SKYGEAR COMPLAINTS and known waiting list

Just checked another thread. Hasn't been seen since the 24th. When he goes on vacation he does disappear. Maybe he's out with the kids again.

 

Has anyone tried calling him to see what he has been up to? I know he has made his phone number public to take calls

 

Well he makes a good product but his ability to run this like a business and/or value his paying customers is deplorably lacking.

Check his profile, it says he was on TW yesterday (6/15):
skygear was last seen: Yesterday at 7:54 PM

I'm pretty sure he didn't make his number public. He may have given it to a few people privately but I'm pretty sure he didn't make it public.

Regardless... it seems like calling him is futile.

 

Hey guys, this is not like Mike to ditch his responsibilities. I'm guessing something has come up at home that is taking all of his attention. I am trying to reach him. Until we know what's going on, speculation and piling on serves no one.

 

Yea just give it a couple years, should all get worked out

 

Maybe having legal trouble with FBI again. If you remember last time he had this, his lawyer recommended he didnt discuss it at all until it was resolved

 

Anyone want to elaborate on the whole fbi ordeal? Looking for a good story

 

Its in one of his threads. He was mailing out all these boxes and wires and I guess someone took notice. Didn't help that some of his boxes were wrapped in duck tape and had addresses in sharpie on them. I believe he was dropping them in drop boxes, etc... Pretty much all the trip wires the Feds look for.

Long story short, they raided his house, took everything electronic (including play stations, etc...) and questioned him for while. Im sure he's been placed on a watch list and driving all across the country probably didn't make the feds happy. That's just a guess though but this is pretty much how it happened last time. He just fell of the face of the earth for a while because he was not allowed to talk with his customers or post anything related to the investigation.

 

I only remember the very basics but browse the other for sale thread and it's buried there.

Basically he got investigated by the fbi cause of the product. Odd looking box with tons of wires. He was just packaging them sort how ever he could. Duct tape, sharpie, ect. So he was mailing a ton of packages with odd looking electrical components inside from a home residence.

Fbi came one day and took a bunch of his stuff as evidence. Don't remember exactly what all. But he had to get a lawyer and it took a bit to get all straightened out.


Not really that exciting of a story haha.

 

That's pretty funny actually. I can see why they would though; duct tape. Really?

Unabomber much?

 

Pretty much. Probably should have checked in with Homeland Security before driving all over the country giving out these "wired boxes..."

Again, this is just my speculation; I wouldn't be surprised if he got rolled up as he pulled into his driveway.

Although I would be surprised if the FBI wasn't monitoring his TW account and should have known about the trip... I guess only time will tell.

 

Maybe

 

LOL I have one neighbour I wouldn't mind running that experiment on

 

This whole ordeal reminds me of a certain fabricator on here

 

Elite Off-Road Products?

Streetacos?

Total Automotive Performance?

Wab Fab Off-Road LLC?

Fat Bob's Garage?

 

Bascially haha

 

I guess the problem I have with this whole situation is this:

1. This is not a "Custom" or "One-Off" product. These are "kits" are made from off-the-shelf products that Skygear is piecing together and doing the leg-work for you....that's what you're paying for. Anyone can buy the components and make the exact same setup on their own (not including Yotamac's mounting plate, which is indeed a custom design).

2. If he is marketing this as a "Plug'n'play kit", why is he spending months driving cross-country to install them for people? Is it that difficult to install? Is it courteous, YES! Is this an efficient way to meet the demand of those who already PAID for a kit (to install themselves), NO!

I don't see any other TW Vendor or fabricator offering this service. Does BamaToy come install the wheel bearings he sells? Does BeeRad install his Engine Light Kits? If it were a local-only install, that would make sense and most TW Vendors are quick to help out locals, but driving through multiple states and delaying others' orders in the process seems more like a selfish attempt to take a road trip, garner accolades and get some "he drove all the way from _______ to install my kit, what a badass!!!" kudos...

3. This is not Amazon Prime, so people should not expect to get their kits in 3 days, but waiting 2+ months with little-to-no communication or conflicting status updates is a little unsettling.

4. I guarantee he is a stand-up guy, and there are a ton of members who can back this up; but we're not looking at his "niceness" or willingness to help others - we are looking at the commitments he set to paying customers, and the overall efficiency in which he is conducting his business.

I don't know Mike personally, but I know he has been super helpful and informative to the TW community. I get disheartened when I see the flame threads pop-up about TW Members/Vendors not following through, taking money, not filling orders, MIA, lying etc. It gets old, it's unfortunate, but that's how it goes.

You can list all the excuses you want, and defend/justify the reasoning, but the fact remains that there are Members who paid for a product, were given an ETA/Timeline, and still have nothing to show for it.

 

Oh sweet more stories to read

 

I agree whole-heartedly, Benson...

I've been watching this entire debacle from the start, and it's been intriguing to observe the responses and various attitudes that've been displayed within the various threads pertaining to this subject.

Perhaps it isn't a fair analogy - and it seems to be the consensus that this isn't a "business"; but there's no possible way that a brick and mortar business would
remain in operation by conducting transactions this way. Period.

Quite frankly, looking at how this entire thing has been "organized", I'd venture a guess that Skygear may not even have a firm list of who his customers are/who is waiting, etc. Wether that's just pure lack of business sense, or sloppy accounting - I don't know.

Bottom line, and this has been my thought all along - even throughout the butthurt and shit head contributions via (now banned) Doc Fry:

How hard can it be to take five minutes of your life, log in - and post a quick update? Quite honestly, as more and more time passes by without any form of a status change, my impression of him gets less and less.

Sure, life gets in the way... I've stayed up well past midnight several days in a row finishing fabrication products - it's the sacrifice that must be made when you're providing a service or a product for others. It irks me how he's mentioned multiple times that he wasn't getting sleep and would have the boxes finished by "date x". Clearly bullshit. Sure, I could tell a few guys that want fab work from me that I'll get to it next week, then stall them until I have time in the fall - but why the fuck would I do that? I've been honest with everyone about my schedule, and quite honestly it's actually helped me to retain repeat customers and keep a good rep.

I agree with your comments about the "install trip"... There's nothing that good printed instructions or decent phone/email dialogue can't rectify - although observing how fucking hard it seems to be to get anything out of the guy lately, perhaps that's the only way to get anything productive done with him. It's not like he's been MIA from the site, Chris4x4 has been providing intel on that front.

At this point I'd like to see a mod jump in and assist if possible. But then again, this isn't a business, and that action may be about as valuable as a fart in a shit fight...

At this point, this behavior and conduct is inexcusable.

Those that are still waiting - kudos. I would've gone totally ape-shit by now. Especially if it was holding me up on other aspects of my truck build. As you have said, Bry838 - it's not the wait time, it's the blatant lies.

 

That is an excellent post jeverich!! I figure your right, sky has no list of who and when orders were taken, thats why some peeps get it right away why other idiots like myself wait 6+ months, except I'm sure a guy could look at pay pal dates... The wait/tired of being giving the run around, is getting frustrating beyond all comprehension!!! Then there was the wonderful Doc Fry, him and i went a couple rounds in the other thread. He was something else...Trust me ive bout gone ape shit crazy! But seems every time i say something pertaining to this stupid box I get called a crybaby or get told "this isn't the right place for this" ......fuckin pissed over this debokale!!