the first cii in turkey!

[gibsonlp]

Congrats man!
This is one of the only benefits we (you and I) have for living in a relatively Rickenbacker-Free countries (I live in Israel), almost every special model we bring home becomes unique.

[Ric N. Backer]

She looks familiar - did you order it from Wildwood Guitars in Colorado? If so, I've actually seen it in person!

keep in mind that Ricks are not allowed to get shipped outside US by authorized US RIC dealers, so and answer here might bring someone in trouble....
Congrats to Turkey !

First of all, congrats on getting your new Ric bass. I hope you enjoy it.

Second, with respect to the rule of US dealers not being allowed to ship overseas, I have to wonder. I see this is a 2008 bass. I know of several dealers that have had this variety of bass sitting in their inventory for quite some time. Given the economic climate, and the fact that a number of dealers have gone out of business due to poor sales, is it really fair for Ric to impose this limiting sales rule on their dealers?

I don't know where this particular bass came from. But if I was a dealer struggling to survive the current economic hardship, and had this bass in inventory for the past three years and unable to move it, I would hope that Ric would understand.

Rules and agreements are fine. They serve a purpose. However, there are certain considerations that need to be taken into account. When and if these rules place a business in jeopardy, they need to be revisited.

Again, congrats on your bass. Wherever it came from, it appears that a win-win scenario took place. A dealer in need made a sale, and you got a bass. Let's hope that's where in stays.

[rickenbrother]

Second, with respect to the rule of US dealers not being allowed to ship overseas, I have to wonder. I see this is a 2008 bass. I know of several dealers that have had this variety of bass sitting in their inventory for quite some time. Given the economic climate, and the fact that a number of dealers have gone out of business due to poor sales, is it really fair for Ric to impose this limiting sales rule on their dealers?

I don't know where this particular bass came from. But if I was a dealer struggling to survive the current economic hardship, and had this bass in inventory for the past three years and unable to move it, I would hope that Ric would understand.

Rules and agreements are fine. They serve a purpose. However, there are certain considerations that need to be taken into account. When and if these rules place a business in jeopardy, they need to be revisited.

RIC did not come up with this policy just for the heck of it. The policy is also to help make it fair for authorized RIC distributors and authorized RIC dealers outside of North America.

[Ric N. Backer]

Second, with respect to the rule of US dealers not being allowed to ship overseas, I have to wonder. I see this is a 2008 bass. I know of several dealers that have had this variety of bass sitting in their inventory for quite some time. Given the economic climate, and the fact that a number of dealers have gone out of business due to poor sales, is it really fair for Ric to impose this limiting sales rule on their dealers?

I don't know where this particular bass came from. But if I was a dealer struggling to survive the current economic hardship, and had this bass in inventory for the past three years and unable to move it, I would hope that Ric would understand.

Rules and agreements are fine. They serve a purpose. However, there are certain considerations that need to be taken into account. When and if these rules place a business in jeopardy, they need to be revisited.

RIC did not come up with this policy just for the heck of it. The policy is also to help make it fair for authorized RIC distributors and authorized RIC dealers outside of North America.

I'm not, nor did I suggest that Ric developed this rule for 'the heck of it.'

Please go back and read what I wrote.

[rickenbrother]

Robert, I read what you wrote. I'm sure there are even more good reasons for the policy than the one that I stated in my last post.

[electrofaro]

Aww... come on, don't fight over it guys. Gibson have exactly the same policy, you know!

Babür, great bass - enjoy!

[aceonbass]

The policy is to protect dealers outside the US. They are few and far between, and having their market protected like this gives them incentive to be dealers in the first place. Otherwise, with competition from the States, they'd just fold up shop. Then where would customers outside the US go for service and parts? If a US dealer has an instrument on the rack for 2 years, then they probably want too much for it. I remember back in about '81 there being a new 4005 FG hanging on the wall at Big Dudes Music City here in KC. They wanted $2000 for it. It was there for at LEAST 4-5 years. I don't even think they were a dealer, but they used to "pirate" trade with actual RIC dealers so they would have more of a selection.

[electrofaro]

Really? It's becoming more and more the other way around actually...

[rickenbrother]

Aww... come on, don't fight over it guys. Gibson have exactly the same policy, you know!

That ain't fighting! You wanna see fighting?...not here!

[Ric N. Backer]

The policy is to protect dealers outside the US. They are few and far between, and having their market protected like this gives them incentive to be dealers in the first place. Otherwise, with competition from the States, they'd just fold up shop. Then where would customers outside the US go for service and parts? If a US dealer has an instrument on the rack for 2 years, then they probably want too much for it. I remember back in about '81 there being a new 4005 FG hanging on the wall at Big Dudes Music City here in KC. They wanted $2000 for it. It was there for at LEAST 4-5 years. I don't even think they were a dealer, but they used to "pirate" trade with actual RIC dealers so they would have more of a selection.

You remember something from 1981, that's 30 YEARS AGO DUDE! What possible relevance does that have with today?

And besides that, you miss my point completely. Your analysis indicates little to nothing regarding viable business practices.

It's a consumer drive market. We don't need restrictions on trade. It's a free market. I suggest you do some reading on the matter.

Your analogy does little, other than, suggest your bias.

[Ric N. Backer]

Aww... come on, don't fight over it guys. Gibson have exactly the same policy, you know!

That ain't fighting! You wanna see fighting?...not here!

That's correct we have open dialog.

[aceonbass]

You remember something from 1981, that's 30 YEARS AGO DUDE! What possible relevance does that have with today?

Hey pal, at least I can remember something from 30 years ago. The relevence...since you could not see it..was that if you charge too much for something, you can't sell it.

And besides that, you miss my point completely. Your analysis indicates little to nothing regarding viable business practices.

My analysis indicates regard for for RIC's business practices.

It's a consumer driven market. We don't need restrictions on trade. It's a free market. I suggest you do some reading on the matter.

We do need restictions on trade. Have you seen the balance sheet between us and our NAFTA partners to the south, or between us and China? I suggest that you read Jean Gabriel's "The Dollar Hegomony", Mitchell Jones' "The Dogs of Capitalism", or perhaps Henry Hazlitt's "Economics in One Lesson" would be your speed.

Your analogy does little, other than, suggest your bias.

And your statement leads me to believe that my analogy went completely over your head.

[Ric N. Backer]

Dane, you flatter yourself.

Thou forever dubbed, RICKENFOOL, pal!

[aceonbass]

Uh....yaaaa. Don't you have some minutia of C64 construction you need to go resaerch whilest waiting to stumble onto some measure of musical ability

[ram]

babür - great looking bass! I think the 4004 is one of the best kept secrets in all of Ric-dom! Light weight and full of sound! Enjoy!! Give us feedback as to what you find playing it.