Force 12 Inc is SOLD!

[k6rix]

Yep, you heard me right. Force 12 has been purchased by Texas amateur Mark Hooper, N5WEB. I talked to Mark here at Visalia personally and you can see a picture of him on my website... http://www.k6rix.com/visalia.html

We spoke about the customer service issues with the company and he is making that a top priority. I asked him about Tom's continued support and those details have not be worked out yet.


Mark handed me a letter that read...
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I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Mark Hooper.

I am the new owner of Force 12, Inc. antennas and towers. We will be manufacturing the Force 12 product line in Bridgeport, Texas which is located north and west of Dallas Fort Worth area.

I built my first radio from a schematic at the age of 10 (with dad's help). I received my novice license and built my own transmitter at the age of 15. These interests ultimately led me to a career in electronics as an engineer. Much of it supporting manufacturing operations for both large and small companies.

I am looking forward to using my expertise and 20 plus years experience in manufacturing to build the best antenna products on the market.

My staff and I look forward to hearing from you. It is our goal to provide you with excellent customer service and support for your antenna needs in the coming years. Please call and let us know how we can be of service.

Mark Hooper, N5WEB
President
Force 12, Inc.
P.O. Box 1293
Bridgeport, Texas

Force12.mark@mac.com

940-683-8371
940-683-8387
--------------------------------------------

Check out the new website...
http://force12inc.com/

[W2IRT]

I'm very glad to hear that this finally happened. I ordered a Delta-240 last year at Dayton and was told it would involve a very-reasonable 4-6 week build time. I started getting concerned at 8 weeks, worried at 10 and downright angry at 12. It finally arrived after a 15 week wait, all the while trying to get a straight answer from F-12 was virtually impossible. In fact, they just stopped answering the phone, replying to voice mail and e-mail altogether at about the 12 week mark of this order with nary a mention anywhere of a company-wide vacation, shutdown, layoffs, etc. Of course, they'd already cashed my cheque immediately after Dayton, so I was fearing the worst - that they'd gone under with my $850. Luckily that wasn't the case, and my Delta-240 finally just went up last week, a full 11 months after I'd ordered it.

It takes more than excellent designs to be successful in this community; I vowed never to touch another Force-12 antenna until ownership changed hands because of the downright BAD customer service I experienced in 2007.

Tom's designs were/are absolutely first-rate and I hope he continues to contribute in the role of product development.

[wy6k]

A few years ago I bought a 7 element 15 meter yagi from Force 12. I drove down from the Bay Area to Paso Robles to pick it up. I had told them I was going to do this and they had no problem with it.

When I got there you would have thought I was from Mars and was wearing a green space suit. They treated me like absolute ####. Tom, who I had chatted with for years on repeaters in the Bay Area before he moved and started the company, would not acknowledge me - stared a hole in me. It wasn't directed at me personally - I was just a customer and customers were a pain in the ass and not worth his time. I, as the CEO of a much larger high tech company, was actually looking forward to chatting with a fellow entrepreneur and intended to wish them well and buy a bunch more antennas.

But the only guy who seemed to be alive at all was some worker bee in the back who finally responded on his own, ran down the paperwork, and carried the beam out to me in the lobby. My hat is off to him, but I got to carry it from there to my car on my own - without so much as a "how do you do" or a "fare thee well". No one acknowledged my arrival, or my departure or even said "thanks". I have never felt so slighted and disrespected.

I saw Tom the next month at the Visalia convention and he was playing the role of "star", dressing with affectation and an odd hat - playing it for all it was worth, raw ego on display and nose in the air. I knew then that the company would not last.

I bought more than $10,000 worth of antennas in the following year - none from F12.

What goes around comes around. No tears here and I hope the new owner prospers.

[W5ROY]

Years ago at the Fort Tuthill hamfest, I was afforded the same treatment. I did not plan on buying at that time, and so no money, no time spent with me. I felt a little time spent with a potential customer should be expected, but not the case. Take a brochure and move or show me the money!! Hope the new owner does well and prospers. I know their design is good. NOW they just need the good people. 73 es gud luk to all. deW5ROY Roy Creiglow Clovis,NM.:)

[wy6k]

... de W5ROY Roy Creiglow Clovis,NM.:)

Hey Roy. My folks were from Portales. So were all their brothers and sisters, which meant I had a zillion aunts and uncles scattered all around there - Portales, Clovis, Dora etc. I spent my summers there on their farms while growing up (we lived in Colorado).

Good to hear from someone from that neck of the woods!

73
Mike WY6K
now in Charleston, SC

[kh6dan]

I'm not shocked at the stories provided. Thanks to all who did. I bought a Flagpole from them last year. The whole package cost me about $300 (shipping included) so I wasn't too worried . it does everything they said it would do and was made really well (my opinion). Funny thing was when I wanted to buy there was no way to contact them via e-mail. Had to call them when they were open, not at lunch etc. I did get the order within a few weeks - like they said- but I kind of felt like a little a second fiddle. Sort of like they have so much other business that they really can't get too excited about a little guy like me with my "big" order.

I bought a used dual band VHF/UHF off of the CEO of a medium size corporation in PA a few years ago via of e-bay. The transceiver blew out the second time I used it. I sent him an email and he responded right back - said that he would make it right if it was the last thing he ever did and I had his word. He did. I was really impressed. Too bad you don't see that kind of customer care any more. Hope this guy can put these good folks on the right track.
73
KH6DAN

[N3QVB]

I ordered a C3SS about 2 months ago expecting a very long wait. Jill told me they could send one out within 2-3 weeks. I told her I was skeptical given their reputation but she said they had one almost ready to go. To my surprise I got it in 2 weeks. BUT...it was the C3S, not the SS with the shortened 20 meter element. No worries because my QTH can handle the longer radius. I even got the $ 60.00 difference in the mail within a week. So I can't really complain about anything with my one and only contact with them (it would have been quite a different story if I couldn't accomodate the C3S they sent in error).

The antenna is due to be up within a couple days and I trust the quality will be excellent. It's just too bad they couldn't handle the people part of the business. Good luck to the new owner.

[n6ajr]

I spoke with Mark at Visallia and I think he will be good for the company. I am to understand that Tom will be in support mode for a while during the transition. Mark emphasized that he will be answering phone calls and emails and will continue building a great antenna. Good luck to all involved. and thanks Tom for great antenna designs, good luck in your next endeavor.

[n4kz]

A sale to a new owner is good news. My attempted transaction with F12 to buy a C3SS was the worst customer service experience I've ever experienced -- ham radio or not. I ordered the antenna and was told they'd deliver it to me at Dayton. They didn't. But promised to ship within 10 days of arriving home. They didn't. Six weeks later I still didn't have my beam.

I began e-mailing. Nothing. I conducted myself in a gentlemanly manner at all times but when I told them in an e-mail that I felt "I had been deceived," they retaliated by canceling my order! To turn the customer into the bad guy in this situation was nothing more than customer abuse.

In recent years, one couldn't help but noticed the dwindling crowds at the F12 booth at Dayton while the crowds at the SteppIR booth, where customer service is outstanding, kept getting larger and larger and larger.

I wonder why that is? Heck, I know the answer.

Too bad such a great product had to be marketed by folks who felt that customers inconvenienced them daily.

73, N4KZ