[TowerTalk] FIRST CALL: 4 1/2 MONTHS

[Ken Barber]

Hey First Call,
  How can you possibly state that you have 2-4 weeks delivery and that
it doubled for a while.  I have been waiting since March, yes MARCH for
my tower and it just got delivered to my installer with parts missing.
Basically, I waiting almost 5 MONTHS for my FIRST CALL TOWER.  in
addition, you charged my credit card in full in March !!
Ken W2DTC
-------------------------------



WHAT'S NEW WITH TRI-EX TOWERS
(AN EXTENSIVE UPDATE)
With the large amount of Tri-Ex towers being sold over the last six
months, 
we thought it would be a good time to give an update.
The factory is in the process of expanding to a second facility and has 
outgrown the facility it is in now.  This expansion will insure faster
tower 
manufacturing time and allow for increased volume of mobile tower
trailers 
and building up of tower inventory.

TOWER DELIVERY
Tower delivery has improved dramatically.  The factory has been
inundated 
with amateur tower orders like never before.  Normal delivery was 2-4
weeks 
and reached a high of more than double that for a while. In order to 
alleviate the delivery problem, the following changes were made:
a. A second shift and parallel manufacturing lines were added to catch
up on 
past orders and to start building the most popular towers for inventory.
b.  In late June, two complete additional manufacturing fixtures/jigs
were 
finished for the entire line of Tri-Ex towers including the sky needle 
tubular towers.  This addition will allow parallel or simultaneous 
manufacturing of the similar tower sections.

HELP IN GETTING A TOWER PERMIT
For customers making applications for tower permits, please note that we
can 
now provide a stress analysis with a "wet stamp" for any of the 48
states.  
The wet stamp is a certified, original stamp by a registered, civil or 
structural engineer in your state. Non-wet stamp stress analysis is
available 
for $10. (plus postage) on any present Tri-Ex tower.  Call for details.

REAL CUSTOMER SERVICE
First Call has a staff of real people that you can get to and talk to
right 
away. The policy of "instant access" to your questions (via phone, fax
or 
e-mail) has made Tri-Ex the #1 choice for the amateur radio operator.

RESPONSE TO E-MAIL REQUESTS
We have been trying our hardest to respond to quotations and tower
pricing, 
but we had in the past fell short of our goal. We receive an excessive
twenty 
to twenty-five e-mails a day and if your request to us was not answered 
promptly, it will be shortly. We promise to keep up to date on any
e-mail 
received.  We understand our product is unique and our prices are fair
and 
the good word is getting out about Tri-Ex.

IMPORTANT, IMMEDIATE CHANGES
Beginning with new literature being printed, we will no longer utilize
or 
display calculations based on the outdated 50-mph sq./ft. rating. The
50-mph 
rating is not a UBC standard (Uniform Building Code) and has not been a 
standard for over 30 years. No town, village, city or municipality
recognizes 
a 50-mph wind load rating. The 50-mph UBC number was only used by Tri-Ex
to 
compare the stronger Tri-Ex tower to other telescoping tower companies.
The 
minimum standard under UBC in the US is 70 mph.
When you compare Tri-Ex to another company, remember that the towns and
local 
governments require 70 mph UBC.

NEW TRI-EX MODELS
Additional, improved and new tower models will be introduced soon. 
Adding to 
this list will be a rotating tubular tower, and variations of our 86 and 
104-ft. telescoping units.
As before, Tri-Ex will provide super great prices with towers that are 
stronger and with better specs than other steel telescoping tower
companies.  
Check out the tower comparison page on our website
(www.firstcallcom.net)

RAPID GROWTH
With the avalanche of new tower orders, both First Call and the Tri-Ex 
manufacturing facility have added additional personnel. First Call alone
has 
added two more toll free number lines. The manufacturing group has
doubled 
their personnel in recent months with more workers being hired as a
second 
manufacturing facility is opened.

WORLD-WIDE ADVERTISING
Tri-Ex towers are now being shipped World-Wide which has resulted from
our 
enlarged advertising campaign both here in the US and abroad. To enhance
our 
visibility more, we now can provide complete packages of rotators,
antennas 
and system installation in one operation. First Call is an authorized
dealer 
for Hy-Gain (MFJ), Yaesu and prosistel Big Boys. We also provide antenna 
packages including M2, Hy-Gain, and Force 12.

NEW SAVINGS ON SHIPPING COSTS
Tri-Ex has expanded again with new contractual arrangements with two
other 
national trucking companies. Other than Tri-Ex towers costing less than
our 
competition, we can offer BIG additional savings in getting the tower to
your 
door. All towers leaving the Visalia factory have recently and will
continue 
to be enclosed in a full wooden crate. This new shipping method will
allow 
complete safety of all towers being shipped.

INSTALLATION HELP
We are presently expanding our installation package for Tri-Ex tower
buyers 
to different models. At present, the installation guide with 84 color 
pictures and narratives has only been available for the models LM470 and
the 
DX86. This installation guide has been very instrumental and a must for
first 
time tower buyers. This guide is a First Call exclusive.

STAINLESS CABLE AVAILABLE
When it is time to restring your crank-up cable, the factory has precut 
galvanized or stainless cable kits available at reasonable prices. We 
understand the value of your investment and each kit is provided with a 
restringing schematic. Check our web page for pricing or call us on our
toll 
free number.

--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com

--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com