlotte

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10756 City: Jefferton

Nice byron, I'll take your advice.

As for the distribution thing, I'm going to take a guess and say that that's not all their fault. I was speaking with a guy from a shop in the southern part of the state, and they're not dealing with cassette anymore because "they're just a little company." I couldn't believe that...and that stinks too. Luckily, there are shops that are willing to work with that...I was able to get my skate shop to order some cassette stuff this year...

I'd write more, but I have to go to work. Sorry...haaaaa...

David Legler · Posted: Sep 02, 2004 7:42 am Post subject:

I worked at a wakeboad shop over the summer, and my boss is a pretty good wakeboarder but he didn't know much about wakeskating, so I informed him. This last season we had one butter board(sold very quickly), i think 3 flat lf, a gate and a byerly and some hyperlite flat decks, and towards the end of the summer we got 2 obrien traffics. Many times there weren't any room for these wakeskates cause there was only enough room for about 3-4 at a time.

But now for this next season they will be selling cassette and kampus and he is moving all of slalom skies somewhere else and putting the wakeskates in their place, which is a good size of the wall. So, I'm pretty stoked that he is willing to push the sport that much, based on just what i have told him and what he has seen, ha!

sorry if something doesn't make sense, its like 7:40 and I have class pretty soon and i am super tired....

INDEFINITE · Faceplant Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 28

Okay, you guys think that it is linear/cassettes' fault that there are no dealers in nc, or any other state that does not have the line? of course it is not their fault, it is the dealers that do not want to carry/pick up another company, but would rather take its' 20,000$ and invest it in hyperlite/ho sports equipment. What is it, like $5,000 min. order for hyperlite soft goods alone,( meaning shirts, videos, etc.) Wakeskating is getting to the top, and now it is about to see a revolution with the new line cassette is offering, but it is still not at the top, YET, but it will. Thus making a company that sells wakeboard related products more desireable. Cassette is similiar to what a "core" skate company would be, for example: like that of stereo, baker, or seek, running what "core" riders want, yeah, they do flats, and assym. concaves, but with the bi-lev they are trying to appeal to the core consumer, but they (cassette) are not in it for the money, but for the rider, purist, and "soul" of wakeskating, not like birdhouse, that has boards for every shoe size, weight, and age, etc. you know? Mass produced, HOT PRESSED boards, not everyone wants a brand that only has a core following, but a brand that sells, sells, sells, like bam products, it seems that you cannot go to any skatepark now-a-days and not see some product related to bam. Do you see my point?
Now as for this bi-lev, I have seen it,maybe I have ridden it, (maybe not) but I can tell you that if your dealer does not carry wakeskates, they are about to miss out on the most revolutionary product for wake related equip, since highbacks, and twin tip boards, maybe even more important than that, or even greater for the sport of wakeskating. Cassette is and always will be at the fore-front of board-design, and soon the whole sport is about to be made over, from the way boards are manuf. to the asscessories that will accompany the product, and up-gradeability. Believe or not, sit back and enjoy what is about to occur, do not be skeptics, but ride, and try, and let yourself decide, be amazed or not, the skeptics will be put to the test. Wakeskating's biggest influence is about to be put onto the water, and will be more like skating, and not wakeboarding.

Mr. F · Ollie Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 52

It is all about revolution! Mad

byronnash · Pop Shuvit Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 104 City: Charlotte

Don't get me wrong INDEFINITE, I'm a big supporter of rider companies like Cassette and Integrity for many reasons. I do like that they appeal to the "core" riders like us. The only bone to pick I had was the whole distribution model. I know it's the fault of shops too. Props to David Legler's work in getting his shop to carry more brands of skates. I've mentioned a few times to my local shop about picking up Integrity or Cassette and they seem a little disinterested despite the fact that wakeskates sold well for them this season. I don't understand the logic in that. Linear Distribution is just getting off the ground and I'm sure Thomas and his team are learning a lot about the distribution business. Things should get better from here on out.

catalyst112 · Posted: Sep 02, 2004 2:52 pm Post subject:

cassette is a relatively young company headed by a relatively young person. not only does thomas have to run a company, but he also has to continue his own progression in the sport. its obvious what he would choose if given the ultimadum but he's trying to do his best with what he has to work with. if he concentrated 100% of his time to Cassette the company then he'd quickly get burnt out of the sport. he's young and learning. once he gets the hang of it you'll be seeing more cassette products on the shelves than any other...because we (the core of the sport) know what boards and companies are truly in it for the rider and not for the doe.

revolutionconcepts · Posted: Sep 03, 2004 10:25 am Post subject:

kento911 · Kickflip Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3657 City: Phoenix

revolutionconcepts, lol

catalyst112, the people who buy "something else" are within the surplus of demand( i.e they have the demand but are victim of the scarcity of goods), demand will maintain a constant equilibrium with the supply( or percieved amount of supply). For example look at how the demand for 04 cassettes remained extremely high until it was painfully obvious that there was in actuallity no supply for the consumer to draw from at which point the demand dropped to near zero.

ihatekooks · Faceplant Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 20

do whatever it takes to get this board because it will be worth it.

kento911 · Kickflip Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3657 City: Phoenix

ihatekooks, wuuurd

freerider4 · Backside 180 Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 2462

ihatekooks I have a feeling ihatekooks is someone from cassette so give us some more info on this board dude please.