Missing In Action

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Permalink Reply by Bryan on March 1, 2009 at 9:24pm

Oh I am very excited about this post! We should definitely continue this as I have been trying to put together a complete catalogue of the puzzles I hear about and add them to my wish list. There are a large number of puzzles which Stave is not presently cutting. Some I only have titles for but not pictures. I have been very pleased to see the addition of puzzles to the web site when we P-Nuts mention them in this forum. For instance English Garden is now available again after laying dormant for a number of years! It would be great if Stave doesn't want to feature all of the puzzles in the Teaser or Trick section to at the very least allow us collectors to view them when we choose the puzzles by artist link. There are many, many more Edith Bingham puzzles I know about than the 20 they have listed. I even own one which isn't on the web site and I have only been collecting Stave puzzles for 2 years now!

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Permalink Reply by Erik on March 1, 2009 at 11:54pm

Empress Pearl and Hot Diggity Dogs both have larger versions. Recently Cindy from Stave commented that they would make those available if you call and request.

Ted has hinted to me that other trick puzzles are similarly available in larger sizes and that the ratings were generally based on the originally sized puzzles.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan on March 2, 2009 at 6:58pm

I didn't know about a larger Empress Pearl puzzle! I would love that puzzle as I thought the Empress Pearl I have was a bit on the easy side based on the rating. I have the 180 piece Hot Diggity Dogs on order...will have to get my order in for this one now too!

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Permalink Reply by David Minton on March 2, 2009 at 3:24am

I have to agree with you guys - Cindy and Paula are great! I've previously asked for more information about three MIA puzzles; Fishbowl Frenzy, Moocho Munchies, and English Garden. All three appeared up on the website within a couple of days of my request. That's customer service for you!

Hopefully this thread will flag up other MIA puzzles with which to enlarge our collections LOL.

I assume that different Trick puzzles are very different to cut, and that a crafter needs to learn and practice each individual design? Presumably it's impossible to keep all cutters familiar with the entire back catalogue of Stave Trick designs. Could that be why the number of trick puzzles listed on the website is rotated or limited? I haven't noticed Traditionals or Teasers being semi-retired to the same extent as Tricks.

Fingers crossed Those Blooming Cats will be joining the list of the re-released soon Bryan!

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Permalink Reply by Erik on March 2, 2009 at 8:19am

Unsure re the cutting techniques. If you think through the math of it, I would assume there is a "cutting guide" with instructions to the cutter of where they need to double-up the cuts. Now maybe they might have lost some guides, but I doubt it is mostly that.

More likely from my phone conversations is that some of the back catalog disappearing is that a given puzzle did not "click" well. For example, the carousel (3d traditional) is not sold anymore because it does not stay together as well as I think Stave would like. A teaser I have "Pasture Prime" with two solutions got a lot of meh-feedback on finding both solutions, etc. Those tend to drop out.

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Permalink Reply by Erik on March 2, 2009 at 6:39pm

Ted Ruska of this group shared this with me in an email exchange and said I could repost (editing for style/removed personal discussion):

Back in the day (80's and 90's) the teaser style puzzles (they weren't even called teasers; they were referred to as tricky without tricks) were not that prominent. Trick puzzles ruled the day and Steve was prolific-25 to 30 new designs per year not including those by Andrea, Molly Delaney and Jennifer Brown. Also, Dee Rogers stepped up to the plate and became a trick puzzle machine. She was amazing pouring out many new designs monthly.
An average year brought us 4 or 5 Limited Editions. The last Limited I can think of is Time Traveler and
that was almost 10 years ago.

Luckily for Stave their clientelle embraced the Teaser puzzles which are many degrees easier to design and cut than Tricks.

Whats good for us is that if you really want something chances are they can make it for you.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan on March 2, 2009 at 6:54pm

Pasture Prime is a great puzzle. I really like the Norwich Collection and wish Stave would put a link so you can purchase all 4 puzzles in the series at once. Same with the Season puzzle series of 5 puzzles and the Circus Train puzzle series of 8 puzzles. There are some of us that like to buy all in a series and I for one missed out on one of the puzzles in the Norwich Collection when I placed my order initially.

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Permalink Reply by Erik on March 2, 2009 at 7:00pm

If I wasn't trying to be financially responsible--and I do need to be financially responsible right now--I would call and beg for the best deal I could get on the circus train series.

Maybe I can prepay a bit each month and get them for Hanukah in December.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan on March 2, 2009 at 7:47pm

I think that's a great idea! That is one feature I offer with everything I sell on my web site is the ability to pay over time...interest free. Too many people today want the instant gratification and I always felt it is better to pay more and get something of quality over time...a concept I think Stave should adopt. Also in regards to best deals....I do tend to order a lot on Freaky Fridays and during sales but at the same time I like the idea of buying something that is being hand made by someone. We all need to make a living and it is far more gratifying to me knowing my money is going to support a craftsman and artisan who is custom cutting my puzzles even if I end up paying more for a puzzle I want when it isn't on sale. Sometimes it is better to pay a little more and just smile because you feel good about supporting quality hand craftsmanship! I know I feel good about my buying hand-crafted puzzles from Stave and am willing to pay a premium for it knowing I am doing my part each and every week to keep the 24 employees at Stave busy, busy, busy and gainfully employed!

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Permalink Reply by Erik on March 2, 2009 at 8:33pm

I've got NO problem paying a premium, my comment in the "chief tormentor for a day" thread is more about the confusing pricing. If it was like Apple (1 sale day/year with occasional specials) or Nordstrom (2 sale days/year) I would have no complaints.

And yeah, a lay-away like plan would be great this year for getting the circus train series.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan on March 2, 2009 at 6:54pm

Looking forward to it David!

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Permalink Reply by David Minton on March 2, 2009 at 3:31am

Time for one more before I'm off to Service the World.

("Duck Soup" with artwork by Candy Thun - 3 bolt trick)

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