Actually I think it is smart business. Look at the cost of advertising and
look at the cost of attending a hamfest for a company as compared to the
number of persons that will see the products. Yet at the same time, the
internet offers a multitude of more opportunities for exposure for any
companies products. Brick and mortar stores are rapidly finding the
internet to be more effective for sales and less costly too. The Brick and
Mortar that I work for is reporting for 2012 that out of 1700 stores, some
22% of their business was via the internet. And that number is almost twice
the previous year's business via the internet.
As to Dayton participation, I'm aware of several persons that have been
asked to assist at the Tentec booth this year. This pretty well says
"Tentec will be at Dayton". And these are persons that own and operate
Tentec radios along with the Engineering and Sales staffs. As to references
for a product, word of mouth is the best venue and it will be present at
Dayton.
With the 40M and 20M nets and the certificate program, I'd expect likely to
project several hundred upwards of a thousand soles or more heard Tentec
radios on the air today. While I don't have current figures, I'd say the
growth of the nets has stimulated a lot of interest in the Tentec products.
And for what it's worth, I will personally be attending and demonstrating
the Eagle and the Argonaut VI at the Dalton GA hamfest this coming Saturday
and Sunday. I've done this two years in a row and never encountered an
empty spot in front of the table.
73
Bob, K4TAX
DISCLOSURE:
This is to inform all persons, I am a Tentec Ambassador and I receive
compensation according to the Tentec Ambassador program. In addition, I
serve as a volunteer beta test person to Tentec for the Omni VII, Eagle
and Argonaut VI radios. I hold no employment relationship, no financial
interests nor do I conduct any commercial business, direct or indirect,
with Tentec.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David and Dianne on Comcast" <dhhdeh@comcast.net>
To: "Ten Tec Reflector" <tentec@contesting.com>; <jwharton@tentec.com>
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 9:59 PM
Subject: [TenTec] LAST WORD ON ORLANDO HAMFEST
"But, it sure is an odd way of doing business." --
Ya think??
Coupled with the fact that TT has not advertised in QST for the past two
months and has had no product advertising (except for promoting its own
web site) in QST since last August, it all does not inspire much
confidence with customers (of who I am one since 1996) about the current
condition or future viability of the company.
How can anyone be expected to try their products if there are no dealers,
no print advertising, IMO, a less than optimum web site and they don't
appear at all but the one big show. I don't take much comfort in their
committing to Dayton. Would you expect less? They need to assure us that
they will be there? Wow.
Elecraft, a similar sized company, seems to understand that the shows, big
and small, a voluminous, technically oriented web site, Dxpedition
sponsoring and word of mouth satisfaction are all their significant source
of sales leads and they do not offer a 30 day trial. As for "no questions"
on the TT 30 day trial returns ...not exactly true.... as I can attest
from the past. Lots of questions as to why. The refund was made, but IMO
begrudgingly. I would not want to try it again.
This mystery surrounding the need for their customers to e-mail Jim
Wharton about their recent decision, IMO its simply no way to treat
customers who have growing legitimate concerns based on TT's very public,
recent corporate decisions. Having run a successful business for 34 years,
I can attest that it is not the customer's privilege to do business with
the company but rather the other way around.
I bought an Omni VII last year and do like and enjoy it very much, along
with my K3. But I will have had hard time convincing others to give it a
try in light of these recent peculiar corporate marketing decisions, the
questions they imply and TT chooses to leave unanswered, evoking
legitimate concerns .
73 de N1LQ-Dave
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