Re: Grand River Tactical
First off, I apologize how this is going.
Please understand that this was not an item that I make as a "production" item. The first few bags that I made for a few guys got such high praise after pictures were posted that people started contacting me about getting their hands on a bag like this, since it IS NOT MADE OR AVAILABLE ANY WHERE ELSE. There were some things that I wanted to refine from the first bags, like beefier zippers, and other hardware that I had not previously stocked. Some of these items are difficult to source, and when I do find them, there are minimum purchase requirements to get them...like zippers, they are not cheap, and when I have to purchase 300 yards at a time, then with the pulls, the logistics are hard to handle for such a small outfit. Finding components made in the USA is difficult and takes a lot of time to track down. Fortunately there is no shortage of fellow gear makers to help out sourcing quality USA made materials (Thanks to Stu at RedTac, he has been huge in helping out with finding hardware and materials that are USA made, and Tony at TAB).
Regardless of all the stuff that has to happen behind the scenes, to make a single product, I still have to contend with the constant order bombardment from other entities, including, but not limited to the public, LEO, and Government. I just finished work for a Australian group which set me back a week and an USA based outfit that took over three weeks to finish. These are the types of things that have been setting me back for years, but I feel they are the most validating business that I can do. Not to mention the hundreds of Impact Data Book covers that I make every other month. I am in demand, for good reasons. The gear sought out by casual shooters like myself, who like shooting on the weekends, is also in the hands of operators serving the US and allies around the globe.
As far as time to produce gear, there is nothing I can really do. I am working as fast as possible, and still have to factor in time for my wife and kids, and to me that is a huge priority in my life, much bigger than GRT, but have been putting them second trying to maintain a favorable company image, but seem to be failing miserable working 24 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, and 18-20 hours the rest of the time.
It seems like no one can get a hold of me here via telephone, but I just took 40 min to look at my call logs sine 10/1/11 an in that time I took 212 calls from numbers unknown. 164 I answered, and in that time, spent a total of 8 hours and 41 minutes on the phone. The other calls were missed, due to my regular work schedule, or being behind the machine. I will not answer my phone if I am on a client site, or doing training for obvious reasons. If I am on the road, I answer and will talk as long as one wishes. I will not answer my phone if I am sewing, or out with my family. The phone is something I have grown to despise. Mostly because the only questions I get are order updates. I am an extreme optimist, and that is why I miss lead times, I tend not to account for the unforeseen issues.
Every time that I do a Sniper's Hide Group buy, that I take a huge cut out on profits to get my gear in that hands of shooters who can appreciate it at a nice discount, it turns into a large shit storm, because some people just can not grasp the fact that I can not get my Asians to work faster. That is not how it works. I have no cheap labor force. I tried outsourcing to several local companies, but nothing was done the way I wanted it, and they all argued about the efficiency of it. I don't give a rat's ass about efficiency, I have never noticed efficiency when a piece of gear fails or works better than expected. I may eventually find a place that will do it, but then there is another problem, I didn't make it, and am handing ownership of that product off and I am the one standing behind it. I just don't trust anyone else to make it, and I am sure this is something that everyone can understand.
To be honest, I love to sew, and I love making new gear, but when I read the stuff like this, I just think it is not worth it, not worth it to my family to see me a couple days a week, unless they want to sit in the shop (and they do), not worth the stress of constantly babysitting peoples expectations or delivery times, not worth the criticizing of not caring about customers. It is a lot of BS that started out as good fun making cool stuff.
Falar, your order is boxed and will ship Monday. Cluebat, yours in done, and will go out Monday. I am working on 3 other bags at the moment, and will ship sometime between Monday and Friday.
To keep things in perspective, I am sewing gear for guys that want stuff specific to a need or want. It is done correct, with the best materials, and will last a life time, and that is guaranteed. When you get your items, you will determine that it was worth the wait, though, it is not a life changing event, so lets treat it as such. I too am a customer in the custom gun world, and I was/am a pretty uppity bitch about getting my stuff immediately, but didn't understand the logistics of it all. I know as much as anyone, or maybe more than most, when you order custom stuff, from small companies that do a much, much better job than off the shelf stuff, it takes time, because of the attention to detail and very small workforce who's purpose is perfection.
No disrespect to anyone at all, and I greatly appreciate and am very thankful for everyone's business, everyone will have their bags soon, and they will be done right. Just seems that this is where everyone is blowing off a little steam, so I figured I would take a turn.
Stay safe.
