BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: 700Virgin on May 18, 2014, 01:04:48 PM

Title: International Releases vs States
Post by: 700Virgin on May 18, 2014, 01:04:48 PM
I was just looking at Roto Grip's site, and they have several 'International Release' balls.  I've seen the term before, but what is different about those balls?  Why are they not available in the States?  What am I missing here? 
Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: Dave81644 on May 18, 2014, 02:04:46 PM
Dont know about ROTO, but the EBI brands have many, many overseas pieces
i think i was told that the US market fro EBI is that they do releases every 90 days or so
Overseas, its every month (demand from that market)
there is a new EBI product that is all the rage in Japan currently.
im trying to find out what it is
Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: MI 2 AZ on May 18, 2014, 02:27:00 PM
At one time I read here that some balls were different for overseas because they have different lane conditions - less oil I think it was.  Those type of balls would not be as popular here.  That may have changed however.

Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: Dave81644 on May 18, 2014, 03:03:37 PM
the japan release is called the "Wildcat" and its an HP ball
that would indicate its intended for the rev challenged and/or the patterns over there have some volume
Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: billdozer on May 18, 2014, 03:20:26 PM
I think it is a method to test new cover stocks overseas because in Japan they will buy anything. ..then that cover can be tweaked to become perfect for the states
Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: Dave81644 on May 18, 2014, 10:31:23 PM
i guess thats possible, i know that EBI does plenty of ball testing here in the states
i would bet other companies do lots of ball testing also.
I would say its more of the business side of things, make something somebody wants and make that transaction profitable(although its most likely small)
but do that every month and now you have something
Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: itsallaboutme on May 19, 2014, 07:34:03 AM
There are a lot of overseas releases because certain distributors will want a specific color/name/reaction and a run of balls is made exclusively for them.

And the Japanese distributors were some of the pickiest to deal with, so the comment about Japan buying anything couldn't be further from the truth.
Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: kidlost2000 on May 19, 2014, 07:54:09 AM
Supply and demand. They get all of the same releases we do plus several we do not. Many times its just a different color and name and box finish. Others it can be different core/covers combo.

In the end their market has larger sales that support the higher number of releases. Been that way for years.
Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: itsallaboutme on May 19, 2014, 07:59:44 AM
Not every release goes to every region, so the number of sku's for each market is pretty close to the same.
Title: Re: International Releases vs States
Post by: kidlost2000 on May 19, 2014, 03:36:13 PM
Just going off of what sunbridge post for Japan.

http://www.sunbridge-group.com/pc/brunswick/ball/index.html