Grant's new game...

[René Sterental]

Hi all,

 

This Saturday afternoon I drove to RBW to exchange a pair of brand new 50mm Big Apples (I'm using the 60mm BAs) and take a look at the new sweaters. Much to my surprise, when I arrived I found that Jay and Grant were there in addition to Harry and the usual Saturday contingent. My son was with me and I introduced him to Grant who showed me his new game/challenge for visiting customers.

 

On the outside metal wall, at different heights starting at about 10 - 12 feet (my guess) he had placed a bunch of magnets and the contest was basically to throw a lug up and get it to stick to one of the magnets. The RBW bunch had obviously been practicing as there were a few of them on the wall, but Grant proudly showed me the rules sheet and asked me if I wanted to try. Based on the height of the magnets, if you were succesful in getting a lug to stick to one, you'd win different discounts. You have 3 shots to make it. The rules also explain that hitting a magnet won't work, you basically have to throw the lug in such a way that at the peak of the throw, right when it's pretty much motionless before coming back down, it makes contact with the magnet so it stays stuck.

 

I did my first two throws which didn't even touch the wall, but were peaking close to my target magnet and Grant, seeing how bad I was, promptly told me that they were my two free tries for warm-up and now the real count began. First real throw again didn't touch the wall but peaked well, second throw hit the wall too low on the way down, third throw was perfect! The lug peaked right next to the magnet, barely touching it but getting locked just as it was starting to come down. Grant couldn't believe it! Apparently they've all tried and deemed it quite difficult to accomplish. That they could go 20+ throws in a row and still not make it.

 

What did I win? $200 off or 25% off. As I couldn't really get another frame for the 25% off, I took the $200 off my order and got the WoollyWarm vest and the sargeant sweater for free, paying just $50+ after exchanging the BAs for a pair of 40mm Duremes and a brass bell.

 

Photos are here: http://tinyurl.com/3fdj5f7

 

I don't know for how long Grant will keep this challenge going on, but if you are on the fence regarding visiting RBW headquarters to do some shopping vs. ordering online, I suggest you visit in person and try your luck or your skills. My winning lug is the third from the right on the photos. Grant still couldn't believe I had won when I left... :-)

 

René

[Geoff]

Congrats!  That does look really hard.  I like your photo; even though Grant's back is to us, you can tell that he's flummoxed by your getting the lug to stick to the magnet.  =)

[Peter Pesce]

Caption for the Grant photo:
"Hmmm, we need to come up with a harder game."
congrats!

[Allan in Portland]

You hustle Grant outta 200 bucks, then come here to brag about it. Wow, that's cheek.

Seriously though, I've been trying to decide between the sargeant and the vest, and as often as not thinking hmmm, maybe I should get both. Interesting you got both.

-Allan

[Seth Vidal]

Get both

-sv

On Aug 15, 2011 12:29 AM, "Allan in Portland" <allan...@aracnet.com> wrote:
> You hustle Grant outta 200 bucks, *then* come here to brag about it. Wow,

> that's cheek.
>
> Seriously though, I've been trying to decide between the sargeant and the
> vest, and as often as not thinking hmmm, maybe I should get both.
> Interesting you got both.
>
> -Allan
>

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[René Sterental]

LOL!!! I'm not really bragging... I'm making the case for people to go visit RBW in person to buy stuff and see what happens...

Yes, I got both the vest and the sweater and loved them on sight. Let's see how they work out once it gets cold and if I have issues with the itchiness or not. Still, they were irresistible especially as I had to pay nothing for them.

Rene

Sent from my iPhone 4

--

[grant]

Yeah, well....I hope you're happy, Rene...you spoiled it for
everybody. Game closed for life. Never again. Yes, I am joking.
Sincere congrats, and yes, I was shocked. Based on those first two
throws, I thought "no way in heck." I allowed you those two mulligans
because I felt sorry for you. Now I feel set-up. Warning to all: Don't
play poker with Rene!
Congratulations, though. I was shockeder than I looked. Double or
nothing the next time you come by?
The game came up because it was a slow morning. Had to be productive.
Turned out...productive only for Rene. I think we ended up in black. I
think we covered staff lunches.
(Glad you won, seriously.)
G

> Photos are here: *http://tinyurl.com/3fdj5f7*
> **

[brian tester]

It IS hard, though I managed a lowly 10% off my purchase. Congrats on
the sweet throw!

-Brian

On Aug 13, 9:53 pm, René Sterental <orthie...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Photos are here: *http://tinyurl.com/3fdj5f7*
> **

[René Sterental]

Grant... you can't make me feel bad!!! LOL!!!

[Joe Bernard]

That's a tempting challenge, and a slick way to draw customers. 25% off a frame is a heck of an offer, and even if I didn't get so lucky, there's no way I'd leave without spending some money. Hmm..

Joe "I think I can I think I can" Bernard

[grant]

Interesting game day today. You probably had to be there, but let's
see what I can do here...
Group of four from Colorado, one guy familiar, and the other new,
6ft-8in, riding a 27inch 1971 Schwinn. PBH 104.5; big guy. He tried a
64 Sam, loved it.

We talked about lotsa stuff. He's a metallurgist and love steel at
least half as much as I do, and all that. He saw the lugs out front on
the wall, and I asked if he'd like to try.

Well....you did catch his height, right? And one of the magnets was
low. Small jump-and-reach, and he got 10 percent off his $3,000+
purchase (he's getting racks and a large Sackville bag.

I hope nobody out there thinks we're throwing money around willy
nilly. The whole thing started as fun, and is still kinda fun, and we
can't continue at this rate....but on the other hand, we're running
out of magnets, too, so that's good. In the meantime, hey, he's
getting a good bike and has a story to tell about it. We'll survive
it, and ..... well, I can't actually bring myself to hope anybody
fails, but I also can't say I'm not relieved when they do.

Regular Jim S. tried and missed. He's only 6-4 or so...and the other
guy had already used up the rogue low magnet.

We are decorating the building in a unique way, though. Not sure
that's worth the $500 it's cost us, but when you throw in the happy
winners, it's not that badduva deal, I guess.

[James Warren]

Well that's the first time I've been described as "only 6-4 or so". I like it. Thanks Grant!
And prize or not, the game is still fun. I just wanted to try it for the physics. Probably pretty easy to set up at home. I might need to copy it in my classroom. Extra credit for the physics youths who make it! Extra credit will be easy to pay out.

-Jim (the short one) Warren

p.s. And thanks to Jay for bending my rack stays for me to allow big Nitto rack to work with V brakes. Jay is brilliant at this.

-----Original Message-----
>From: grant <gran...@gmail.com>

>
>Regular Jim ... tried and missed. He's only 6-4 or so...and the other

[Allan in Portland]

Hey Grant, don't quit your day job. The Carnival would leave you stranded on the side of the highway in the middle of Kansas I'm sure. As a hint for next time, don't use those really expensive rare earth magnets. Cheapies from an old science kit are the way to go, even if you have to glue 'em to the side of the building. Actually, if you have to glue them they are perfect.

Allan "Fast Eddie Felson" F.

[Joe Bernard]

I hope nobody out there thinks we're throwing money around willy
nilly.

 

All bike companies have promotions and sales. Odds are that most folks who drop by, lured by the magnet contest, won't hit one, and won't get a discount. What are the chances of those people walking away without spending some money?

 

Joe "will probably get up the nerve to try after it's over" Bernard

[Minh]

I agree with Joe B, this is just all part of sales and marketing, and
it's the kind that rewards the customers. I mean, look at the all the
purchases that Rene has done this year alone! It's like a karma
rebate for him!



On Aug 16, 3:27 pm, Joe Bernard <joerem...@gmail.com> wrote:
> *I hope nobody out there thinks we're throwing money around willy
> nilly.*
> **