I bought mine because it looks cool, not necessarily because I wanted to show my patriotism. Plus it is a LE, so there wont be as many around. and, I like the silver plastic much better than red.

No matter what the decals are, the more choices for plastic and graphics, the better.

If the retail price on the LE was more than the regular Cannibal, I would have to agree with you. But it's not. I think it's great they have this model to choose from, even if it does make them sell more quads.

I would think that the dealers pay Cannondale the same money for either the LE or the reg. Cannibal. So what if they do bring more money, Isn't the dealer actually the one making more money?

The more they sell, the more apt I am to start seeing aftermarket goodies. Supply and demand! I hope they can barely make enough quads to supply the people demanding them. I hope I open a "Dirt Wheels" sometime soon and see two page ads for performance Cannondale parts. I hope Cannondale succeeds, because I own one.

God bless the US

 

I don't see a problem with Cannondale have a flag skeem.If it helps sales great,if not great.And if the price is the same,who care's?There not going to make anymore money then b4,thats a good thing,alot of company's mark prices up to gain from this but Cannondale is not.All Polaris did is incress sales,no matter how much they donated.And as far as donating money to anybody/anything,I don't agree with any of it,like you guys said we dont have control over how that money is spent,and no matter what there going to get money from somewere weather or not we donate it or not.Rember it cost 11 cents to make a dollar,and 11 cents to make a 100 dollar bill.So no matter what there going to get the money somewere.And I don't agree with helping ppl that don't like us,its wrong but what can a ppl do??I'm sure I'm forgeting something,but what the hell??...
Just My 1 cent worth...

 

When did CornDog enlist????

 

The LE Cannibal looks sweet. It looks way better in person. Pictures dont do it justice.

 

You guys should check cannondales website and see that they have donated money with the sales of there special edition bicycle

 

Why should they donate anything to anybody? Just because they have a QUAD in red white and blue?

They are making a donation it called TAXES.

Not all companies are in a position to align themselves with any charity publicly. They may do donations with out letting everyone know.

Smitty

 

The American Flag should not be used as a marketing tool, it belongs to everyone. Thousands upon thousands Americans have died for that Flag and I am overseas right now in defense of it. We dont protect the Flag and the USA so that people can go out and make a quick buck. You should care how it is used, I do, thats why I started this thread, because I care. I was sure that Cannondale had to be helping in some way, but I didnt know how. I greatly respect Cannondale and I just wanted to know that they were not using the Flag in a manner that is unacceptable. I think that if a company is going to use the flag in this manner, then they should make it public knowledge that they are doing more than lining their own pockets. Taxes do not profit nonprofit organizations, taxes help the government keep its programs and agencies running. I have finished my correspondance with the Cannondale Rep, heres our conversation.


Here is the complete transcription of the emails sent back and forth between me and the Cannondale representative that I contacted about my concerns.

sledneck27;

Hi, I am new to the Atv market and I had a question concerning the Cannibal. First, let me say that I am very impressed with the technology and innovation you guys have brought to the sport quad market, your progress has been very impressive. Now for my question, I hope this doesnt seem too harsh, it's concerning the "all american" graphics on the 2003 Limited Edition Cannibal. I was wondering if any of the proceeds from the sales of these all-american quads are going to benefit any foundations like the Red Cross for example, or are you guys just trying to capitalize on the current patriotism that going around right now as a result of the unfortunate terrorist attacks of Sept.11? Sorry if that seemed too harsh, but, I am in the USAF and I see it all the time, we have a conflict and everybody is gung-ho america, when everything is calm nobody cares. I love your products, but I will have a hard time purchasing from a company that is trying to benefit from such an unfortunate event.


Cannondale Rep.;

We are not trying to benefit from sept 11. These are the colors of our
country, they always have been and always will. It seems like there is
always one individual out there that manages to take something out of
context.

Justin Ostrich
Motorsport Technical Representative
Cannondale Corporation
justin.ostrich@cannondale.com


sledneck27;

I'm not taking anything out of context, I understand that you are an american company, and I, being an american, am proud of your accomplishments. If you think that putting stars and stripes on your quad isnt going to benifit your sales, you're sadly mistaken. I want to buy a Cannibal, but I also want to feel 100 percent good about the purchase. It seems kind of ironic to me that during a time of nation wide patriotism you would release a quad with the american flag on it. Polaris has a line they call the "freedom" series, it also has the american flag depicted in the graphics, but, they also give portions of the profits they make on these quads to the Red Cross. I do not appreciate your personal attack on me, I expect a more professional response in the future.


sledneck27;

Hello Mr. Ostrich, since you have not replied to my last email, I thought that I would write you again and make my intentions more clear. I'm sorry if my initial letter seemed too harsh, I apologized two times for this already in my first letter. I feel very strongly about my position on this matter, and want to believe that your company has nothing but the best intentions. I realize that Cannondale is an American company, but that does not necessarily entitle you to use the American Flag in the manner you guys have chosen. I'm certain that Cannondale supports the ATV and cycling industries, to me though, if you are going to use the American Flag in this way, support of just those industries is not enough. There are a lot of American companies that employ Americans that produce an American product, but they don't put the Flag on that product and send it to market. The American Flag belongs to all Americans, not just your consumers. I just want to know what you are doing to benefit Americans as a whole, be it support of a local or nationwide non-profit organization of any type, or any kind of charity at all. I just want to know that Cannondale is being the best company that it can be. I'm sorry once again if I have offended you, I hope that you can see my position and understand my concerns. Like I said before, I am in the USAF, I am overseas right now in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I would give my life for that Flag, and I don't like seeing people take advantage of it's current popularity. Thank You, Christopher Armour


Cannondale Rep;

I will respond with a more detailed answer later today. But, just so you
know we have thoroughly involved ourselves with the Sept. 11 tragedy.

Thank You for your patience

Justin Ostrich


Cannondale Rep;

Chris,

We have been highlighting our "Made In USA" heritage for the entire 30 year
history of our company. We have been placing this type of "USA" graphics on
our bicycles for a number of years. We donated thousands of hydration packs
to the fire fighters involved in 9-11 and helped raise money for a charity
fund by selling small pins with an American flag. I feel that after reading
your second e-mail your opinion is entirely understandable and hope that you
could possible come to the conclusion that our limited edition cannibal is
more than just a marketing scheme.

Justin Ostrich
Motorsport Technical Representative
Cannondale Corporation
justin.ostrich@cannondale.com


sledneck27;

Hello Mr. Ostrich,

Thank you for the reply, I want to apologize again for my initial letter. If I had just expressed my concerns in a clearer manner the "ugliness" that transpired between us could have been avoided. It was never my intention to come off as half cocked with a "what gives you the right" attitude. I have always felt that Cannondale is a great American company, even before I was interested in purchasing your products. I'm sure that you have seen the abuse of the American Flag that has been going on, it's impossible not to notice. Seeing the Flag on your quad without knowing what you were doing to help was the "last straw" for me. I was sure that Cannondale had to be helping in some way, I just needed to know how. Again, I'm sorry if you were offended in any way, and thank you for helping to produce such wonderful products.

 

For those of you that are not certain of the manner in which the US Flag is supposed to be handled, he is a link to the American Legion, one of the many websites that contains the US Flag Code.

http://www.legion.org/our_flag/documents/flagcode.doc

 

I see the evildoers over at Pepsi are at it again. I just got suckered in to buying a can because it was blue with white stars on it and carried some slogan about the red, white and blue.

I agree with Smitty. This is an American company that provides jobs to American citizens. Both of these pay American taxes that help drive the American economy. These American taxes help drive the welfare system (the biggest national charity), keep your roads paved, etc. I don't want to see the flag desicrated either but Cannondale's decision to use this design scheme isn't an attempt to make a quick buck on a national tragedy. Cannondale is offering the stars and stripes color version at the exact same price as the normal red one. They're not modifying pricing or their marketing of this quad, it's simply another color choice. If I go into McDonald's and want a cheeseburger and there are two on the shelf, one in the white and orange wrapper and the other bundled in a red, white and blue paper, which would I choose first? I don't care, inside they're both cheeseburgers offered for the same price and profits go to the same place.

I also think it's funny that you can somehow justify the Red Cross' misappropriation of donated funds. People donated that money because they thought it was going towards the relief effort in NYC and DC. I can guarantee you that if the Red Cross would've advertised "give money now so we can use some of it to build a playground in South Central Los Angeles" they wouldn't have received nearly as much and they knew it. If Cannondale advertised that $100 of every LE version of the Cannibal went towards a charity but then we found out that they were pocketing $70 of that money would you be as quick to defend them still? Afterall, Cannondale's one big machine and if one part fails than it all goes under so if they use 70 of the $100 towards building a new kitchen for their employees so they can eat lunch you'd defend that use of monies as well?

 

Sledneck,

Can't believe the letter you sent to Cannondale. He went out of his way to be nice to you, I would have been alittle more blunt with you.

I still don't believe your story. You must have another chip on your shoulder, cuz just "people using the American Flag to make money", doesn't justify your approach to Cannondale or your attitude in here.