Message from Jack at TID

[admin]

I would like to take this time to finally address all of the members of TID. While this is perhaps slower coming than some would have liked, I ask for understanding of the situation at hand. It has been a very long month. I have spent the past 4-5 weeks dis-mantling PAC. It has been a tough task to say the least. I have likened it to going to a funeral that last for thirty days.


I wanted to reflect on my experience here and all of the friends I have made. The final decision to end PAC as a business was one, while hard to make, was felt necessary for people that had much at stake. Some people agreed and others did not. Ultimately the decision was made and I felt a responsibility to see the task through.


The realities are that when I came to this company, on a business level, it had issues I nor anyone one else involved with the ownership were aware of. Over time and with a steep learning curve, we did make positive changes and we did have some successful additions, Blackfire, Meguiar`s, TID, Todd, Angelo as well as some long needed advertising ventures. All of this was not enough to change the tide of the slow economy and the expense of running a business like this.


As to the closing of the business and the and the manufacturers we have all come to know and love, none are being left in the cold, (regardless of what some may say). We are working with all of them to have them paid in full by the end of this month, (a unique concept these days of companies going out of business).


One of the successes we enjoyed was of course Blackfire. Over the course of the past three years we worked very hard to make more people aware of this line of products. I believe, still one of the best available. I have arranged to have a hand in its future and hope to continue to make it a respected line of products in any way I am able. Through an agreement between myself and Palm Beach Motoring Group, I have insured its availability and a viable future. While some may see this as a “cop-out” on my part, it isn`t. It was a decision made after much thought and consideration. Should some still choose to believe otherwise, I of course cannot change what people choose to believe. Look at all of the BS on forums today... someone, somewhere, thinks they have all the answers.
With Todd overseeing the direction and quality of the line, I am confident that with his passion and the tools available to him, the line will only become stronger. Far stronger than I could do by myself.


That brings me to TID. Something I am quite proud of. We grew this community to over 4500 members in a relatively short time. We had very few drama issues, many open product and process discussions and I made one heck of a lot of friends. I probably loved this part of the business the most for the interaction with all of you. It is my understanding that TID will go on hiatus for some time until an ultimate decision can be made as to its future. If you have anything here you want to save, you should get it soon. I hopefully will see some of you down the road, God bless and take care.




The last item I would like to address is I would like to personally thank Max for his support in this incredibly stressful time. While again some may find this weird or self-serving, think what you want. It has been an interesting lesson for me. Max has been one of the most professional and supportive people of anyone I have had to deal with in the past month. I think it comes from the fact that until you own a business like this and truly understand how hard it is to run one, much less be successful at it, that you can fully appreciate and understand the true meaning when one fails. For this I am thankful and have no problem is saying I have new found respect for him.


Again, thank you all, see you down the road and God bless.


jk
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[ca.detailchick]

I wish Jack the best and am so thankful I found his forum .It had been such a blessing in my life . I will miss TID!!

[Iomcamaro]

Very respectful man.

[JSFM35X]

Jack-Although we have never met, I am extreemly greatful for the TID forum that you ran. It is/was my favorite forum because it was open, honest and has a great blend of Professional`s, talented weekend warriors and polite, well written beginnners.

So may Professionals post mind numbing perfection on alot of detail sites. I cannot believe what is capable in the right hands with the right products, machines, pads and experience. What made the Pro`s on TID such a special bunch was their willingness to help and answer questions. Not Post and run. They listed detailed processes, step by step details. It really helped me get past the frustration of learning to polish a car. I learned more over there than anywhere else on the web when it came to detailing.

To further explain how great the community was, I was personally sent samples by strangers if I innocently asked a question about a product on TID. Where does that happen?

I am truly sorry to so it`s decline for my own selfish reasons. I hope this forum will attract some of the same cast and grow into that type of on line community.

Jack, I wish you the best in the future, and I hope you stay involved in some way as I think your influence was the difference that made TID the greatest place on the web for expert write up`s, advise and troubleshooting.

All the best for the future!

[Rocket]

Jack, we all wish you the best.

[ca.detailchick]

I just wanted to add that Im equally grateful that Autopia has welcomed us and made it feel like home already ! Autopia!

[C. Charles Hahn]

I just wanted to add that Im equally grateful that Autopia has welcomed us and made it feel like home already ! Autopia!

Only one problem.... this isn`t Autopia. It`s AutopiaForums.

[Todd@RUPES]

Jack is a great friend and watching him go through this while giving me his full support has been bittersweet. Jack truly fought the great fight and I am grateful for having the honor of working alongside of him. He is a true man of integrity.

Autopiaforums will host some type of TID archive to keep the memories of that great for from slipping into the black-hole of `dead` internet data. As a side note, PBMG purchased all remaining inventory and contents of CMA/PAC/TID. Making a transition like moving a Blackfire over is very time consuming when you do it correctly and many at PBMG have sacrificed sleep. Since we are committed to doing it right, places like TID, and products like Eimann Fabrik, Blackbaron, and the big blue are on hitaus until the time needed to devote to it is available should it prove they prove to be viable.

[ca.detailchick]

Only one problem.... this isn`t Autopia. It`s AutopiaForums.

Excuse my faux pas next time I will just say AF!

[C. Charles Hahn]

Since we are commited to doing it right, places like TID, and products like Eimann Fabrik, Blackbaron, and the big blue are on hitaus until the time needed to devote to it [/COLOR]

So the EF brand is now owned by PBMG as well and will eventually make a comeback? Interesting....

[Bunky]

So the EF brand is now owned by PBMG as well and will eventually make a comeback? Interesting....

If they did, I would rebrand it (similar reasons behind the DP redo) since branding (in addition to product performance) is critical to marketing success.

What I would like to see is Bryan`s style of demos using his techniques with various products (sometimes not traditional combinations of pads/polishes) and answering questions as he worked. Most demo video`s are staged more like infomercials.

[Todd@RUPES]

So the EF brand is now owned by PBMG as well and will eventually make a comeback? Interesting....

For some reason the end of my sentence didn`t post. EF, Black Baron, and Big Blue and all things formerly of CMA are now owned by PBMG. Making a transition with a line like Blackfire takes time and focus to do correctly and we are dedicated to doing it correctly. At some point in the future we will look at the viability of such brands and determine whether or not it would be a viable option to bring invest the time (and frankly capital) to bring them back.