Fran, open letter for final resolution.

[Billy Mead]

Fran,

10 months later and we're right where we started. No where.

Why do I have to go to a public forum to get ANY response? I’m not the only one that has been told I’m in your junk folder and that excuse has lost all credibility for me. Four attempts at email and phone calls in the last three weeks. You have left me with no other choice as you chose to hide behind email and a voice mail system that has never allowed me to leave a message ONCE in almost 300 days to the first face-to-face meeting we had. Or blaming the other vendors that are behind in delivery? Hard to swallow although I’ve played along.

For anyone else reading this I hope you understand my purpose is not to make it uncomfortable reading what should be a private conversation or to damage anyone’s creditably. What follows is months of built-up frustration and could easily be taken the wrong way by sounding selfish like a child that didn't get their way… but there’s many sides to a story and this is mine. This is my opinion, based on my circumstances, but the only time I get a response from you Fran is following a public post. And I need you to finally hear me and understand what I’ve been trying to get from you for almost a year now.

Which is well beyond anything material like the cars we purchased, just the same respect and courtesy I have always given you.

While I do not know many of the newer people here, I am certain that many people will come to your defense Fran as I have done in the past. And I have a lot in common with those individuals as I'm sure they see the same good that I have. I’m not looking for a witch-hunt or to try and rally any support from others. This is our situation and it’s a shame it has to be brought out in the open. I consulted many business people I trust, other RCR customers in queue, even friends and family about the appropriateness of going “live”. And the answer was unanimous. Some are afraid to speak up in fear of retaliation. I'm afraid of where our money is. Nothing accusatory but I know it’s not in my bank account making the interest it should have been.


The good?

You are an amazing visionary with a product that is everything you said it would be, except finished. The level of craftsmanship is stunning and unmatched by any other independent car manufacturer I researched. And I believe with all of my heart that you work as hard as a person can work and I know that you make many, many personal sacrifices. I do not know the exact details but when someone devotes their life to developing and growing a business, the sacrifices they make are massive. You have been attacked before by others and I think that you handled it with grace. I do not feel we are special or deserve any preferential treatment as others have waited just as long or longer. But this is not a personal endeavor or hobby and I’m not building a kit... this was a business proposition from day one and we both agreed and understood that. I do not know what you told ANYONE else, but you told me 90 days.

Before I came to you with the plan to devote my next venture to Exotic Rockets and the Aspira-SLC, I traveled to several countries and met with 8 other manufacturers. Canada, South America, Italy, the UK and several US States. Previous businesses of mine did well due to the teams we built, the vendors we relied on and the countless hours of exhausting work with sacrifices of our own. Teams... not one person working alone but everyone on the same page. My previous venture was built from nothing to what you know it grew to. Not a huge company by any means in comparison to the accomplishments of others but decent sized, over 100 employees, etc., etc.. I bring it up again because it’s sale was how I was able to finance what we had envisioned and why I was so excited for both of our companies to pool our resources, employees and compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And trust me when I say I have plenty of weaknesses of my own. But haven’t I always done what I said I would do?

I did my research, asked around and got references on you and Race Car Replicas. So when we met back in March of last year and I wrote you a very large check, I never had any doubt we were going to be working together to build some cars, have some fun and make money while we were at it. A lot of money as I didn't plan to be in it for the short term. This was not a hobby Fran, my future financial security depended on it and I told you that. I also told you I was going to devote 100% of my time and energy like anyone would do in a new start-up. Didn't I offer to up and move the family to the West Coast if it might made a difference in sales due the better weather and higher income brackets? I came from the movie industry and there's a lot of money there. Personal choices… but sacrifices. You can’t even give me a day to fly up and check up on progress.?

The bad?

The first car was to be delivered 3 months later and I gave that a lot of leeway, shit happens and I'm not completely ignorant there, but almost a year and still nothing?


The worse...


Even though you were already a month behind on car #1 for us, I wrote another check for two more. The tally goes up, more lost interest and so I asked you then to temporarily return it so I could lock it up in a CD and have more money to give back to the venture in 3, 6, or 9 months. That’s just smart business for everyone on the team. You said no way. Did I say a word back? Not a peep, I played along again as those were the rules.

So I am at the end of my patience and I NEVER thought I would be one of the people that had to speak out against you and your company. We’ll be coming up on a year of false expectations and missed deadlines for all 6 Aspira-SLC’s. I took a chance, which I regret but can’t ignore any more. That’s life? No Fran, that's not the right thing to do. I’m not wealthy by any means and in a bad economy I’m struggling just like everyone else. You have put my family in jeopardy and I can’t understand how you think that’s fair? I can’t sell a car we do not have in our possession, let alone the six that you were supposed to have completed by now. I can’t in good faith take a deposit from anyone because I no longer believe in you to be able to deliver. So if I ran out of money and didn’t know how I’d be feeding the family, I’d be thinking about the money you have of ours. Wouldn’t you? A little drastic but what if it were really the case?

Your purchase agreement has lots of disclaimers but when does that not matter anymore and when does being honorable come in to play? Have you honestly ever even thought about the position you have put us in or understand why I feel the way I do? What if the shoe was on the other foot, when would your patience have run out?

I have re-read my posts here where I supported you, defended you and tried to understand the delays but there is no excuse for you to not return phone calls or emails or try and be as courteous as I have been. Being late is one thing, picking up the phone is another. Back in March we were going to speak every week. You have not tried to work with us and have ignored almost every request for the information I need to be ready for delivery. On top of the almost $400,000 you have of mine there is much more tied up in renders, artwork, websites, graphic design, an owner’s manual, press releases, 800 #… the list is long and I cannot complete any of it because you will not co-operate with repeated requests. How many times have I asked for detailed specifications on the car so we could complete the owner’s manual? 8-10 times? You know I don’t know the difference between a rotor and a wiper motor. But I do know how to successfully bring a product to market as you faithfully believed in.

I lined up a financing company that was open to us being able to offer customers lease/loan options. I found a prestigious insurance company willing to come on as a partner. There were trade magazine reviews lined up, grand opening parties, car and trade shows I pre-registered for. One of my final requests out of desperation was for the cars to be finished locally and for you to provide the kits as you have done for everyone else… a mechanic/fabricator and friend that has worked on every car I have owned was ready to get involved and get them done for us. Why did you say no? Surely he would be capable of delivering the same standard as you. Murcielago, 360, SL65, Pantera, Noble, even my faithful 80 Camaro and shitbox Range Rover.

He fabricated cars/parts/customization for Leno, Ralph Lauren, Aerosmith...

Bragging Fran? It's just that you could have trusted him/us... Yes, I've been blessed beyond words but you can see he has the skills needed, the cars would be done by now, and we'd be making money. But month after month, you post photos and details of cars that came in after our orders, and introduced new features and modifications you worked on... but refuse to let us know our own progress. Did I once say a word other than after you finished the car for___? (intentionally left blank). Who am I to mind your business? But I thought about it... a lot.

I asked for more than 6 months to get general information on you and your employees to add to the Exotic Rocket website. Almost every request for me to fly up there with a photographer to get photos of the car being built and a shoot with female models was ignored. You did tell me once that I’d just be in the way even on a weekend or late evening when no one was at the shop. You laughed and said the shop never closed. But you wouldn't have even noticed us.

I had planned on spending more than $30,000 on a commercial film shoot featuring the Aspira-SLC and marked another $50,000 for the initial round of print advertising. Another 16k for TV. I bought three LS7’s and three Ricardo transmissions for $12,500 each, all paid for in advance. So they could sit in a shop? Do you even have them? Of course I trusted you do. No question.

I asked at one point for you to sell them or even send them to me at my expense and I would offload them for the time being until they were needed, no doubt at a loss. There’s still the money needed to finish each car with GPS, Stereo, back-up cameras, LED interior lighting (and top-secrets even I didn't tell you about yet!!!).... anything else needed to make the Aspira-SLC what we agreed and that was the next US Supercar, second to none. It’s heartbreaking what we could have done.

PLEASE read everything here as it was intended.. I have always been factual and have not, in anyway, ever insulted you personally. This is business and it’s as bad as I’ve ever seen. We were supposed to be working together and you have told me time after time how much you believed in my plans to take the Aspira-SLC to the public worldwide in an all-out branding campaign. But that opportunity has passed as I won’t go down the path of disappointing customers with misleading information, deadlines that are not met and a “partner” that won’t even communicate or help make this a success for everyone. Yes Fran, I considered you more than a vendor, I thought we were in this together.

- - - -

To the point.

This is an open letter requesting that you refund our money as you have said you have done for others in the past. With subsequent orders that are waiting in-line, it won't be a problem. If you are actually planning on our first car (Chassis 11) being ready in a week from today of course I’d take delivery and sell it on my own in a personal sale, eat the loss and move on. But the balance of 5 cars are so far from completion there would be no reason it can’t be sold to someone else as they haven't been customized, painted, etc.

Enough is enough and I went on too long here to the point of being redundant. But that’s 10 months and a lot of pent up frustration I've never vocalized. Please be as forthright as I have been and tell me what we did wrong? Whatever I did, you could have told me at any point and the problem would have been corrected instantly. But I've never heard any feedback, better or worse (I still think you hated the cup holders though!) I'll admit to any mistakes I made and own up to them. Was I ever disrespectful to you or Casey despite the growing frustration?

Once again, I can't say enough about your work and am sure I will always be impressed with everything RCR does. Aren't fast cars (and hot women) every guys fantasy? You know what the most sexy supercar looks like as you designed it from the ground up. And I never suggested at any point that my plans were “needed” for your continued success Fran as you’re already there and will continue to be. Seems like you have a dream team but it couldn’t hurt to hand the communications over to someone that actually enjoys it… and is on it every day, hour by hour, minute by minute if I read the complaints I’ve heard over the year correctly. And I’ll learn the difference between a wiper motor and a rotor ok?


We can keep this open and update the post as you see fit with a resolution for others to follow if that's a way to make good. I’ll make MORE sacrifices here too, but you need to do the right thing and refund our money, as close to the original amount that’s fair. I’m meet you anywhere, anytime. Coffee, lunch, here in Boston, on the moon.

Next move is your move.

With all due respect,

Billy Mead
Exotic Rockets LLC
1-877-9-ASPIRA

(Here are some low-res copies of the 40+ renders that were completed. I thought it would be a crime to not share them as of course the website is indefinitely on hold. The 8000 pixel versions are amazing and show what could have been done)

[Andy Sheldon]

Fran

Oh dear!

Looks like you should be re reading some of the advice you gave me about delivery on a set of windows.

I know I should not post but in your own words ' I could not help myself '

Happy New Year

Andy

[Fran Hall RCR]

Billy,

I have been trying to call you on this numedia number 617-494-8700 which is in your emails to me...but it is not in service.
I know you and Casey were discussing the models for the photo shoot prior to Christmas and I was expecting you to come out on the 17th of Jan and pic up the red car...as mentioned in your last email.

Fran

[Johan]

This is between Billy and Andy Sheldon so I am editing my wise crack .

[Ben Whittle]

Please, I am not a moderator and I don't speak for everyone but please, if the two parties in question can communicate directly now, can this thread be locked.

Benji

[Timg47]

heck no dont lock this thread !!! probably one of the most important threads in this forum.

[GARY_S]

Originally Posted by timg47

heck no dont lock this thread !!! probably one of the most important threads in this forum.

agreed