gocchin Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 EDIT for UPDATE: April 1st 2014 (no its not April Fools here in Japan). The last few months has been a roller coaster for Crazy as they tried to match up with several suitors for the company including overseas investors. Several months went by and they could not find the right fit. After the golf fair however, several local Japanese investors decided that Crazy was an asset worth having and negotiated with the company on financial terms as well as future direction of the brand. We were told over a month ago that a potential buyer had risen from the pack and today it became official as Crazy company was absorbed under a new moniker called SINGLE B. The bulk of Crazy's staff remains as well as the Crazy Factory. At this point it appears as if the Crazy name itself will still exist in some form and all of its products carry over. Moving forward new products are in the works including new shafts, woods and irons and wedges but at this point we their branding and image has not yet been decided. In case people are interested, what we found interesting is that the investor who took on Crazy is Red Wall Japan who runs All Japan Pro Wrestling, Japan's version of WWE in America. https://www.all-japan.co.jp/ We are not sure what this means for the brand but it could mean they keep doing cool and crazy things. So the next few months will be exciting and I am sure we will all follow with curious eyes. -------------------------------------------- What we originally reported in Dec 2013: For some of you this may come as a big surprise and for others no surprise at all.Crazy is a company whose quick rise to stardom in the Japanese golf market is well noted by many.Many things attributed to its success including fantastic brand image and marketing as well as solid, premium quality products.Crazy not only made golf shafts but created an image and a lifestyle.This influence was not only prevalent in Japan but also overseas where Crazy enjoyed much success.However this year, Crazy has run into some difficult and hard times and at this point their future is very cloudy.Earlier in the year, several key staff, designers and craftsmen left the company to form TRPX, in a way this may have been a prelude to things to come.Then back in June, Crazy's charismatic president and primary owner and founder, Tachibana-san, was arrested for insurance fraud.Tachibana-san's personal wrong doings began the decline or should I say downfall of what had become a very good company with very good staff and products.Here in Japan (and probably every where else in the world but especially here) pride, honor, respect and image is everything.Japanese shops and businesses began cutting ties with Crazy even though Tachibana-san who acted on his own had been removed from the company.Toyoshima-san was promoted to the role of president and tasked with turning things around however the momentum and tide were and still are surely against him.Many of you know TSG is a big supporter of Crazy. I personally love their products, the quality and performance and I feel very sad about what has happened.I feel bad not only that we will potentially lose a great brand with great products but also for the remaining staff there, many of whom we have befriended over the years and all of whom had nothing to do with Tachibana-san's lapse in judgement.I have met with Crazy twice over the last few weeks to discuss their situation going forward, and things are not looking bright. Their domestic sales have plummeted and with their flow of income drastically reduced they have been forced to let go of staff and downsize people wise and building wise in order just to manage costs.Crazy has told me they are trying to do everything in their power to keep the company afloat but financially it is getting harder and harder as each month goes by. Here in Japan the name Crazy has been tarnished by Tachibana-san so, another idea they are exploring is resurrecting the brand under a new name and new image.What all this means is we could very well be nearing the end of Crazy's existence.Sooner or later we were sure most golf enthusiasts would find out so Chris and I decided it would be only fair to let everyone know.It is very unfortunate to see Crazy go down, and not because of bad products, or poor company management, but because of the sole actions of their former president.In the end its everyone else who suffers for what he did and I feel sorry for the remaining staff and the many customers and enthusiasts who truly love the brand and at this point can only cross my fingers that they can recover.I should note though for those still interested in Crazy products, they are still operating and still very much in business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoon Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) Heard about this from several sources but could not verify what I heard. Thanks for confirming it Head of the company always assumes responsibility even when it's not his fault and even though it's his sole fault the whole company brand image suffers. More so in Japan. Clean image is everything. Oh well sad for the staff and the brand. You guys pretty much built the brands exposure outside Japan why don't u have some partnership or something? Edited December 4, 2013 by Spoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmclarenf1 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 All said and done, they make great products! Maybe it's time to stock up on our favorite crazy shaft and heads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffer19 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Well I have 2 and a half Crazy shafts so I am good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmclarenf1 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 And a half? Pray tell lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffer19 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Well, I bought a ly01 6.4 pull locally that's also a member here. The tip was taped up like as most fitter would do when they pull out a shaft. Found a hairline crack in the tip later by my own fitter when I took the shaft for installing for a friend. I am fairly certain that the seller did not know about the hairline as he rely on the fitter to pull the shaft, a fitter that I also know. Decided it's just one of those unfortunately things when you buy a pull and not bother to claim as I am sure he is also unaware. It's really not a tremendously amount of money. The shaft could hold up in theory as long as I dont tee off from the tip of a cliff or ocean and see your expensive driver head disappears into the abyss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky3 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) Shame...... love the performance of Crazy shafts, when you find employees leaving en masse you know something's up..... oh and thanks for the honesty.... Edited December 4, 2013 by corky3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gocchin Posted December 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 They were not actually leaving en masse. Just a small handful left. But after the troubles with the president they were forced to trim staff to cut costs. So the other staff leaving first may have actually helped in this case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmclarenf1 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Thinking of of getting back a 435 and Crazy branded this time… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 I'm collecting Boron shafts and FW80 shafts. Crazy has full stock, don't expect liquidations... we tried. They could still pull through all of this if they find the right partner. Tario didn't you find more Toyoshima wedges when you were digging around in their stock room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gocchin Posted December 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Yes that is right, there were a handful of wedge sets. I may take them for myself.. I can't let Craig own more sets then everyone else! (^_^) I already stock piled LY01 Nero's for myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Yes that is right, there were a handful of wedge sets. I may take them for myself.. I can't let Craig own more sets then everyone else! (^_^) I already stock piled LY01 Nero's for myself. So many editions of Toyo wedges, Do you have pics of this one? I'm going to take a couple myself. Its the wedge that hasn't left my bag for well over a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffer19 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Yes that is right, there were a handful of wedge sets. I may take them for myself.. I can't let Craig own more sets then everyone else! (^_^) I already stock piled LY01 Nero's for myself. T, save a 5.9 for me just in case something happens to the La Bamba. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tokidoki1986 Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Tario so this is the topic you went to talk with Crazy after we separate. It's a shocking news especially when we were just talking about visiting and fitting @ Crazy only a few minutes before you met them, I heard about the problem of their ex-president awhile ago but everything has been quite so I thought this problem had nothing to do with the company. I think I might have to find the right shaft for myself and buy it sooner than what we've planned. By the way I definitely would like to know more about those wedges you found so I can get one set for myself before I won't have a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbachman Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Very sad to hear. Great products, quality, brand and gear. Completely changed my view of what a golf club could look and feel like... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjr. D Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 Too bad, their shafts are top notch and their customer service (replacing broken shafts) is also top notch. I don't know if it would make a difference but a new name and brand identity wouldn't hurt my feelings. I've never been a fan of the whole "Crazy" name and graphics, etc. As long as the "good guys" at Crazy stay employed in the industry, somehow, somewhere, is the main thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supo Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 damn thats a shame, that was such a differnt kind of place in the golf universe. th staff t here were tops and the service was exemplary.. my 2 fav shafts from them were the fw80 adn the UTE, i really feel they were peerless in their class Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potuna Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 They should reinvent themselves, the crazy name didn't work for me. As for their shafts I've tried only the boron and 80 ls noir were winners for me. I should try FW80 basedon what you guys have said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgjt4me Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 Just recently purchased a used 435 head here and shafted it up. I absolutely love the performance of the club. I have turned a couple of people here where I live on to crazy and they are on board. I hope they can work things out. As far as a name change, it would be fine as long as the quality and performance are still there! Hope to score a crazy shaft soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgjt4me Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 also, looking to purchase trpx d-013 head to carry in the bag with my crazy 435. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gocchin Posted February 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Just an update on the Crazy front. While not finalised yet, it appears Crazy will recover from their problems which is good news for all of us. We should have more info later this month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmclarenf1 Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Good to know. They've got too much good stuff to not carry on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbachman Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Extremely good to know. Keep us big Crazy fans posted :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoon Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Great hopefully i can sxhedule an appointment on april 12 if ypur sxhedule permits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky3 Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 excellent news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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