An open letter to our

 

present and potential customers

 

The years 2018 and so far 2019, have proven to be quite challenging.

In over thirty years of building muzzleloaders I have never seen a time when suppliers out of stocks, discontinued items and backorders have been this great. Many items are simply no longer available since the supply is gone and they are no longer being produced.

I guess we just have to face the fact that we all are slowing down as we get older. Worse than that, the prime players in building this muzzleloading industry are too, and in many cases they are no longer with us. With them goes not only their knowledge and skills, but in many cases, the unique products they helped to develop. Natural resources and raw materials are becoming scarcer, foreign investors are buying up wood lots and foundries, and more muzzleloading businesses are for sale with no buyers.

This hobby was built by Mom and Pop business that started by filling a need in a sport they loved. It has grown well and maybe we’ve grown a little spoiled by being serviced by so many talented and dedicated people eager to please and dedicated to building the base.

Severe storms have delayed shipping in spite of price increases and surcharges. Health issues, Doctor visits, and hospital stays continue to increase as the bosses get older, so timelines continue to get longer. What was 30 days is now 90 days or more.

We have a large inventory of pre carved stocks and parts on hand, but it seems it seems inevitable that customers will want something else that may or may not even be still available. We simply can’t ship it if we can’t get it.

We sincerely apologize for the long delays in producing the product of your dreams and being able to get it to you in a timely manner, as promised. We will continue to do our best to serve our customers, so please be patient while we find new ways to overcome the shortcomings.

Ray Franks