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Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 4:10 am
by Mike Stannard (toyrific)
Hi Guys

I have some good news and bad news. The good news for you all is 6th Scale Icons will remain in business for the unforeseeable future with a change of ordering and delivery policies. The bad news is I am very ill. I am sure you are all aware that I have been behind in delivery of orders over the last 4 months. I have tried to keep this as low key as possible, but now feel it is time to come clean with you all what has happened.

I December 2013, I checked myself into hospital with a severe weakness problem due to loss of blood. I was given 8 units of blood in 48 hours. The doctors did many tests on me to find out where I was losing the blood from without success. Other test were also done and I was diagnosed with leukemia. Since December I have been admitted to hospital 5 times for various problems related to this, the last hospital visit was for 3 weeks due to a infectious disease caused by a abscess under my left arm pit. This had to by surgically removed and took 3 weeks to heal. I am now back at home but fairly weak and I am only able to put in a few hours of work each day.

During the last 4 months my helper has been work on making parts to fill the current orders I have. Since January 1, 2014 I have delivered 55 orders. I currently have 56 order to ship, 18 of which are complete and should ship by this weekend, 3 are on a urgent to finish and should ship sometime next week, 17 are almost finished and 18 are waiting completion of new parts. All parts are in stock to fill all these orders. However due to my health condition I do not know when these last 35 orders will be completed. The main parts for these orders are the IR Scope and Scope Bin, and the Tiger 2 Rear Mudguards all of which have to have either white metal parts made and cast (masters and molds required to be made) or soldering done.

Many of the above orders only need these new parts to complete them and I am willing to ship parts that are ready in the next few days, the outstanding parts will be shipped once ready at no extra charge to you. Just let me know if you are willing to wait for your complete order to be shipping at the same time, or if you want the parts that are ready shipped now.

I was released from hospital on Saturday May 3rd, on checking my e-mails I had over 300, once I filtered out all the spam I was left with around 100 e-mails to answer. I hope this post will answer most of the questions about order status, new orders will be invoiced over the weekend.

NEW ORDER & DELIVERY POLICIES

As of today you may place orders, however I will only bill you for parts I have in stock that can be shipped in a few days. Other parts will be placed on back order and will only be billed for when the items are in stock. This mainly related to large photo-etch parts that I have run out of. I do not intend to place another photo-etch parts order for a few months. So if you missed out on ordering these parts for the last photo-etch order I cannot help you. I did send out several notices about this during the later parts of 2013 so you had plenty of time to place orders. I March 2014 I received 68 sheets of photo-etched parts to fill all current orders which have been worked on since the part were received.

What does all this mean, basically I do not want to take customers money unless I have to parts in stock to supply within a few days. Thereby lessening you risk of loss if things go wrong.

How the new policy will work.
1. You place the order
2. I will send you a invoice for the parts I can deliver. Do not send payment.
3. Your order will be made up.
4. I will send a payment request once your order is ready to ship.
5. You order will be shipped within 24 hours of payment received.
6. Your invoice will show items on back order and only require payment once that are in stock and ready to ship.

The next few months are going to be difficult for me with treatments for my illness and maintaining the business. I hope you all understand this and will work with me.

I am still looking for someone that is willing to make a reasonable offer for my company.

Regards
Mike

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 8:04 am
by neil pudney
Hi Mike, i havent traded with you myself before but im sure all of us users of the armortek forum interested in what you have provided over the time you have been supplying will wish you all the best for the future. I know myself from my own experience that it can be very difficult when your health is not good to be able to carry on as usual with a business. Best wishes, Neil

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 8:11 am
by Malcolm Collins
Hi much of what Neil says applies to me my Tiger has many of your parts on it and I have followed your business and products since being introduced to Armortek. I too wish you all the best.
Malcolm Collins

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 8:31 am
by Steen Vøler
Hi Mike

I wish you a fast recovery and all the best for the future

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 1:23 pm
by Dave Boller
I'm praying for you Mike. God bless you.---Dave

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 1:11 pm
by Fredrik Jorgensen
Mike.
Im really sad to hear about your condition, i know about the stress and thoughts wich runs throught a mans head during in this situation.
I hope that you will recover soon. You will be in my mind while i struggle with my build.
Im eagerly awaiting your parts, so have i waited this long a lill more aint going to be a big one.
Your health is more important.

Best of regards and thoughts
Fredrik

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 7:00 pm
by James Wright
Mike,

Prayers are being offered up on your behalf by me and I'm sure by many others in the Armortek family.

As for the parts I have on order, I'm fine to wait for the Tiger 2 mudguards to complete my order and send all items in one mailing. You've always been a stand-up guy in my business dealings with you and I'm not worried about getting what I paid for even if it has taken longer than usual to get the order. Under the circumstances, one needs to be understanding.

I think your new ordering policy is proof of your integrity as you don't want to leave anyone in a lurch if your health doesn't allow you to continue with the business at some point. Here's hoping that when you do finally retire, it's because you choose to and not because you have to.

All the best,

James Wright

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 2:48 pm
by Martin Diessel
Does somebody lately get any replay on mails, pm`s, or even parts?? Martin

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 3:15 pm
by Stephen White
Yes, Martin, I had an email last week. Stephen

Re: Mike Stannard Serious Illness and Orders

Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 3:27 pm
by Adrian Harris
I had some parts missing from an order and let Mike know.

He responded by email shortly after his recent posting, and the parts arrived by post yesterday, so it looks like he's working his way through the back log.

Adrian.