Mastertech59
Well-known member
This also came from FB
From Ben Lesshafft, General manager of REC TEC.
"Fans Ben sent an email to an angry customer today. I’ll change the name but I hope it helps everyone understand our plight.
Dear Customer,
Let me start by saying that we appreciate your long time support and I understand your frustration. Rather it be a grill, an iphone, or even the “hot” item that our kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews want for the holidays, we all find ourselves in the mad dash to get a new product from time to time.
However, your insinuations about our company and insulting remarks regarding Raymond are both untrue and completely off base.
We are not doing this to create buzz, if that were the case we would be running ads, lots of them, it would ads non-stop. We aren’t doing that. We are only releasing this to those that have CHOSEN to be a part of our insider email distribution list. It’s not on Amazon, it’s not being advertised in search engines, and we are not doing any promotional campaigns with any of our advertising partners with this grill.
We are not holding back inventory to drive this into some kind of viral stunt. It’s quite simple: product comes in/we release it/goes out of stock until more comes in/repeat. Don’t believe us, when your job duties as a truck driver bring you near our facility in Augusta, GA then feel free to stop by for a tour. We have nothing to hide. And, to be frank, do you really think we want to sell LESS grills?
We are not doing this to be mean, we simply have a product in high demand that we are releasing in the most fair way possible as it comes available. The first wave was launched in the morning and saw sales average 80 / min. The second wave was launched at night and averaged over 100 / min. We knew there was a demand for this product but the sheer volume of recent sales of the SS Bullseye is extremely out of skew with our sales if it’s version 1 predecessor, historically. Thus the reason for Raymond’s video after launch #1. When a product that averaged a few hundred units / month over a period of multiple years turns around and sells 2k in 30 minutes after re-launch, it’s surprising. No one, not even Ray, saw it coming. He could have taken his ball and gone home, but he faced our customers and fans with honesty and clarity as he always has.
Some of our customers have asked, or even downright demanded, a chance to pre-order. They believe that to be a better way as opposed to the mad dash to the e-checkout. Sounds reasonable, EXCEPT now we are violating some credit card policies when it comes to collecting money without being able to provide a specific shipping time-frane. And credit card companies frown on that as they don’t see it as a business practice that serves the best interest of their customers. To be honest, they’re right. I, as a business manager, would love to pile up a pre-order a mile long and just simply say “well it ships when we have them.” Any business would love to have that kind of cash flow. But it just is NOT the right thing to do.
In sum, we have more on the way, we will continue to only release to insiders until this pent up demand has receded, and the introductory price of $399 will not go away any time soon. I hope this has given you a glimpse into the thoughtful process we have implemented. It’s not perfect but it’s fair. If you have a better suggestion given the circumstances I have stated, we are all ears.
Thanks and safe travels.
Ben Lesshafft
General Manager
REC TEC Grills"
From Ben Lesshafft, General manager of REC TEC.
"Fans Ben sent an email to an angry customer today. I’ll change the name but I hope it helps everyone understand our plight.
Dear Customer,
Let me start by saying that we appreciate your long time support and I understand your frustration. Rather it be a grill, an iphone, or even the “hot” item that our kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews want for the holidays, we all find ourselves in the mad dash to get a new product from time to time.
However, your insinuations about our company and insulting remarks regarding Raymond are both untrue and completely off base.
We are not doing this to create buzz, if that were the case we would be running ads, lots of them, it would ads non-stop. We aren’t doing that. We are only releasing this to those that have CHOSEN to be a part of our insider email distribution list. It’s not on Amazon, it’s not being advertised in search engines, and we are not doing any promotional campaigns with any of our advertising partners with this grill.
We are not holding back inventory to drive this into some kind of viral stunt. It’s quite simple: product comes in/we release it/goes out of stock until more comes in/repeat. Don’t believe us, when your job duties as a truck driver bring you near our facility in Augusta, GA then feel free to stop by for a tour. We have nothing to hide. And, to be frank, do you really think we want to sell LESS grills?
We are not doing this to be mean, we simply have a product in high demand that we are releasing in the most fair way possible as it comes available. The first wave was launched in the morning and saw sales average 80 / min. The second wave was launched at night and averaged over 100 / min. We knew there was a demand for this product but the sheer volume of recent sales of the SS Bullseye is extremely out of skew with our sales if it’s version 1 predecessor, historically. Thus the reason for Raymond’s video after launch #1. When a product that averaged a few hundred units / month over a period of multiple years turns around and sells 2k in 30 minutes after re-launch, it’s surprising. No one, not even Ray, saw it coming. He could have taken his ball and gone home, but he faced our customers and fans with honesty and clarity as he always has.
Some of our customers have asked, or even downright demanded, a chance to pre-order. They believe that to be a better way as opposed to the mad dash to the e-checkout. Sounds reasonable, EXCEPT now we are violating some credit card policies when it comes to collecting money without being able to provide a specific shipping time-frane. And credit card companies frown on that as they don’t see it as a business practice that serves the best interest of their customers. To be honest, they’re right. I, as a business manager, would love to pile up a pre-order a mile long and just simply say “well it ships when we have them.” Any business would love to have that kind of cash flow. But it just is NOT the right thing to do.
In sum, we have more on the way, we will continue to only release to insiders until this pent up demand has receded, and the introductory price of $399 will not go away any time soon. I hope this has given you a glimpse into the thoughtful process we have implemented. It’s not perfect but it’s fair. If you have a better suggestion given the circumstances I have stated, we are all ears.
Thanks and safe travels.
Ben Lesshafft
General Manager
REC TEC Grills"
