[Mike P]

As to Dan's points that I care to respond to:

1. Also, the Stan Gibbs poppers, in all sizes, have screw eyes. As did the originals---of which I have many still in the original red "Stan Gibbs Cast-a-Lure" box. Just for purposes of clarity.

4. What I said is the absolute truth. Whether it's unbeieveable to Dan Smalley or not. I'll display the plug to anyone who is intersted, and after I have the chance to photograph it---as well as the 2-1/2 one with hairline cracks starting to spread from the tail--I'll scan the photos to John. After which, I'll return it to Gibbs for Dan to see with his own "virgin" two eyes that I'm not full of bull. You will notice, when you see it, that the paint is pristine, both at the tail and all along the crack, that there are no dents or chips to the paint indicative of it coming in contact with a rock or bridge abutment. From the shape of the crack, you will also see that it is a stress fracture caused by external pressure to the plug, and not something that was cut into it---that is also evidenced by the lack of any damage to the paint whatsoever. I am not asking for a replacement--what I am asking for is an apology for unwarranted attacks on my reputation and credibility. But I'm just asking for that, not demanding it. I don't threaten people just for the sake of making noise. As far as the other cracking problems over the last season, well, I didn't save those plugs for posterity. Had I know this was going to turn into a pi**ing contest, I probably would have saved them. In addition to my own experience, I personally witnessed two 2-1/2 oz darters cracking, that other people were using, in situations where the plug was ingested deeply by a sizeable bass. If a plug can't stand up to the pressure a striper exerts with its crushers, maybe it's time to re-think the materials. If this is something inherent in the design of the plug, so be it. Then, fishermen have to choose on a cost/benefit analysis whether to continue using them. Most will as the plug produces. But if it is something that can be rectified by inspecting the grain of the wood and rejecting blanks that have irregularities that might be causing these cracks, that is something you may wish to look into.

5. It seems like you are conceding, by saying that the plugs "are now available and with a more consistent quality" that initially, the quality was inconsistent. Which it was. Some bottle swimmers didn't swim, and the same was true of some Danny swimmers. Also, just for the purposes of accuracy, you initially raised prices 25% after acquiring the company from Jim Gruiecci, and followed that with a 15% rise, which accounts for a 40% increase in the first two years of ownership. That was in the wholesale cost to dealers, their mark-up after the fact is admittedly out of your control.

Your initial reaction, consistently, over even the slightest criticism of your product is to fly off the handle and complain, whether it be to a tackle shop owner who returns plugs or forward complaints on behalf of a customer, or to a web host who doesn't "censor" criticism of your product. These people are not employed by you in a PR capacity, they owe you no obligation to sugar-coat anything or prevent customers and readers from offering their opinions. I will admit that the title I chose to initiate this discussion was a bit intemperate, but it was calculated to draw your attention, since I know you guys read the internet daily. By calling your attention to this problem, I was hoping your response might be, "Contact your reader and ask him to write to us and explain the problem in greater detail, or have him send it to us and we'll look into it". Even though I know in the past that has not been your approach, perhaps getting over that was part of the growth process and learning curve of running a consumer oriented business. Unfortunately, you chose to react--apparently, since I'm not privvy to what was said except to the extent others posted your communications to them--in typical fashion, flying off the handle and accusing those with legitimate criticism as being clueless, liars, full of bull, threatening charges of SLANDER when everyone with even basic knowledge of the law knows that any lawsut you brought would result in many dollars of damages assessed against you and your company in a countersuit, and showing yourself to the public in an extremely poor fashion.