For those of you that were following the group t-jet build from the HOWL list....

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/howorld/message/59881

It appears that Bob Beers is no longer going forward with this plan with the group but has chosen to look into it privately.

I'd like to wish him luck and hope that all goes well, as I'd love a straight and true t-jet made in America out of the package every single time.

That being said, I sort of feel like he took advantage with the whole "group buy" concept. I would have respected him more had he said he wanted to get a count of people interested in purchasing new chassis vs. the approach taken on the boards.

Maybe I am wrong, curious as to what others think.

HHHMMMM?????:confused: Seems a little familiar.........where have I seen this before?? OH WELL HERE WE GO AGAIN......
:beatdeadhorse:

Did I miss something Jerry? Was there another public t-jet build up in the past that I missed?

Ok.. I'll throw my .02 in for what it's worth.. First off I will say I have alot of respect for Bob Beers and the others responsible for the previous B Jet threads. From post one it was a hypothetical survey to see how much interest we as a group would have in a reproduction T Jet chassis. We responded by pledging to buy hypothetical shares. If I was contemplating manufacturing something I would be interested in knowing how much of a market is out there. Now if you think about it, if I posted up a survey saying "I'm thinking of repopping Aurora widgets who's going to buy them???", most likely everyone would say "Great, I want some!!!!". This isn't as accurate a guage as buying hypothetical shares, as it better shows a level of commitment to actually getting these widgets to market. With the economy as it is, and folks' savings and investment portfolios most likely in the trash, a venture of this magnitude needs as honest analysis of the market as possible. A "Who will by my widgets???" survey just isn't going to cut it. Maybe there was a better way to handle it, but my simple mind can't come up with it.

I'm going to correct myself before you guys do!! The initial post does not specifically label it hypothetical. But as the thread progresses it becomes this way.. Sorry!!

Good point SCM, thanks for replying to the question....

I definitely agree with you, the problem is I don't think he was going to get an accurate count either way.... Asking folks "who wants to buy some?" will most surely get the reply you stated above. I am curious as to how many folks would have backed out of the whole share buying had it come to fruition, I think people would have flaked out there as well.

Frankly, I think those of us out here are in the minority of buyers in comparison with the general public. Which is why companies like AW don't seem to listen too much to what we want either it seems.

I think there was a better way to handle it, but I am with you, I'll be darned if I have the idea on how.

Either way, if it goes though, I'll be buying some, nothing hypothetical about that....

I'll be buying them too.. When you face facts, we really won't have much alternative in the near future.. If it comes to pass, I'll be in line to buy..

MY only gripe is when it really looked like we could get enough investors it went off line and private. If that was Bobs intention at the begining he should have sated so. EVERYONE was under the impression IF enough investors could be found it might happen

Roger Corrie

Here is a direct quote from Mr. Beers from 4/23.

We've had a lot of fun and stirred up tons of interest with the recent thread on both the Howl list and Hobbytalk. I want to take the TJET FACTORY idea to the next phase................... IT IS STILL HYPOTHETICAL and market research is ongoing. My Recording Secretary, Dennis, will carry on the Shares list with the following changes....... You can increase your share amount or decrease your share amount or keep it the same but you MUST let the secretary know your intentions for PHASE II. The purpose for this method is to better keep track of you all should this actually become a reality. Hey, you never know................

Sounds like it was all for fun to me.
hojoe

If I didn't beleive it was supposed to be a sincere polling I may as well have taken at least a couple hundred shares instead of the two realistic ones I could afford. Why ask people at all for a pledge when there is no definate information of investment given. And why stop the investing when the numbers got significant? What would have happened if there would had been thousands of shares pledged? Next time count me out...I'll play it safe and be happier paying retail.........

Tjettom

MY only gripe is when it really looked like we could get enough investors it went off line and private. If that was Bobs intention at the begining he should have sated so. EVERYONE was under the impression IF enough investors could be found it might happen

Roger Corrie

I may be wrong here but I seem to remember reading Bob had 100 shares. With that said, the group should be able to get investors and continue on without Mr. Beers.
If people were serious about "Buying Shares" they should step up buy a few more each and just do this already.
If you look on the net you will find manufacturers who can do the job, get your best price, get a test shot and go for it!
I wish everyone the best with the project, when the product comes to market I will be in line to buy some!!
Later
Chris

So can I or can't I buy shares?

Ok.. I'll throw my .02 in for what it's worth . . .


Come on Joe we all know you don't have 2 cents :lol::tongue:

Two cents I got!!! Common sense, on the other hand..... :freak:

Not surprised at all. From a business perspective, the concept was fraught with holes big enough to drive a S'Cool Bus through. I like Bob too, and I think his life would be a living hell if he had 50+ people to answer to. Business and friendships are a tough combination, multiplied by 50, untenable. Taking it out of the public eye will give him a lot more air cover.

I do have mixed feelings about the way the deal, or should I say, non-deal went down. On the one hand, nothing was promised, so the fact that nothing was delivered evens out the playing field. But expectations were raised and there is bound to be some sense of letdown with folks who pledged their shares and devotion to the project. We're all big boys and girls, so the crash landing should be easy enough to handle for those who really knew what they were getting into. When pressed on the "playing dress up" as a real company point was made they did come clean and fess up to the fact that it was all a facade.

I suspect, with little evidence to back it up, that the "name survey" attracted a very small number of big investors and that's who will end up being the primary backing for the "private" venture. In all likelihood, this probably increases the probability that the project will result in a marketable product. The answers will become apparent when the products show up on one or more sites "for sale." If this happens, and the product offers the right value at the right price, I will probably buy a few. In the mean time I am totally satisfied with the price/value that I'm getting from the current crop of HO slot car products on the market.

I love a good hypothetical dog and pony show!

Strangely though, I feel the need for a real shower after this one.

I love a good hypothetical dog and pony show!

Strangely though, I feel the need for a real shower after this one.

Bill, don't use all the hot water.

I think it came from our man Lenny a while back about how infeasible it was to have that many pieces in the pie and be able to make a profit, much less be able to get anything done with so many strong opinions. If there is a big enough need $$$ somebody will attempt it. Harrison almost had it done with the thunder plus. He apparently threw in the Thunder Plus towel. I wish he would share where it went wrong along the line with the thunder plus so that mistake(s) didn't have to be repeated for the good of the hobby. The Johnny lightnings just barely squeaked by with all its woes compared to the old Thunder Jet. Looks like the magnatraction clone from autoworld is a passable chassis from what I hear coming from knowledgeable Hobby Talk members. I bought first and second run Johnny lightning TJets and I thought they sucked. So I fixed up my old stuff T Jets and non and magnatractions and I haven't bought any Autoworld stuff since. Maybe the newest version of the T jet 500 from Autoworld coming soon might have it's many issues improved. If it does, Autoworld will sell a whole bunch. I hope Tom Lowe knows that and has learned from his past experiences. The whole Bob Beers deal might not have to happen if Autoworld gets it together. It would be OK if it did though, Bob might want to take the gamble, Lenny-Dash might. Bottom line is I would be a buyer again if the old technology could at least be duplicated whoever takes the plunge. Could be Verrrrrleey interestink around here my friends.

If I didn't beleive it was supposed to be a sincere polling I may as well have taken at least a couple hundred shares instead of the two realistic ones I could afford. Why ask people at all for a pledge when there is no definate information of investment given. And why stop the investing when the numbers got significant? What would have happened if there would had been thousands of shares pledged? Next time count me out...I'll play it safe and be happier paying retail.........

Tjettom

The longer pledges were left hanging there without any foundation for their value or security, the less collectible they became. The value of this forum is that honest questions were asked - some of them should have obvious and easy to answer if there had been thought put into how the business could and should work.


At the absolute latest, the round 2 pledge/commitment list should have been the point there was at least some acknowledgement of how the business should look moving forward. When there was not, IMHO it ended up looking like one of the projects we all drew up in high school, scribbled out on the back of a notebook in study hall ("I know, let's build a submarine!") From outward appearence it seemed there was a lot of fascination with the level of interest, personal support and accollades, while "investors" were looking for reciprocity - a transparent way their pledges would be kept and handled, and some guarantee of their worth. A pledge to quality of product is one thing. It would have looked pretty bad to produce another problem t jet. A pledge of FIDELITY is what I expected.

One post here said Bob couldn't deal with 50+ bosses - true, but the idea consistently floated wasn't for 50+ bosses, it was for 50+ check writers. That was food for thought. When one finally looks at the responsibility and liability ("that legal stuff") one is forced to assume beyond that if one is going to play with other people's money- well, that's when it's time to wake up and go back to class. IMO, it appears that is what happened.

I hope, with lessons learned, that the project moves forward at some point. All kinda tarnished at this point, ain't it?

This whole charade was nothing more than a long drawn out April Fools joke.
Many fell for it. Hook, Line & Sinker.
PT Barnum was right.