Great response, John. I've been in ham radio since 1958. My first TenTec rig
was an Orion I. I was so impressed I now own an Orion II, Eagle and Argonaut
VI (had a Argonaut V before that). I also own a Kenwood 2000 for general hf,
vhf and satellite work, because it can do all of that.
I am also a business owner who has been through several mergers, acquisitions,
etc., and from what you said in your email, you guys have made the right
decision. Unlike ham radio, in the business world, we don't live in a "perfect
world", depending on the ham and his preferences. You have made an excellent
business decision, and formed a partnership with some pretty impressive
partners, and I look forward to where you go in the future.
73
Scott, K4VWK
-----Original Message-----
>From: John Henry <jhenry@tentec.com>
>Sent: Jul 27, 2014 6:15 PM
>To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
>Subject: [TenTec] Where is TEN-TEC today?
>
>We are working, designing new products, recovering from a MASSIVE sale,
>man, think of how difficult it is to ramp up from xx units sold per month
>to xxxx units sold per month, the parts procurement pipeline is a super
>headache. But, we are handling it, getting new parts in, and will continue
>to make production, and exceed sales of the past year or two or three
>or.....
>
>To all the naysayers, that is ok, there will always be people uncomfortable
>with certain activities. Totally understandable. And yes, I need to
>see/hear from them. If we at TEN-TEC didn't? well, we would be closing our
>eyes to what customers see/feel, and closing our eyes on our own future.
>
>Getting rid of core activities within TEN-TEC (sheet metal, tool/die, etc.)
>yes, will bite us some, but, we can focus all expenditures on getting new
>products out, not maintaining 20 year old equipment that would require huge
>expenditure just to keep them running now. When the alternative is to get
>rid of those business areas and pay a small bit higher price for each item
>now. A MUCH more economical solution than the maintenance upkeep on them.
>Same is said for the building.
>And no, the income from these two lines of businesses specifically sheet
>metal and tool and die did NOT float TEN-TEC at times, they were NOT money
>makers. Just a service we could provide to others outside TEN-TEC, keep
>capacity moving on them, and the outside service just paid for itself, it
>was NOT a windfall, otherwise we would have DEFINITELY kept them. Simple
>economic decisions on these activities.
>
>TEN-TEC is moving, growing stronger, and with renewed focus on what today's
>hams are asking for, we will leap frog our competition in function,
>feature, etc in the coming years. This is not an overnight thing, but,
>building up a cash flow such as we are building now, and project to
>continue at a high rate after this sale is over, we will build an
>infrastructure that will slowly take TEN-TEC to the top, and yes, compete
>with the non-USA big three. I'm convinced, otherwise I would not be here
>today.
>
>TEN-TEC is always approachable, regardless of what anyone says on here. I
>get dozens of emails a day from people on this reflector and the yahoo
>groups that want answers and not the ripping apart they get when asking
>seemingly naive questions that some get on public forums. I help where I
>can, send them to service when I don't know the answer, but, we are ALL
>approachable here.
>
>Jack Burchfield would read this and other forums, and when necessary he
>would send individuals personal emails on their questions. He was very
>active in helping customers. So, our OWNER also did the same. I can think
>of dozens of times he/I discussed people's inputs on here, and he himself
>answered, or he had me answer, depending upon who had the expertise. But,
>we don't answer a lot because there are so many highly qualified people on
>here that do help. Bob McGraw, Rick, Jim, etc. (don't get pissed if I
>didn't mention your name, you ALL are very valuable you ALL make the
>TEN-TEC family STRONG).
>
>Guys/Gals, TEN-TEC is growing in strength, knowledge, etc.. I don't know
>how active the RFConcepts owner will be, but, it doesn't mean you guys are
>slighted in anyway.
>
>The merger with Alpha has brought some EXTREMELY active and knowledgeable
>hams into the fold that can give direct inputs that will make the next big
>flagship a killer. mark my words.
>
>I may get testy with someone on here at time, but my heart is in the right
>spot, make the product better, listen to the bemoaners and bitchers, yes,
>because if someone is upset, fine, we need to hear it, why, how was it
>resolved, or not, etc. It only makes the products better.
>
>Now, with all of the above said, if ya want a rig, get it today. If you
>want a K3, then go get it, it is a fantastic rig. I promote it above
>anything else non-TEN-TEC. If you want an Eagle, then get it now. TEN-TEC
>will continue to develop new rigs, work with Alpha on amps, etc. and create
>new products in the years to come. New features for existing rigs for the
>years to come.
>
>Granted, obsolescence is something that may someday kill some existing
>products, but, we do our best to try to ensure that is taken care of when
>parts end of life comes up. And trust me, we see a new end of life part
>once every, well, 2 mos on all of our products, but we always find a way
>and a replacement. Unfortunately, too many of them spelled the death of the
>current Orion series. But, wait....
>
>done for the day, heading home, tried to hit the TEN-TEC nets today, but
>the bands I was on when I had a chance were so bad I don't think a 9500
>would have penetrated into my radio.....
>
>Thanks, and 73,
>John Henry, KI4JPL
>TEN-TEC Engineering, a Division of RFConcepts LLC
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