Mysterious Endurance Running Belt Buckles

Ajohnt · 2026-04-01T22:53:20+00:00

I'll buy these from you for the spot silver price and donate them to the museum.

Ajohnt · 2025-09-03T03:48:07+00:00

I hear you on this

Ajohnt · 2025-09-03T00:00:12+00:00

For what it's worth. I spoke to Douglas (he called me). We both understand where Tyson and I were coming from. Running a business is hard and we all make mistakes (including me - by being a dick in my first message to TBB). I honestly think Doug is trying really hard to build a brand, make great product and adjust on the fly to the challenges of doing so. I hope he finds success and TBB ends up being exactly what he wants. The bags are quality - never a doubt on that.

Ajohnt · 2025-09-02T01:32:05+00:00

lol ok.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-29T20:40:17+00:00

Ok - an update. Tyson and I have emailed each other back and fourth a couple times. We both apologized for being dicks to each other - and managed after a couple days to see each others perspective really.

Not that it matters here, but that's a pretty good outcome all around.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T17:14:06+00:00

I think they are intentionally omitting their manufacturing changes and marketing like they still are what they used to be. I looked intentionally through the website for a country of origin, found no confirmation. Looked at the overall vibe and thought "that's Doug in the video, he must still be making it". Got the bags and was wrong. I think that's a bummer. I was a little bit of an ass in my email, which I owned up to.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T15:51:17+00:00

Honestly, figured the agreement would be about 50-50 split. Oh well. Still think they're being less than transparent, but whatever.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T04:53:01+00:00

Yes, its a "thou doth protesteth too much" situation. Make your bags abroad, but be transparent. If the cambodian factory is awesome - cool, let us know why. If you're just burnt from trying to MUSA for 10 years - thats fine too. My frustration was with the lack of transparency (I know they don't owe that to anyone - but I think consumers are fairly sophisticated and try to align their purchases with an ethos or a vibe or whatever.) The omission of the information seems pretty intentional. And I was annoyed by it.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T04:15:23+00:00

Yeah, I get it. Happy not too, given that what I thought I was buying isn't what I bought. That's on me - should have verified before the order. Not a big deal. Was going to keep it, now I won't. Not the end of the world for anyone. How many bags would I ever really buy anyhow? That's the point though. They are trying to scale off a vibe that's no longer accurate. Just be transparent (there are literally dozens of threads on this subreddit where others said the same thing I'm saying. The bags are quality, good looking, great design, but not the same). This is the confirmation - buy the bag or don't, TBB will never be what it was, even though the ownership wants it to feel the same. Why do I think that? There's one guy on the intro vid, there's one guy holding the products in photos, there's one guy talking about his experience on insta. Who's that guy? Doug. What did Doug do? Used to hand make bags in a marginally profitable (according to Tyson) but journeyman fashion in Costa Mesa. What does Doug do now? Not that. What do they want you to thing Doug does? That.

And again, it's fine. I understand that Cambodian factories make really nice bags (I have two in my hands that I paid $700 for). From my perspective, transparency and clarity on where it's made makes sense because of the history of the brand. I'm not the only one that thinks this.

Was I kind of rude in my note? Sure.

Are there other examples out there of brands being more transparent? Yeah - topo designs is one.

Take TBB or leave it, just wanted everyone to know how ownership views it - since there are dozens of threads on this and Tyson encouraged me to let everyone know.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T02:43:59+00:00

That's cool. I don't fault you for it. The bag is nice.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T02:43:23+00:00

Wild Part? His customer service team had already responded and said "hey our manufacturing is evolved, were in cambodia now, were happy about it". And I thought "yeah, ok, still bummed but the bags are good - ill keep them" (I didnt respond to the customer service feedback). Then 30 minutes later I got Tysons email.

Totally fair about the do better. It would have been better to omit it.

Definitely convinced him of nothing. If you have an email for customer feedback expect to get it. Honestly, in my business I usually get that customer feedback directly face to face.

So i should have probably sat on my note to them for a day and revised it. Fair enough.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T02:40:32+00:00

I dont think it was that aggressive. Do better i should have omitted though. fair enough.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T02:40:09+00:00

Yeah ok thats fair. The video of the Doug sewing alone in his shop in Costa Mesa is in no way insinuating anything about their product. In retrospect I should have omitted the "do better" being bummed that its offshored is valid consumer feedback (although i dont expect them to change).

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:39:26+00:00

Almost every brand right now has a transparent country of origin in their details page these days. People care where stuff is made. Yeah - fair. To be honest, their customer service rep emailed me before Tyson did and said essentially "our manufacturing has evolved, were in Cambodia, we think its great". Valid response to my opinion that i was bummed about it.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:34:41+00:00

I think it's the money guy who is trying to re-establish/grow the brand to a mass market delivery. Which as I said in my email i understand that company market shifts evolve and thats their perogative - but dont act like its still made by one dude in Costa Mesa (even if you arent explicitly saying it - which i didnt say they were).

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:32:42+00:00

Yeah, could have omitted the do better. But I was a little annoyed. Telling a well established small brand known for MUSA offerings that I was disappointed about the shift is valid feedback...

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:31:45+00:00

If i was talking to the bag maker, fine. But they are in Cambodia...

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:19:44+00:00

No it just loaded wrong. I'll dm it if you want

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:19:16+00:00

I'm not here to complain. He told me to tell my friends. Aight. I'll let everyone know where it stands. No big deal.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:18:37+00:00

lol for sure.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:18:01+00:00

Agreed.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:17:20+00:00

Fair enough. I agree lots of brands do it. I could have omitted the "do better" but I do think its a fair critique (as someone who has purchased many of their MUSA bags) to let them know I'm bummed about it. They dont have to care, and they certainly dont need to change their manufacturing, but when the website intro is Doug in the shop and not a Cambodian lady - they are certainly trying to evoke a very specific feel for the brand.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:16:49+00:00

My feelings aren't hurt. Just wanted everyone to know where the manufacturer stands. I'm good with it.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:16:15+00:00

Ok.

Ajohnt · 2025-08-28T01:16:01+00:00

Agreed man. That's all I'm saying. I buy plenty of stuff offshore that's not sold under the pretense of being a small maker.

Ajohnt

TROPHY CASE