Aero marine

[Brad Christy]

Guys,

I've worked for a number of shops over the years, all of which were family owned. I've seen the entire spectrum of generational evolutions.

At one shop, the founder was still in charge, "in-house" and very much hands on, while two of his kids, at the time of my employment there, were in upper management, but had started at the bottom pushing brooms and driving deliveries/pick-ups while the business was in it's relative infancy. The founder has since "retired" and one of the sons is President (the other passed away suddenly a couple years ago), with two of HIS kids in the engineering dept. This company is about 250 employees strong, sees about $150M in annual sales and shows no signs of letting up any time soon.

Another, on the opposite end of the scale, was my last long-term employer before striking out on my own. The company's founder had handed the business on to his daughter when he passed away. She had never help a job in her life. Not in the shop, nor elsewhere. The business was successful from the time she was old enough to understand money, and she had grown up with the proverbial silver spoon. Now that she's in charge, she's running the business into the ground. The company has one customer, which is KODAK (yeah, THAT Kodak). The company was about 75 employees and was seeing about $12M a year in sales when I started. When Kodak faultered, they took this company with them. The company is now about 25 employees and sees about $2.5M in sales, and she couldn't care less. She comes in about 10-11AM and often leaves around 3PM, and I'd seen Minesweeper on her computer screen on numerous occasions. Her lack of Panic caused mine, and is why I left.

I really think it comes down to getting the inheriting generation involved at an early age and raising them to understand what it takes to make a business viable, much less successful. I've been getting my son, who's 11, out in the shop and letting him "play" with the machines. We did some work on his Pinewood Derby cars in the shop, and he pushed every button, pulled every lever and made every chip and piece of sawdust. I'm really hoping he takes a shine to the work and starts truly WORKING for me at an early age so he can take over operations in time for me to retire.

Thanks. Brad.

Titan Racing Components

BlackJack Hydros

Model Machine And Precision LLC

 

[Hydro Junkie]

I really think it comes down to getting the inheriting generation involved at an early age and raising them to understand what it takes to make a business viable, much less successful.

Thanks. Brad.

Titan Racing Components

BlackJack Hydros

Model Machine And Precision LLC
And that, in a nutshell, is the problem. Most kids now days feel that work is below them. By making his kids work their way up, the first example you gave showed that the "boss" understood what it would take to give his kids a well rounded education in business. With them now working as execs, they understand what they will be doing when handed the company. In the second, the daughter's "silver spoon" and no responsibility in the company has doomed it to fail. I think, in the case of Aeromarine, it's someplace in the middle but closer to the second. If Sr doesn't take action to correct what's going on, Jr could very well see the company fail and won't have the slightest clue as to why

 

[Samuel Hagan JR]

He's on Facebook all the time. Try there.

 

[Ron Olson]

He's on Facebook all the time. Try there.

He's on there but not a lot. I think that he just posted something yesterday about "Butch The Boatman" passing away.

 

[DaveHalverson]

I placed a $95 order on the 10th of July. Never heard a word about shipping. On the 23rd, I sent an inquiry, no answer. On the 24th, I sent an e-mail threatening to cancel my order. Got a reply!!!! They said they were on vacation and there was a problem with my credit card but they sent out my order on the 17th. I checked PayPal, they let the payment expire. I promised to pay them should it arrive but at this point, I'm not holding my breath.... Today, www.aeromarinerc.com is shut down.... A hang sign says "Be back soon" I think we just saw the death of Aeromarine.... Shame!

 

[properchopper]

I've had some troubling experiences with orders like many of us but still value Aeromarine Laminates as a viable source.

I've also been through some rough times in my life and my performance in previous occupations suffered. What pulled me through was the support of my friends. How about we take the high road and send Remy a letter of support instead of collecting references of bad experiences. There's a supportive camaraderie in this hobby that's evident here and in other spheres and I believe it's worth exploring some positive options.

 

[Hydro Junkie]

Maybe a letter explaining this thread and how we would like to keep ordering from them but also with a subtle warning about how poor customer service is going to be detrimental to the company in general. A look at a possible future may be what it takes to get a positive reaction

 

[Curtis Maglinger]

I've had some troubling experiences with orders like many of us but still value Aeromarine Laminates as a viable source.

I've also been through some rough times in my life and my performance in previous occupations suffered. What pulled me through was the support of my friends. How about we take the high road and send Remy a letter of support instead of collecting references of bad experiences. There's a supportive camaraderie in this hobby that's evident here and in other spheres and I believe it's worth exploring some positive options.

I would probably by that if this just started happening. This has been going on for for a while and when someone from Aeromarine doesn't have the decency to at least communicate back to you and mentioned they have problems or there might be some delays, that would help. They offer several ways you can communicate like Facebook, phone numbers, faces, 2-emails and still don't answer (i think they have several employees that could do that). It's all about communication.........I've had poor service on several of their orders and was told it shipped, when it didn't......that's more of a lie than hard times. If I ran my business that deals daily with the public, like my experiences have been with Aero......I'd be out of business.

 

[Ron Olson]

True. Many years ago when The Titan 21 first came out I did mange to get through to him and he brought the boat with him to Toledo. It's not like it's been going on for a short time but years. We knew back then that if you wanted something from them that you were better off going through a dealer. The phone always busy if you tried to call and unanswered e-mails. You'd just let a dealer go through the hassles.

 

[Samuel Hagan JR]

Then you got someone complaining about the dealer.

 

[dave roach]

I would turn them in to the BBB in there area.

 

[Robert Pickard]

wait till the business goes under the kid be wondering why

 

[DaveHalverson]

Maybe a letter explaining this thread and how we would like to keep ordering from them but also with a subtle warning about how poor customer service is going to be detrimental to the company in general. A look at a possible future may be what it takes to get a positive reaction

I did just this yesterday. I really like their products and hope they recover to serve our community again...

 

[DannyWeimer]

That sucks they were a great company