[Elecraft] OK, Children - Listen Up!

[mike wren]

AMEN!!!!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Tavan N6XI" <rtavan at gmail.com>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 11:43 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] OK, Children - Listen Up!


>A few of you have expressed grave disappointment that Elecraft has been
> unable to predict future availability accurately. Some of you have even
> suggested that this is part of some kind of nefarious plot. I assure you 
> it
> is not. If you can not tolerate delays in the delivery of new technology, 
> I
> urge you to vote with your checkbooks. Simply refrain from ordering these
> new products, cancel your delayed orders if you must and, above all, hold
> your tongues. This reflector is sponsored by Elecraft as a forum for
> exchange of hints and kinks and a channel for both formal and informal
> support. I find it amazing that they have not yet chosen to make it a
> moderated forum where someone can censor the cheap shots that have, 
> frankly,
> gotten out of hand. My Mom taught me "If you can't say something nice, 
> don't
> say anything at all." Of course, that advice does not hold universally but
> in a public forum like an email reflector it should be a cardinal rule. 
> How
> would you like it if someone posted billboards on your house announcing
> every mistake you had ever made? What if some of them were inaccurate,
> incorrect or marginally libelous?  One of my mentors in business, a highly
> decorated entrepreneur, media pundit and investor, taught his people to
> "Praise publicly, criticize privately." Please take that
> advice.Thisreflector is one of the great things about Elecraft and I
> urge you all to think
> three times before posting criticisms: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it
> helpful? If the answer to any of these questions is "no" or "maybe," be a
> decent human being, give them the benefit of the doubt and don't post it.
> Send email directly to Elecraft instead. They will read it and respond
> appropriately.
>
> Elecraft is a company, a collection of imperfect individuals trying hard 
> to
> do as a team what no one person could do alone. They make mistakes as we 
> all
> do. I have never seen another company so willing to admit their mistakes 
> and
> inform their public. Yes, they have published some bad news. In fact, they
> publish more bad news about product development delays than many companies
> ... because most companies don't publish bad news at all! Nor do they
> provide a public forum where their failings can be discussed as easily as
> their successes. I admire Elecraft and wish all my other vendors were as
> candid. Heck, I wish any of my other vendors were as candid.
>
> If you can't tolerate product delays, don't order new stuff. Don't order
> anything unless it is available off the shelf. Given the vitriol of some 
> on
> this reflector, I should advise them never to order anything without a
> signed, custom contract of performance. They won't get such a contract 
> from
> ham radio vendors but they won't be let down, either.
>
> Elecraft has delivered a series of outstanding products and developed a
> well-deserved reputation for technical excellence, product innovation and
> the finest support in the amateur radio product business. The K3 is the 
> best
> radio I have ever used, right now and despite lacking a few promised
> features. In fact, I was able to say that six months ago when it had far
> more rough edges than remain today. I, too, pine for the sub-receiver. I
> even sold my FT-1000MP to make room for the K3, knowing full well that 
> until
> the sub came out I was compromising my ability to work split-frequency DX
> pileups. I can deal with that. If you can't, just wait.
>
> But above all, please be civil. The Elecraft team are a handful of the
> finest engineers, business people and human beings I have had the pleasure
> to know. They do not always deliver their dreams on schedule but they
> definitely do deliver and they deserve better treatment than some of you 
> are
> dishing out on this reflector which they sponsor. The majority of
> contributors to the reflector make me proud to be a customer. The few 
> whose
> whining, accusations and rants are spoiling this corner of our hobby make 
> me
> ashamed of the low level of social training some of us received as 
> children.
> Please take your venom elsewhere.
>
> Now, can we return to our regularly scheduled programming of Elecraft
> product questions and answers, hints and kinks and general good will?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> /Rick N6XI
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