Crescent mat dumping time???

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Mike LeCompte CPF

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Jul 20, 2005
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792
Loc
Knoxville TN
Called LJ just now to place my weekly order and was told Crescent as of yesterday is deleting lots of items; particular interest was in a few TruVue/Miller/whatever-they're-called-now mats.

So heads up, folks. Here come the deletions
 
Wasn't this talked about like 2 weeks ago?

The entire line is being restructured. There is no big conspiracy or hidden agenda. They are soon to rollout a completely new and improved line. That thing had gotten unruly as it was. I'm sure the confusion will all be sorted out in the next few weeks. I didn't submit to memory the dates of the rollout but I do recall that everything was going to be sorted out by Atlanta.

So throwing out your old samples might not be a bad idea. Its about time to get new ones now that they know what’s staying and going.
 
dont throw everything away, only the old Tru Vue and Whitecore basics samples. There is going to be an add on set to the selects that has all of the ultimat and ultiblack samples. The International whitecore line will have its own new sample set with all of the tru vue international whites in it. Rag and Paper samples will stay the same
 
Sigh....we just got our brand-new Crescent samples organized, finally. Took us weeks to get the set. Here we go again. They sure look pretty though!
 
I think the Cresent Bandbridge and Tru-Vue mat companies should send thier reps out to the shops with new samples to show us what to pitch and what to keep. Or if they would just set up a web page with everything we should do, even that would help.

This gets confusing! Thank the Lord for my POS!!! At least I can catch the discontinued mats before the customer gets too attached!
 
when my Crescent rep comes in I'll tell them to forget me and visit you in the Tri-Cities, Jennifer.

Jay: yeah it was DISCUSSED weeks ago--maybe even a month--but didn't know it was happening NOW. The timetable was originally mid-July atleast according to my local supplier
 
I heard mid July, too.

But you’d never know it from Crescent’s web site. It doesn’t look like they’ve updated it since last year.
 
I didn't even know Crescent/TV/Bainbridge had reps to call on us menial framers...only suppliers. It would be nice....even once or twice per year.
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Originally posted by Mike LeCompte CPF:
when my Crescent rep comes in I'll tell them to forget me and visit you in the Tri-Cities, Jennifer.
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Well, have him stop here on the way!
 
When I called in our order with LJ last week, I asked them about the "rumor". They claimed ignorance - never heard such I thing. BUT three of the four Tru Vue mats that I needed were "out of stock." Here's your sign...
 
Dear Crescent,

I have not seen a rep or had any contact with your company for 4-5 years, at that time you were my #1 matboard company, with TV being my #3. You would think that you would be my # 1 with no problem now that both brands are under one roof. You are becoming closer to my #3 brand. Isn't amazing how having a relationship with your customers can increase your business.

Sincerly,

Me
 
On the flip side LJ is the ONLY regular rep I ever see. He is the ONLY one I ever seen more than once and talk to him once every 3 months religiously. Yet I don't carry a single product of theirs.

I've never seen a matboard rep either. I didn't even know they existed. Small markets sure are different for sure.

If seeing a rep was my measure, I’d only carry LJ and I guess matboards and glass would be out of the question.
 
Originally posted by Jay H:
If seeing a rep was my measure, I’d only carry LJ and I guess mat boards and glass would be out of the question.
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Then again, Larson has a very good line of mat boards. It will be the only board I stock in the near future. All others will be ordered.
 
ok, so NOW what to do when the matting MUST be over 32" X 40" but less than 40" X 60" ????? any maker out there stepping up to the plate to make "over sized" mats??? or must we all now get into the mat splicing trade?????????? the added cost of time/material will surely endear us to the clients!
 
Originally posted by BILL WARD:
ok, so NOW what to do when the matting MUST be over 32" X 40" but less than 40" X 60" ?????
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Is that a serious question?

Maybe somebody could come out with a 35x45 and a 36x50 and a 40x55 for every color.

Carry on?
 
We have a great Crescent rep, Geoff Flack. He comes by at least twice a year.
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Where are you working these days, Seth? Hope you have found a place that appreciates (and rewards) your unique talents.
:cool: Rick
 
Tim: unlike you, Crescent isn't even our #3. They're #0, as in don't use them, will fire anyone who suggests we do use them and that's that.

Just now dumpsterized all my TruVue samples. H..ll with them. Don't need them at all.

No sales support, outdated specifiers and other non-spport issues brought us to this conclusion.

Meanwhile, our Bainbridge rep comes by about quarterly, we see our Larson rep on a regular basis.

So that's who we do business with.

He who shows up gets the orders
 
Okay, it's official. Just called in my weekly order. Told the Miller's that I needed were discontinued. Asked if they were discontinuing a lot of them (see my post for June 21st). The customer rept said they discontinued 60 last week. SO WHAT'S THE BIG SECRET? Let me know what they are so I'm not selling them at the front counter.

Immediately did an update with Lifesaver - no deleted mats. So apparently they haven't been notified either.
 
Mike,

That's why we have Bainbridge as our #1, we see a rep every quarter.

Stan Niederhouser(SP) used to be our Crescent rep up until 4-5 years ago and would stop by every quarter. Since then we don't have any contact with a rep, very rarely get new samples, and never get a discontinued list.

Now that's service!!!!
 
Yall would stroke out if you had to run a shop in Owensboro KY.

Crescent nor Bainbridge know I exist. Yet life goes on.
 
This is on Crescent's Webpage:


Crescent is making some exciting changes to our matboard lines.

Look for our mailing in mid-July that will outline the entire program, including:

New Specifiers
Discontinued List
New Product Information Guide
Check back in July for all of the details.

The Power of Selection


Guess what! I can't sell at the front counter and wait four weeks to find out what has been discontinued. Crescent - buy a clue.
 
Unless you buy directly from Crescent, I think your anger is miss-directed. The people that do buy directly from Crescent knew long ago which mats were going to be avalible or not.

I think your issue is with your supplier and not Crescent.
 
Hmm.... That is exactly who updates my software. Included with the mat information is the price. How would Crescent know what your price for each product number is?
 
I know for a FACT they do.

You have moulding from suppliers who change the manufactors numbers and put in their own. How do think those shop specific numbers magically find their way into your POS? Don't you have a list of suppliers where you can d/l their databases? Don't you think that they should be responsibile for offering matboards, or not?

I install updates from suppliers my self. One supplier names the database lifesaver.txt. So I have seen exactly what suppliers send to Lifesaver and what they don't. So yea I "really think suppliers provide Livesaver with updates".
 
Can't argue with FACTS.

I know when I download mouldings, I choose LJ, Roma, Omega, Bella, etc.

When I download mats, I download Artique, Crescent, Miller and Bainbridge.
I'm pretty sure that Lifesaver doesn't know who I'm buying the mats from.

I rashly assumed that I was downloading the suggested prices from the manufacturers. If I negotiated a better price from my supplier, I've either adjusted my multiplier or put some extra money in my pocket.
 
Guys-No one should be surprised at this transition. How long ago did thesale occur? Did anyone think there wouldn't be any changes/deletions/duplications?

Sure, sometimes we get caught with that perfect shade of periwinkle being dropped.

But, when did the local supplier know? The knew with enough time prior to MaryAnn's order to be able to tell her that it was discontinued.

We had our Crescent visit two weeks ago. Nice gentleman heading up the notification program. he mentioned that they knew they would get pilloried by some. Just to be expected. He stated that about 19,000 clients use Crescent Boards.

He was in town to visit with distributors and t elocal rep to do what they could to get the word out. The numbers simply mean they won't get to a lot; that's why the are enlisting local distributors to do what they can

We have three distributors that carry Crescent. Not one had called about this.

At the same time, I'll bet that there aren't many (any?) framers that have driven down to the local distributor(s) to get the info. I'll bet if you showed up at XYZ distributor and went through the numbers discontinued, you would get them. In fact, when was the last time you spent some time at the dist. facility?

There should be little surprise that there will some transitional confusion. How much each does to mitigate that problem just might save that "periwinkle headache"

I know we are all busy, but it just seems to be easier to find a villain than a solution

If I were to suggest anything, it might be to let the plan continue and try an dkeep your shop one step ahead of what "they" will do for you
 
Not trying to get "them" to do anything for me other than give me some information that I can work with. I'm not worried about losing that perfect shade of blue, just cranky when I sell something that is discontinued.
Our Larson rept is going to fax a list to me after I made the request. I would have rather had it on the 21st when I first made the inquiry and they pleaded ignorance (or dumb) BEFORE I sold a bunch of mats that no longer exist.
BTW, I have spent time at our 'local' distribution point, it's about 140 miles away. Not a place to just drop in on.
 
Hey MaryAnn-I'm not being critical of you. It is frustrating when you have to spend way too much putting out a fire. That's why I suggested to everyone that a little "brush clearing" before the fire gets close is often easier than putting out the flames

If more took your "due diligence", I suspect there would be less conflicts, also

BTW, how was your latest trip? I have an employee that just returned from a three week college "exchange" program in Architecture.(I think it was just an excuse to have mom pay for the trip and call it "education")
 
No worries, Bob. Trip to Greece was wonderful...I'm pretty sure that I could have stayed there! Didn't see any frame shops there - it could be a wide open market.

I received the list for a fellow grumbler. THANKS!! I'm in the process of culling mats. Still waiting for LJ to come through.

Any excuse for a road trip......and all the better if you can con your mother into paying for it.
 
I was at my local supplier's today. Except for what they have ordered and gotten a d/c on, they do not know which are "going to be" discontinued yet. They only know that "everything" will be "made over" and even the ones that are staying will get new numbers.

They said the reps are supposed to start visiting shops who are on their mailing list by July 10th.

I'm on the mailing list - I'd sure love to see a rep!
 
I wonder why they would tell you that Betty? Is this the way the real business world works? Yuck.

Carry on.
 
What are you talking about Jay? I asked them what was going on with Crescent, and they told me - what's the deal?
 
So a little shop in Owensboro and Bob Carter was able to find out exactly what stays and goes and your supplier has no idea? Common you know better.
 
Ohhhh, I see. It's a great conspiracy!

You are soooo smart Jay. I'm impressed.

You don't need any of my imput on this.

Since you know all about it - please send me a list of what's going, what's staying, and what will be new.
 
Originally posted by Maryann:
Okay, it's official. Just called in my weekly order. Told the Miller's that I needed were discontinued. Asked if they were discontinuing a lot of them (see my post for June 21st). The customer rept said they discontinued 60 last week. SO WHAT'S THE BIG SECRET? Let me know what they are so I'm not selling them at the front counter.

Immediately did an update with Lifesaver - no deleted mats. So apparently they haven't been notified either.
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That's what I ran to today, too.

As far as reps for either Bainbridge or Crescent... this past year was the first time in sixteen years I ever saw one. I wouldn't have known they even existed without this board.
 
Just visited Crescent's web site - still no update. I just hate being in limbo - I want to throw all of them in the dumpster. I keep telling myself not to do anything rash just yet but my patience is wearing thin...
:mad:
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My LJ rept claims he doesn't know anything about discontinued mats, but the person on the other end of the phone when I place the LJ order says that about 60 have been discontinued....who knows. Tired of the games.

I haven't put them in the dumpster but I have pulled them. I can't be selling discontinued mats. They may or may not hit the landfill depending on how the great conspiracy works out. I think this was handled very poorly by the manufacturers and the suppliers.
 
I just received a discontinued crescent matboard list from my supplier, looks like majority, if not all, are miller matts,(ultimat,ultiblack, int. white core). There a few of moorman, and some regular crescent. The list gives substitute numbers for discontinued matts. Also, a number for crescent help desk, to assist with information to make the product consolidation as smooth as possible. 1-866-469-6287.
 
I contacted two of my suppliers. One claims they don't have any lists yet.

The other was a little more open. Said they were very busy changing computer records, mat racks and numbering, and trying to politely tell their customers to contact Crescent - this is their mess! Apparently, we are suppose to wait until we get our packet from Crescent. It will include the changes and a card to request corner samples.
Also, we need to hang onto our old corner samples because Crescent wants them back before we get the new ones(?)

I was told there isn't a discontinued list. There is a list of reassigned #s and you have to go through all those and post them to the old #s. Then the "left over" old #s are actually deleted/discontinued mats.

It just keeps getting worse...
 
I just got a gi-normous list from one of my suppliers. At first appearance it looks like maybe 600 numbers mostly Miller. But, upon examining the list they have the same colors listed under ulti, ulti black, ulti 40x60 etc. Still quite a lot of numbers. It looks like "American Red" and "Bakers White" made the cut. Whew!

....and to think my Crescent rep just on Friday told me there was no list and that I was reading unfounded rumors here on the G......
 
The changeover might be Crescent's baby. Board availability is theirs. So if you don't recieve a DISC notification from the supplier, what else matters? I think there is some serious over reacting to this.
 
Originally posted by Jay H:
The changeover might be Crescent's baby. Board availability is theirs. So if you don't recieve a DISC notification from the supplier, what else matters? I think there is some serious over reacting to this.
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I'm not overreacting - I'm just a control freak! :D ;)
 
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