Restart - Lakewakes skim board group buy

[TeamAllen]

I am disappointed as well and surprised this wasn't a full time job. If it's just a hobby, than I understand completely.
I just don't understand the picture in post #25 with 10 identical, orange boards lined up almost a month ago?

[jbort]

Hey guys:

I'm super busy at work right now and understand all the comments/viewpoints which are valid. I will have expanded commentary later when time allows.

[chpthril]

Hay guys, lets step back and take a breath. From a small business owner that took a hobby to an actual biz back in 07/08 when the economy was tanking, then having it end up being your sole source of household income, requiring you to take a full time job just to make ends meat all the while still working and growing the new business, I understand Marks position. working 16 hrs a day, 7 days a week to get projects done and orders filled. Its tough. Some jobs took longer then they should, but people had patience and understanding. Some orders didnt get out as quickly as they should have, but people had patience and understanding. Maybe it wasnt the best decision to make, but maybe it was about the only one that made sense at the time. If I understand right, all deposits were returned? Gotta give some credit there now!

Maybe instead of trashing the guy on the internet, contact him directly and work out a solution. Tell him you still want a board. Offer him a small deposit, ask him for a realistic delivery date and have balance ready for when the board is ready to ship. Show him what the Tige community really is about, cause ive seen, lived, love it.

[NICKYPOO]

Just curious, why has he cancled?

[bigtige72]

Im ok waiting as long as it takes, I understand small buisness. But to just stop half the production, after taking money.... Not cool. We all paid in full, he had money in hand. I am sorely dissappointed...

[jbort]

He cancelled because he now does not have time to make all the boards in timely fashion because full time work consumes 6 days per week. Deposits are getting returned. Although unfortunate – it’s the right thing in this circumstance.

Mike’s post above is right on. Mark began the group buy with full intentions of completion yet did not know the quantity of orders that eventually would arrive. Nor could he have forseen the full-time work expansion when the group buy started. He has a full-time job as auto mechanic which very suddenly and unexpectedly changed to 6 days disallowing adequate time to build all boards in timely fashion. Board building is a major pursuit but does not make enough to make a living. Thus to be reasonable, he had to make unfortunate change by halting orders. I know that’s not good and understand these comments but stuff happens. I am not getting paid anything nor getting a board. My only intention was to facilitate for Mark to give an assist and give our forum members a unique chance to get a good board for less money – nothing else. He also extended the buy period because of TO.com downtime which also was unforeseen that delayed things.

It does not appear that Lakewakes is out of business-just slowed down. Pics of the prior rack of boards were for another order for Europe. Mark is not happy about this situation and I can appreciate the bad feelings/ventings of various members. We all have bumps in the road and move on.

[c_hotshot]

As order number 9 - I must admit that I was bummed out completely when Mark contacted me about having to cancel the order. Returning the $ is the right thing to do - which Mark has already dropped into the USPS. Mark is being honest and transparent to everyone - a trait that we should all admire. I believe that Mark had the best intentions when the offer was made - just looks like the rest of us will have to wait until things slow down for him to offer up the group by again.

I also agree with Mike's comments above - things happen in our lives that are beyond our control and we should continue to rally around any small business that is supporting the TO community.

[hairball]

Yeah I was anxious to get my tige board but I guess as long as I get my loot back its fine.

Hey, on a side note could you guys loan me $2800 for about a month interest free? Heh heh jk!

[chpthril]

So, has any of you that had an order canceled actually talked with the builder about the situation? I am not wanting to know what was said, just to wondering if he is communicating beyond just the refunds. Im really curious since this has come to my attention. Posted 5/1/2013 on the Malibu site

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/...skim-board-gb/

Seems odd that he cant spare the time to fill the TO orders, but has arranged another group buy through an active TMC member. Makes one go Hmmmmmm

[NICKYPOO]

...and this is where I would lose it.

[TeamAllen]

Yah, it definitely doesn't add up or make sense. I was surprised to see that offer available on the Malibu Crew after what happened to us. I have not corresponded with the Lakewakes since the email about the refund. I did receive my refund check in the mail a few days ago.

[c_hotshot]

WOW!!! Now that is completely not cool at all. I can not believe that after Lakewakes received our funds for 15 boards and cancelled our order in late April...just to offer the same buy to the Malibu Crew on 1-May! WTF???

What Lakewakes shared with me was an email stating: "I will be issuing refunds to customers 5 thru 15. As of last week my regular job requires me to work 6 days a week leaving no time to build a board and have it ready to deliver in a realistic time period. I will still be building boards and will post when I have one ready to ship."

When this all happend originally, I was OK with it and supportive. The right thing to do would have been to reach out to all of us first. But now with Mark going to TMC first - no more support or sympathy from me. That's just bad bad business.

[hairball]

I guess someone on here knows this cat but all I have to go on is my experience with him. My advice to the Malibu guys is do not buy a board from this duecher he will just borrow your money for a month make an excuse and then move on to the nautique site and borrow their money for a month.

[bigtige72]

He has also been posting on Facebook for boards to build, $350 for skims, just after he cancelled our group buy. I had already ordered and ridden two boards from Mark, so this just pisses me off even more. Guess he won't be getting anymore money from me. It would have been one thing if he had just said it would take longer, because of circumstances, but to cancel, then put out ads for more boards to build..... Not right!!! Guess ill be looking at Soulcraft, or some others... Seeing how Slingshot is built here in the North West, I'll be trying them out too! LakeWakes is No Bueno!!!!

[jrj701]

I too had ordered and had it canceled but didn't chime in earlier because I figured the guy was being honest about his situation. Looks like I was wrong. Will make sure he doesn't see a dime from me or anyone I can influence in the future.