What happened to Pelfrybilt??

@weldertaco

 

I'm with Chad on this one.

Price of aluminum is $1.76/lb right now. Up from the low of $1.14/lb. With a 70# all aluminum full hoop front bumper that's a difference of only $30. Obviously they're going to use more than the final weight of 70# of aluminum, and, or, their price is higher because they are buying it precut (don't know if this is the case?). That bumper sells for $1700....just to get to 50% of the value.....they would need to be paying $12.14 per pound. I just don't see the majority of their cost in materials.

Now that I've proven I know nothing about running a business or fabricating truck armor...I'll go back to waiting for their announcement.

 

An explanation that goes into more detail about what their issue is and the likely hood of getting out orders and the time frame they will be delivered would be a start to a full assed answer.
They sound like a start up company with the "discussions with active investors trying to secure funding" BS.
I've got their bumpers and sliders on my truck and have been happy with the purchase process and what little issues I've had they helped me out with, so I've got no ill will towards them. I wish them the best since they have some of the best looking armor available and may have the best customer service in the market, but looking objectively at this it doesn't look good if you sent them money for products.

And yes I agree they have earned good will with their previous business practices. That's probably why the TW mob hasn't rallied with their pitchforks and torches yet.

 

You got the basics down.

A little extra cost on raw materials isn't going to cause an upheaval like this. They make beautiful stuff, and they're work is mostly labor intensive.

I'm not going to speculate on what the actual reason is, but I know it isn't the tariffs.

 

Ditto on first quote!

And I wish the best for TW members who gave there $$$$$ to them all the when pelfry knew this was coming (at least that’s how it appears)
I call BS!

 

Lol your right on what it isn’t !!!

 

I no less than the guy who doesn't know anything about running a business or building truck armor. I'm just saying what ever their issue. Any additional uncertainty, tariffs for example isn't helping them.

Not that tariffs are an "issue" I believe if the industry wants regulations/tariffs that industry will find a way to get them.

 

It sucks for anyone who has money out on a product. I hope everything works out for Pelfreybilt and their customers.

 

I have no comment on Pelfrybilt business practices.
This is just a discussion for the Tariff theories.
Scenario A. Fabrication shop purchases X amount of Steel on Jan 1, customer A purchases a product from business on Jan 2. 8 week lead time is provided to customer. On Feb 1 Steel prices increase. Does customer receive a price increase? Obviously no.
Scenario B Fabrication Shop purchases X amount of Steel on Jan 1, Customer A purchases a product from business on Jan 2. 8 week lead time is provided to customer. On Feb 1 steel prices decrease. Does customer receive a break in price? Obviously no.
In Scenario A On Feb 1 buinsness raises the price on the product to future orders.
In Scenario B On Feb 1 business leaves the price as is (if there is enough demand at that price) and business realizes a greater profit margin.
If your in any business that uses a commodity you are constantly monitoring your raw materials. The prices of your goods should constantly fluctuate. If however a business takes a order on Jan 1 and waits 7 weeks to purchase the materials,well we all know how that will end if your on the wrong side of the price move. So if you are blaming tariffs on a failing business, I’d look at the management of that business.

 

I think the reason he is calling BS is that it appears they kept taking $ even knowing this was coming.
Look if my money was sitting there with them and all I heard is what they cripticly published here...especially the announcement that they were having marital problems which has absolutely no bearing on anything, I’d be pissed .
So here is another BS call ...I hope for TW members sake with money out there they get a transfusion, as for them it’s a risk reward venture .

 

No I can see that absolutely, I just don’t care !! There are thousands of people who start businesses all the time. And the fact is most fail because they have short funding or bad business model.
That’s the risk they decided to take.
Sure on an emotional level it’s sad .
But it’s a business it wins great, it closes oh well next !

 

Looking for investors

"Seeking investors blah blah blah" sounds like corporate jargon from a press release for a start up company that's going out of business in a week. It just doesn't jive with a fabrication/shop company that has been around for many years, it doesn't make sense.

They've had more than a couple days to set things straight. They've let things slide enough that it's becoming a focus of discussion on TW and elsewhere. They could have nipped the whole thing in the bud, but failed to until @jberry813 called them on the phone to see what was going on.

As far as people having a go... I haven't seen many, but when the "mob" mobilizes, you'll know.

 

They could be looking for investors to buy a partner out. This happens all the time.

 

They have, at minimum, tens of thousands of dollars on hold for people with no delivery date in sight.

You should be more objective in your defense. Vendors have already come out to say it isn’t that.

Michael just posted on their Facebook. He got let go, signed an NDA. File your claims, people.

 

John B at All-Pro was a real nice guy too... customer service was excellent then that day came....

 

In case anyone was curious about this statement like myself.

 

They’ve come out and said they’re taking on investors to get a cash flow. Without implication or guessing, that means they’re broke and floated orders.

Their main sales rep has come out saying he was let go and didn’t know how bad it was. He’s also signed an NDA, which should have been unadvisable unless he was offered severance and they don’t want to hinder a buyout for how bad their finances truly are.

They’re requesting, at minimum, 45 days to take on investors until they have answers for customers who have paid in full and are months late on an agreed deadline.

Let me know if I’m missing anything. Seems like everyone worried about their money has a legitimate complaint with the way their money was handled.

 

We’ve had multiple group buys go months overdue in Hawaii. This latest one is currently three months past when we were assured we’d have shipping invoices. With everyone else delayed as well, there’s no other conclusion to come to.

Even without Michael’s post, their financial issues were already public via their post. His information just confirms how bad it is.

I’d start your claim. If they’re seeking investment, you getting your money back will be pennies compared to what they’re requesting to operate in the black again.

 

I was pumped to see what their dual swingouts looked like. I’m all about them making a rebound under proper guidance, but I’m not comfortable being an investor in that scenario