Skinz airframe running boards!

[POLZIN]

Maybe its their supplier? I own a machine shop I can assure you any help is hard to come by when real quality control is in play. I hope it is for their sake. We always say "better late than bad" . Both is a killer! They certainly do seem to have the door wide open on this one.

 

[Sled Solutions]

All I can say is WOW.

I'm really glad I placed my order for the black AirFrames last May and got them about 3 - 5 days later.

You got some left over stock from last winter and got lucky. Good for you being proactive.

I have had both and I would wait til Jan if need be. JMO Air Frames are the best you can buy anything else is just a little bit better than stock. Simply put air frames dont collect snow and if some does get on the foot well a light sweep with your foot and its gone. I have never kicked snow off of the Air Frames like I did with the BB

Agreed 100%

Yesterday I wrote a letter to Skinz asking about the problems with current stock levels of their product across the USA. I noted that many SnoWest members are having a hard time obtaining Skinz products. This was their reply.


As for the demand for the running boards. There isn’t stock anywhere as we building everything we possibly can. This is pretty much the case with our entire product line.

As you know, we are a fairly small company that will not compromise our quality to accommodate the demand. Our product line is very unique and for the most part, every item is hand made by about 15 people.

I see posts and comments about how we should do better and hire more people. Sadly, our current culture in this country doesn’t do much for us right now. Hiring people that can and will do this work is nearly impossible and we have a serious dedication to keep this product made in the US and at a price that doesn’t drive people out of the industry.

You and us have a very similar moral and ethical approach to the way we conduct our lives and our business. This ideology is what has created our product and the quality we try to maintain.

This year we moved into a new building which is 42% bigger than what we had along with a huge amount of new equipment. We are producing more than we ever have which has happened every year since we started but the demand grows more than our capacity. The customers can know for sure that we are doing everything we possibly can to get their product out.


Thanks, Jeff

Jeff Hawksworth
Skinz Protective Gear

This needs to be copy and pasted all over.

work more hours, i'm sure those that work hourly would love to make time and a half.

I've called Skinz on Thanksgiving and they answered the phone. I can call right now 9:28pm Eastern Time and they will answer the phone. They work pretty much 24/7, I can honestly say this without a doubt. Fact is there are only 24 hours in a day and a crew of people can only do so much.

I respect the fact that one of Skinz largest dealers and a representative of Skinz took the time to defend and react to these comments, but im still confused. I dont understand at what point you go from saying a product will be delivered in September to nearly three months later. Are you trying to say that WPS or other dealers who ordered the product for a consumer never actually ordered it from skinz? I agree the product is top notch, and works well, and too like the idea of a US made product. But something seems weird about these kinda delays. It is made out to be that 15 people huddle in a group and make bags, then the next day make boards, then the next covers. And once a full cycle is made through each station they get back to boards again and release another twenty sets. I realize that innovation and a full product line is the goal at skinz but why, if you cant afford more help or produce things on time, keep expanding? I would venture to guess because of this one thread and a couple others on here well over 20 plus orders have not been made and have gone to competitors for the simple fact people want something in there hand, not to wonder when it will be in the mailbox. 20 sets of boards sure goes alot further than covers, bags, and bumpers as to making money dont they? I dont see any posts about not being able to get handlebar bags or covers or such. I guess im more or less looking at just a straight answer as to why the months delay. No beating around the bush with reasons that cant be discussed on here, or trying to hide the point by explaining you are expanding, or blaming orders not being distributed because orders were not placed.....there must be a reason. Once again i say that the products are top notch, but if you cant get them or use them for half the season, who cares how top notch they are.

It's not my place to say but I will say this and you take from it what you will.

I ordered boards from a distributor in May, the order for them to Skinz DID NOT.

I own a small business so I can understand growing pains. Someone who has never owned a business will never understand that growth can kill a business too so you have to grow in a sustainable manner. That said the comment about not being able to find anyone who can do quality work is BS. Those 15 people they now have may be great but there are a lot of great workers out there. We struggle finding good guys too but we are always hiring and keep the best guys. You would think in this economy people would be knocking down the door. One thing that really hurts us is that the government is paying people not to work. We pay them more too work but for a lot of guys not enough to get them off the couch. I am really surprised that someone has not copied their product with as much un-met demand as they now have. Skinz also seems to not understand their own market. They are making a lot of stuff that is stocked by everyone(who also sell products made by others) BUT THEY DON'T MAKE NEAR ENOUGH AIRFRAMES TO SATISFY THE MARKET.

We've been with Skinz since the beginning and this problem has never gone away. Skinz has hired more people, built more buildings, bigger buildings, eliminated suppliers that didn't produce, worked around the clock so the blame can't be placed 100% on them. They are innovative people and make stuff that no one else makes. For this reason we've adapted and made changes to the way we do business to accommodate this the best we can. We will continue to support Skinz and continue to try and educate the customer on WHEN to buy these products. If I didn't believe in them I would have moved on long ago. They will catch up eventually. Fact is it's October and MOST of us can't ride anyway. Being on the other side of the coin many years ago I DO understand the frustration AND the have been there. Being in the business you really get the FULL picture that I never had before. There is always more to it then what you see.

 

[dragonflats]

if i ordered some boards today when would i receive them. aprox?

 

[seth25]

Wow, fellas, let's take a deep breathe here. It's early October, most of us won't be riding for at least another month. The deep snow where you actually need the boards wont be here until December. The airframes are the best boards on the market. I put them on my Pro late spring last year. Good things come to those who wait. They are definitely worth the wait.

 

[Boston Racing]

if i ordered some boards today when would i receive them. aprox?

If you ordered from me the best guess is the first week of November. I would not stake my reputation nor take any money from you until they ship.

 

[RidnHigh]

It's not my place to say but I will say this and you take from it what you will.

I ordered boards from a distributor in May, the order for them to Skinz DID NOT.

Thanks for the response it was in no way meant to be rude to you at all so I hope you didnt take it that way. Although I believe it is your place to say. If you have customers who are on the short end of the shaft they deserve to know why. Whether its an internal problem or one of your suppliers. I have bought product from you before and you run a very pleasant business, if a supplier is at fault then maybe go straight to the source. Understanding that if Skinz is backordered it wont get them any faster, but you get the point. Seems funky that your a distributor who orders from a distributor who gets them from Skinz, am I understanding that correct?

 

[tbeaton]

just a thought but the diamond s zero sno boards look to be a good alternative to the skinz. hell maybe they are better. similar price, i like how they attach to the side of the chassis with rivets. i'm thinking i might go with them if i can't get the airframes. both increase the width by an inch.

 

[sled-fiend]

I enquired on a set today, they are backordered until Dec.14.2011.

 

[Titanium 375]

you must have inquired somewhere besides Diamond S we have Pro-RMK, Nytro, Arctic cat M, and skidoo XP Zero Snow running boards in stock ready to ship we are building another run of Zero Snow running boards right at this moment so even if we sell out of all the ones we have we will only be backordered tail the first week in November so if you are looking for some please give us a call to get them on order it also helps us know which what we need to build most of

 

[sled-fiend]

you must have inquired somewhere besides Diamond S we have Pro-RMK, Nytro, Arctic cat M, and skidoo XP Zero Snow running boards in stock ready to ship we are building another run of Zero Snow running boards right at this moment so even if we sell out of all the ones we have we will only be backordered tail the first week in November so if you are looking for some please give us a call to get them on order it also helps us know which what we need to build most of

I was referring to the skinz airframe boards, which this thread title reflects.

 

[Ski-Dont89]

I enquired on a set today, they are backordered until Dec.14.2011.

awesome...it seems like every day i look at this thread, you might as well just tack on another two weeks. what i dont get is why it is so hard to give people an honest date on when they will be ready...

 

[Sled Solutions]

if i ordered some boards today when would i receive them. aprox?

At this point I'd say November 1st - 31st.

Thanks for the response it was in no way meant to be rude to you at all so I hope you didnt take it that way. Although I believe it is your place to say. If you have customers who are on the short end of the shaft they deserve to know why. Whether its an internal problem or one of your suppliers. I have bought product from you before and you run a very pleasant business, if a supplier is at fault then maybe go straight to the source. Understanding that if Skinz is backordered it wont get them any faster, but you get the point. Seems funky that your a distributor who orders from a distributor who gets them from Skinz, am I understanding that correct?

No, we are a dealer who buys from a distributor who buys from Skinz. LOL

No offense taken! I can't say much because I don't want anyone breathing down my neck from the distributor. This is between Skinz and the distributor to work out and they will.

I enquired on a set today, they are backordered until Dec.14.2011.

WOW....I'm not sure from who.

 

[sled-fiend]

WOW....I'm not sure from who.

Michelle, OTS.

 

[Sled Solutions]

Michelle, OTS.

That's crazy, she must have ordered late.

 

[freak485]

Sounds like they need more employees. I was looking at getting a set. but not anymore just for the fact am not going to wait that long i want a set before the season starts. 3 weeks i think is a reasonable amount of time not 2-4 months. They make good products just need more of them...

 

[B00nd0ck3r4lif]

How is it still such a surprise that these things are backordered? That has been the story since they first started making them!

I'm pretty sure everyone already knew this even as of last season, so why did you wait till August to order them? Last ride of my season was in May and as soon as I got home I ordered them. Yea it took until mid July for them to get here, but I have them right in front of me and I'm about to go down to the garage and install them today.

Lesson learned, if you have a wish list you should order that stuff in April/May so you arent complaining at Skinz that they are backordered during the busiest time of the season for sled parts!

 

[KAWGRN]

you must have inquired somewhere besides Diamond S we have Pro-RMK, Nytro, Arctic cat M, and skidoo XP Zero Snow running boards in stock ready to ship we are building another run of Zero Snow running boards right at this moment so even if we sell out of all the ones we have we will only be backordered tail the first week in November so if you are looking for some please give us a call to get them on order it also helps us know which what we need to build most of

Could you please post a picture of the pro poo boards? It would answer alot of questions!

 

[plumbpowder]

the diamond s dont look as strong as the air frames has anybody tried them or have pictures of them on a pro

 

[MotoPsycho]

The best things in life aren't free... they are also very hard to aquire.

The Skinz folks werk 14-16 hours a day, 6-7 days a week. They produce every part they are physically possible of building.

Hire more people? Try hiring an employee now-a-days that has a passion for sledding, does perfect work, will show up more than 2 days a week, and doesn't require $48 / hour.

PS... good luck.

We have been selling the new "Concept" front suspension kit for the Yammi Nytro for several months now.

We simply ask our customers for a "deposit" to be put on a list for future delivery. They are informed that the kit may take 2-3 months to ship. No one has balked yet... even if we might only deliver 10 kits a week. This includes customers in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Russia, etc... and they deal with up to 1.5 month customs delays on top of it all. No complaints.

If your dealer is dishonest with you, if they promise and don't deliver, if they string you along... it is the dealer's fault - not Skinz.

Skinz communication with us has been impecable... whatever we choose to tell our customers is on us - not Skinz.

We actually came up with a new theory - BE HONEST! After all, it IS the best policy.

If "good enuff" is good enough, move along to a different product...

The best comes to those who wait.

I think the majority of angst in this thread is due to the fact that many feel perfection is unobtainable... trust me, patience will deliver your desires.

-Moto
OFT Racing

 

[clamlake600]

Don't mean to highjack...but check out cr racing out of Canada...really sick looking boards...ahhh more options...take a look!