Author Topic: IF I ran NEF/H&R… (Read 1097 times)

GrampaMike · « **on:** November 12, 2009, 09:55:40 AM »

IF I ran NEF/H&R…

I stole this idea from “Couger”

First I would have a much better WEB site.

The web site would have a “Build-your-Own-Handi” feature.

First you choose the barrel contour and barrel length, from a list of most reasonable choices that we would keep ‘In-Stock’.

Next a choice of cartridge chambering from a list of every one that made sense for the Handi.

Then a choice of stock-sets, recoil pads, butt plate, whatever.

Then a choice of sighting options, open iron, peep, scope base… etc. (perhaps even scopes).

Dealers would order the same way except in bulk numbers.

How long would I stay in business? Or would this work?

Cottonwood · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2009, 09:58:58 AM »

If we lived in a perfect world, this would last forever.

Chas. · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2009, 10:25:50 AM »

That's exactly the way

sells computers online.

Spanky · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2009, 10:36:23 AM »

It would be nice.

Spanky

shaner · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2009, 10:42:37 AM »

sounds good to me ill vote for ya!!!!!

andrewtheelder38 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2009, 12:20:02 PM »

....at the very least they should offer the barrels in 22 and 24 inch lengths.....especially on the higher power calibers like .270 and 30-06 and the like.

Markus · « **Reply #6 on:** November 12, 2009, 12:28:39 PM »

If we elected the CEO of H&R you would be in close contention with that platform.

jim36 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 12, 2009, 01:46:17 PM »

When can I place an order? I like you way of thinking.
Jim

LouisianaMan · « **Reply #8 on:** November 12, 2009, 02:26:09 PM »

Gramps,
Heck, you'd get my vote if you'd just fix the .38-55 barrel-chamber-ammo mismatches that killed off a cartridge that should have enjoyed a real rebirth thru H&R. Why couldn't they just offer a fresh barrel in exchange for your old barrel?

fl.hillbilly · « **Reply #9 on:** November 12, 2009, 07:13:35 PM »

you have my vote ,sounds like you've thought about it a lil . cause if they don't take care of their customers ,someone else will. i m not knockin h &r
i m just sayin the gun business is cut throat. just my 2 cents

GrampaMike · « **Reply #10 on:** November 13, 2009, 04:06:08 AM »

Thank You my fellow Handi-Holics... I promise to serve our cause.

44 Man · « **Reply #11 on:** November 13, 2009, 04:35:02 AM »

Oh, don't I wish you were president of H&R! Unfortunately they are owned my a mega conglomerate that is mostly interested in the bottom line. What sells the most for the highest profit. And yes, that type of service could be priced to gain a good bottom line, a sort of 'custom shop' Handi rifle. But considering it would probably require some more trained personel to pull off correctly (heck, they need to hire someone to keep up the web site!), it likely won't happen. Now if they would use the approach they use at Remington, they will pretty well do all of the things you list...... but at about three times the price of the stock model guns. Of course you get pretty blueing and slect wood in the deal. It might very well fly if we could get the attention of the right person that makes those decisions. But they usually difficult to reach because they are surrounded by people who own lots of stock and are only interested in their dividend. They should learn that customer service builds loyality and lots of repeat customers. Yes, if the world were perfect....
Maybe we could all go together and buy out H&R from Remington!!! 44 Man

Default · « **Reply #12 on:** November 13, 2009, 04:48:46 AM »

Go in and buy H&R from Remmie !!!

Now I like that...

Default

Elkoholic · « **Reply #13 on:** November 13, 2009, 05:06:10 AM »

We all chip in and buy H&R and have Gramps be the CEO!!!

Wahoo!!

Mike

LONGTOM · « **Reply #14 on:** November 13, 2009, 03:37:28 PM »

If GP Mike is CEO than I vote Tim (quickdtoo) as Chief Master Engineer in charge of production and Richard (ATLaw) as head of advertising along with young Ty (tykempster) as Chief Product Technician in charge of testing.
GB could be a silent partner if he preferred.
I would vote myself in as Master Sales Rep but then we would have to sell all the guns as used as naturally I would have to personally field test each and every gun to insure proper QC and Reliability!!!

New company name---GBO PERFORMANCE FIREARMS
"FOR THOSE WHO ONLY REQUIRE ONE SHOT"!

Sounds like a well run company to me!
I will take my pay in stock options please!

LONGTOM

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #15 on:** November 13, 2009, 05:44:56 PM »

Grandpa Mike,
I think I would change just a few things from your plan.
1) I would offer stock rifles in the top 25 calibers. Production guns for sale.
2) I would offer a replacement barrel plan where you can specify the barrels. Calibers, twist, length, and contour. And sights or bases.
3) custom stocks. Different wood (pallet, walnut, laminate, plastic) And checkering
4) There was a hamerless frame years ago. Bring it back along with a new frame that can handle magnum loads.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #16 on:** November 13, 2009, 05:47:18 PM »

I'm thinking this thread should be added to the Wish List!

Tim

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #17 on:** November 13, 2009, 05:51:51 PM »

Some one should post some of the ideas on the wish list and I am sure many of what is here is there.
but this is just pure here is what I would do.
So I vote no. leave it here.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** November 13, 2009, 08:30:09 PM »

No need to cast votes.

Tim

GrampaMike · « **Reply #19 on:** November 14, 2009, 07:30:20 AM »

GBO American Performance Firearms
“For Those Who Only Require One Shot”

In-Stock Models (Production models): Top 25 Chambering determined by our customers ordering records. Our Top 25 will have barrels, stock-sets, recoil/butt pad/plate and sights that our employees feel is best for the chambering.

Our Web Site would have a “Build-Your-Own-Handi”.

Barrel contours: Regular and Bull, no super-lites until accuracy problems are solved.

Barrel lengths: 17”, 21”, 26” and 32”.

Sighting options: Open Iron, Ghost Peep, Receiver and Front Globe, Scope Base, Scopes.

Stock-Sets: Of course Plain, Laminate, Synthetic, Walnut, Checkering and Finish.

List of FFLs that we and customers would deal with.

Help Desk: All employees would man occasionally with the permanent Helpdesk employee, to hear what the customers ask/want. Customer suggestion box on the web sight.

“The Montanan” our goal would be to make our own “Perfect World of Firearms”.

“Chas.” Yes Dell did great in the beginning, but I feel the best companies are the ones where all the employees know all the employees. (All employees would have a terminal case of “Handi-Holic-Ism”; employees must believe in their product in a Perfect World).

“LouisianaMan” Also on our Web site would be a chamber/bore drawing with OUR standard “specs” for each cartridge, hope this would stop the 38-55 questions/problems. We would also have a section where we explain why a given chambering is NOT offered.

Our company would probably be an assembly mostly; we would get bored barrel blanks, sight parts, stock-sets, and our receiver design (

) from third parties. I would like that we do our own chambering and mill/machine the barrels for sight choices. I really don’t know much about the machining/manufacturing, but we would have some Handi-Holic that would.

Any more suggestions for our Perfect Company?
What state would we put our all-American company in?
Where would we all be willing to move to?

Mike

Zeke Menuar · « **Reply #20 on:** November 14, 2009, 07:48:02 AM »

A small custom shop.

Customers can order barrels in 7.62x54R, 303 British, 225 Winchester, 9.3x62, 9.3x74R and other calibers not normally offered up.

Keep it simple and use only a few barrel tapers and diameters. Make each barrel to order.

The investment would be one or two lathes and one or two competent machinists/gunsmiths.

Selling complete unchambered barrels in the most popular bore sizes could be an option too.
Include fitting instructions for the user or his 'smith.

I think that some of the hard core Handi addicts would be all over something like this. I'd love to have a 30" barreled 9.3x74R gun the size of a BC.

Wouldn't you?

Plainsman · « **Reply #21 on:** November 14, 2009, 08:01:02 AM »

Actually, DELL computers doesn't even have the inventory on hand. I just read how they work in an article and they have a -15days cash flow!! That means they have cash 15 days BEFORE they need it. The parts for each computer are ordered AFTER they receive the payment for the computer, then they order the parts and put it together.

So if this were to work for a firearm company, you'd place your order, pay for the rifle, then they'd order or make the components to fill your order!! I think they'd fall behind way too quickly with this method, whereas computers don't take long to put together and ship.

gendoc · « **Reply #22 on:** November 14, 2009, 08:08:12 AM »

sb-2 frame to fit all new production centerfire barrels (no fitting required)
sell barrels, frames (because they all will fit now)
lifetime guarantee
choice of blue or stainless models
24/7 support and parts ordering, with experianced operators
except trade-in handi's for purchasing new handi's
sell and trade used handi's and parts
a handi christmas club savings plan (for all of us that buy ourselves one for christmas)
a QC department that gets bonus for happy customers

man, i could go on and on.....

Catshooter45 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 14, 2009, 08:10:55 AM »

Get away from this criminal idea that the way to sucess is by pleasing "most" of your customers. They teach it in Masters of Business Admin courses.

Get away from the idea of out-sourcing parts/components. Do as much as possible in house, including sights.

A BC on the 10 gauge frame with according large barrels would allow some very cool chamberings. Can you say the .50 - 140?

Cat

LONGTOM · « **Reply #24 on:** November 14, 2009, 01:07:42 PM »

GP Mike:
I love the AMERICAN added to the beginning of the name.
I, of all people should have thought of that.
Great move!!!

Quote

Get away from this criminal idea that the way to success is by pleasing "most" of your customers.

That is the only way to ensure prolonged success.
The way your Grand Father did it, the old fashion way!!!

I have lived this belief in our family business which my Father started in the 1960s and he/we built it to over a million $ a year business from scratch and have been at the same location for over 40 years, still doing business with the third generation of the same customers.
A few years back I was rated the largest livestock trailer dealer on the east coast from any company.
Others have come & gone but we are still here.
We must be doing something right and that is taking care of our customers the OLD FASHION way, the RIGHT WAY!!!

LONGTOM

GrampaMike · « **Reply #25 on:** November 14, 2009, 04:03:31 PM »

I would like the job of the guy who machines the barrels for front and rear sights and then attaches them. Of course I would have to be trained to use whatever machines are involved. Also want to be on the team that test fires completed guns.

Mike