I got a favor to ask! Can anyone that has won a top from BilletSPIN please respond. Could be an gaw, SUS, scavenger hunt etc. Please only respond if you have been one of those people. Normally I love joking around but this is not one of those times. If you don’t want to reply, I understand. If you have and are ok with responding, reply “yes”. I just want to see how many people total have won tops from BilletSPIN. I know, weird but I really appreciate it!
Thank you all, I really appreciate you sharing!!
11/6/17
Well I have not had to do one of these in a very long time. Unfortunately it is needed since there are some people in the top community that feel the need to create drama and negativity. This is not present in this group and for that, I thank you all soooooo much. Folks we have enough garbage in our lives so I try my hardest to keep that stuff out as I know none of you want that. We come here to share this wonderful passion for this hobby we all love. We also hear of people going through hard times or struggles and we try to encourage and uplift them. That is what “community” is all about.
My advice to all: if you are part of a group that seems to have a lot of drama and negativity and it gets to you, leave. Sooner or later you will be affected. Focus on the things and places that bring you joy, after all that is what a hobby should do. I have left many of groups due to this reason and out of sight, out of mind is a very wonderful thing.
Just know that the extreme majority of people in this community are wonderful caring people.
With this said, if there is anything we at BilletSPIN do that upsets you or you don’t understand, message me. I will do my best to explain it. If at that point you are still upset, feel free to post it to get others opinions. I am no perfect and make my share of mistakes. Constructive feedback has molded BilletSPIN into what it is today. My request is that you come to me first to understand my reasons.
I know that this post in of itself is drama but with some of the things going on lately and the overwhelming number of messages I have had this weekend I thought I better say something. If you are reading this and have no idea what I am talking about, you are doing it right 🙂
SO, today is a new day! Lets make it awesome. Lets finish this year focusing on what got you into tops and the love you have for them. Lets remember all the good this community has and the amazing things we have accomplished together as a family.
Have a great week,
Rich
We are very close on Billetspin first carrying cases and those crystal Top stands I posted a few weeks ago! Got the dammy Thrusts tomorrow and the wheels are working on future stuff 🙂 tomorrow I start on Brian’s sight unseen auction top and then the special GTG combo. After a long weekend, things are rollin!! Yooze all have a wonderful night and just know things are gettin crazy up in here!
11/8/17
BilletSPIN Tops Update:
Couple of my main goals for 2017 was to offer more exotic materials and to offer different finishing. It seemed like a great plan and it sure was a great learning experience. There were unforeseen consequences though which have made me reconsider these goals for 2018.
BilletSPIN’s mantra back in 2015 was to make the coolest tops we could out of standard materials. That allowed us to focus more on design complexity rather than materials. We are going to focus more on this as we move into 2018. I LOVE exotics and we will always offer some but not nearly to the extent we currently do. I feel like my hands are tied because I try hard to keep certain price points. Exotics just cost a ton of money so the machining has to be reduced in order to keep the prices reasonable.
So what does this mean? Well I want to be totally honest here. It means that we will be upping the complexity overall to our designs to focus on machining rather than materials. Prices will be effected on those designs but will still be under the prices we have been selling the majority of the exotics for. Using standard materials will not handcuff us on quantities. This means everyone should have a great opportunity to buy these. This also means fewer designs overall with more quantities of each design.
In addition to the standard Stainless Steel, Bronze, Copper and brass, we will be using a lot of zirc and titanium. The reason is the material is easier to get in large quantities and it offer’s a ton of variety in colors we can generate. We will still be offering different finishes on all these materials.
The Thrust will finish as planned using all the materials I have posted. This change will go into effect AFTER the Thrust is retired.
Due to Sue and I going on a vacation in December, it is not looking good for a Christmas top this year. I apologize for that 🙁
THANK YOU all for your continued support of BilletSPIN. I am GREATLY looking forward to taking designing to another level. Have a wonderful day,
Rich Stadler
11/10/17
I wonder how many tops Billetspin has made. I really have no idea anymore but if I spent some time on it I could get pretty close. What’s your guess? Post your guesses and I will let you know who I believe is closest!
Well after some math, we are right around 23,000 tops sold. That’s a lot of tops!! I doubt there is a place in the world we have not shipped to which just shows this hobby is worldwide. It’s so cool to be a part of it. I still remember the day I found that set of dice on eBay which started me down the road to create Billetspin.
I see we had a misprint on the website, that will be addressed shortly. It should have been 10,000 at the time of that posting. Good catch!!
11/15/17
Everyone that attends the meet and greet will be getting a free top that will only be available by attending. I like to be upfront with everyone about stuff like this and it just our way of saying thanks for taking the time to hang out with us. If you have not signed up yet, contact Sue Stadler!
11/21/17
And this is where it all began. This was the first top I ever made, not design, literally the first top.
23,000 tops later…
Welcome Evyn Stadler to Billetspin. Evyn is my oldest daughter whom I am very proud of 🙂
11/23/17
Happy Thanksgiving all you amazing people. We all have much to be thankful for. My life is better because all of yooze are in it. Hope you have a fantastic day my friends,
Rich and Sue