More notes from a TW member re Cascadia
The response to the CVT group buy from the TacomaWorld and Expedition Portal communities has been astounding!
CVT is a small company. Their business IS their customer base. I know firsthand that Bobby wants all of his customers to be happy. He is not happy with the current turn of events. He discovered a minor manufacturing flaw with stitching on the new Summit Series tents. Instead of knowingly shipping the defective product out to his customers, he pulled EVERY tent out and fixed them. BY HAND. In house. This caused a substantial delay in shipped product.
While Bobby is the face of the company (events, videos, online), Jamie has been working relentlessly behind the scenes on the logistics. Needless to say, it hasn't been a walk in the park for anyone involved. CVT's main concern is getting product to their customers. The manufacturing was delayed, the shipping was delayed, and the most important piece, getting the product in their customers' hands, was delayed.
So...There are a LOT of questions floating around this thread. I will do my best to answer them.
Where is my tent?
If you ordered a standard tent, chances are you already received it! There are a lot of standard tan models in stock.
Where is my Summit Series tent?
There was a manufacturing delay which caused a cascading delay down the line. The Summit Series is a brand new product and the timing of the group buy was supposed to correlate with the new product launch. Again, the shipping delay caused issues down the line.
Bobby wanted to include the Summit Series in the group buy discount. That's relatively unheard of for a brand new product that is in-demand. He loves his customers and wants to make them happy. That is his driving force for being in business (he's driving to Moab, Utah as we speak to hang out with everyone!). Not getting the tents in your hands is driving him crazy. He's working to get it rectified.
Why is shipping so expensive?
CVT tents must be shipped by freight. It's expensive, unfortunately. For those who have worked in the shipping industry, you know what I mean. For those that haven't, please realize shipping includes handling, fuel, drivers, drop locations, etc.
Why isn't group shipping way cheaper?
It takes approximately 2 hours to build a pallet, load it properly, and wrap it correctly. It is cheaper, but it still has to be shipped by freight. See above for freight costs!
The Summit Series tents weigh more than the standard series does. Heavier materials and a new, heavy-duty floor add to the weight. Bobby has fought to keep shipping to a minimum. Fun fact: CVT breaks even (even pays out!) on shipping...it's not a money-making venture by any means.
In summary...
CVT is a small, family-owned and operated business that loves its customers without reserve. They are working tirelessly (Jamie has been at the shop burning midnight oil) to catch up on orders, ship the orders, and manage the onslaught of new tents arriving from the Port several times a week.
So, please be patient with them! You are their reason for being in business. #cvtfamily They love y'all and want to get your products out to you. If you want to order a standard series tent (it's still a heavy duty, rugged tent!!), they have plenty available in stock and ready to ship.
The Summit Series tents are arriving weekly. The SS green is slated to be here first (currently on the boat). The SS tan is just a tad behind the green.
The SS gray is the farthest out. The grays are expected no earlier than mid-July.
CVT is not going to ship a defective product. When the new SS tents get in, they will be QCd in house.
