| Unfortunately the post I want to address was locked before I was aware of it. J. Chan (tya) made a post over the weekend about his experiences with the electric fan and shroud kit he purchased which I offered a couple of years back for the Koyo Radiators. I would have responded to that post had I been aware of it but I was in Gainesville spending some time with my father - much needed given the stranger than fiction story behind my mother filing for divorce after 34 years of marriage.... reasons teetering scales analogous with Branch Dividian/occult-esque mentality. A momentary digress, I apologize. So, to the point: I appreciate Tya's objective, professional approach to conveying his experience with this product. I feel that his approach was objective and with intent to illustrate his findings as clearly as possible. What compells me to respond though is the oversight to the fact that the kit I designed incorporates a fan and a shroud, the shroud being a component of which Tya deemed as, in his own words, "a waste of money." He also is using a McCullach radiator and the shroud was designed for the KOYO radiator only - this shroud fits the Koyo radiator like a glove and will not properly fit any other radiator. I dont mean this as an attack on Tya or those who responded though, please read on. I will avoid at all costs making some sort of generalized, blanket statement about the circumstances above and what potential consequences I believe may result from not using the shroud. I feel that everyone can draw their own conclusions based on the information provided and there is no need for me to argue any points. I give positive affirmation to the input provided by SeedyROM, Spee, as well as the links to posts related to this product by RedZ. Those posts provide insight to the qualifying elements that every consumer should make themselves aware of regardless of what product they are contemplating purchase of. "Does it work?" "Was there sufficient product testing performed?" "What results have others had?" The questions these guys present are exactly the very elements I aim to satisfy. I know I have to be on my toes, all the time, and I am sure they know that although their contributions to this community may be percieved by some as form of self-indulgence or promotion of a "Jerry Springer-Esque" environment, I rather believe that in these particular cases, their intentions really are in light of Z-owner satisfaction - they are looking out for you, and, I really have no beef with anyone. In "other" cases, the social dramatics they provide do have an entertaining appeal which in most cases I feel is healthy for the community. Dont take this as some sort of ass-kissing here, please. I'm sure we are all on the same page - on that same token, there are still degrees of questionable behaviour that many members indulge in on these forums from time to time. I just want to point out the fact that there are valuable perspectives amongst of which I do take attention to. The e-fan kit for the Koyo radiator is, within honest and reasonable objectiveness, a success. The number of cases where the kit proved to be a success vs. the number of problem cases has been comparatively, exceptionally favored towards success. I have, and always will, stand behind my products. If events played out in such way that Tya expressed his findings to me in advance of making a public post, I would have addressed his issue personally and with objective fidelity - I have solutions to this problem. I dont mean that to say that since he has posted his experience that I wont offer my support - just saying that his issue would have been addressed in whatever way necessary to satisfy his needs - and I still extend that offer. While it may be proposed by Spee (or anyone else, not picking on you, Spee :))that there was inadequate development of this product, I will assure you that the product was properly developed for the masses. For circumstances where this solution was inadequate, I have had provisions in place to address such problems and at the very least, always provided the tech support for my products - it only requires the request to set that in motion (and for the critics, OK, maybe two email requests before it gets answered - just try handling 60-100 z-related emails a day while manufacturing product and providing ample customer service and you'll see the proverbial leg I attempt to stand on with regards to this.:)) But there just isn't enough of me to spread out.. With that last parenthesed statement in mind and although I wanted to make a post specifically addressing this point, I have held off on making any public comments about where AshSPEC, the business, is headed towards, but I feel this may be a good opportunity to shed some light on the subject of customer service. I have been working with a business consultant over the past few weeks on restructuring how I do business and it is looking like I will be throwing in my chips on the retail side of the business and focusing on just the manufacture and wholesale of my products to different Z vendors - all of the retail sales being handled by them. I just cannot continue to try and satisfy both the manufacturing demands and the retail demands at the same time - as you have seen first hand, it just isn't working out like it should and I have recognized this for some time. The efforts of those who have been respecfully referred to as "the core" really have been a huge driving factor towards the optimization of my efforts - these guys really deserve a lot of credit. They are the ones' who will speak their minds, and I do appreciate the feedback even though I've been known a time or two (LOL) to jab back. :) But, things will be changing in very short time as the rest of the logistics are worked out with various vendors who will be providing my products to the community. It seems strange to reveal all of these specifics about my business plans to the public as it isn't something that seems to follow a contemporary "status-quo" format that I would be inclined to think is taught to MBA's. But I have nothing to hide. And on the same token, my goals are not to simply improve the "bottom line" - my personal philosophy is that the money is just a means to an end, and that end is to build the best products I can. If I just wanted to be a millionaire, I'd be willing to bet that I'm in the wrong business. I just think it important to speak of my goals and reasons as accurately as possible - I'm not the sharpest knife in the lot and appreciate honest feedback. My business structure is sculpted by the needs of the community just as much as the product design parameters my business offers. I have more new product ideas right now than I have ever had at any point in time previously but I have reached and exceeded my capacities to fill the demand of both the manufacturing and the retail aspects of my business - much less have the time to pursue development of these new product ideas. This new structure will allow me to more efficiently manufacture our products as well as provide the time necessary to develop the new. Sales and customer service will be handled by vendors of which you all have had great customer service experience with, which everyone in the community knows and has very likely done business with. The benefits are full-circle, for everyone, and I am really looking forward to the results of this transition. I dont want these statements about where my business is going to appear as some sort of mask to the essence of this post - Tya had a problem with one of my products and I will always seek to resolve issues - I would even be willing to make a statement that everyone in our community believes that this is an integral component of my business ethic, but that proper customer service is the real issue needing to be addressed. i.e.: "I produce quality products and stand behind them, but my customer service blows donkey.. Well, all I can say is that I'm working on it and think I have a good plan. As soon as things are aligned properly for this transition I will make a short post about the change just as a heads-up. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome. .
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Ever read "Good to Great", by Jim Collins? "Why some companies make the leap... and others don't"..
Tya's original post:
[ http://www.twinturbo.net/nissan/300zx/forums/general/view/2154868/Replaced-Ashspec-efan-kit-with-16-SPAL-results.html ]
[ ashspecz.com ]
[ agpowers@bellsouth.net ] Enthusiasts soon understand each other. --W. Irving.
Are you an enthusiast? If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.
Albert Einstein
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