BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Storm => Topic started by: FluffyDude on November 27, 2017, 09:14:51 PM
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Why did they stop producing the alpha Crux? Should have kept producing them like the hyroad and the Iq Tour.
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Why did they stop producing the alpha Crux? Should have kept producing them like the hyroad and the Iq Tour.
+1.
I guess house bowlers weren't buying it enough.
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Yeah guess Storm thought the Sure Lock was better but sounds like a significant audience would disagree.
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I don't think it is easy for a company to move on from a ball that was popular, and I know that almost every Storm staffer I ever saw had an Alpha Crux or two ready to go. They are still sought after by a lot of guys. But you are talking about a company that needs to keep putting updated core and cover technology out at the top of the line. Alpha Crux was that ball, but in order to bring out a new one, the old one goes away. I'm sure that they watch sale numbers, and they know when the numbers start to reach a certain level it is time to move on. That core or cover may come out again in a release later, but not together
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Big hooking or premier line balls won't stay around from any company for these reasons, plus much fewer people than you think really need that much hook on a regular basis. The balls that have staying power are always the daily drivers.
I don't think it is easy for a company to move on from a ball that was popular, and I know that almost every Storm staffer I ever saw had an Alpha Crux or two ready to go. They are still sought after by a lot of guys. But you are talking about a company that needs to keep putting updated core and cover technology out at the top of the line. Alpha Crux was that ball, but in order to bring out a new one, the old one goes away. I'm sure that they watch sale numbers, and they know when the numbers start to reach a certain level it is time to move on. That core or cover may come out again in a release later, but not together
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my alpha crux is the only ball i would never trade or sell. i have de oiled it once and resurfaced it around 3 times and it still works like new...and i bought it used!
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Big hooking or premier line balls won't stay around from any company for these reasons, plus much fewer people than you think really need that much hook on a regular basis. The balls that have staying power are always the daily drivers.
I don't think it is easy for a company to move on from a ball that was popular, and I know that almost every Storm staffer I ever saw had an Alpha Crux or two ready to go. They are still sought after by a lot of guys. But you are talking about a company that needs to keep putting updated core and cover technology out at the top of the line. Alpha Crux was that ball, but in order to bring out a new one, the old one goes away. I'm sure that they watch sale numbers, and they know when the numbers start to reach a certain level it is time to move on. That core or cover may come out again in a release later, but not together
how long was it in the lineup?
Edit- after brief searches, About 11 months. I was wondering as Motiv has had the Ghost in their lineup for 11 months and Trident for 16 months. I guess slower releases help preserve the shelf life.
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They stopped making the Alpha Crux because of the core. It infringed on a patented core from another company. The company sued Storm and won and received an undisclosed amount of money and stipulated that Storm could sell what they had produced, but could not produce any more Alpha Crux's.
ON EDIT
It's just like the Jackal situation that Motiv had where they came out with the Jackal LE because they couldn't make the Jackal anymore and were forced to recall it.
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They stopped making the Alpha Crux because of the core. It infringed on a patented core from another company. The company sued Storm and won and received an undisclosed amount of money and stipulated that Storm could sell what they had produced, but could not produce any more Alpha Crux's.
ON EDIT
It's just like the Jackal situation that Motiv had where they came out with the Jackal LE because they couldn't make the Jackal anymore and were forced to recall it.
If true, it is likely the same company involved in both situations. Of course, it could be a case of perception vs. reality...
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Makes sense since people generally won't pay $200 for a dry ball so of course the state of the art is going to be in the oilers where top dollar can be had and turnover is high.
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I don't remember it happening like that, I thought that lawsuit came about when the first Crux was released and they reached a settlement . . I could be wrong though. Doesn't make sense that they'd wait until the 3rd Crux or wouldn't have caught it before then though.
They stopped making the Alpha Crux because of the core. It infringed on a patented core from another company. The company sued Storm and won and received an undisclosed amount of money and stipulated that Storm could sell what they had produced, but could not produce any more Alpha Crux's.
ON EDIT
It's just like the Jackal situation that Motiv had where they came out with the Jackal LE because they couldn't make the Jackal anymore and were forced to recall it.
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I could be wrong but I believe the lawsuit was settled about the time the alpha came out. It wasn't that they couldn't sell them just that they had to pay a fee to do so. I'm sure Storm was enthusiastic about that
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I don't remember it happening like that, I thought that lawsuit came about when the first Crux was released and they reached a settlement . . I could be wrong though. Doesn't make sense that they'd wait until the 3rd Crux or wouldn't have caught it before then though.
They stopped making the Alpha Crux because of the core. It infringed on a patented core from another company. The company sued Storm and won and received an undisclosed amount of money and stipulated that Storm could sell what they had produced, but could not produce any more Alpha Crux's.
ON EDIT
It's just like the Jackal situation that Motiv had where they came out with the Jackal LE because they couldn't make the Jackal anymore and were forced to recall it.
By the time things got all sorted out legally, the alpha was in production. Instead of paying recurring fees for producing it, they stopped. The crux line was/is done stateside. It might be different overseas.
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As usual when the dust settled only the lawyers came out ahead.
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Luckily I posted the article (link below to the article no longer works) about the lawsuit, so I found it. Looks like they still produced the ball and released it nearly 3 months after settling and kept it on the market for 11 months. I think it ran its course and Storm pulled it for the newest next greatest ball ever. I do not think it was canned due to the lawsuit. The Crux series was probably canned due to the lawsuit as mention in the posts above though.
link for the thread
http://www.ballreviews.com/storm/alpha-crux-and-phaze-announced-t309988.0.html (http://www.ballreviews.com/storm/alpha-crux-and-phaze-announced-t309988.0.html)
https://rpx-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/lits/734/44011/utdce-94843.pdf?Signature=2WiqWRlW0YC0tb3VHmdIRGQY3MI%3D&Expires=1450897709&AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI2UWKALIEYBVOKDA (https://rpx-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/lits/734/44011/utdce-94843.pdf?Signature=2WiqWRlW0YC0tb3VHmdIRGQY3MI%3D&Expires=1450897709&AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI2UWKALIEYBVOKDA)
Storm and Mo* settled, allowing Storm to continue making the Crux core, but MoRich/Brunswick reached a settlement with Storm. I think this is Storm, shaking their tail at Brusnwick with the whole "Alpha" deal. Let us not forget that this should be stronger than the Crux. Maybe nudging one of the Guru's off the hook perch? We'll see. A 70 day early leak though? That's insane.
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Luckily I posted the article (link below to the article no longer works) about the lawsuit, so I found it. Looks like they still produced the ball and released it nearly 3 months after settling and kept it on the market for 11 months. I think it ran its course and Storm pulled it for the newest next greatest ball ever. I do not think it was canned due to the lawsuit. The Crux series was probably canned due to the lawsuit as mention in the posts above though.
link for the thread
http://www.ballreviews.com/storm/alpha-crux-and-phaze-announced-t309988.0.html (http://www.ballreviews.com/storm/alpha-crux-and-phaze-announced-t309988.0.html)
https://rpx-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/lits/734/44011/utdce-94843.pdf?Signature=2WiqWRlW0YC0tb3VHmdIRGQY3MI%3D&Expires=1450897709&AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI2UWKALIEYBVOKDA (https://rpx-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/lits/734/44011/utdce-94843.pdf?Signature=2WiqWRlW0YC0tb3VHmdIRGQY3MI%3D&Expires=1450897709&AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAI2UWKALIEYBVOKDA)
Storm and Mo* settled, allowing Storm to continue making the Crux core, but MoRich/Brunswick reached a settlement with Storm. I think this is Storm, shaking their tail at Brusnwick with the whole "Alpha" deal. Let us not forget that this should be stronger than the Crux. Maybe nudging one of the Guru's off the hook perch? We'll see. A 70 day early leak though? That's insane.
Sounds like Storm learned the hard way its not easy to out Mo Mr. Pinel without stepping on his R&D. Credit for following through on releasing the ball to market though.
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Not going to debate whether or not RAD cores are producing better results than the Crux cores. However, some of those RAD cores are wrapped in weaker coverstocks (Code series) and covers dominate ball reaction.
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At this time, that is true. But it wouldn't surprise me to see some stronger coverstocks on this core, or a version of it in future releases. Maybe as the replacement for the Sure Lock. They have run stronger covers in the past with earlier version RAD cores
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Here you go. $200 is reasonable for NOS if that ball is that killer. Got quoted $300 for a once drilled Quantum Helix in last few days (great condition but yeah hard pass) so seen worse.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Storm-Alpha-Crux-bowling-ball-New-Undrilled-15lb/162774659779?hash=item25e62032c3:g:7-8AAOSwc~laGdsh
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To answer the original poster ....... my understanding is Mo Pinel sued Storm for patent infringement for the core design. A settlement was reached where Storm could continue producing the core, with a percentage of sales going to Mo Pinel.
It's all in the numbers .... it makes no sense to continue making NEW balls where there is less profit margin. It is more cost effective to make a new core and tell Mo to pound sand.
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To answer the original poster ....... my understanding is Mo Pinel sued Storm for patent infringement for the core design. A settlement was reached where Storm could continue producing the core, with a percentage of sales going to Mo Pinel.
It's all in the numbers .... it makes no sense to continue making NEW balls where there is less profit margin. It is more cost effective to make a new core and tell Mo to pound sand.
My understanding is Mo was being fairly reasonable. The man's IP is how he makes his living and he has done as much or more for bowling ball tech as anyone in the industry. Storm I am sure would defend its IP as well. Still as you say makes business sense to find a new core.