SURROUNDING SLIMS CUSTOM CASES: History: Slim contacted me a couple of years back with an offer and suggested an endorsement deal (free case for videos, use and plugs etc). A bunch of my friends already had them and they were rad so I agreed. My pleasant experience at that time was the same as everyone else I knew: Fast, great communication and a finished, excellent product. So it seemed like a fine idea to help the little guy out and get a great, individualized case which I will always love and it was for a while all those things. Around the time, a few months ago, when people first started complaining my immediate instinct was to defend Slim based upon my own personal experience and the little bit I knew from him surrounding a series of unfortunate events that had happened to him and those closest to him. So I did. I too though after that, was really unable to get much contact from Slim. Being no stranger to sudden hard times/bad luck and trouble, I wanted still, to give Slim a chance to pull out of it as so many of my family, friends, employers and some of you did with me. I tried to Skype and chat with Slim through Facebook and BEGGED him only to COMMUNICATE with all of you. I told him if he ever wanted to just talk, that I knew a few things about some of what he was dealing with and could be a good ear, NOT a beacon of advice or any of that BS….I had a very brief communication with Slim right after the first posting/defense on Facebook but he hasnt yet written back pertaining to the issues at hand or skyped me I am sorry to report. I have heard from his wife once and she basically confirmed all the unfortunate and real problems but not many solutions other than everyone will get their cases. At this point I HAVE taken the youtube promo video/endorsement down AND the link to slim on my website is down until I know Slim has fixed this issue with ALL of you. I have received as many emails as there are posts here or more all saying the same thing as all of you all have. I have responded to every single one of them to my knowledge. There is no reason until this is straightened out for me or anyone else to be involved with this vendor. Slim IS a great guy, really... I had a few fairly profound conversations with him over the years outside of music etc… I like him, his wife and this very post pains me to make. I do think these cases are worth waiting for and I do think its possible he may finish them, the problem is I dont really know and more seriously he hasnt told me anything. THERE IS REASON TO WORRY from where I sit. I do truly know this was NEVER his intention and was NEVER a scam but none of that matters to the consumer (AND SHOULDNT) who does not receive their product. I very sincerely sorry and feel somewhat responsible here obviously. I have always tried to support small business, my whole life. Even as a child I never flocked to brand names and valued character and unique creations somehow more than hype, brand names and trends. I dont know why…My brother is the opposite and maybe as usual, thus smarter! That being said, often supporting smaller business is a good stance. The community prospers, we receive hand made quality value products and the bigger companies take note and actually improve their products or team up with the little guy as a direct result of the influence of these smaller businesses Obvious examples in our own market include people like: Joe Spiers, Filisko, Brendan, Sleigh etc.. AWESOME! Unfortunately There are always risks when dealing with smaller, newer, less financially sound and PROVEN individuals or institutions. MOST of you that ordered Harrison Harmonicas know of small business disappointments and pitfalls all too well and most of you know I was THE partner in that company with Brad the first few years. That decision was made because I wanted, like Brad, to help make the best ever diatonic harmonicas. I wanted to play an instrument that I could say was the SAME as the one you bought. Brad and wanted this simple thing together... Not a customized, hard to acquire, hot rodded, boutique harp with a waiting period and/or a clique involved. From the companies inception Brad and I tried HARD and we had our differences surrounding how we wanted to make it happen. Everything from the reed profiles, to the reed material, to the shapes and biggest of all: WHERE we would make them was argued, experimented with and tried at GREAT cost to me and MOSTLY Brad. Finally, I left... Thankfully before things got bad or when the first pre-order option was posted. What I lost (money,time,reputation, hope) far exceeds the losses ever felt by any simple customer but that doesnt begin to lessen the responsibility I STILL feel for every lost purchase to any customer and this is not in any means an excuse and I still have very present resentments towards Brad and the company and how how Harrison went down. The reason I left H.H. was simple: I had early doubts we were going to be able to make all the keys we had said or even ONE and I didnt yet have a single working Harrison Harmonica at the same time I was pushing them. Making these in the USA seemed impossible to me and STILL does unfortunately. Watching that company fail with or without me was one of the greatest disappointments of my life and is the primary reason today I will NEVER again be part of a start up or small harmonica company ( and Ive recently had intriguing offers). Suzuki, the company I turned down years ago to work with Harrison now makes amazing instruments and has the money, technology, market research, intelligence, man power and history to continue doing so. I am very happy and fortunate to now be experiencing a second chance with Suzuki Harmonicas. I am thankful I got out of Harrison Harmonicas before bad things happened with Brad and all of you. I will say, like Slim, Brad ALSO NEVER MEANT for this to happen and had nothing INITIALLY (while I was there) but the BEST of intentions for all of us. I am bummed that I stayed with Slim this long, ignored your warning signs and now have to write this letter. I do sincerely wish Slim a speedy recovery with his home, himself and his loved ones, I understand first hand the pressures surrounding his situation. I made the decision to come here and write this warning when he failed to post a public OR private apology for the late cases and THEN proceeded to advertise for orders for additional guitar cases. Everyone here has every right to be worried, distressed, angry and vocal! I am truly sorry that I have influenced sales for Slim and have contributed to your lost money and justified frustration by associating myself with Slims Custom Cases. Truly sorry. I will continue to make free youtube lessons and am open to any other ideas presented here or elsewhere on ways that I can continue to make amends for pairing myself with Slims Custom Cases. Best of luck to everyone including Slim for resolution here for our industry and personal lives as well. Sincerely Jason Ricci mooncat.org
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 23:32:15 +0000
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