Grant wrote the following to the RBW list on 1/17/06 -- caveat: I haven't followed things since, relations may have changed, I have no affiliation with either side, etc.:
"Responding to the bike bags in the Frost River catalogue, the story is this; The fellow at Frost River broke an agreement we had that he wouldn't make our bags under any other label. It wasn't a written agreement. He wears plaid shirts and tucks them in behind thick leather belts, and we hit it off right away when we met 7+ years ago when he was at Duluth Pack. As for the Frost River bags: We conceived and developed them, they stitched them. We were always undersuppplied and back-ordered because he was suffering financially to the point where he couldn't even buy materials for our bags because he had vendors who needed paying and he couldn't pay them, and they wouldn't ship more materials without being paid. We loaned him money to pay his bills, and still he couldn't deliver. I followed him from Duluth Pack to this new company out of loyalty (after he'd been let go). I nearly burned my bridge with Duluth doing it, and it backfired when he couldn't deliver. So we were forced to crawl back to Duluth, tail between legs and begging forgiveness, and they graciously accepted us back. All the while I told FR that we'd continue to buy from them, as much as they could make. But we couldn't continue being out of stock, so the move back to Duluth was necessary. He still couldn't deliver, and then his catalogue showed up with our bags in it, renamed. I called him up and said "Whazzupidat?" and he said I forced him to do it by going to Duluth. I said, "Well, you know, you weren't making us bags!" He said, exact quote, "Well Grant, you made a business decision, and so did I." Even after that I told him, "Look, we'll BUY from you, if you can deliver. And I'll come up with new bags for you to make, if it turns out that Duluth is coming through with tons of the current bags." He is a good guy, a nice man, but this was not a good thing that he did. It doesn't make him bad, but I feel as though I can keep turning another cheek and he'll keep hitting it (by continuing to list OUR bags). I hope he doesn't sell many of them. He claims to have played a role in their development, but he never contributed a single design idea, only construction details that any maker would be expected to contribute. That's the story, o'er & out. Best, Grant" Best wishes from the archives, Geoff (Denver) On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 11:29 AM, Allingham II, Thomas J < [email protected]> wrote: > Others on this list have suggested that Frost River was something short > of forthright in its copying of Riv’s designs for their bike bags. **** > > ** ** > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *hsmitham > *Sent:* Monday, April 29, 2013 12:50 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [RBW] Re: ISO Small handle bar bag**** > > ** ** > > Hi Scott,**** > > ** ** > > I figured Riv had Duluth make some of their bags thanks for the > confirmation. It fits the bill.**** > > ** ** > > Hugh > > On Monday, April 29, 2013 5:41:03 AM UTC-7, Skenry wrote:**** > > That Frost River is nice, I have the old one. It used to be sold as the > Rivendell Baggins CandyBar bag. **** > > ** ** > > Cheers,**** > > Scott**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 2:00 AM, hsmitham <[email protected]> wrote:**** > > Hi Doug,**** > > ** ** > > I don't know why Rivendell stops runs on great bags like the Nigel Smythe > tweed bags or the Baggins bag?? I have to admit I'm into fashion my bike is > an example of said fetish. Acorn was sold out an hour and a half on all > their ranger tan bags on the 24th I'm not going to wait by the computer at > 9am to make a purchase or bid on the bay and pay exorbitant prices. So I > bought this bag instead which meets my cirteria, small made out of duck > waxed cotton with leather straps two way zipper reasonably priced and MUSA. > https://www.frostriver.com/shop/sawbill-trail-handlebar-bag/**** > > ** ** > > Thanks for your advice and looking forward to our adventure.**** > > ** ** > > Best,**** > > ** ** > > Hugh**** > > Sunland, CA**** > > > > On Sunday, April 28, 2013 9:38:28 PM UTC-7, dougP wrote:**** > > Hugh: > > If you plan to continue with a saddlebag & just want the front one for > phone, keys, camera, etc, the bar tubes are great. They fit any bike, hold > a decent amount (but not a sandwich) & don't need any special rack or > support. I have one that I take whenever I travel & rent a bike. Does > Rivendell still carry the Brand V? It's nicely done & IIRC a decent > price. > > dougP > > On Sunday, April 28, 2013 3:02:13 PM UTC-7, hsmitham wrote:**** > > Hi Rivsters,**** > > ** ** > > I've been in search of a small handle bar bag like the Nigel Smythe tweed > bag or the baggins one from time past.If you have one you're no longer > using contact me off list.Thanks in advance.**** > > ** ** > > Hugh**** > > Sunland, CA**** > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en-US. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > **** > > ** ** > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en-US. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > **** > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > **************************************************** > > To ensure compliance with Treasury Department regulations, we advise you > that, unless otherwise expressly indicated, any federal tax advice > contained in this message was not intended or written to be used, and > cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding tax-related penalties under > the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state or local tax law provisions > or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any > tax-related matters addressed herein. > **************************************************** > **************************************************** > > This email (and any attachments thereto) is intended only for use by the > addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or > confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this > email, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or > copying of this email (and any attachments thereto) is strictly prohibited. > If you receive this email in error please immediately notify me at (212) > 735-3000 and permanently delete the original email (and any copy of any > email) and any printout thereof. > > Further information about the firm, a list of the Partners and their > professional qualifications will be provided upon request. > **************************************************** > ============================================================================== > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en-US. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en-US. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
