Bazooka Sluice Box order

[HardHatMatt]

The patent expired in December; it has no weight at all. The Schmidt design seems close to an exact replica...right down to the tiny plate they use for a "logo." Nothing stopping them or anyone else from doing so. In this case I think Schmidt may have proceeded Bazooka but maybe I'm remembering wrong.

As an aside, I don't know why they decided on black ABS adorned with nothing but a tiny plate you can only see from five feet and in. Do they want it to be some kind of secret club? If it were me I would make the things a distinct color and plaster BAZOOKA across it in the biggest letters that would fit...or maybe it's better business to make potential customers guess?

 

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[HMiller]

Patent for the Schmidt is in the mid 90's.

https://www.google.com/patents/US5476177

 

[Goldwasher]

The Schmidt is the original. The patent number on a Gen 2 box is the same as the one on the original P.O.S. That one is in good shape because it has seen little use. Run it a dozen times and something will start to break or come off. There used to be a pretty crappy one hangin' out at the shop for a while. Todd drove to Florida to get the plans and all the stuff Howard Schmidt had left. Bunch of stuff for the sub surface dredges too. Then he designed the Bazooka the way it is now. Starting with three models before evolving into the Cluster of options it is now.

 

[Goldwasher]

The patent expired in December; it has no weight at all. The Schmidt design seems close to an exact replica...right down to the tiny plate they use for a "logo." Nothing stopping them or anyone else from doing so. In this case I think Schmidt may have proceeded Bazooka but maybe I'm remembering wrong.

As an aside, I don't know why they decided on black ABS adorned with nothing but a tiny plate you can only see from five feet and in. Do they want it to be some kind of secret club? If it were me I would make the things a distinct color and plaster BAZOOKA across it in the biggest letters that would fit...or maybe it's better business to make potential customers guess?

It didn't need anything to set it apart of a big name look at the thing. You can tell from a hundred feet away if your sluicing or running a Bazooka.

 

[HardHatMatt]

What about those that have never heard of a Bazooka in the first place? I know I saw people using them on the creek numerous times before I found out. Of course, some people will go up and ask, some will find a forum and figure it out, etc....but why make it difficult to identify at all? Why not just put BAZOOKA on it so anyone who sees it will at the very least have a name to search for? In this case I can't see any negative in making the product more immediately identifiable to EVERYONE in your potential customer base. If I were selling the product, I wouldn't assume everyone in my customer base was already well informed on my product, my competitor, the difference between them and where to find it...not to mention, it helps differentiate your product in the event of replicas, knockoffs, etc.

 

[Goldwasher]

Its shape and color are enough to set it apart. Keene is the only sluice box I can think of that plasters their name on the side. Letrap, Angus McKirk, Gold Cube, Heck the Tee Dee Easy sluice have all sold more than Bazookas. Obviously they(maybe not gold cu.) have been around longer. They all look different than other similar use products and from ten feet away you if you don't know them you don't know what they are.
This industry relies on word of mouth. Many here may not even realize the presence bazooka does not have. As of now TNET is the only place its been advertised. The sluice was only advertised in ICMJ and GPAA very briefly. Yet, most prospectors who are out of the newbie greenhorn range know of one. The company has done less than seven trade shows and people flock to see either what the thing is or to say " hey that's a bazooka"

And once you use one or see one run the damn thing sells itself.

Everything mentioned about what should be done by a small company is pretty spot on. Small biz. dies every day. There are normally five people watching who have all the answers and replay on what went wrong. (sometimes they're right)

Believe me I know what would fix the Bazooka situation and I just don't see it happening. It is not for lack of conversation, advice ,volunteering, offering extreme assistance, lack of sleep, encouragement etc.

The person who can affect the change needed is not going to do so.

I had a pretty good part in the grassroots unplanned recognition campaign that got Bazooka really noticed on TNET. The "think less shovel more picture" as well as many on the website and used for other marketing like the trade show banner, are either my claim partners bazooka or Aufisher's .

We were talking them up for a while as users before Chris came on board and took the marketing to the next level. We ended up in touch when GoldenMojo and I got the first Mother Lode Miners Bash set up. I started working at Bazooka maybe a year later. The bash was the first time I met Todd and Chris in person.
I want Bazooka to stay around and I hate seeing the same old complaint. I wish it wasn't falling on deaf ears after passing through a couple of hearts that are pretty close to and hurt by the situation

 

[beasy324]

UPDATE:

Ordered on 5th of September its now 29th of September 2016 just sent a 3rd email to company. No product has arrived at my home yet. Pretty disappointed in the lack of communication from bazooka gold company. Not a good reputation to have.

 

[Goldwasher]

UPDATE:

Ordered on 5th of September its now 29th of September 2016 just sent a 3rd email to company. No product has arrived at my home yet. Pretty disappointed in the lack of communication from bazooka gold company. Not a good reputation to have.

lame

 

[HardHatMatt]

So Keene, the undisputed top dog in the industry, "plasters their name" on their products...interesting. Sounds like a pretty solid strategy for that standpoint. I'd certainly prefer to be Keene than any of the others you mentioned.

Of course the majority of sales in this industry are by word of mouth...most companies in this industry do not understand the advantages of branding and marketing. Most companies, except smart ones like Keene, simply peddle a few one off products here and there as "word of mouth" spreads (or does not spread as is the case for many of these companies.)

Across the board, Angus, Gold Cube Dee Zee and the rest sell FEWER PRODUCTS than they could if their products were readily identifiable to anyone who might have an interest. There is nothing good about making people play detective to find out the name of your product. Not everyone attends gold shows or joins a message board. All the "word of mouth" people will still find out about it via word of mouth...writing Bazooka on it doesn't change anything there, it just makes it easier for those who aren't plugged in to this tiny community.

I would guess a LARGE percentage of sluices and other mining equipment are actually purchased by those who aren't out of the newbie/greenhorn range. If I'm making mining equipment, I want those people purchasing my products, too. I would thank my lucky stars if my competitors strategy was to rely entirely on word of mouth as I create a brand and then market the heck out of it.

Bazooka has bigger problems than this to be sure, but if word of mouth is so strong, why is the market share still so poor? It's not because it takes a month to get the product delivered...it's not because they don't respond to your emails after you've already ordered one...it's because there are a ton of people out there that don't know what in Gods name a "Bazooka Gold Trap" is. Anytime you can address that issue without losing any of your current customers is an absolute no brainer. Mercedes Benz can't do it because people don't want gaudy letters all over their luxury car...I doubt there would be even one prospector who refused to purchase a Bazooka because the logo was too big.

Same product, lose the worthless "plate" and add BAZOOKA GOLD TRAP in letters someone can read from 15-20 feet away.

 

[Goldwasher]

marketing in the small scale prospecting world is not the same as other markets. Some principals apply others out the window. It may seem like it because of the deplorable customer service at this point ,yet the marketing for Bazooka was top notch for several years. The recognition was in line with its presence. The analyticals showed that advert. in Gpaa was pointless and Tnet pushed a lot of people to Bazooka. mainly because people could talk about it and give tips advice and show off.

Have you seen GPAA forums they are newbie wastelands. The adds in ICMJ even though very sharp and professional and something new if you've been reading ICMJ for 20+ years garnered little sales.

Yes Keene is huge. They do not make their money off of stream sluices. I can tell if its Keene if it has a sticker on it or not. In the stream sluice world they are a newbie gateway drug....they are also one of the first things that gets set aside once you discover how much lighter and more efficient drop riffle sluices are. Even so Angus, Cal sluice and le trap don't hold the same market share. because of Keenes longevity and exclusive presence in retail, more than anything.
People don't buy Keenes in most shops because they know what it is. Its most likely the only sluice leaning against the wall. Placerville Hardware is a rarity in it's sluice selection. Territory exclusivity is an interesting thing in the small scale retail world I have recently found out, opening my shop.
Go to Pioneer and try to find a sluice that isn't Keene. Heather can't carry it if it isn't. One of the main reasons Chris took the path he did. Believe me Chris knows his stuff. I will flat out say so that everyone knows. The situation with Bazooka is in no way Chris's fault.

Bazooka making it around the world is due to its place at the top of the internet search world. Getting more views than porn is pretty good for the intraweb for a sluicebox. Gpaa adds garnered phone calls from old dudes that want to mail checks it's pretty funny.

How are you gonna put a name on it is another thing? Paint or stickers wont stay. If they were being milled on a cnc we wouldn't be having this conversation as labor and production are a huge issue..I would route in a name maybe and inlay some paint for color.
But, honestly I've been around prospecting retail enough and gotten enough feedback to feel like those are just widgets and cosmetic.
Todd set out to make a sluice box that is better for serious prospectors than others. He did that. He didn't set out planning on the growth Chris created and didn't adapt and here we are.

It is an exceptionally small endeavor and comes across much bigger than it is. Advertising is not the reason there are problems.

 

[goldog]

You know, it's funny. My "local shop" is Keene Mfg. I've asked about the Bazooka and they act like they've never heard of it. No knockoff, nothing even close. I believe they think it would hurt sales to carry it or fluid-bed sluices at all.

Bazooka is a niche product in a niche market. It doesn't seem marketing is a problem for them. Manufacturing and customer service is. Handling growth is. Goldwasher has made this clear.

Why not sell the company to someone who can deal with being an industry leader? Heck, go on SharkTank. Something better than "it's been nice knowing you."

 

[425jesse]

Hey guys, my two cents...

I have owned all of their products other than the miner, and they all work well, consistently. In the hottest weather, on the coldest day of winter, gold in the box. This is a superior product. That being said, customer service is a hard thing for the consumer to sacrifice to get a great product. Its kind of like saying eat this crap for dinner, because dessert will be good enough to make you forget. This problem has been growing for while as far as I can tell, but I dont think that it is malicious, its just a few dudes in a little shop making sluices. When I purchased my prospector, it took a couple weeks to get it, unfortunately when it arrived it was damaged (absolutely because of shipping, not mfg.) I called up the bazooka office, and the phone was answered but either Chris or Todd. I spoke with him for a couple minutes, and he explained how I could fix it if I didnt want to try to get reimbursed by the shipper. I thought that was pretty cool, and he even offered to send me a chunk of the abs to reinforce the area where the damage was (this was not enough damage to have changed the outcome of any day of sluicing, mostly just cosmetic at the head end of the intake.) which I took him up on. The next day I got the shipping notification for the repair stuff, but attached to it was a note that asked me to send the damaged sluice box back in the packaging that a NEW one was coming in. For a small business that was a really great thing to offer, and one that was not their problem to take care of. Now, there is no way i was going to take a new sluice when mine would work perfect and just had a cosmetic issue, so i let them know not to send it, and a few months later, bought my super mini to compliment the sniper and prospector I already had. It really sucks that things appear to be going downhill, with any luck they will take some much needed help/advice (which I believe has been offered repeatedly, right GW?! and move forward. For anyone that doesn't have a bazooka yet, get one, and be patient, they are an amazing tool, and will produce in way more environments than almost any other sluice out there. Happy Hunting all!

JB

 

[Goldwasher]

Just don't order it from Bazooka directly...just sayin'.

And I hate to have to say it! Don't expect much forward movement!

Pretty much a one man $#!^show now.

 

[wildminer]

I hope to add a Prospector to my zook arsenal for some winter mining and sure hope one will be available when I've got the $ saved. Where would one maybe be available other than directly from Bazooka?

 

[Goldwasher]

Very few places now. I don't know what hills flat still has. I have a 36" prospector still. But, I may keep that for myself rather than sell it.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Very few places now. I don't know what hills flat still has. I have a 36" prospector still. But, I may keep that for myself rather than sell it.

My friend Greg at Grizzly Bear Gold Co. Can get you one. Drop him an email at [email protected] or call 720-351-3345. Tell him I sent you

 

[wildminer]

Thank you Kevin. You are a prince of a guy! I've still got to save a little, $ are tight here.

 

[beasy324]

Just wrote them again (4th time) said i want my product or a refund of my money. Pretty sad a month and no product or response.

 

[HardHatMatt]

It seems like the biggest issue is that they don't have the right machines/equipment/tools to make the product without either making each box by hand themselves or training more people to make each box by hand. How much does this equipment cost? Surely running the business as thin as they are the margins must be pretty decent...a bank may not loan them money but someone may consider it if there is decent cash flow. I can't imagine there is much debt...maybe financing on the existing equipment? Anyway I hope he will exhaust the options available to him rather than simply throwing in the towel and walking away or god forbid having to declare bankruptcy. Even if you just licensed the brand to another manufacturer...at least that's SOMETHING for 20 years+ hard work. Seems like it would be worth at least returning a couple phone calls but hey, what can ya do?

 

[Goldwasher]

1.There is no they

2. I have access to two different cnc mills one fifteen minutes from my house and one in Gardenerville Nevada. There have been several offers made to produce parts.

3. those offers fell on deaf ears (the only two ears involved that don't listen) even though I would be doing all the set up at my expense in time and favor asking. And I had a yes from both owners.

4. the margins are not high yet, they could be higher.

5. no person with money and intelligence upon investigation is going to be an "angel"

6. turn up your imagination a bit

7. a table saw, a circular saw, a couple of heat benders, heat welder, rasps, files, and a few ceramic scrapers are paid for already.

8. Bankruptcy isn't on the table you have to run your business semi decently and fail for that

9.The towel was thrown in a long time ago

10. TODD you should be making some phone calls

11. he won't