Cronkhite Bags

[michaelrmurrin]

Hello,

Sometime last year, I was looking up Cronkhite tuba gig bags. I have heard only great things about these gig bags. I planned (and still likely plan) to buy one for each of my two tubas. But due to my findings, I developed a question that I wanted to ask TubeNet. (tldr: the question is in the next paragraph). My curiosity and confusion were triggered when I found that they do not appear to have the two-tone color options listed anymore, despite the fact that they did have these options available just last year. When I went to the "FAQ" section of their website, I found that Glenn Cronkhite has retired. When I searched further, I found an old TubeNet post from 2016 with an announcement that Glenn Cronkhite was retiring at that time (and they were allegedly going to close up shop, but the current existence of the company along with the information provided at their website's FAQ section, shows that someone else has acquired and continued the company). (Also, as I found while writing this, their FAQ section also states that the two-tone color options are still available on the individual pages - so I have emailed them to ask if there is a glitch preventing the two-tone color options from being available, or if they simply need to update their FAQ page to clarify that the two-tone color options aren't available. I will update/reply to this post with the answer I receive (unless someone else already has an answer)). My question that I wanted to ask TubeNet is below:

Since the company has been acquired by others who are not Glenn Cronkhite, have the quality of the bags decreased in any way?

Best,

Michael Murrin

[thevillagetuba]

Here's a long thread about the switch:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=83591&hilit=Cronkhite" target="_blank

General consensus seems to be that there hasn't been a change in bag quality though I seem to remember reading that they were selling off existing bags before making any new ones--perhaps this is why you don't see the two-tone option?

You'll have to let us know what they say in their response to you.

[michaelrmurrin]

Here's a long thread about the switch:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=83591&hilit=Cronkhite" target="_blank

General consensus seems to be that there hasn't been a change in bag quality though I seem to remember reading that they were selling off existing bags before making any new ones--perhaps this is why you don't see the two-tone option?

You'll have to let us know what they say in their response to you.

Thanks for the response and link to the other thread! I will check that out. I also received confirmation that the two-tone options ARE still available:

"Our website is being tweaked and we had to temporarily remove the option, but we can still certainly make a two tone bag for you!"

[The Bone Ranger]

I have three original Cronkhite bags (tuba, bass trombone and large double trombone) and have seen two bags made by the new company this year (medium double trombone and small bass trumpet).

The quality of the new bags has been terrific. Really beautifully made

That said, they did send me the wrong bag (small bass trumpet instead of large bass trumpet), which was an error at their end. Ok, mistakes happen. Getting them to rectify this mistake, however, has been a nightmare. Email response times of well over a week, and often not until I've emailed at least twice. I sent the bag back at their request, still no sign of the promised refund for postage, let alone receiving the correct bag. I was told they were busy making bags for the current trade shows, so it would likely be made after that, even though they already have my money. That doesn't seem right...

So I'd say the product is top notch. I'll let you decide whether that is acceptable customer service...

Andrew