[TenTec] LAST WORD ON ORLANDO HAMFEST

Mon Feb 18 19:40:56 EST 2013

Gene, thank you for the acuity you have demonstrated with your explanation 
of how things are in the real world of business today.

Marketing methods are changing and many companies including TEN-TEC, are 
exploring new ways of reaching customers all over the globe. Many companies 
make strategic business decisions in order to stay on the cutting edge and 
to keep ahead of the rising cost of goods, taxes and inflation.

TEN-TEC Inc. always strives to remain loyal to their customers and this is 
why they remain accessible through in person visits to their headquarters in 
Sevierville, TN, through emails, and phone calls directly to the Tech 
Engineers and also to the Vice President of the company.

Gene, I can see that you have been "around the block" and can put yourself 
in the shoes of any large company, without second guessing why they make 
certain changes in their marketing strategy. In these days of inflation, 
higher taxes, higher fuel costs and regulations by the government, many 
companies are struggling to remain in business.

Every company has been downsizing, streamlining and working smarter instead 
of harder and changes have to be made. We all know that very few people are 
willing to adapt to change quickly and this is where they separate the "men 
from the boys". I can tell you that TEN-TEC is alive and well.

DISCLAIMER: In answer to all of the emails asking me if I work for TEN-TEC: 
My answer is that I am NOT an employee of TEN-TEC, nor do I receive any 
compensation from TEN-TEC. I am an ambassador for Amateur Radio! Thank you.

John, K3UR

http://www.qrz.com/db/k3ur
John D. Occhipinti, K3UR
Net Control, TEN-TEC SSB Nets
http://k3ur.com
The Voice of Atlanta

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gene Story" <gfstory at earthlink.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 1:16 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] LAST WORD ON ORLANDO HAMFEST

> Dave -
> Did you call Jim?
>
> Hi Dave -
> My apologies if I got this wrong but I think a non Ten-Tec employee 
> provided a conduit to an appropriate person at Ten-Tec to address your 
> question directly?  If so, I believe the opportunity  to talk to Jim 
> directly on the subject matter is a terrific offer.
>
> About six years ago, I stopped budgeting for trade shows for a US branch 
> of a company I was controlling with the blessing of the home office 
> overseas.  Instead we sent a rep to "walk the floors" of a select few 
> shows to maintain and make new contacts.  We rented a suite a couple of 
> times to discuss contracts and do a few demos but otherwise, completely 
> slashed the expense of shows.  And most magazine ads were cut too. 
> Focused marketing campaigns via the Internet paid off far better.  Unlike 
> trade shows, we could quantify the effort/expense and profit results. 
> Rather than bleed money and time with key employees at trade shows, we 
> took advantage of the Internet.
>
> None of us knows why T-T has changed their marketing efforts for shows and 
> hard print ads.  They are a privately held company and they (frankly) 
> don't have to tell us.   While the current T-T Net on 40 and 20 meters is 
> just a sliver of all users worldwide, this and other personal on the air 
> contacts I have made and the Internet suggests to me the enthusiasm for 
> the T-T product is alive and well.  I know I love my 565 Orion and 
> accessories.  I am betting most of us will continue to support their 
> efforts.
>
> Heck, take this offline and give Jim a call.  I would have jumped at an 
> invite like that.  The rest of us may puzzle a bit but I do not think most 
> of us can afford to make it to shows anymore.   Not 100% of us use the 
> Internet either but it is where most of the marketing effort is directed 
> these days.
>
> Gene. /. K7TXO
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Feb 15, 2013, at 7:59 PM, David and Dianne on Comcast 
> <dhhdeh at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> "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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