Neil Emiro's Retirement Email
This is the email in which the closure of ND Performance was announced.
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 10:46:24 -0700
From: neil@ndperformance.com
To: fmpml@ListService.net, shelby-dodge@ListService.net, eek@majordomo.net
Hello All-
The ongoing argument on FMPML has not gone un-noticed
by me. I have read carefully every email. First off, I'm not an idiot,
so do not even for a minute feel that you are pulling one over on
me. I have had many good experiences with people in the course
of the past four years of ND Performance. The friends I have made
from it I will always treasure. Unfortunately, due to apparant
market demand, we are now closed to the 2.2/2.5 market,
indefinitely. We will accept no new orders.
That being said, I will now address a few items. There is
certainly more than one way to make power. We will not go into
the various methods. Those who advocate certain methods have
always been on the war path against our products, and
underlyingly, myself. We won't be polite and cover it up now, you
out there know who you are. But, being in business, you accept
these things, and go on, knowing that you are offering a good and
useful product. No, you can not make every customer happy.
Some customers will not use the product as it was intended.
Sometimes there are hidden variables that no one can see, and the
combination results in a failed engine. Automatically, the finger is
pointed to the 'black box' where unknown magic happens.
As for timeslips and dyno numbers, I have a different
philosophy than most for this. My idealogy is simple. Do not
compete with your customers. Let their results speak for your
work. And, you know, it has worked quite well for us. That's why
we build strange off the wall projects like the CSX-ND and the Neon-
ND. Customers like Ed Peters, Jerry Caviani, Mike Quattro and
others can post the dyno numbers. Various others like Dan
Carson can post the timeslips. For us, we know exactly what our
cars run, what power they make, etc. I refuse to post. I will not
build a car with visibly the same parts that you or I can go to the
other suppliers and buy, and then run faster than you. What does
that look like? Looks like I have more tricks in the 'black box' than
you. Looks like I may be holding out on you! Not good. So that's
that. Don't argue this with me, my mind is made up on it.
Service. Let's talk about service. For three years, I had quit
my regular job, and eeked out a living trying to serve you the
customer the best I could. And you know what? We did a good
job. Most computers were turned around in one day. ONE DAY.
Yes, there were some unusual cases where a box would hang
around for extended periods. There were a few we should have
gotten done sooner. However, most of the ones that hung around
for months at a time were sitting there due to lack of payment! No
one will 'fess up to that, will they? About a year ago, business was
slowing for the winter season, as it does every year. It was at this
time we decided (Donna and I) that we wanted a change. That
change was no more 100 hour weeks (yes, 100, 7 days a week).
No more phone calls for tech support at 2 am. No more calls
during dinner. We wanted a more normal lifestyle. You know, 8-5,
M-F type of a thing. That brought us to Phoenix, where I now work
for a great comapny. This also meant that ND could no longer be a
priority. Soon, work became quite involved, and travel increased. I
am in D.C. (OK, I'm in San Fransisco right now) about as much as
I am in Phoenix. Any other time is on an airplane it seems. When
work is done, what do you like to do? For me, it's family time. Oh,
and yes, I still do like my cars. Oh, and I have to get ND in there
too. Wow! My friends think I never stop. As the Army people I
now work with say, "There's plenty of time to rest, when you're
dead." That about sums it up there.
It's a shame to me, to see people I thought were friends, so
passionately lashing out against me. It hurts, but then again,
that's the idea, isn't it? I'm not an idiot. I'm not oblivious, and out
of touch with you guys either. I've been watching this brew for quite
some time. And you know what? I don't have time for it. There's
much more to my life than a petty Internet argument, and for
people whose worlds revolve around a car and a keyboard. For
those out there who have stood up for ND time and time again, you
are not forgotten either. I always remember.
So, in closing, we are now closed. Perhaps someone who is
not part of this politcal debate, and has more time than me will
step up to the plate to service this market. We will no longer
accept any new orders. We will finish the orders that we have, and
service the modules that are out there already. If any of you out
there have a shread of honor, you'll let this thread die. Go back to
talking about how to make your car better and faster. And, that's
all I have to say about that.....
Neil Emiro
ND Performance
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