Selling too early

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 19 Oct 2006 07:16

This is a topic Ive wanted to bring up for a while.

Selling too early is a thing I feel I am guilty of and others should be aware of.

Here is the issue I have, when people (myself included, I am not pointing fingers here) learn to stitch and they make a few bags and then they like how a few come out they get the idea that it's a ripe time to start selling. The problem is that your stitching style and bag quality will progress rapidly starting then!

I don't think anyone should start selling their bags until they have made and played to death MANY bags they made in many different styles!

I feel really shitty about how SUCKY a lot of bags I made a year ago or more were! They SUCKED compared to what I make now, I regret starting selling bags as early as I did and I am making this post to maybe prevent someone else from making the same mistake.

Also, you can learn ALOT more from keeping one of your own bags and playing it to death than you can ever get from mailing it off to someone in a trade.

And finally, I really don't think anyone should sell bags unless they feel that their bag (stitching, panel dimensions & filler) is the BEST IN THE WORLD! Why the heck should anyone sell something they think could be better????????

I really hope this didn't come off preachy, I just wanted people to understand the point.

Love,
Tom

bluntobj3ct · Post by **bluntobj3ct** » 19 Oct 2006 07:23

Don't worry Tom, this is a topic that should have been brought up a long time ago. I too wish to express concern and exasperation at this trend.

mosher wrote: And finally, I really don't think anyone should sell bags unless they feel that their bag (stitching, panel dimensions & filler) is the BEST IN THE WORLD! Why the heck should anyone sell something they think could be better????????

THANK YOU. this is so true. I've traded I think 4 bags or something like that, and sold zero... my bags will be the best soon

and thats when im going to take the stitching world by storm! until then, i barely even trade because every bag i make is different than the last one, and it hurts my insides sending out bags i dont think are my best. furthermore, my best is yet to come. so... yeah, true dat.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 19 Oct 2006 08:47

It really felt like trial and error for me when I began selling at around Memorial Weekend, and I thought that phase was the stupidest decision in my stitching career. I've now begun stitching bags that I really enjoy making, break-in fairly well, and the filler is top notch imo. A lot of other people have now enjoyed my new and improved style of stitching, and I'm very confident to sell my bags at the worthy price of $30 USD.

I made a small comment in the "Bags I've or any other stitcher made" thread about this a couple of months ago (in terms of stitching cleaniness and whatever), and I guess the message got across to some. I still see some stitchers who need some improving, but overall the progression is slow.

And filler is super important! I have seen some crazy fillers from people who have traded me bags, and I was somewhat surprised in either a confused and/or bad way. People should calculate and think clearly what would be a great filler for their bags and their stitching style concerning year-long overall performance.

shreddaily · Post by **shreddaily** » 19 Oct 2006 09:11

My (non sticher/ bag investor) opinion on this matter is as follows.

1. If someone has a bag that I deem ownable, hopefully from firsthand feeling, or from online pic. I WANNA BUY IT!

2. there was a time when it was HARD to get a good bag... ie there was more demand for good bags then stichers could produce. That has changed! A shredder shouldn't "settle" for an average bag because of lack of supply.

3. Putting 1 and 2 together gets.... uhhhh I need a new bag, I wish I had 30 bux!

funklovesfootbag · Post by **funklovesfootbag** » 19 Oct 2006 10:12

I agree that stitchers shouldn't rush into selling, but if people tell you they like your bags and are interested in buying them, I think that's a sign that it's alright to sell them. No bag is going to be perfect. It might be perfect in terms of straight stitching, but there is no universal perfect design that's going to yield ultimate playability and long-life; everyone has their favorite type of bag.

I was hesitant to start selling my bags, but someone asked to buy one. I made it pretty clear that I wasn't confident in my stitching, and only charged him $20. I think the big issue is that stitchers need to be willing to fix/repair any bag that they sell, and/or they charge less than the best stitchers if their bags aren't perfect in terms of consistency.

*EDIT* One thing I also forgot to mention is.. if someone is interested in getting a footbag, I think it's partly their responsibility to make sure they're getting a bag from a reputable stitcher, OR realize that they're getting a product from a new / less experienced stitcher.

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 19 Oct 2006 10:38

thank you tom. this helps. me and my girlfriend are starting to stitch in fact we just ordered our first helping of ultrasuede. we were so excited to sell sell sell!! but we discussed this before and decided we should at least make 10 bags that we are proud of before we even start showing them off on modified.

jay7 · Post by **jay7** » 19 Oct 2006 12:37

How does Trading go in your opinion ? I am beginning to make bags (still crap, no where near selling...) and it'd be nice to get feedback from other people, seeing as I am a solo shredder. Being solo, I can't exactly just "buy" an abshire to see what it feels like, and then buy a mosher bag, then a XX ----, to get a broad range of experience..In my case I'd like to try out many bags just to see what others do so I can pick up ideas on how to improve on mine..

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 20 Oct 2006 07:29

jay7 wrote:How does Trading go in your opinion ?

I have never gained anything worth my time from trading.

Anyone that considers themself smart enough to be making the core piece of equipment in this sport should also be smart enough to figure out if a thing they just made sucks or not.

And if you aren't, then maybe bag making just isn't your thing.

Getting the chance to go to a tournie is a great way to see a zillion different bag styles and to get a grasp on some of the many different ways bags can feel and perform.

travismontoya · Post by **travismontoya** » 20 Oct 2006 11:18

Thats why I gave out a whole bunch of bags at first for people to try out when I first started stitching and they brought back there opinions on what I should change or if they felt they would be well enough to buy

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 20 Oct 2006 19:12

mosher wrote:Getting the chance to go to a tournie is a great way to see a zillion different bag styles and to get a grasp on some of the many different ways bags can feel and perform.

the stitcher guessing game is fun when you put everyone's footbag on the table. probably one of my favorite guessing games ever.

Nathan · Post by **Nathan** » 20 Oct 2006 19:26

mosher wrote:I have never gained anything worth my time from trading.

Guest_1 · Post by **Guest_1** » 20 Oct 2006 21:35

Mosher, quit trying to control the world!

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 21 Oct 2006 03:49

Nathan wrote:
mosher wrote:I have never gained anything worth my time from trading.

Nate, you wouldn't be my trade buddy if I didn't want to do it.

What I meant by that statement is that nobody has ever said 'oh, i think you should change this and this' about a bag I traded with them.

Also, I trust my opinion of the product I am making way more than anyone elses.

Josh, the point of this thread was to help others avoid making the same mistake I did. And you probably don't like it because it indirectly points a finger at you.

Nathan · Post by **Nathan** » 21 Oct 2006 07:37

I agree completely with Tom. I started selling about 6 months too early probably, because I started selling after only 10 32's and I am a super slow stitcher.

I think after making 20-30, a stitcher can be able to realize the impact of changes in stitches and sizes andthus be able to control the outcome of a footbag more easily. That is when I should have started to sell.

Guest_1 · Post by **Guest_1** » 21 Oct 2006 07:41

mosher wrote: Josh, the point of this thread was to help others avoid making the same mistake I did. And you probably don't like it because it indirectly points a finger at you.

Actually, it was snide comment directed towards your ridiculous post of the same content.

I'm fully confident in my stitching, but lack time to put into it. I work four jobs, go to school full time, and was so exhausted from my week I couldn't get out of bed this morning two hours ago when I wanted to.

My stitching>yours because I never sold a bag I wasn't ready to

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 21 Oct 2006 08:28

MarvlMan wrote:I'm fully confident in my stitching, but lack time to put into it. I work four jobs, go to school full time, and was so exhausted from my week I couldn't get out of bed this morning two hours ago when I wanted to.

My stitching>yours because I never sold a bag I wasn't ready to

just because youre confident about a bag or your stitching doesnt always make that a good bag. sometimes it just means youre egocentric and selfcentered and you can't justify making a bag for no money. you went straight to selling bags and you refused to trade because it wasnt making you money. thats why someone bought a bag from you for $30+ and it was sold to two other people for $10 before it found a home.

just because youre confident... doesnt make you better than anyone else. it makes you a jerk.

im not claiming i know everything... but i know this:

tom mosher>josh rose any day of the week

jrstubs · Post by **jrstubs** » 21 Oct 2006 08:34

^ that was harsh

, Ive played with neither a bag from josh or a bag from mosher. And so nobody thinks i'm totally new to stitching, I've stitched a total of about 40 32 panels

Guest_1 · Post by **Guest_1** » 21 Oct 2006 09:31

PegLegHolly wrote:you went straight to selling bags and you refused to trade because it wasnt making you money. thats why someone bought a bag from you for $30+ and it was sold to two other people for $10 before it found a home.

I have traded

I sold because I was confident.

It was sold for 20

No one likes every bag they play with. The original owner liked it and so does the last. Both said for a time it was their choice bag.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

quadgun · Post by **quadgun** » 21 Oct 2006 18:25

I see where Tom is coming from.
The first bag I ever bought was a J-Bag.
Yea he had just gotten on the scene of stitching,
but i also had just gotten into footbag, so 20
dollars for a bag sounded great to me.

The bag ended up never breaking in, and I was a bit dissapointed.
But it also gave me a reson for buying a lot of bags
when I had the money.
I'd get to try out new stitchers and say what i think.
It was a great learning experience ... and after that I tired doing it
two more times.
Once from Johnny, who decided that he shouldn't sell me one
because he believed he didnt have enough time to make me a good bag.
No problem there.
The other time was a bag from Peng, who seemed to be making awesome looking bags at the time, and since she learned from tom (and many people raved about toms bags), i thought it was a cool bag to try out.
Never got to break it in completely because i injured my knee ...
but it sure did smell good.

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 21 Oct 2006 19:12

PegLegHolly wrote: it was sold to two other people for $10 before it found a home.

and then sold again for 12 bucks...hehehehehe.

that be me....

josh, it may have been sold for 20 at first, then sold for 10, now i sold it for 12...lets see how many people can recieve and sell your bag! so basically, what im trying to say is that Holly does know what she's talking about.

Selling too early

Selling too early

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