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Location: Northen Virginia | Copied from Gary Goers Website 10/10/17 The time has come, unfortunately, when I have to shut down operations due to medical issues. My legs are so bad that I can barely walk at all. Even with a walker I am very limited.
I've been inundated with orders for Chrysler 300 seats to do, am managing to make progress on those and will finish them
all by early next year. I can still take small parts orders, but not large items such as trunk panels.
The final blow came Sunday when my helper informed me that his parents were not doing well and needed him to come
quickly. So, no capable help for lifting, packing, shipping and etc. He may not be back until end of October. My pain level
is such that I can only bear to work very short hours.
There is rarely time for emails-- just order what you need --via US mail--and I'll refund for anything I can't supply.
I've been waiting for scheduling treatment at a hospital in Michigan where a group of surgeons specialize in lower leg
vascular problems. They should be getting back to me with a plan in a couple of days and then I'll fly there for at least a
week of procedures. Hopefully, things will then be much better and I'll continue to catch up.
However, I really do need to retire and need someone to take over this business. Quick figuring, I have close to $100,000
of inventory and raw materials (such as over 1,000 yards of custom made carpet to use in 50's cars and 300 yards of
custom-made beige vinyl for 300's). Thousands of feet of weatherstrip and on and on it goes.
I thank you for your patronage over the past decades and hope to be able to keep supplying parts or hopefully turning the
business over to someone who will keep it going.
Sincerely,
Gary
Edited by hemidenis 2017-11-04 8:53 AM
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9900
Location: Lower Mainland BC |
I got that same message tagged on as a footnote when Gary personally replied to a part enquiry email that I sent him. He had the part in stock, I paid him via paypal and he shipped it.
It arrived in Point Roberts (my US mail drop) yesterday (less than a week) so I am grateful that he is still supplying what he can, despite his health issues.
Thank you Gary.
From a former doubter.
Edited by 56D500boy 2017-11-03 11:49 PM
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| I’m working on it |
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Location: Branson, MO | Mike McCandless - 2017-11-04 6:39 AM
I’m working on it
Great, good luck Mike - wish you the best of success. I'm sure I'm not alone wanting to see to see the operation continue. I know Smitty feels the same way.
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| I have my father reaching out to him as he's talked to him quite a few times. Just need to setup a meeting there to agree on inventory. There is a well known shop that would take the operation over, allowing all aspects of his business to continue, not just the upholstery. Just hoping it doesn't get "sold off" before then as I think some see him just as an upholstery person. Unlikely this is sufficient for a real income, so it needs to be brought into an existing business to really prosper. That's my wheelhouse of expertise. I want to see this saved as much as anyone. The hobby needs it. |
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Location: Nasco , SWEDEN | Good to hear Mike. Gary has his place in The Forwardlook Hall of Fame.   |
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| Woot thanks Mike, yes these cars need it. |
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Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom. | Hope someone can take this over from Gary ,I really need my seat cover for the Regal Lancer , this is probably why Gary has not replied back to me over them ?
Edited by springsweptwing 2017-11-04 1:08 PM
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| Mike that would be Great news if you could carry on Gary's work ,It would be a shame to lose that resource . |
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Location: Houston | I kinda have considered talking to Gary over the years but as noted, this business is not one where a person could make a living off it. Then, add in the fact that you are selling to a very fussy customer base who also is pretty tight with the dollars and you can see it would be a tough job. But I hope Mike or someone can make it work for the sake of the hobby.
Actually, the more I think about it, a person could do really well if he followed the George Laurie business model. Charge a lot, require unretractable payment in advance, then simply never ship anything or even respond to the customer. Sweet!
Edited by GregCon 2017-11-04 2:28 PM
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Location: Lower Mainland BC | GregCon - 2017-11-04 2:25 PM Actually, the more I think about it, a person could do really well if he followed the George Laurie business model. Charge a lot, require unretractable payment in advance, then simply never ship anything or even respond to the customer. Sweet!
Don't bring that Mfkr up. It's been over a year for me.
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Location: Houston | A year? I think I'm around 4 years. Out $900 or so. Not a peep. |
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Location: Kennewick Wa | I would hate to NOT have someone pick up the business as I have a '57 Dodge Sierra and Coronet 2dr that will be need rubber soon. |
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Location: So. Cal | I hope that whoever takes it up will revamp the process to use real rubber instead of the stuff that Gary uses. |
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| I talked with him. He's heading out for surgery, then him and I will circle up post. It's a VERY complicated operation that would be very difficult for 1 person to take over without serious infrastructure in place. You have a person who's been pulling molds, sewing interiors and sourcing all types of random parts. Not enough volume for 1 person to make a sustainable living with modern expenses in place. I have a building that is vacant that is fully power and would be perfect for the business. The plan is to fly out and inspect everything, validate the inventory that is on the grounds and learn the magic of the various things he makes. Then evolution of new mold process's, checking sourcing long term, verify pricing models to make sure it's profitable and go from there.
I'm hopeful, but really need to see everything. Having most of the letter cars would allow us to check all parts/pieces for fit and new pieces that would need to be made. It can be done, we just need more info. |
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Location: Northen Virginia | I agree, it should be added to another business, like Vans Auto or similar. FL family is way too small. |
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Location: NY & VT | Maybe Steele Rubber (in NC by the way) could be convinced to take on GG's rubber repro stuff if given/lent/leased the molds? That would simplify part of the biz at least. They have an excellent rep and understand the technology as well as anyone in that business. Just a thought. |
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Location: So. Cal | That would be ideal in my opinion. |
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Location: Houston | About 10 years ago I restored a Ford 8N tractor. 8N's don't have a lot of rubber, but some. Places like tie rod end boots and various grommets. I used all new pieces and bought then from a top line vendor of 8N parts. Within a year or two of siting indoors the rubber was cracking and falling apart. I suspect it was all Chinese made but it could just as well as been in some USA place. The point being, there's rubber and then there's rubber. |
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| I think there is value with all the suppliers, and the value in the molds. Upholstery should be sent to upholsterers.
The quantity you will sell is the issue and the prices will need to go up. This is a business for.a retired guy or two?
And less and less cars are being restored as less a less cars are available.
The value Gary has given to this community is huge, his prices were way to low.
Many items he buys off vendors only to make a few bucks for what an hour of work?
It could be easier with a more modern system. I think vans is stinging from making the dodge exhaust tips?
How.many did they sell? Vs the cost of the tooling? Everytime I look at making something the costs for tooling makes it a big loss. I am finishing antenna molding of gaskets and I can finally sell dual antennas. I finally found someone to lend me 4original gaskets and 4 tips so i could mold them and it took a year to find a guy, gary was out. I was looking at headliner ribs... The cost I got initially was great but in the end its a ton of time and money for 10 sales... And 3 per year... Would take years to recoup.
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Location: Michigan | This business needs to be saved. There has to be a way even if it's parted out as you suggest. It wasn't just the prices, it was the quality too. We all went to Gary because he was straight with us. He delivered great products and he knew what he was doing. He wanted to help, not make a killing. |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
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Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | There's another factor than money guys; passion!
Many things we reproduce here in Sweden, we do first for our own need, then, if we can cover the costs, fine - all above the initial costs are like frosting on a cake 
The cold molded mixed fluid rubber has very low quality in comparison with the oem rubber, but then, it might be the only option for some parts. |
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Location: tailFinland | While restoring my 300 I would have been lost without you Swedes who have this passion for forwardlookers. Steering wheel recast, dash bad, door trim, starter... just to mention few of the great repros I have bought from Sweden. + used parts and parts cars Swedes has saved and imported for decades. I respect your way to allways do the best, even better what it was back in the day. You have showed a bencmark for quality restoration of automobile.
Why would some of your vendors buy Garys molds and inventory and go ahead? |
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Location: North Australia | Beltran - 2017-11-14 9:55 AM
This business needs to be saved. There has to be a way even if it's parted out as you suggest. It wasn't just the prices, it was the quality too. We all went to Gary because he was straight with us. He delivered great products and he knew what he was doing. He wanted to help, not make a killing.
i could not agree more.
I dealt with Gary one time.
Gary is not like any other vendor that I have dealt with.
He sent me duplicates of rubber I ordered (for my 60 Imp), he sent me everything I ordered, he did not wait until I sent my money before he shipped my order, he sent a check in the package (to North Australia!) for the difference in the shipping that I calculated, to what he calculated (I think it was about $19). All this done by a couple faxes in 2012/13!
The Guy is a legend. I wonder how many people has he sold parts to in his career making Chrysler Corporation parts?
I hope he is OK.
I know his legacy is OK,
Steve. |
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Unfortunately looks like Gary Goers is going out of business..
