3 River's Arrow Whiz rocks!

[Hawken1911]

I received an email from 3 Rivers tonight about their new Arrow Whiz program for ordering arrows.  It's pretty sweet for designing custom arrows of any type.  It shows you what the different shaft, wrap, feather combinations look like as you select various options.  Here's the link:   Arrow Whiz

[Norminator]

I was playing with that also but it didn't look like the final price was gonna be as economical as they were insinuating.
Did you figure out the total per dozen with all the options?

[Hawken1911]

I was playing around with designing a set of wood arrows.  I also had sticker shock at what it would cost to have them make those custom arrows.  It is probably best for people who make their own arrows because once you're done selecting your options you can just add all the components to your cart.

But I was impressed with their computer program that gives you a good visual representation of what the finished product would look like.  In reality, even people planning on purchasing components or finished arrows eleswhere could use the 3R program to view different fletching combinations with different crown dip(wrap) colors, etc.  Its new so I wanted to let my fellow Trad Gangers know its out there, for what its worth.

[Flingblade]

I got the same e-mail but didn't have time to play with it yet.  I like the idea of being able to look at the color combinations before I order. Lord knows I've ordered some really ugly combinations in the past.  Arrow fashion challenged I guess you could say.

[Rock Crusher]

I make my own arrows but I like being able to see what the combinations are going to look like before ordering.

[Steve Chappell]

Hey there Paul!
To me 3Rivers is increasingly losing touch with us traditional folks. They are a big box store now...choosing to go high tech to boost profits at the expense of the low tech way they used to do business when they came to shows and actually rubbed elbows with us. Profit seems to be their primary motivation these days because I can in most cases find a smaller Trad business where the owner is the business and gives you a better price plus they do the extra stuff at no cost. A good example is Arrow Dynamic shafts which cost 1 cent more at Raptor Archery but the owner Ted Fry will  personally take your order,  cut the arrows down for you, taper the ends and glue in the inserts at no extra charge. I think these smaller businesses work harder to earn the business and care more so they are who I give my hard earned money to.  I’m talking about People like Larry at Lost Nation, Ted Fry at Raptor Archery, Dave Doran at Archery Past to name just a few of the many great smaller Trad shops out there that go above and beyond to earn your business. We need to get behind these smaller businesses and not get wooooooed away by the heavy marketing high techer big Box stores.  I know 3Rivers has a large following but people need to understand what is as risk by not supporting our smaller home town high service trad shops. Just look at what Wallmart has done to the small businesses in the communities they take up shop.

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by Flingblade:
  Arrow fashion challenged I guess you could say.

Now that is funny right there!  I feel your pain flingblade, I too have put some ugly combos together in the past.

I will have to check out the link.

[owlbait]

I'm lucky right now. I can support 3rivers and our other traditonal archery suppliers. They ALL have a way to take care of what I need. Thanks 3Rivers for your help and support of traditional archery. And thanks to all ALL of our shops and suppliers. I agree about the "arrow whiz" program. Whether I order from 3R or not, I can preview the "custom" look I'm thinking about.

[JJB2]

Steve, really?  Comparing 3Rivers to Wal-Mart?  NO trad business is making piles of money, regardless of their relative size to other trad businesses.  There's just not the scale to make it possible.  3Rivers runs a smart business and is constantly looking at ways to generate profit and grow market share.  I will agree that their customer service has suffered a little in recent years based on a few order issues I've had, but this whole big is bad mentality is starting to border on ridiculous.  

I don't know how many posts with similar sentiment I've read about Black Widow, 3Rivers and others.  They're not bad, they're smart.  They've leveraged technology, had a solid approach to marketing and grew their businesses.  That's the way growing a business for the long-term works.

Anti-tech, complacent, resisting change...sounds like the GM business plan for the last two decades.

[Shawn Leonard]

Absolutely ridiculous!I can order all the stuff from some place else and make up almost 3 dozen arrows for what they wanted for a dozen. That is terrible, it is a cool program but I would never have them make me a set of arrows!! bShawn

[sticbow]

i have to agree a little with Steve..starting to lean the wrong way...Tred Barta gear Fred Eichler gear "WWFD".....Can you say Chuck Adams
just my 2 cents

[owlbait]

Shawn, if you didn't/couldn't make your own arrows what would it cost to have someone else make them? Are 3Rivers custom arrows in the same price range, with the same features as most other trad shoppes? Just wondering. If I needed some arrows made RIGHT away, I sure wouldn't be afraid to order from 3Rivers. I know I would get good quality arrows, and quickly. Just like I know I could order from many other places. Personally, I like the option and availability of 3Rivers.