DylanDr, I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but the issue of the Child Porn was never addressed.
I don't think it makes any difference how good their products are if the rumors are confirmed. There is too much competition in the marketplace these days for that kind of bad PR. If someone was to take over (family, KC, whatever) I think their best option right now would be to continue manufacturing great stuff and re-brand the DR name. Name recognition is a bad thing when it is associated with something terrible like this. It will cost them some $$ and some time to get the new name out, but IF these rumors are true I think a re-brand will be the only thing to save them. Keep in mind people that if there was this type of activity going on, it wasn't everyone at the shop. I'd be wiling to bet it was only one guy (If it is indeed true). If they do decide to move forward and shed the name of the currently alleged offender, it would be very narrow-minded to avoid a great product just because someone was once associated with it messed up big time.
If this is shown to be false there is already a lot of damage being done all across the internet as we speak to the Donahoe name. I can't even imagine how the guy feels (or any of his employees) reading all of this if it is all some lame coincidence.
Stay tuned everyone. The facts will be presented. In which time I invite you all to pass your own judgement and (maybe) sentencing. Until then, don't get too caught up in the media hype (internet rumor mill).
Couldn't have said it any better myself. Now I'm going to be looking into other mods until all of this situation is straightened out. Someone somewhere had enough evidence to make an arrest and set a court date.
Sounds like a number of people have returned a verdict before there's even been a trial.
The quickest way to kill of competition is to spread rumors.
If true, then the guilty will go to jail. Those not guilty don't deserve to be punished for the actions of another.
I'll wait until the facts are in and won't rush to judgement....
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Black Cherry "WartHog", DR suspension (front and rear), ICON UCA's, AFE CAI, ARB full length roof rack, Toyota Brush Guard & lights, Scuba Driver Mod, Baja 540c, body mount chop, Moto Metal 0951B wheels, Nitto Terra Grappler 285/70/17's
I have one thing to say, you don't get investigated by the federal govt on kiddie porn for looking at two or three pics.
I for one will not support an individual or organization which tolerates this kind of crap, I am also of the mind set that you don't get burned unless you are playing with fire.
In a small company you should always know whats going on under your roof and if you don't you have problems. (i.e. this crap)
If the rumors are true that what may of have lead to the investigation was tax problems I for damn sure think they should shut the doors and send the owner to Jail. I pay taxes so should everyone else.
It sucks for their employs but i doubt they will have trouble finding work since they were producing a good product. Competitors will be happy to bring in the experience to help their organization.
I think this is all very good news for all of us as customers, and for DR as an organization. A lot of businesses are victims of their own success as we all know. For a long time the best products in the business have been hard to get, and this looks like that will soon end.
Those of us who are business owners know that the true value of a company is in it's intellectual property and market brand. NOT by the details of the operating ledger. Additionally the offroad business is brutal on margins and notoriously late on payment. It is all too easy for late payments from one supplier to another to cause a cascade effect that hurts many unfairly.
Knowing many of the smaller vendors on the forum personally, cash flow is a desperate problem that is not always cured by volume. In fact volume can make it worse as supplier terms stretch out for months, and one problem vendor can wreck the entire operation.
2008 will be the best year for Donahoe yet. The bugs are worked out and they can get back to products and away from the problems.
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