[TenTec] Why should I still order an Argo V?

[J. Duffy Beischel]

On Wednesday I decided to order the Argonaut V to take on vacation.  Ordered
it with the TCXO option and specified Fedex shipping in order to have it the
next day.  On Thursday, the Fedex guy came to the office - no Argo.  Emailed
TenTec and asked for the tracking number.  Stan emailed me back to say the
Argo with the TCXO option was out of stock and it would be two to three
weeks more.  I emailed Stan back and said the reason I specified Fedex was
to have it the next day and that I should have been called on Wednesday and
notified, or maybe been given the option of a non-TCXO unit.  I had him
cancel the order.  He did.  No apology or attempt to save the sale.
Business must really be good at TenTec if they let customers walk so easily.
After coming out of college years ago, I worked in retailing.  I learned
that the biggest sin in the retail business was to be out of stock.   Hard
to believe that TT let themselves get into an out-of-stock situation on such
a new radio.

So I have a few weeks to consider some other rigs.  For less money, the
IC-703 seems attractive.  For about the same money, the FT-897 looks
attractive.  I never use a keyer so the internal keyer problems that some
noted with the 897 is really not an issue and I use an external keyboard
keyer for CW.  QSK is not a big deal either.  If I decide to reconsider the
Argo, and still want to go through with the purchase, I think the hardest
thing will be to go back and buy from a company that does not seem too
concerned with getting my business.

In any case, unless I buy a rig while traveling, no rig to take on vacation!

Happy 4th!