So is the Magic Carpet one of the most popular surfboards available now, I know its definitely one of the most fun to ride and its probably one of the most copied so with this in mind thought the following might make a few smile.
I want to be a Magic Carpet, not a slipper, disk or doormat !!!
Here at Nineplus we are called daily by people looking to understand how one of our surfboards might improve their surfing and what it is that makes a Nineplus surfboard different to that of the competition. Its a pleasure explaining this and also seeing our customers surfing evolving and getting feedback that reflects this care towards their surfing rather than simply taking the money and leaving them to struggle for years until eventually they meet people whom listen to their circumstances and help them settle onto equipment that enables them to enjoy surfing once more.
After listening to a gentleman last week I thought it interesting to compare the experiences that the man had with an alternative supplier of our esteemed Magic Carpet surfboard. One would have thought that one might try harder when selling a counterfeit product, obviously not.
Original Phone Call;
Phone Rings, and rings and a message must be left, a few days later and after repeated retries the customer connects to the , factory owner, rider etc.
Customer: Hi, I am inquiring about a Magic Carpet style surfboard and saw that you produce them.
Imposter: Yeah sure mate, look Ill get back to you – just shopping at the moment and kids are yelling, if you don’t hear from me by a week Sunday, give me a few days to call you back.
Customer: Eventually; Hi, I called about the Magic Carpet.
Imposter: Oh yeah, of course mate – no problem, look ours cannot officially be called the ‘Magic Carpet’ as Nineplus own the trademark but its practically the same and rides even better, lighter, more magic etc. Its all in the shape and is basically a mini-mal and yeah, no problem – can have it done for you once my account is open again with the blank supplier or another arrival gets in from China.
Customer: Right okay – can you supply a bag and the correct fin?
Imposter: Um – no but if you get hold of Nineplus they sell those and they will work just as good in our version of the board. Dont tell them its not for an actual Magic Carpet as I heard they sell out of the bags and fins really quickly to people like us.
Customer: Okay, sounds alright – thanks I look forward to getting my board, one day.
The phone call to Nineplus goes like this;
Customer: Hi Nineplus, I wonder if you can help me. I bought a board a few years ago called ‘The Magic Floor Mat’ and its great but it just seems a little different from what I thought it might be like. You mention being able to nose ride yours into cheater 5’s through the pocket and how easy they are in small surf and stable in bigger waves and mine is – well okay if the surf is perfect but otherwise, well its not that magic.
Nineplus: thanks for the call and we are sorry to hear about that. Tell us where you normally surf, your weight and your ideal way of surfing and then maybe we can try and help you, by the way was your ‘Magic Carpet’ made from a larger 8ft blank and then cut down in order to get a flat rocker which makes the board surf so fast, was it produced using the old Clark templates now used by US Foam, the only foam Nineplus uses? Does it have 3″ core with the volume kept up to the nose and rail to maximize flotation?
Nineplus: Does it have longboard measurements without the core 2ft centre that reduces the length?
Customer: Ummmm?
Nineplus: Okay would you like that in an acid wash, marble or tiger tint? In translucent or opaque and with pastels or primaries? Would you like metallic flake or fabric layers, double pin-lines or single, resin panels or pigment splashes? Maybe you might like to try out a ‘Double Dee’ fish as an alternative?
Nineplus: Yeah sure we have fins and bags to go with all the boards, yep 12mm thick and made exactly to the shape of our boards. Yep free repair if dropped off for 3 months and an exchange program.
Nineplus: Yes we own the Magic Carpet brand name and yes we are committed to keeping it Magic and hopefully your experience if we do our job correctly, if not let us know and we will do our best to make it up to you.
Thats the difference and after what must be 1000 times of explaining it thought it was worth making our giggles shared.
Nineplus April 2009.
P.S. Magic Carpets are going to be shortly available in 6’4, 6’6 & 6’8 sizes.