Torpedo's Cronkhite eBay Store - UPDATE!!!

[the elephant]

… you seem to jump to and between both ends of the reaction spectrum a few times.

If you were as broke as I generally am and just dropped most of a house payment on something promised in two weeks, only then (after purchase) to be told it would be EIGHTEEN weeks I suspect that you, too, would have hit the roof.

The sole reason for this purchase was to test their eBay storefront to see whether turnaround times had improved from five or six months to something more reasonable. I was delighted to see the predicted time was two weeks. So I bought the bag. Then I was told directly in an email that it would likely be about two weeks. I got very excited. Then I received the email the next day that told me it would be more like four and a half months before they could even start cutting the material.

This thread was meant to be a literal transcript of this entire process since there has been so much discussion about Torpedo's continuation of GC's business. Sorry if my posting genuine reactions soured your morning coffee, heh, heh…



Here is the less dramatic version:

I ordered a GC Cordura bag on eBay.

It will arrive tomorrow.

Absolutely nothing happened between these two events.

[Tubajug]

I ordered a GC Cordura bag on eBay.

It will arrive tomorrow.

Absolutely nothing happened between these two events.

[sugawi]

I’m wondering if anyone had a chance to compare side by side current production of GC bag to Superfine. Are they about the same or one would be better than another? Trying to decide if I should jump on this deal or wait for Superfine to resume their production since I’m not in a hurry.

[kingrob76]

Mine arrives Monday. That was pretty quick....

[LittleJon1]

Mine arrives Monday. That was pretty quick....

I ordered one for my JP179b feb. 13th . Nothing yet except an order #. Jenn told me on the phone when I ordered that I should expect 16-18 weeks .

[ronr]

Mine arrives Monday. That was pretty quick....

I ordered one for my JP179b feb. 13th . Nothing yet except an order #. Jenn told me on the phone when I ordered that I should expect 16-18 weeks .

Weird, I ordered for a JP179b a week ago, and it’s supposed to be here tomorrow. I told them it was virtually the same as a YBB621.

DELIVERY UPDATE

Fed Ex was unable to complete delivery today for god knows why, as there was someone home all day.

[the elephant]

And — OF COURSE — FedEx has lost the package somewhere in Missouri.

OF COURSE they would. Of course this is our new normal. Of course.

A horse is a horse, of course, of course, unless it's FedEx. Then it's a horse that loses your stuff along the way. This is the eighth package to be lost by them out of the last dozen or so. I think they are batting about a .300 right now, which would be okay except that all those failures to get on base were them losing my property. And I have to be here when all packages arrive or they will most certainly be stolen by the time I arrive home. So now I have to wait for FedEx to unf**ktangulate themselves and provide me with a *real* arrival date so I can make sure I can clear my day of rehearsals, which is almost impossible, by the way.

The New Normal: this is it. As we used to say in the US Army: EMBRACE THE SUCK.

HAHAHA!!! Who wants to bet that FedEx gets me the bag… in "16 to 18 weeks"?

Thus far, this has been an experience both fun and calming in one go.

[Three Valves]

Better take some Fukitol.

I have some in 12oz cans!

[the elephant]

Okay, they found it and have redirected it to the correct state. It is now somewhere in Mississippi south of Memphis. The tracking "travel history" still reads "on time" and it says tonight before 8:00 — but I have lived here a long time and have *never* seen a FedEx van or truck running after about 4:00. If it is ON THE TRUCK and it is after four o'clock it goes back to the barn and is delivered the next business day. So my money is on Monday. However, doing the math, if they *do* deliver as late as promised it should get here close to sunset.

The anticipation is palpable…

[Mary Ann]

I opted out of text messages from FedEx telling me when my delivery will be. 5 am they would start coming in (I guess they have never heard of time zones and the fact that people might actually sleep past 8am EDT?)

It will be at least three days after the first "you're getting it today" before I get it. I am at the end of the route, so it never makes it until it has sat on the truck overnight at least twice and finally gets farther up in the delivery queue by the third day so that they aren't done by the time they get to it.

My freeze dryer arrived when they said it would, but it was on a BIG truck and not the usual delivery van things.

[YorkNumber3.0]

.

[Three Valves]

They keep saying my “heavier than it looks” deliveries from Midway and Bass Pro Requires signature but they just leave it.

I have a swanky zip code though.

For now.

[bort2.0]

Our driver plays his music way too loud. Like WAY too loud.

But... I always know when I'm getting a package! Give him a coffee gift card around the holidays, and everything goes smoothly.

[ronr]

Our driver plays his music way too loud. Like WAY too loud.

But... I always know when I'm getting a package! Give him a coffee gift card around the holidays, and everything goes smoothly.

Kind of like an ice cream truck, huh?

By the way, my bag arrived today. Fits like a glove!

[bort2.0]

Our driver plays his music way too loud. Like WAY too loud.

But... I always know when I'm getting a package! Give him a coffee gift card around the holidays, and everything goes smoothly.

Kind of like an ice cream truck, huh?

By the way, my bag arrived today. Fits like a glove!

Never thought of that!

Let's see it!

[the elephant]

Kind of like an ice cream truck, huh?

Never thought of that!

Same net effect. I always thought the UPS truck ought to play a distinctive tune so all the rednecks waiting for jeep parts could run around screaming, "UPS! UPS! Maaaaa! Throw down some moneeeeeeey! UPS is coming! Maaaaaaaa!" ($1 to Eddie Murphy)

Meanwhile, back on the farm, FedEx finally admitted that I would not get my bag by 8:00 about four hours after the fact, by making it as "DELAYED". (Yeah, no Shirt.) I should get it on Monday.

[kingrob76]

My bag came today. Perfect fit, exactly what I was expecting. FedEx initally had a blurb in their system that said it was going to be delivered yesterday but I knew that was a blip. They even threw in a small accessory pouch and a leather mouthpiece holster-type case. So either their medium template is EXACTLY right for a 983, or, they actually do build to the pattern in which I'm very impressed by the turnaround time. I'm guessing they have stuff pre-cut and just adjust based on the template.

[the elephant]

My Kurath F is no longer made and was at no time common. However, it is essentially the same as the later version. which was the original Willson 3200FA-5, and they have patterns for the 3200FA-5 as well as the rotary version, and the 3400FA-5 Eb, which uses the same bell and outer branches. So after several emails with questions to ensure my horn would fit their template, they got to work on it. So yes, it is the same mad-to-order bag as on the regular website, seemingly both cheaper and faster. So whatever. I am happy to see this improvement.

My bag arrived just a few moments ago and I snapped some pics. It fits EXACTLY. I also received the padded zipper pouch for the accessory pocket on the back, as well as the nice leather mouthpiece pouch, which is made from the same leather and uses the same snap as the music zipper pouch.

Nice touch.

Also, initially, they would not sell the snap-on music folio pouches separately, but this has changed. Fo course, they are really costly, but I have an old RB bag in the newer clamshell style that lacks the music pouch, and that sort of sucks, so I bought one. Now that old bag is complete.

i am very surprised and pleased with how all this worked out, despite the spurious email claiming that it would take them 16 to 18 weeks to even get to the order.

Pics…

What a nice Cordura bag!














CAT TESTED…


CAT APPROVED…

[Three Valves]

[sugawi]

Thank you for posting pictures, It looks absolutely fabulous! Great fit and design. I like burgundy and some other colors as well. I just have a hard time choosing one and would rather have black but unfortunately it’s out of stock on eBay site in large size. I thought they are custom made anyway so they can just add more quantities there so I sent them a message and here is their reply:

“As far as I know, we only have these two in stock:

Black Cordura

— Miraphone 188, Rudy Meinl 45, Rudy Meinl 3/4 CC, Jupiter 582, Large

— Kalison CC, Mack Brass 410S, Cerveny 6/4 BBb, Meinl Weston 2000, Meinl Weston 2145, MW 2155 Large”

So it seems they have some premade and others would have to wait 16-18 weeks? But even then they would not adjust their listing.