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Ironhorse has gone out of business

Beast

Beast

Turbo Monkey
May 23, 2002
1,579
0
Where the riding is good
From http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=495542 -

ihateu said:
This is how it ended:

I figured it was the right time to post this thread. First off, let it be know what I am about to say in this post is 100% true and can be backed up by articles released in many bicycle magazines as well as hands on experience. So I will also state that what I am saying here is not made up and I am leaving out many thing more things that would have you as a person and a rider disgusted .

Ironhorse is done. 100% . For those here who know who I am know this is true and I have not exagerrated this information at all. I kind of wish it was not true.

I was there on the last day at IH. The inventory was all sold. The parts, frames, and pivot kits were sold to a liquidater. I was there, I helped pack up the trucks. All the hard work that many of us put in to this company to succeed by purchasing pivot kits, links, frames, decals etc etc all sold for a measley amount. With the help of others, I had helped provide enough frames and parts for more than five years after the DW link license expired. All sold and the online retailer has NOTHING. Ironhorse was ruined by an incompetent owner as well as shady business deals where the company as a whole lost money but the greedy ones made money.

While at IH, I worked with up to 35 people to have each week people be let go for unnamed reasons. I had my health insurance contribution cut dramatically out of nowhere and it was not during an enrollment peroid. It was so someone could pocket more cash.. I wish IH went down because of the economy but it didn't. Yes of course there is cuts at any business during times but I would be OK with that as long as peoples family members were not on the payroll that never worked for us. I would be OK with that if inventory was not transferred to an online company at no cost. but it wasn't. My only thing was IH and the online retailer are owned by the same owners. The things I saw how bikes were being credited that were never paid for.

I am a bicycle mechanic as well and i work for an IBD. I support IBD's not online retailers that don't care about the sport only to capitalize by illegal gains. The online retailer claims to have 100% customers service but in reality it was IH customer service who sent out all the parts. Any little complaint by an online customer putting pedals on the wrong way was covered by IH not the online retailer. As many claims that were put down b/c they are not valid, they were still shipped. We would be charged by the online retailer for shipping damage not UPS. When I saw a post here that " we hope to be your online retailer for bicycles" I was sick. I do understand getting a good price, how could you complain but when IH had IBD's and the online retailer was selling bikes for less than IH was paying for them you see my reaction. You should understand that these small IBD's are the bike industry not online. How about this one. I am an IBD I pay $1400 from IH at my costt price and then the online retailer has it for $1000. How could that be. Its b/c when product is free, you can sell it at any cost.

Also, IH has there recall issues that are not known about b/c each time i tried to have a recall issued. I was ignored, almost lost my job. Here are some of the recalls that should be know about:

IH Maverick Full Suspension frames from 2006-2008 will all break b/c of a weak brace.

IH MKIII 2007 rear swingarms will all crack due to incorrect welding at the factory.

Please help and call the CPSC if you had this issue. http://www.cpsc.gov/about/contact.html


There is no Iron horse warranty on your bikes anymore. The online retailer may be able to break down some bikes to cover this up for a while but they have no pivots kits. They cannot order any frames from the factory anymore.

I read in Outdoor magazine that working at bicycle company was the 4th most enjoying job except at IH.

We had good people, we were bringing the brand back but greedy people did this to IH. From my understanding IH is bankrupt, they have no money, no nothing. There is no office. I had set it up to support DW bikes after the license was over but someone needed money and from what i know about the price of what it was sold for, it was chump change .

I am not an angry employee but a person who believes this needs to be brought up to others to see how it is. I have a job that pays me better than IH so let that me known as well as I enjoy my job way more.

There are so many things I could write but let me end off on this, I cannot be sued for this since it is 100% true. I have documentation to back up all of my claims.

Cliff W. is the reason IH is not here anymore as well as the online retailer that has the "great deals". I am sure that will be over as well. There is no support for you and I apologize. All in All working at IH has helped me meet some really great people like Ska todd and some of you. I had my good times and working at a company like this has shown me who to work for and who not to.

I just figured you guys should know the truth and for those who know me please contact me by PM and leave my name off of this thread.

I am willing to answer any questions you have but if you have a warranty issue I recommend contacting that online retailer and see what speech they have for you already.

The Poster: Wolvesinwolvesclothing was a 100% right in all his post that were removed.

Its a shame someone wants to threaten lawsuits over the truth. Just remember if you want to sue, you have to go on the stand as well. I guess like father like son.

Sell your horse or ride till its dead but from my stand point, I gave my bikes away as well as anything that had to do with IH. I am fine with my direction in life but I am sad for others like an employee who worked for that man for 26 years and got nothing, no appreciation. At one point years ago IH took there pension plan and spent it without the employers knowing it.

Good luck and I hope this clears things up. I know the online retailer sponsors this thread and MTBR and moderators please contact me for confirmation of everything i have written. I can confirm everything and back it up. If this thread is removed, it is because MTBR wants to keep getting paid by a fraud online retailor. I hope this stays but if it doesn't I recommend getting a new bike as well as going to another forum due to the conflict of interests.
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Kanye West

Kanye West

220# bag of hacktastic
Aug 31, 2006
3,741
473
Awesome. Now I have yet another valid reason to laugh at the Sam Hill fanboi's still on Sundays.
 
M

mfreak

Chimp
Feb 12, 2009
34
0
it all to common now a days that someone gets rich and screws there employees and every one that uses there product. and with out people on the inside most would think its the economy the sent then under. it will all come out at some point and time but its going to get good.:popcorn:
 
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S

spliffy

Monkey
Dec 10, 2007
174
0
DURANGO Colorado
This is the best news I have ever recived on this forum. Ironhorse f---ed our shop so bad over the years. We started out great with them, with there support on our pro team back in 06, but stuff with the shop fell apart quick. They billed us for bikes i never ordered or recived, they sent me bikes with broken freewheels and took 4 months to get me replacments. This december i got a call aying we owed them 3700 dollars from an invoice back in 2006. They could not provide me with documentaion about the balance wicth our records showed was payed and or credited. We ended up just paying them once they had a credit agency call. They new we were a small fish in a big see and it would of taken more money and time to fight them in court, for such a small amount. But still 3700 dollars in the middle of winter still hurt. So in all f--ck ironhorse and stew the f--in owner I hope they learned their leason the hard way f--in all their IBD's in the arse.
 
UiUiUiUi

UiUiUiUi

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2003
1,378
0
Berlin, Germany
to me it IS surprising but thats because i stopped caring about IH and the whole "industry news" thang quite some time ago :D

from reading the quote in the first post it seems like IH is gone for really sad reasons.
 
Inclag

Inclag

Turbo Monkey
Sep 9, 2001
2,752
442
MA
People will say they care now, but the online peanut gallery was too enamored with the DW Link bike to recognize how screwed up the company was and that they should not have been supported.

It appears that some of he old IH crew made a good decision leaving when they did.

Our race team received IH sponsorship last year. Honestly, it was a scam, and I'm happy I chose not support the brand and rode something else.
 
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stumpjump

stumpjump

Monkey
Sep 14, 2007
673
0
DC
Its gonig to be a free for all for those of us trying to collect spare parts for the next few years. At least enduro will still keep making their bearing kits so I am keep mine ride alive for a few mroe years.
 
stumpjump

stumpjump

Monkey
Sep 14, 2007
673
0
DC
Its gonig to be a free for all for those of us trying to collect spare parts for the next few years. At least enduro will still keep making their bearing kits so I am keep mine ride alive for a few mroe years or at least I seriously hope.
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
payjota said:
Check this out -
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/buyer-sought-for-iron-horse-as-parent-company-goes-bust-20613
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Two things to consider:

1. What is considered to be a salable asset is becoming a shorter and shorter list every day. Yahoo rejected an offer from Microsoft for $32 a share, now it is $13.

Ironhorse, which no longer sells its best known line of bikes, has no network of dealers, has a reputation for personnel problems, and might be losing their online distributor as well, would be considered a good investment?

2. Let's say there is a buyer for Ironhorse. What is planning on focusing his future business on? Creating a downhill race team? Selling replacements parts for the Sunday? Or selling as many bikes as possible thru the Big Box channel?
 
boogenman

boogenman

Turbo Monkey
Nov 3, 2004
4,317
989
BUFFALO
payjota said:
Check this out -


http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/buyer-sought-for-iron-horse-as-parent-company-goes-bust-20613
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What good is that going to do for IH as a brand? GT and riteway products went through this a few years ago, we all know this. Look at GT now, they still blow. Not many people have hard ons to go out and buy a new GT because the brand name has been through the ringer.

All of the brains behind IH should colaborate and start a new company like the GT boys did with Felt cycles.
 
dante

dante

Unabomber
Feb 13, 2004
8,807
9
looking for classic NE singletrack
boogenman said:
What good is that going to do for IH as a brand? GT and riteway products went through this a few years ago, we all know this. Look at GT now, they still blow. Not many people have hard ons to go out and buy a new GT because the brand name has been through the ringer.

All of the brains behind IH should colaborate and start a new company like the GT boys did with Felt cycles.
Click to expand...
they did. ;)
 
sanjuro

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
This seems like an opportunity for a company like Enduro to sell replacement axles/bushing as well as the bearings...
 
chic06

chic06

Chimp
Sep 16, 2008
45
0
This sucks i love my Iron horse and their customer service was always awesome for me. Gonna ride it till it snaps.
 
J

JKS

Chimp
Feb 26, 2008
50
0
No wonder Sam left for specialized, he knew he wouldn't get paid this year if he didn't.:greedy:
 
stumpjump

stumpjump

Monkey
Sep 14, 2007
673
0
DC
Few of those shops are the quality of enduro. They stand behind their name and are all about serious qualituy.
 
pinkshirtphotos

pinkshirtphotos

site moron
Jul 5, 2006
4,840
565
Vernon, NJ
Sounds like a bunch of evil. I knew it was really bad for some time now just never went into asking how bad. So glad I sold my sunday at the beginning of last season, I got a good bit of money for it. I have a feeling sundays and mk3s will flood the classified section in the next year.
 
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