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A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

qz.com

81–90 of 280 posts

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#81
post #32
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact there is a high barrier of entry might be one of the only appeals golf has at all? Playing it is a status symbol. Although, I think maybe that elite status symbols themselves may be on a downswing, maybe because of the growing awareness of wealth inequality? Super rich people used to ride around in stretch limos and people found it interesting and exciting, now there's a growing perception that's disgusting…

>The fact there is a high barrier of entry might be one of the only appeals golf has at all? This is ridiculous. Golf is a sport that you can play from when you first start walking, until nearly the day you die. That's the appeal. It requires extreme concentration in a way that I've never experienced in any other sport I've ever played. I would highly, highly recommend that people learn to play golf. I wish it didn't…

Can confirm, golf has lead me to learning severe patience and attention to detail. Its multifaceted aspect has also taught me prioritization skills. Went from 11 to 6 handicap in 2016. Still am trying to get lower.

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#82
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is ridiculous. Golf is a sport that you can play from when you first start walking, until nearly the day you die. You’ve never considered that Golf has an actual price to it, while most poorer kids just play soccer with a single leather ball on the street, costing less than a dollar for dozens of kids?

It used to be much more affordable, and in some corners of the country (Texas, some parts of the Northeast), it remains reasonable. The Bay Area is one of, if not the most unaffordable place to play golf in the United States. Fred Couples (Hall of Famer) grew up in Seattle, biked to Jefferson Park Golf Course during the summer every day with $5 in hand from his mother, played a round of golf for $3.50 and got a burge…

$5 dollars in 1970 would be $31 in 2017. Pretty expensive for poor kids.

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#83
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is ridiculous. Golf is a sport that you can play from when you first start walking, until nearly the day you die. You’ve never considered that Golf has an actual price to it, while most poorer kids just play soccer with a single leather ball on the street, costing less than a dollar for dozens of kids?

It used to be much more affordable, and in some corners of the country (Texas, some parts of the Northeast), it remains reasonable. The Bay Area is one of, if not the most unaffordable place to play golf in the United States. Fred Couples (Hall of Famer) grew up in Seattle, biked to Jefferson Park Golf Course during the summer every day with $5 in hand from his mother, played a round of golf for $3.50 and got a burge…

But that was a long time ago, and he'd still be able to play in SF today with the same amount of money, inflation adjusted:

$3.50 in 1972 (when Fred Couples was 13) is equivalent to around $20 today. (and $1.50 is now around $8.75)

Lincoln Park in SF charges weekday rates of $13 for a resident junior (or $20 for a non-resident)

Harding Park charges $20 for a resident Junior.

The burger will cost a little more, Harding Park's grill charges $14 for a burger... though Nachos or a Quesadilla are available for $9.

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#84
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is ridiculous. Golf is a sport that you can play from when you first start walking, until nearly the day you die. You’ve never considered that Golf has an actual price to it, while most poorer kids just play soccer with a single leather ball on the street, costing less than a dollar for dozens of kids?

It used to be much more affordable, and in some corners of the country (Texas, some parts of the Northeast), it remains reasonable. The Bay Area is one of, if not the most unaffordable place to play golf in the United States. Fred Couples (Hall of Famer) grew up in Seattle, biked to Jefferson Park Golf Course during the summer every day with $5 in hand from his mother, played a round of golf for $3.50 and got a burge…

Couples' dad also worked for the city at the golf course and so provided his kid with many free opportunities to play golf.

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#85
post #54
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

dude just go to dailies

Seriously unless you're budget constrained, so much better. Cost twice as much as 2-week lenses, but you get to crack open a sterile pair each morning. Toss em at night.

Yup they are so much more comfortable. If you are running low and only wear them around 12 hours, you can even clean them and wear them another day (definitely not recommended by the manufacturer or eye doctor).

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#86
post #4

I don't understand how "“We laughed when we got the lawsuit. We knew we made it.”" and "his company settled the 2015 claims with Acushnet by agreeing to get out of the golf-ball business altogether; it received no payment from Acushnet, nor did it pay." are compatible statements.

You celebrate the small victories even when you know you're about to hit a big setback. They're not mutually exclusive. In fact being able to appreciate the wins despite the losses is partly how you stay resilient.

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#87

American courts should have a "Loser pays" rule, and stricter standards for determining what is a frivolous lawsuit warranting additional penalties for the filer. American jurisprudence has always favored making sure "everyone gets their day in Court" to the point where trolls and professional litigants are ruining things.

What happens if your small business sues Google? Right or wrong, you are betting the business on that case. If you lose, Google's legal costs will consume your entire business. That said, it's hard for your small business to sue Google anyway.

I've always had an idea that whoever loses a civil suit pays the other party the lower of the legal costs of both parties. So if small company A fights big company B, small company A would only have to pay twice it's legal costs, even if megacorp decides to spend smallcorp's yearly sales in the defense. If megacorp sues a small company, then small company can decide to fight it if they think they have a case and have enough reserves (which are easy to estimate since they will be based on 2xs your legal costs if you lose, 0 if you win).

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#88
This is why most patents should be eradicated. They only allow established companies to stay in business despite lack of innovation and price competition. The whole patent system is abused by parasites.

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#89
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Ho hum, we've been driven out of business by legal maneuvering, but it's all in good sport." You don't often see such a laissez-faire attitude towards one's livelihood amongst small businesses.

One reason to be so nonchalant would be that the guy did in fact copy someone's patents wholesale, and was just waiting for the day someone would notice. If you know the lawsuit is unwinnable and not frivolous, no point complaining about it.

A plausible response in the software field, perhaps, but golf balls? Surely it's some effort to design a ball (or several), set up manufacturing, logistics, distribution, sales channels, marketing... I can't speak for the buy-side of driving ranges and miniature golf, but most regular golfers have at least some brand loyalty--a Slazenger, Maxfli, and Callaway are not perfect substitutes.

Re: A lawsuit over Costco golf balls

#90

> It is a legitimate tactic; even those who succumb to it don’t really begrudge the approach. Maybe I just haven't given up yet, but what the f*ck? This is not a legitimate tactic, this is LITERALLY everything wrong with our present system.

the tactic is legitimate, sure. But do ALL those people who succumb to the tactic really not begrudge the approach? I highly doubt it. QZ found one guy who was not upset and uses that to justify the prior claim... booo qz booo
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