I just wanted to apologize to anyone that had their account locked on ARFCOM for defending G&R Tactical and to say thank you for doing so. As many of you have most likely figured out that they do not want to hear another POV if it differs from the “agenda” they are trying to put forward. This should tell you guys a lot about them.
I also wanted to address the comment that they really didn’t have that e-mail for over two years. The fact of the matter is that, the owner of that company in the e-mail is non other than a senior staff member on ARFCOM. So not only did Juan have this e-mail for over two years, but so did one of his senior staff! This staff members company is a competitor of G&R Tactical’s and is simply interested in trying damage G&R’s reputation in order to cut his competition.
It is my opinion that the two main purposes of that thread on ARFCOM is to seek revenge and to steer people away from the beating they were taking over the LW screw up.
This post was for information sharing purposes and I do not want to see anyone bashing ARFCOM please.
Grant, I was one of the first to respond on the Arfcom thread. After that initial response I kept my mouth shut, mainly because I had no direct knowlege, and all I could contribute would be heat without light. There seemed to be enough of that without my contributing to it.
I will say here what I said there – I have not done a HUGE amount of business with you, but what I have done has been handled in a professional and curteous manner. While your prices may not always be the absolute rock bottom that I can find, I can and will pay a little extra to deal with someone who has earned my trust. I also believe that the constant war of attrition between small vendors undercutting each others prices is not healthy in the long run, as its a pretty good recipe for all of them going out of business.
I also said that if they (Arfcom staff) believe that there has been a price fixing cartel in operation, or under discussion, that its not their place to ty to fix it by the means they have employed - there are laws against that, and that is the route that should have been used.
Of course, I don’t believe that the “evidence” produced amounted to price fixing – to me it appeared to be simply a recognition of what I stated above about unhealthy competition, and an attempt to reach a consensus on price levels which were fair to vendors and customers.
I do believe that there is a LOT more to this whole affair than is apparent from the Arfcom threads, and probably even what I have read here. However, I also believe that most of it probaby isn’t my business, and shouldn’t have to be my business.
I sincerely hope that this site succeeds, and that when things stabilize we end up with two complimentary sites, each with its own character, and as different as they are similar. That, IMHO, will be a direct benefit to the members of both.
Two thoughts. On your first sentence - if it’s true, you know Grant won’t be able to directly respond to that until he gets it cleared with lawyers. Hopefully, this will be cleared up and he can tell us all.
I agree on the last sentence. It would seem the LW issue and this one are very much related but several have been banned over there for saying that.
I know the truth is more centered in Grant than in Juan on this issue.
The timing of the new bash Grant thread with the LW thing is very hard to ignore and I think people who are on the fence are beginning to see the light.
People who are on Juan’s side are only there because of a financial interest.
I think it really is a shame this had to shake out this way.
Many should understand the true motivations for Goatboy posting such a thread in a tech forum.
(1.) M4carbine.net- Goatboy is very upset that M4carbine was even started. He realizes it is a threat. Not that it will ever be as big as ARF considering most of ARF’s true traffic is in the GD forums anyway but one look at the rapid growth and Industry participation and you can understand why. I feel the ARFOM thread is just a backhanded way of attacking M4carbine and the individuals that started it.
(3.) Revenge - Goatboy has already stated several times that he felt certain members were participating in the ARFCOM Paul Leitner-Wise/Hipfiredgun fiasco to attack ARFCOM. Personally, I find this ridiculous and insulting. The timing of the thread just seems more than coincidental.
(3.) Goatboy(Juan Avilia) and C4iGrant (Grant Timberlake) truly do “Dislike” each other over the 3rdtk issue and Grants banning from ARF. It has only spiraled down hill from there. It is just a continuation of their little war that I want nothing to do with. I had a peace settlement worked out, but that apparently went down the tubes right after the ARFCOM thread was posted.
Personally, I’m done with this issue. I have far more important things to worry about.
I was banned, and I didn’t even take a side. I’m not entirely sure what happened with Grant & the posted email and I don’t really care. I only pointed out that he wasn’t banned for the email but for a separate unrelated issue, and I wanted to know why they felt they needed to bring the posted email out at this juncture.
In fact, I think that I was actually banned for my posts on THIS board regarding arfcom knowing which side their bread is buttered on.
They didn’t even have the decency to send me an email explaining why I was locked. I have no idea what COC I violated. If anyone has an email address for Aimless, Goatboy, or TBK please send me a PM.
I was banned but I really don’t care. It just give me a reason not to go there. I was banned for saying the whole bringing up G&R by Juan was a diversion from the LW issue.
This thread was for Grant to explain his side - due to his lock on ARF.com
Please dont use it as a soapbox to badmouth ARF.com
IF you dont like what ARF has done – simply dont login or visit it - its that simple.
IMHO the best way to affect change is not to create mutual hatred…
Playing juvenile games makes everyone look like an idiot.