i just got this email from Randall...i've been waitin for a Top Gun for a couple months now.... seems like he's hit some rough times....thought i'd pass it along



To anyone who has email in my box. Against good advice considering my circumstances, I am taking time again to write an email- it may not be well composed, but hopefully I can get some information across. In a way, I need to take the time to do this - it will help me pull things together in my own mind. I'll send it to about 10 people at a time again to make sure I don't overload my computer or email.

COMMUNICATION:
Everyone wants to talk to me, now more than ever, but that is nearly impossible at this time and only compounds my time problems. Family members, good friends, people with good intentions, but I just can't talk to everyone one on one right now- there is not enough time in the days that I have left to meet some very important deadlines. This is not an indication of our relationship, but rather a survival tactic- all calls and emails have been ignored, else I may not be in a position to take care of anyone in the future. A normal day always consisted of several hours answering emails and several hours on the phone, then several hours to actually get something done- so, every day that I cannot do that, throws me further behind.

ORDERS:
If you have an order here, I believe I have shipped all orders that are complete. If it has not shipped, then some part, big or small is holding it up. I'm sorry, but I haven't been able to communicate with my vendors either. Unfortunately, that seems to indicate to them that I'm in no hurry, so I am still missing alot of important shipments - I've always hated being a squeaky wheel, but it seems that is how we are trained to get things done. They too are always behind more than usual at this time of year because of all the trade shows, Bike Week, and spring time in general
Right now, big bore cylinders and Top Gun pipes are holding up all remaining orders. They have been promised to me since January, but .... not arrived.

QUESTIONS:
If you are wanting to order something, but haven't been able to, you will have to be patient or may have to buy elsewhere until I get my personal and business problems resolved and existing orders caught up. I know it seems like the end of the world, but really it isn't when you compare it to other possible catastrophic events that could be happening to you.

SOME RECENT HISTORY:
There are many things that have got me here - I have kept these to myself for the most part and although it really is not anyone's right to know anything specific, I will, in fairness to you, expand a little on these series of events in an effort to gain a little of your understanding: We have always struggled to keep up with this business as it grew, almost out of control, and never could do it to my satisfaction.

This year, the normal stuff starting with Christmas got us a little behind as always, then 4 stroke wars immediately followed and preparing for a big race always takes 2 weeks out of my schedule, not counting the week it takes to actually go to the race. Then the Clash was coming soon after- we had to finish up a customer's high dollar 800cc rigid and experienced problems as usual at the last minute. I did not intend to go to the Clash, but some of the problems we were having made it necessary for me to be there- unfortunately, it was one of those rare occasions when we still couldn't pull it together by race time. Although there will be no more racing for me until everything and everyone is caught up and they are riding the dunes with a smile on their face, I still had to get Eric to Planet Sand last week - unfortunately, I think we found a little too much power. The motor ripped itself out of the frame (without nitrous). The great news is that he broke my record on motor with a 4.15 e.t. and broke his own nitrous record in his only nitrous pass - 3.91 e.t.

ON GOING PROBLEMS:
So far, everything I have described to you is pretty normal stuff that can happen, and usually does, to throw me behind. But, then life's unexpected has brought me to my knees- some business related, some not.
First, for months I've been going through a sales tax audit. In a nutshell - the Bombardier dealership was a very good sales tax customer for the state of Kentucky up until a couple of years ago. As HPR sales grew (which are 99% out of state and therefore tax exempt), the in state Bombardier dealership sales dwindled. Red flag to the state- what has happened to all the revenue?? This triggered a sales tax audit which I did not have time for and continually tried to put them off with minimum effort so I could continue to make a living and take care of HPR. But, they would not be satisfied with general records and now I am having to dig up every invoice for the last 5 years and literally prove that it was tax exempt and that I shipped it out of state. Now, time is running out and I am devoting all my time to resolving this to keep them from trying to collect $50,000 "estimated" debt that they are now demanding because I haven't got them every piece of paper work. In the end, I will owe them nothing, but much to my disgust, I'm going to have to prove it.
Compounding the communication problem, my wife is no longer here to answer the phones because she had to leave the business a few months ago and take employment with full health benefits because my 17 yr old daughter is pregnant and we have never been able to afford the $1000 per month necessary in the state of Kentucky to have family insurance. Of course, my world was rocked by my daughter's pregnancy and that has created many problems in itself.
During all of this, income taxes have not yet been touched, either.
Want more? my wife of 20 years is so unhappy with me, I was asked to leave the house: so in addition to all the paperwork problems, I am having to inventory everything and get all the books in perfect order for her lawyer. Not to mention all of the other problems that you are probably aware of that are associated with a divorce. Needless to say, may priorities have temporarily changed and things that used to be of paramount importance, now seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

THE FUTURE:
The immediate future is not certain, but HPR is not out of business - I have full intentions of keeping HPR alive. I have not read an internet forum in months, but contrary to a few rumors I have heard, HPR does plenty of business- probably too much in all reality. In a custom business where there is alot more demand than there is supply, we must start picking who we have a relationship with. And even if we solve the supply problems this entire industry has always been plagued with, I doubt I'll ever deviate from that philosophy again - perhaps one day there will be more options for customer's needs - but I can't meet them all. You see, I have spent way too many years meeting those needs for the sole reason of pleasing people- but the cost has been too great in too many ways. Financialy, I don't need to sell high performance parts at low margins to make a living - I can close the doors and quadruple my income by taking any number of positions that I am well qualified, educated, and trained for. But I love this sport and most of the people in it and it's never been about money- it has been about the satisfaction of meeting the needs of good people- but I am starting to see that it may not be possible to meet everyone's needs in today's society. I've learned alot through this process about people's priorities- including customers who don't know me, family, friends, and my own - in alot of ways, I've been very disappointed with what I've learned about all of us.

EXISTING AND FUTURE CUSTOMERS:
All customers that still want HPR parts will eventually be taken care of, some sooner than others- and I cannot foresee ANYTHING that could prevent that from happening. But..... around here, the squeaky wheel does NOT get the grease, especially right now. If you are one of the squeaky ones, you may be refunded and if it's bad enough, black listed. If you want a future with HPR when we are back on track, start acting accordingly and do whatever it takes to right any wrongs - I've heard rumors, but I really don't know any specifics. I do understand the human nature that gets worried and starts assuming things without any facts - so I will forgive any words or actions taken by our customers up to this point because I have withheld detailed information from them in hopes that I could get things straightened out in a reasonable amount of time and still meet all the customers' needs. Obviously, I have not been able to to that very successfully, so the details in this email are as good as it's going to get right now. If that is good enough for you, send me one more email with an appropriate subject heading (examples: "I'm still with you", "with you, but need a refund right now", "I'll get my parts elsewhere for the time being", etc....). I will try to open these emails, please keep it short and to the point and keep in mind, if you want a response, I can't hardly stomach any rude or angry messages right now, especially knowing that there isn't much I can do to immediately fix it. The good news is, I haven't opened many emails lately, so if you have been rude, I don't know about it yet, and a nice email will go a long ways!

Without any doubt, I want to be taking and shipping orders to customers - the combination of events have been personally trying in many ways, including financially- HPR has never been great money, but it has always managed to hold it's own - I look forward to getting back to business as usual.
It's going to take some time- I have hundreds of emails to answer and I can only get through a few per day, but it will eventually happen.

Remember, the easier you make your order, the more likely I can take care of it quickly and efficiently.
Thanks for your past, present, and future support,
Randall Richards

 

Great to hear!! I knew they would come around. Life throws you curve *****. They arent folding up, They just need to patch some things up... And I dont blame them for blackballing the rumor founders. Having them blue balled would be better.LOL

Some companies fold under big Uncle SAM pressure. Im glad I had faith in them, to rebound and slowly make things right. HPR could have took the easy way out and BK it. Good Job Eric and Randolf!!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

And Eric congrats on the new record at PS!!

 

Damn! And look at the scores who wanted to kick a man in his dingding while he was down. You should be ashamed. I knew Randall would pull through, all good Southern Gentlemen do. Now tell old Uncle Sam to get off yer azz so you can get some work done. We're pulling for ya out West here HPR. See ya soon.
Ace

 

I got mine just now also. I thought I had my hands full, Took alot of huevos to write that. I really dont think I could have. Im feelin really bad for him. I have no doubt that he will get all this straightened out.

 

all the best of luck to randall to get through all off this. i have talked to randall quite of bit but not during this ordeal but laast year when doing my engine build. he is a very good stand up guy. GOOD LUCK

 

Randall, if you even have time to read just one post on this forum, just know that I really feel deeply for you in this situation your in right now.

I too have opened my eyes during the past several weeks to realize that life is way too short and the things that we think matters right now, really dont matter at all when life takes a sharp turn.

Hang in there man, it will get better in time.

Scott

 

Glad to know you are still around Randall. Hopefully it will take some pressure off me and builds that people want done. Not trying to be selfish, but man.... what a mess. I've got a motor on my bench that I haven't touched, a head to go through and have turned down about 10 build in the last three weeks just so that I can spend time with my family and on my project. Not sure how a guy is supposed to do all that.
You know what my words to you are Randall, and they have never waivered. Trust in him, do your best, and be the best man you can be. That will be enough, and you'll get through this very rough part of the trail. As we say out here in the desert, "there can't be rocks along the entire ride....".

Funny thing about rocks in the desert, they are seemingly everywhere and make most rides extremely uncomfortable. But when all you see are rocks that's when you catch it. A glimmer, a faint shadow or splash of color. That small, lonely, individual flower growing from nothing. It's the flower that makes the beauty in everything around it. It's that very beauty that makes the ride worth it and, something to look forward to next time. There will be a next time and the beauty is there to be seen.

Stand strong my friend.

 

Its good to see life from 222, we no you will be back as strong as ever. If we can help just give a call.

Bigdaddy331 is a poet, I would have never thought [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]