Being constantly behind on orders and too much drama in the personal life, so I have decided it's time to shut it down for awhile. It isn't a permanent thing, just for a little while to get caught up on back orders and work on some new stuff I have been putting off for too long. If you have an order already in or an install scheduled, that is still going to happen, I'm just taking some time off from taking new orders.
If you planned on ordering something, have a tax return coming that needs to be spent, whatever, I am taking orders up until Friday, February 15. It will most likely be early summer before I start taking orders again. That will give me time to start with a clean slate, and front bumpers will be rolling by then. I'm just tired of being behind all the time, getting where I think I will get something done, then something happens and knocks me back again, and the excuses for delays are getting rediculous, even if they are legit. It's not fair to my customers, and the constant working and time away from family isn't fair to them either. I need to re-evaluate and reorganize the business to make it better and more efficient.
As many of you may know, the last few months have been a real kick in the junk, with a shop move that went bad, cost some money and a lot of down time, a death in the family and being sick for too long, and I just don't know any other way to catch up from those set backs. I have to do what is right for my family, my customers, and myself, so it's time to concentrate on catching up on the current orders and get the new stuff into production. I will not start up again until all orders are completed and the new products are in production. I know some of you have been patiently waiting on rear bumpers, sliders, roof racks and front bumpers, so I have to get those orders done. Moab Safari is coming up in two months, and I now a lot of current orders are needed well before then. Another reason for no more orders and catchup time is Troy got a job offer with a military contractor that pays three times better than I do and is tax free, so he will probably be leaving for Iraq sometime in March if he gets the job (they don't call and offer the job unless you are already almost 100% hired for sure, so I'm pretty sure he's going). Ted ships out for Iraq the end of February for atleast 8 months, so with those two gone, I'm on my own again, so I'm pretty motivated to get all of my current orders done before they leave.
So, if you have a rear bumper, sliders and roof bars and you have been waiting several months already, expect those real soon. Please, everyone with an order in, don't panic and think I am just stopping today and not going to work on anything. I am still working like I have been to get things done, just not going to be constantly loaded down with new orders constantly rolling in. If you have tried to contact me on status of an order, I apologize for not getting back to you.
I have some more rear bumpers coming from the manufacturer in the next 6 to 8 weeks that haven't been spoken for yet, so here's the last chance to order one for about six months. No more orders for front bumpers until they are in production. Sliders and roof bars/racks, same as the rear bumpers, after the 15th, no more orders for awhile.
I have had several really cool product ideas on the drawing board for too long and want to get those going, but can't even start on them until current orders are finished and front bumpers are in production. I have atleast four really cool new products that I want to get going, and the new KK is hurting for products as well, so it's time for me to get things done and do them right. I think my company has a pretty good reputation except for the constant delays and turn around times, so I need to get caught up before I dig a bigger hole and lose everything I have worked so hard for.
I thank everyone on this board for their support, business, and most of all your patience. Honestly, it's all this boards fault that I am too busy to keep up and even had to drop my entire Cherokee product line just to devote more time to the Liberty guys. So, you have definately not put me out of business, it's a matter of too much business that I was not ready to handle. So thank you for working my butt off.
I promise when I come back, you guys will have some really cool new stuff to drool over and swear at me that you have to start saving money again.
On another note, if anyone is trying to reach Troy, his computer crashed a few weeks ago, completely trashed, so he doesn't get much computer time anymore. Occassionally he will jump on my computer or the one at his apartment complex, but he only does it maybe once a week.
Thanks again to everyone on this board for your understanding and support.
Marty