Well that sux…what a great resource and just all-around nice Guy. I called Brian when I was researching, ultimately we did not purchase an OF . Brian answered all my questions, and emails, provide all kinds of straight forward info and never really tried to push us in one direction or the other.
We decided to go hard side, but I still to this day, think what a compliment he is to the industry. Let’s hope they are able to pull out of this and prosper in the future.
It is never good to get news like this. Another American Mfr down and out. Too bad Obahma won’t bail out the little Guys…
This not only hurts his Family, his Customers, and the Industry, but all of us as a Nation. Pretty soon all we’ll have left to purchase is******from the Far-East…
Bill
2006 D/A CC
25'Airstream Excella
Adventurer 810WS
Camping all around New England
Good People Drink Good Beer-Hunter S Thompson
fast.5 wrote: If it keeps up we will soon be sleeping in cardboard boxes in the back of our trucks... Up side the weight police will not be able to get anyone
Mike
If the newer TCs are of a higher quality than my 1988 Bigfoot, you should have over twenty years before the cardboard box.
I think the $1M to $10M liability numbers is just a rough range. It could be $1M or it could be $10M, but it is probably somewhere between $1M and $10M.
Since it is a family owned business, who knows what all is wrapped up in the finances? Vehicles, tools, equipment, material, investments, property, homes.......who knows.
Since he went chapter 11, I would assume he is just trying to get some breathing room with his creditors and plans on trying to keep the doors open and ride it out until sales improve.
The pop up arena seems especially competitive. Although they had no dealers, people on each coast who have them have posted, I believe. Still, regionally we have Outfitter, Hallmark and 4Wheel Campers (not based here) which each have a loyal following in this area.
Not having prebuilt inventory is not unusual for a smaller firm now. It's a special product so people will wait a couple months.
$1 to $10 million in debt is a lot of campers when margins are low. Tie a knot and hang on.
BradW wrote: I think the $1M to $10M liability numbers is just a rough range. It could be $1M or it could be $10M, but it is probably somewhere between $1M and $10M.
Since it is a family owned business, who knows what all is wrapped up in the finances? Vehicles, tools, equipment, material, investments, property, homes.......who knows.
Since he went chapter 11, I would assume he is just trying to get some breathing room with his creditors and plans on trying to keep the doors open and ride it out until sales improve.
Maybe the small business versions of AIG, ENRON, etc are just catching up... just maybe the management was paid huge salaries...
2003 Lance 1161,/slideout/AGM batteries/255W Solar/propane generator/Sat dish/2 Fantastic Fans model 6150/AC/winter package
AirFoil, Trimetric, LED lights
Check out this TCM article. It explains why Outfitter filed for Chapter 11. I just got an e-mail from Bob Ward, and he say's the company is doing fine. I know all company owners say that. I surely hope it's true. Outfitter is one of the good guys and I hope they sort out their loan issues in a timely manner.
-steve
2009 Northern Lite 9.6Q Classic
2009 Outfitter Apex 9.5 (soon to be for sale)
2009 Sundance 2800RLS
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC LB CTD 2WD
The bankruptcy form probably has ranges of liability and their liability is probably check in the box that says $1 mil to $10 mil. We what happens.
I don't think this has anything to do with AIG or Enron, from what I can tell they are just normal people, I did not see any signs of living high on the hog, in fact just the opposite.
This economy is killing a lot of small business, they are making a decision, lots of time based on what appears to them to be a bad future, why sink more money into it and loose in the end.
Bestop, Inc. a long time well know and well respected Colorado based maker of Jeep/4wd things announced that it was closing all of its manufacturing in the US, primarily Colorado and putting most of their people out of work--146 people will no have a job next year. A few people will do the usual admin/sales things. They are shipping the work to Mexico and China.
For those of us who got to know the people at Outfitters, this is sad news.
Murgatroid wrote: Check out this TCM article. It explains why Outfitter filed for Chapter 11. I just got an e-mail from Bob Ward, and he say's the company is doing fine. I know all company owners say that. I surely hope it's true. Outfitter is one of the good guys and I hope they sort out their loan issues in a timely manner.
-steve
Thanks for the article Steve, I almost had a baby reading the post title. These folks need to stay in business! Their service has been outstanding towards myself and others. Not to mention my new "lifestyle" since buying my Apex. I'm already figuring the options on my next Outfitter, yes Nemo, a cassette! We can only hope they get it all worked out.
Murgatroid wrote: Check out this TCM article. It explains why Outfitter filed for Chapter 11. I just got an e-mail from Bob Ward, and he say's the company is doing fine. I know all company owners say that. I surely hope it's true. Outfitter is one of the good guys and I hope they sort out their loan issues in a timely manner.
-steve
Thanks for the article Steve, I almost had a baby reading the post title. These folks need to stay in business! Their service has been outstanding towards myself and others. Not to mention my new "lifestyle" since buying my Apex. I'm already figuring the options on my next Outfitter, yes Nemo, a cassette! We can only hope they get it all worked out.
...glad you have seen the light Dave. Bob talked me into it when I bought mine and I'm glad he did.
2007 F-350 SRW 6.0L Auto CC SB 4X4
2006 Outfitter Apex 8, 220W Solar and 3 AGM's
2008 Jeep Rubicon
Murgatroid wrote: Check out this TCM article. It explains why Outfitter filed for Chapter 11. I just got an e-mail from Bob Ward, and he say's the company is doing fine. I know all company owners say that. I surely hope it's true. Outfitter is one of the good guys and I hope they sort out their loan issues in a timely manner.
-steve
...The article sure clears things up thanks for posting Steve.
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