Erich, what you've said is factually correct.
Am I derelict in reporting the answers to questions I asked and assuming that because I was interested others would be? Or was the fault, if any, on Rohrbaugh's part for answering questions "to the best of their knowledge"?
I did have the money set aside to get one in October, 2002, and I even arranged a commission to do a review of the gun. I've even been using the testing ammo for a foot rest since them. I haven't, however, been "trying to cut Rohrbaugh any slack" on the delivery issues because I know what it's like trying to launch a new product.
I spent 17 years in the development and manufacturing business, and estimating TOD (Time of Delivery) was the most aggravating facet of it. People find out that you're working on something they want, so they start asking "when?" So does your family, associates, etc. They all clamor for an answer! You make your best guess based on analysis, commitments from suppliers, subcontracters, regulatory agencies, etc. Then you DOUBLE that. Then when the first product goes out the door, you face the fact that it took DOUBLE that! FOUR times the time it SHOULD take! Meanwhile, you realize that the schedule slipped for reasons YOU caused -- reasons like the original design could be improved by adjusting this or that or a supplier didn't deliver consistent quality or meet the deadlines for the same reasons you couldn't. Making products from scratch is very difficult because of the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfield. Without my background, I might be a bit crankier about Rohrbaugh not delivering sooner, but why? What did they owe me? I hadn't paid a dime, after all! They owed me NOTHING, not even the answers to the questions I asked. But they did answer, and they did listen to my unsolicited comments, and they even said they appreciated them!
And that's the bottom line. Rohrbaugh doesn't owe anybody here any explanations for the delays, and they only owe Jeff and me guns, AFAIK, because we've paid for them.
The "hype" and "disappointment" people feel is based on the frustration of "anticipatory delight" being delayed, not because of any failure to perform on any obligation by Rohrbaugh.
Am I derelict in reporting the answers to questions I asked and assuming that because I was interested others would be? Or was the fault, if any, on Rohrbaugh's part for answering questions "to the best of their knowledge"?
I did have the money set aside to get one in October, 2002, and I even arranged a commission to do a review of the gun. I've even been using the testing ammo for a foot rest since them. I haven't, however, been "trying to cut Rohrbaugh any slack" on the delivery issues because I know what it's like trying to launch a new product.
I spent 17 years in the development and manufacturing business, and estimating TOD (Time of Delivery) was the most aggravating facet of it. People find out that you're working on something they want, so they start asking "when?" So does your family, associates, etc. They all clamor for an answer! You make your best guess based on analysis, commitments from suppliers, subcontracters, regulatory agencies, etc. Then you DOUBLE that. Then when the first product goes out the door, you face the fact that it took DOUBLE that! FOUR times the time it SHOULD take! Meanwhile, you realize that the schedule slipped for reasons YOU caused -- reasons like the original design could be improved by adjusting this or that or a supplier didn't deliver consistent quality or meet the deadlines for the same reasons you couldn't. Making products from scratch is very difficult because of the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfield. Without my background, I might be a bit crankier about Rohrbaugh not delivering sooner, but why? What did they owe me? I hadn't paid a dime, after all! They owed me NOTHING, not even the answers to the questions I asked. But they did answer, and they did listen to my unsolicited comments, and they even said they appreciated them!
And that's the bottom line. Rohrbaugh doesn't owe anybody here any explanations for the delays, and they only owe Jeff and me guns, AFAIK, because we've paid for them.
The "hype" and "disappointment" people feel is based on the frustration of "anticipatory delight" being delayed, not because of any failure to perform on any obligation by Rohrbaugh.
