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Should Massdrop Partner with My Trail Co?
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Danny Milks
I liked Golite stuff and own shelters, quilts garments etc. which were, in the main, excellent quality at approx. 50% £ actual worth as compared to the competition - but they seemed to be a fire sale for a long long time. MyTrail also has what appear to be excellent products, not available in the UK, but as GoLite left a great many people out of pocket while selling stock at too low a cost, I think there has to be a diligent analysis surrounding the structure of MyTrail.
If you watch MTC’s website you can come across some serious bargains. The gear they have list looks really nice. That said, they are still selling 2018 gear despite the fast approaching 2019 season. I’ve had my eye on one of their backpacks but I really don’t need another. Still tempting.
Yes.
Yes
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Yep!
MTC already has pretty low prices on their items. I don't use any of their equipment for backpacking as I already had my UL setup in place when they began operating, but I have purchased items from them for daily use. A rain jacket for me, and each of my two daughters, along with a puffy for each of my daughters. We are all happy with those items and I had no problems to mention. To blacklist a company because of past problems would seem rather harsh to me.
I only recently learned about this company and purchased a couple of their women’s items, so interested in your comments.
I've been talking to Superior Wilderness Designs on a pack. They have been really great to talk with and I'd be excited to partner with them over MTC. I agree with others. Look for other companies that make an effort.
I stored the bear canister upright inside my 35L pack. Yes....it took up a lot of space, but I was able to make it work. You'll have no problem with a 50L pack.
I rented the bear canister from the Park. I couldn't get 7 days of food in it...
Cowpie
That sounds almost exactly what I was going for option wise. Thanks for the additional info and personal review. Makes me even want one more now. Thanks again for all the help!
I agree with bearandcougar. There are many vendors of cheap, discounted gear. Why partner with a company that leads with what smells a little like deception?
They had a bad reputation for claiming their products were worth way more than they were, and claimed they were severely discounting everything. They lost a lot of people’s trust that way. Most of their designs have been surpassed by other companies by now, and they are re-releasing the old, dated designs with the same huge savings claims.
100% Agree lets do this👍🏽👣👣👣👣👣🏔
yes I HAVE A COUPLE OF THEIR PRODUCTS EXCELLENT.
I'm late to the topic, but after buying and using several first wave MTC products, I have to say I've been happy with them. I didn't pay over $100 on any product (800FP down jacket with 4oz of fill, sunbrella, 50L pack). The down jacket and sunbrella almost always come with me. There was a inventory/defect issue and they were swift in resolving the issue (called me by phone). I bought the pack b/c it was cheap and ship times were fast. It worked well, bombproof, and cheap enough that I was able to try a completely frameless/hipbeltless setup (with the help of scissors). Turns out I like a belt after all and now it's a loaner/day/travel pack. Just wanted to talk about my exp with them. That said, they just released a new line of products and I'm kind of uninterested in any of them.
Seems like you're trepidatious a bit yourself, Danny. I'd probably pass on some larger partnership with this company. Just by digging through google for 3 minutes there seems to be questions and drama surrounding this company. Don't bring that baggage to MD. My opinion: Offer some of their drops, pass on a deeper partnership.
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Regarding selling their products on MD as with any other brand: sure; give people the choice.
Regarding a deeper partnership: I would be concerned without a lot of due diligence. I recently bought a small item from MyTrail, and they have been emailing me several times a month soliciting direct investments in small dollar amounts.
That isn't necessarily bad ... but I find it highly unusual, and possibly indicative of problems raising capital through 'normal' channels (eg, presumably more sophisticated investors have said no).
Regarding a deeper partnership: I would be concerned without a lot of due diligence. I recently bought a small item from MyTrail, and they have been emailing me several times a month soliciting direct investments in small dollar amounts.
That isn't necessarily bad ... but I find it highly unusual, and possibly indicative of problems raising capital through 'normal' channels (eg, presumably more sophisticated investors have said no).
foobar5
I would be mindful of terms (i.e.) net 30-60 in light of their previous debt issues.
As a 30 yr. commercial banker, I always have professional concerns with banko. But when you are leasing retail space, landlords will rarely let you off the lease. So if you grow to fast like Go Lite did, and have cash flow problems, you are most likely forced into banko. And unless all of your creditors agree to restructuring the business, and landlords typically won't, you can't revert to the successful part of the model. As to specific in this case, I have none, but I would be surprised if Go Lite had any other legal options - the process is dictated by the US Bankruptcy Court, with vey little flexibility.
It actually says a lot that former suppliers are dealing with the new company - they are the ones with the largest dollars at risk.
Now as to the actual question, I'd be most concerned about the impact on MTC's competitors. Are the competitors going to be upset about an actual or perceived sweetheart deal for MTC, and less likely to offer their goods via Massdrop?
dmchike
Is "Banko" a term used by bankers? Haha. Must be. I was going to ask what it means, but really, I couldn't care less.
well since i have been watching their site on and off for about a year now and everything i have
interest in is out of stock i sure wouldnt join a drop to buy their products
Hello no. Don't trust this company.
I would agree it’s a little shady....... but they make the best stuff out there.
Exploring opportunities of a merger or strategic alliance are harmless. Without knowing more detailed information I have concerns about the ethics and competency of the previous owners. I have other misgivings for now however I will say that whatever arrangements are discussed the former owners shouldn't be the one's making the final decisions. As the business grew there had to be financials indicating the overextension of their business growth. Therefore it is quite likely that this advice was ignored. Finally, there needs to be an independent financial controller, and consultant advice about how to expand a business is needed, and I can argue is necessary as the former owners have likely lost the trust of the ul community and business community. I wonder if they are at the helm will actually a detriment to the success of a new business alliance? One last thought, are they approaching MD because they already have a number of challenges I have outlined? Is MD potentially the collateral and credibility that the former owners squandered? I am led to think that if the ul products were of such quality then why not have the developers work under a MD banner where ownership and its benefits are under MD. All this said, what is MD vision statement? Is manufacturing ul products the direction it wants to pursue?
There is my advice. Without being able to discuss in real time it is difficult to make a recommendation , however extreme caution needs to be practiced due to the facts that I outlined. Good luck and keep us up to date with the process.
Scott
There is my advice. Without being able to discuss in real time it is difficult to make a recommendation , however extreme caution needs to be practiced due to the facts that I outlined. Good luck and keep us up to date with the process.
Scott
Happily-Me
I would echo the well articulated comments made here. $3MM in debt for what was effectively a cottage company seems like a lot. Somebody got overly ambitious and cast aside finanacial governance. I never owned any of their gear but isn’t there enough we’ll managed and successful, but still growing,UL manufacturers out there to work with? Go Lite had their day. What are they bringing to the table that a host of others haven’t already.👎
Happily-Me
Excellent articulation. Your concerns are well founded and rightful to be raised with any possible venture between the two companies. I would have no issue with having My Trail Co. products on MD in limited quantity as the other items are being offered. That seems like a fine arrangement for the time being. I would like to see MD remain a site that offers unique items for sale that are quality and not to move down the manufacturing trail. I hope that My Trails products continue the GoLite path and that the company can remain stable as I was a fan of their products that i purchased.
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I have a GoLite Pinnacle pack that I bought new in 2008. It was my frontline pack until just a couple years ago, very light weight and easy to compress for smaller loads. I still use it a bit for hacking around. The wear isn't bad, it's more that suspension systems have improved incrementally and passed it by.
@Snarg I don't know about worthless warranties since my pack hasn't failed. Maybe things got sloppier after I bought it. I've always felt the real problem was trying to grow into brick and mortar retail and losing sight of the company's roots. Has any of your GoLite gear failed? I don't mean wear, I mean actual problems with "materials or workmanship" that Go Lite actually could have addressed? I'm not being snarky, I'm truly curious.
@DannyMilks I'm interested to hear the details and context for the no-go you mentioned a few months ago.
@Snarg I don't know about worthless warranties since my pack hasn't failed. Maybe things got sloppier after I bought it. I've always felt the real problem was trying to grow into brick and mortar retail and losing sight of the company's roots. Has any of your GoLite gear failed? I don't mean wear, I mean actual problems with "materials or workmanship" that Go Lite actually could have addressed? I'm not being snarky, I'm truly curious.
@DannyMilks I'm interested to hear the details and context for the no-go you mentioned a few months ago.
Will Coupanas go bankrupt again and leave us with worthless warranties like I have on all my Go Lite Gear?
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CollaborationsSnarg
That's my fear, as he's proven he has no qualms with defaulting on millions of dollars, only to start selling the same products under a different name within a short time. I have several products that have failed, all stuff that was made in the last few years, and have no recourse for getting it fixed or exchanged. I'll post some pictures shortly.
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Any update? @DannyMilksI've read some interviews from the founder on how they're going to change their business mentality and structure to avoid repeating golite's mistakes. And it also seems that they're going to begin updating their older popular products to keep up with the way product weights are declining. I understand how many people in the community were and remain upset but at the end of the day if they have learned from the mistakes of the past AND are making competitive, affordable products why wouldn't their products be sold on Massdrop?
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AY1286
Why the talk of change now I wonder. Maybe after MTC actually makes those changes MD can reconsider. For now, they got nothing.
My Trail has several issues I'd like to see resolved before you partner with them. Biggest issue for me is that they have not addressed the needs of taller hikers. Same issue that their predecessor had. For the record I still use a Go-Lite day pack and wore out a pair of their boots, but at 6'4" was unable to fit into their clothing, sleep systems, backpacks, or tents.
Of course you should partner with them. Legal structures existing for this very reason. The original business may have failed, but they can't delete what they know, and it would make sense to take that knowledge and build a new company. If you think they were unethical , then perhaps not. But if it's just feeling that perhaps it's not fair or right, that's an argument you need to take up with your local congressman. business iS business - if every entrepreneur that failed never got or took another chance, where would we be?
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Where in the Sierras was that pic taken Danny? Would love to know.
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Collaborationsm0arpheus
Lake Schmidell, just north of Rockbound Pass in Desolation. We started at Wrights Lake, headed north, passing the turnoff for Rockbound pass, instead continuing on the Rubicon trail maybe, till we turned east and hiked off trail up and over an unnamed pass, then down to the lake. We camped on the east side of the lake on flat patch of snow.
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DannyMilks
Sick! I've never heard of that place at all, gonna research the crap out of it now!
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yes
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No. ( edited and removed for personal reasons, feelings.) There are plenty of other companies to partner with that have similar products.
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Sorry, maybe poor choice of word(s). Maybe I'm being a bit rough. I won't buy their products on secondary market or new under new name. Even if it's the best or really good.
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Tonygxd
Is it because they never honored their lifetime warranty under the old company name? I wouldn't support a company like that either. I won't support worse companies, like Shell Oil, because unethical is unethical is unethical. Fuck unethical, do the right fucking thing you twat companies!
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Going to be a no?
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CollaborationsJerkyKen
It's a no but I owe you all more details and context.
Yes please.
