5 December 2011

The ball wars

| johnboy
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Start Up Smart have a story on a Canberra start-up company, “Gift A Ball“, entering into a partnership to expand their operations into the US.

(When one thinks of start-ups there’s a sense of innovation and creation, sadly in this case they just post people a ball with a dire pun based slogan printed on it.)

The move to the US is particularly brave for Dejan and Darko Andreski as at the moment their FAQ notes they’re currently too small to worry about GST, that is turning over under $75k.

An added worry is that googling “gift a ball” brings up rival ball distributors, “SHIP a BALL” who handwrite their messages from Florida.

Rule 57.

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GardeningGirl9:31 pm 11 Dec 11

I’d love to support a little local company having a go and doing something fun, I really would, but having their cheer squad insult a sizable proportion of fellow locals for wasting time doing less important things won’t win any fans, and then there’s the product, just what the world needs, more largish awkwardly shaped PVC novelty items to store somewhere.

jsm2090 said :

Great. More people selling crap we don’t need. I’d prefer someone donate their $19.95 to charity instead of giving me a ball.

+1

Beserk Keyboard Warrior4:33 pm 06 Dec 11

Looks like someone’s reinvented the ball.

If you’re gonna rip off an idea, at least choose a good one.

I thought the main purpose of this site was to critique the spelling and grammar of press releases?

Tayla24 said :

Gift;
verb. give – endow – present – donate – grant – endue
noun. present – talent – donation – offering – endowment
..Gift in a particular context, can also be used as either.

Sorry. Didn’t know you were an American.

Keijidosha said :

They have a counter on their website. Since this article was posted on Riotact the number of “balls gifted” has gone from 306 to 319.

…with a bullet! 😉

JB should ask for some sort of advertising commission to get a slice of that cash! Especially as his site: ” is designed to ‘critique’ products/ services [but] ends up promoting them”??

Thoroughly Smashed2:38 pm 06 Dec 11

Tayla24 said :

Hahahahaha 7 comments to my one. And ironically a site designed to ‘critique’ products/ services ends up promoting them. Good work!

I don’t think you understand what this place is.

Tayla24 said :

chewy14 said :

Tayla24 said :

Congrats Gift-a-ball, I heard your sales rose as a result of all this ridiculous slander!

I didn’t hear about that, perhaps you can tell us.

How much did your sales go up?

They have a counter on their website. Since this article was posted on Riotact the number of “balls gifted” has gone from 306 to 319.

Hahahahaha 7 comments to my one. And ironically a site designed to ‘critique’ products/ services ends up promoting them. Good work!

Tayla24 said :

Really,
people are bringing their nan’s into this??
The reason elderly people are in homes is because they can no longer fully look after themselves. And because their families don’t care about them enough to look after them.
Not because of what present they do or don’t buy!!!!!!!???? O.m.g, i cant believe someone would even make such a ridiculous and disgusting statement.
And as for people saying they cant believe someone would buy this product, or commence in such a business for a living (or hobby) – i CANT believe people waste time putting other peoples achievements down. Don’t you have anything better to do? I guess not.

Congrats Gift-a-ball, I heard your sales rose as a result of all this ridiculous slander!

Settle down.

I love my nanna heaps and was merely using her for comedic effect.

To show her how much I love her I’m thinking I might send her an overpriced novelty ball for Christmas.

Thoroughly Smashed1:07 pm 06 Dec 11

Tayla24 said :

Congrats Gift-a-ball, I heard your sales rose as a result of all this ridiculous slander!

There’s only one thing ridiculous here. 🙂

(You’re not fooling anyone.)

BlackIce said :

Tayla24 said :

LOL to those people TRYING to rip on this new company.
I agree with Sam082, how many people actually go and donate their money to charity?

My siblings and I do.
Oxfam has various things you can “buy” that make a difference to lives around the world. So for about $20 you could Gift-a-Ball OR you could get a duck, or 2 chickens, or some seeds, or a mosquito net for someone who needs it.

Could you just split the difference and send them a ball with a pun on it?

Tayla24 said :

Congrats Gift-a-ball, I heard your sales rose as a result of all this ridiculous slander!

I didn’t hear about that, perhaps you can tell us.

How much did your sales go up?

Tayla24 said :

LOL to those people TRYING to rip on this new company.
I agree with Sam082, how many people actually go and donate their money to charity?

My siblings and I do.
Oxfam has various things you can “buy” that make a difference to lives around the world. So for about $20 you could Gift-a-Ball OR you could get a duck, or 2 chickens, or some seeds, or a mosquito net for someone who needs it.

Tayla24 said :

Really,
people are bringing their nan’s into this??
The reason elderly people are in homes is because they can no longer fully look after themselves. And because their families don’t care about them enough to look after them.
Not because of what present they do or don’t buy!!!!!!!???? O.m.g, i cant believe someone would even make such a ridiculous and disgusting statement.
And as for people saying they cant believe someone would buy this product, or commence in such a business for a living (or hobby) – i CANT believe people waste time putting other peoples achievements down. Don’t you have anything better to do? I guess not.

Congrats Gift-a-ball, I heard your sales rose as a result of all this ridiculous slander!

Don’t stress. I wouldn’t get too upset about a few jokes made here on RA about grans!
BTW wouldn’t you only have ‘heard’ their sales rose (in the last day or so) if you were involved with the company in some way?

Tayla24 said :

Congrats Gift-a-ball, I heard your sales rose as a result of all this ridiculous slander!

Pfft, as if people who aren’t related to the business proprieter actually bother to read our slander. Sales rose because they were given a free plug on a popular local website, if anyone actually listened to the commenters on the RiotACT then Canberra would be a very different place.

Really,
people are bringing their nan’s into this??
The reason elderly people are in homes is because they can no longer fully look after themselves. And because their families don’t care about them enough to look after them.
Not because of what present they do or don’t buy!!!!!!!???? O.m.g, i cant believe someone would even make such a ridiculous and disgusting statement.
And as for people saying they cant believe someone would buy this product, or commence in such a business for a living (or hobby) – i CANT believe people waste time putting other peoples achievements down. Don’t you have anything better to do? I guess not.

Congrats Gift-a-ball, I heard your sales rose as a result of all this ridiculous slander!

My mistake, GIFT-A-BALL charge $19.95, not $29.95 as I first thought. But SHIP-A-BALL have been featured on the Tony Danza Show. Can GIFT-A-BALL really show the US market who’s the boss?

Not only has SHIP-A-BALL have shamelessly stolen GIFT-A-BALL’s clever “Bounce Back Soon” slogan, they’re viciously undercutting their opposition on price, slashing their balls to an astounding $14.55 AUD! I can buy two SHIP-A-BALL’s for the price of one GIFT-A-BALL and still get change? Competition is a beautiful thang baby.

Mumbucks said :

How about I’m a sucker for pretty girls and big balls and gift it to yourself Classified.

If you like pretty girls with big balls then I suggest you head to Thailand.

if someone gave me that for christmas, i’d fill it with concrete then toss at them cheerfully shouting ‘now head it back to me!’

How about I’m a sucker for pretty girls and big balls and gift it to yourself Classified.

Sounds awful, count me out.

This idea is up there with other gems such as ‘poo-tack’, ‘urinade’ and ‘the secret fart-whistle’.

ap1788 said :

I think it’s great to see young Canberrans starting something of their own and not just wasting their time and minds being public servants, like most of you.

Some sage advice right there. If you’re a public servant working on policy to prevent environmental destruction, planning healthcare reform, or enabling services for the disadvantaged, stop wasting your time/minds and go find a job that matters – perhaps a career flogging novelty gifts?

This is just the type of crap I can imagine my nanna giving to me for Christmas.

This is also why nanna spends most of her Christmases alone in the old people’s home.

1. Go to Kmart
2. buy a ball and a texta $7
3. Write obscene message
4. give to friend.
5. ….
6. ????
7. PROFIT!

I’ll order one with ‘my left nut’ on it…

Erg0 said :

Why do they always put numbers after their names?

Hey leave us numbered namers alone.
As for this idea, I can’t believe that people would be retarded enough to pay for it.
Actually scratch that, after walking through Civic on the weekend I’m not surprised.

Mysteryman said :

Let me get this straight…

You pay them money to have an inflatable ball with a message sent to someone? That’s it?

I’m not sure how that’s innovative or even a clever idea. I’m even more shocked that people would pay for it, to be honest.

A ball related message MM, a ball related message…

Let me get this straight…

You pay them money to have an inflatable ball with a message sent to someone? That’s it?

I’m not sure how that’s innovative or even a clever idea. I’m even more shocked that people would pay for it, to be honest.

Erg0 said :

Incidentally, that headline is starting to look prophetic.

Crystal ball? (Note, singular.)

Seems like a pretty stupid idea to be honest. But good luck to them and good on them for having a go. Hope they have some success.

Oh, and good to see their friends and family joining Riotact to defend their business.

AND FYI:
‘Gifting’-a-ball, obviously, isn’t as punchy as Gift-a-ball’, hence the reason for this use i assume.
For example VideoEzy.
We ALL know ‘Ezy’ is spelt ‘easy’, and i’m sure the founders knew how to spell too.
AND Ship is also a noun/verb. So on that principle shouldn’t they be ‘Shipping-a-ball’??

Gift;
verb. give – endow – present – donate – grant – endue
noun. present – talent – donation – offering – endowment
..Gift in a particular context, can also be used as either.

Incidentally, that headline is starting to look prophetic.

Why do they always put numbers after their names?

LOL to those people TRYING to rip on this new company.
I agree with Sam082, how many people actually go and donate their money to charity?

jsm2090 said :

Great. More people selling crap we don’t need. I’d prefer someone donate their $19.95 to charity instead of giving me a ball.

Have you???
And ‘Ship-a-ball’???!! PLEASE.
Dont even get me started on their website. AND someone explain to me how a hand written message from someone you dont know from a bar of soap is better than a nicely designed ball from a nicely designed (and user-friendly) website??
If that were the case, then id buy my own ball from Big W and write on it myself.

And BTW.. Astroturf doesn’t have a smell.

Thoroughly Smashed4:21 pm 05 Dec 11

sam082 said :

words

Haha

WOW, ouch. What a weak reply.

sam082 said :

WOW, these are great! love the idea!
Well that’s my christmas gifts sorted for 2011 🙂

I think we should support this local duo and be proud of the fun and innovative brand they have created rather than criticise! Expanding into the US market is brave but i would imagine they have nothing to loose. have you seen ‘SHIP a BALL’s’ website and product. In my opinion ‘Gift A Ball’ are superior to its competitors: They have a well designed website, great quirky messages, great design and brand presence and have a great choice of ball colours. They are a brand and a local one to. Perhaps expanding into the US market is the best move, with haters like yourselves, I find it highly unlikely, that any company can succeed in Canberra. Your hating on the wrong brand.

And also, i would like to know how many of us talk about donating to charity and how many actually do. Maybe next time, rather than buying a cheap t-shirt from cotton for $19.95, donate the money to charity! it dosent work that way. This is a none argument. goes for any product or service.

Congrats Gift a Ball!

Cheers,
Sam

Is that astroturf I smell?

BTW – “gift” is a noun.

WOW, these are great! love the idea!
Well that’s my christmas gifts sorted for 2011 🙂

I think we should support this local duo and be proud of the fun and innovative brand they have created rather than criticise! Expanding into the US market is brave but i would imagine they have nothing to loose. have you seen ‘SHIP a BALL’s’ website and product. In my opinion ‘Gift A Ball’ are superior to its competitors: They have a well designed website, great quirky messages, great design and brand presence and have a great choice of ball colours. They are a brand and a local one to. Perhaps expanding into the US market is the best move, with haters like yourselves, I find it highly unlikely, that any company can succeed in Canberra. Your hating on the wrong brand.

And also, i would like to know how many of us talk about donating to charity and how many actually do. Maybe next time, rather than buying a cheap t-shirt from cotton for $19.95, donate the money to charity! it dosent work that way. This is a none argument. goes for any product or service.

Congrats Gift a Ball!

Cheers,
Sam

I think it’s great to see young Canberrans starting something of their own and not just wasting their time and minds being public servants, like most of you. These guys have put a lot of work into this, and personally I think it’s a great, fun idea. We should be supporting local people, not ripping on them. And it is just a bit of fun, they are novelties gifts for gods sake.

These are actually fabulous! I sent one to my god daughter and she LOVED it!

jsm2090 said :

Great. More people selling crap we don’t need. I’d prefer someone donate their $19.95 to charity instead of giving me a ball.

That’d be charita-ball of you.
God, it’s catching.

She scares me a little…

Shooting for the top of the TBL list by the looks of it.

Great. More people selling crap we don’t need. I’d prefer someone donate their $19.95 to charity instead of giving me a ball.

Someone’s going to post AC/DC so it might as well be me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YUuyzQDmjY

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