Factory Five FALL SALE!!!!

[Higgybulin]

OK, I guess the title is kind of clickbait but when does it start?!!!!! I am in search of my next project!!!

[Sdonnel]

Given the current market and their popularity, I wouldn’t think there will be any special sales promotions any time soon.

[Higgybulin]

Given the current market and their popularity, I wouldn’t think there will be any special sales promotions any time soon.

That's not how they operate. They are about their customers and supporting the segment! There will be a sale, guaranteed.

[Skuzzy]

That's not how they operate. They are about their customers and supporting the segment! There will be a sale, guaranteed.

As a business decision, I do not think it would not be very smart to offer kits at a lower price. They are already eating into their profit margins by having to ship missing parts separately. Demand for the kits seems to be pretty high, right now. Cutting the price of the kits would be throwing away money.

Yes, they are about customers and supporting this segment of the market and we all want them to be around for a long time. They also have to pour money into developing their infrastructure further, which they are doing. When you struggle to finally get to the crest of the wave, you want to ride it as long as you can.

[John289]

If I recall correctly at the open house Dave Smith said he was doing everything he could to not go up on price, between increased material costs, vendor price increases, and infrastructure updates its been a challenge holding the current price levels. That doesn't sound like an owner that is contemplating a sale. With kit lead times out from 10 to 12 months, at times people are waiting months to receive their BOL items, and FFR shipping 10 kits a week with no signs of slowing down, I don't think it would make sense. In the industry I am in, industrial battery sales, we've had 32% worth of price increases in the last 13 months. From someone who has a kit on order with a 10 month lead time, and has already purchased 95% of my desired aftermarket items, including the engine and trans package as well as the complete rear end, I would suggest ordering a kit now and as many items as you can to price protect yourself. Price levels are only going to get worse before they stabilize.

[Higgybulin]

WOW! What's with all the nay sayers?! Factory Five didn't just get to the crest of the wave, they been surfing it for years! As far as saying the demand is high now, I don't remember a time when there wasn't high demand for their products. I am pretty sure they have a fall/winter sale of some kind every year(last 2 yrs have been weird) and I am pretty sure they will step up to the plate and offer their current and future customers some discounts for the holiday season again!!!

[John289]

WOW! What's with all the nay sayers?! Factory Five didn't just get to the crest of the wave, they been surfing it for years! As far as saying the demand is high now, I don't remember a time when there wasn't high demand for their products. I am pretty sure they have a fall/winter sale of some kind every year(last 2 yrs have been weird) and I am pretty sure they will step up to the plate and offer their current and future customers some discounts for the holiday season again!!!

Hopefully for you and others that’ll be the case. But just one example, I placed an order with Russ Thompson this morning for his turn signal system. On his website the price is $260.00 shipped, current price shipped is $338, that’s only one item of as you know many. His suppliers are consistently increasing their prices. The engine package I ordered has gone up $2k to 3k in past six months. It’s not being a nay sayer, it’s being realistic based on the current supply chain and market conditions. Time will tell. Good luck with your future project!

[Skuzzy]

WOW! What's with all the nay sayers?! Factory Five didn't just get to the crest of the wave, they been surfing it for years! As far as saying the demand is high now, I don't remember a time when there wasn't high demand for their products. I am pretty sure they have a fall/winter sale of some kind every year(last 2 yrs have been weird) and I am pretty sure they will step up to the plate and offer their current and future customers some discounts for the holiday season again!!!

Actually, I recall Dave Smith saying they set some monthly record(s), this year, with kit orders. Maybe I was dreaming.

One of the main reasons to have a sale is to move excess inventory. From everything we have been told and witnessed, Factory Five is having the opposite problem.

Given the logistical issues with parts and the constantly increasing costs of doing business, it just seems a reduction in price would not be in the best interests of the business. That is not being a "naysayer", it is just a logical conclusion based on many known parameters.

I could be wrong. I have no problem with that.

[J R Jones]

As I mentioned in an associated thread earlier this week, I have worked for several OEMs. They all delivered complete assemblies, shortages would never be accepted by dealers or customers. It is the routine way of business.
The point of my post was mentioned here by Skuzzy, shipping catch-up parts and replacing defective parts eats away at profit margin.

In another popular consumer market, customers do not tolerate shortages, or even delayed delivery, they just click on another supplier.......Amazon.
It might not be in Amazon's self interest, but they could offer consulting services to other businesses on how to source products and deliver products to millions of customers, in a timely manner.
Maybe FFR should hire experienced Amazon employees to add to the talent pool.

[Skuzzy]

To be fair J R Jones, I cannot think of any one item at Amazon which contains over 40,000 parts, in a box, to be assembled into something. Just saying.

[J R Jones]

Skuzzy, I developed motorized products for the motorcycle, marine and utility markets, and put them into high volume production. They were similar in complexity to kit cars but completely assembled and met all government emission and safety criteria. It was routine to ship hundreds per day.
Amazon is infinitely more complex, and successful. How many Amazon deliveries a day in the US?
Amazon ships approximately 1.6 million packages a day. That works out to more than 66 thousand orders per hour, and 18.5 orders per second. Jan 31, 2022

I do not know of an organization more successful in consumerism. They are also cost effective and profitable.
jim

[Jeff Kleiner]

Amazon ships approximately 1.6 million packages a day. That works out to more than 66 thousand orders per hour, and 18.5 orders per second.

jim

Do they do all that with 44 employees? If the answer is no you’re comparing apples and tuna fish.

Jeff

[jamminj]

It's been a few years since there last sell and as busy as they are I'm certain they won't have one
In fact, if you wait too long there may be another price increase

[Jeff Kleiner]

Higgy,

172281

Jeff

[J R Jones]

Do they do all that with 44 employees? If the answer is no you’re comparing apples and tuna fish.

Jeff

Jeff,
Perhaps you missed this line:
"Maybe FFR should hire experienced Amazon employees to add to the talent pool."

I speculate that Amazon is staffed appropriately. It seems like that in my delivery experience.
Actually Summit and Speedway are close to that benchmark, not overnight.

Benchmarking is part of the business and product development process. It is defined in QFD, Quality Functional Development.
Origins in the Japanese auto industry:

https://asq.org/quality-resources/qfd-quality-function-deployment

VOCs or Voice of the Customer is also a factor in QFD.
jim

[Jeff Kleiner]

Jeff,
Perhaps you missed this line:
"Maybe FFR should hire experienced Amazon employees to add to the talent pool."

I speculate that Amazon is staffed appropriately. It seems like that in my delivery experience.
Actually Summit and Speedway are close to that benchmark, not overnight.

Benchmarking is part of the business and product development process. It is defined in QFD, Quality Functional Development.
Origins in the Japanese auto industry:

https://asq.org/quality-resources/qfd-quality-function-deployment

VOCs or Voice of the Customer is also a factor in QFD.
jim

None of the three that you cite manufacture, only resell therefore my comment about the relevance of the comparison stands.

Jeff

[Gizmosrcool]

I am in month 4 of a 9 month wait. If they put on a sale, everyone in queue would want the sale price, and would be nuts for the FF bottom line. Dave might as well burn money. I understood FF had sales during slow times and to move inventory. This routinely occurred in late fall, holiday, or end of year. With no excess inventory and 9+ month wait, there is no need for a sale. Dave is better off keeping the $$ and figuring out how to use it for efficiency and production improvements.

[J R Jones]

None of the three that you cite manufacture, only resell therefore my comment about the relevance of the comparison stands.

Jeff

Yours is a curious rational. Yes Amazon is quite different but they source, purchase, sell and deliver efficiently. Same is true of Summit and Speedway. If a company seeks a business model to emulate, they look to the best.
FFR is somewhat vertically integrated but they purchase and resell numerous parts. Many of the undelivered complaints and responses on this forum involve (FFR) purchased parts.

FWIW Speedway in Lincoln NE is bigger than you understand. I have worked on projects with Mike Long and their race car manufacturing division EMI. They are artists at the craft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxzibvHK6io
https://www.engineersrule.com/from-prototyping-to-production-for-hot-rods-and-sprint-cars/
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/pages/emi

They are a solid business in a more competitive market than kit cars.

https://growjo.com/company/Speedway_Motors

Actually Speedway does build kit cars:
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/speedway-motors-kit-car-components~7-10191-135-612

jim

[frankeeski]

Can you please explain how this has anything to do with Factory Five having a sale? On second thought............. Don't

[Higgybulin]

Higgy,

172281

Jeff

At least this was funny!!!

[GoDadGo]

I just checked my Magic 8-Ball and the answer was:

● Very Doubtful!

[Skuzzy]

Skuzzy, I developed motorized products for the motorcycle, marine and utility markets, and put them into high volume production. They were similar in complexity to kit cars but completely assembled and met all government emission and safety criteria. It was routine to ship hundreds per day.
Amazon is infinitely more complex, and successful. How many Amazon deliveries a day in the US?
Amazon ships approximately 1.6 million packages a day. That works out to more than 66 thousand orders per hour, and 18.5 orders per second. Jan 31, 2022

I do not know of an organization more successful in consumerism. They are also cost effective and profitable.
jim

I am not arguing Amazon is not an amazing organization, but I have had many recent orders cancelled by Amazon. They are not immune to shortages. At this very minute the cat food I order from Amazon is not available. When shortages are out of your control, you do what you can. There is nothing Amazon could do to make those shortages go away.

There is no way Factory Five would eat all those extra shipping charges if they did not have to.

If Amazon were shipping the kits, they would have the same issues Factory Five is having. Only difference is, Amazon would cancel the order, while Factory Five fills backorders for any kit ordered.

[rthomas98]

Ok As someone that is currently working for an OEM in purchasing I might add. Supply issues are very much having us ship vehicles to dealers less functionality with the intent to install later. If the OEMs have a hard time doing it, you can imagine the small fish in the pond like factory five is having.

Below is the article on the Ford Explorer with this issue in case you don't believe me.

https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2022/03/ford-deleting-features-from-explorer-due-to-semiconductor-shortage/

Now as far as Factory Five having a sale. If they did, that would break sales and marketing 101. You only need to advertise and reduce prices when you can't move product. Factory Five has the exact opposite issue. The delay and the backorders are very well known and people are still sending their money to get one and get on the list. When you have that kind of situation you don't have sale, no reason to.

[Nigel Allen]

For me, I see no good reason to compare Factory Five against an Amazon type of operation. Amazon is a box shifter, with no personal contact or partnership. Factory Five does have a personal feel for me, admittedly, mostly through this forum, but I know they are there to support me directly if needed.

Of late, FFR kit buyers haven't received the feeling of support like others of us have prior to COVID, when FFR's operations were not so stretched as currently.

I really hope this new system and wishfully some additional phone/ email support, can get their newer customers feeling the same good vibe that earlier purchasers have experienced. It is definitely needed to help reduce the stress that is evident in many posts of late.

If FFR operated like a box shifter, with robotic emails and no real person to contact, I wouldn't be going to them for a kit car.

Hopefully FFR can get back to where it was with support.

[Higgybulin]

OK, OK......deposit sent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Skuzzy]

OK, OK......deposit sent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I had to LOL! at this. Welcome to the loony bin! It is quite the ride. :)

[John289]

OK, OK......deposit sent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats, details details?!?!

[Higgybulin]

Congrats, details details?!?!

Well this will be my second build and I am still working out the details but It will look similar to my profile pic but maybe a different color.

[GoDadGo]

I just checked my Magic 8-Ball again and the answer this time was:

● Don't Count On It!

[Higgybulin]

I just checked my Magic 8-Ball again and the answer this time was:

● Don't Count On It!

It's OK Go Dad, I don't need no stinkin' sale!!

[GoDadGo]

It's OK Go Dad, I don't need no stinkin' sale!!

I'm just letting you know what the 8-Ball said.

.......Hope they do one A.S.A.P.

[Higgybulin]

I'm just letting you know what the 8-Ball said.

.......Hope they do one A.S.A.P.

That's the box I checked!!! And you know a have a very stout SBC just sitting around!