LeBaron Bonney Co.

[HalcyonDays]

Back in August a few people voiced concerns about the future of LeBaron Bonney Company has anyone had any recent dealings with the company?

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by HalcyonDays

Back in August a few people voiced concerns about the future of LeBaron Bonney Company has anyone had any recent dealings with the company?

Yep.

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Yep.

And...?

[Merc Cruzer]

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248819

[37 Coupe]

What a shame.My dad would deal with LeBarron Bonney in the sixties and sometimes Lee Atherton himself would be on the phone. My mom always kidded dad when he would get a call or a package from "Bonney". I dealt with them 11-12 years ago last time and it was a good catalog and good products and communications,this was for an early V8 Ford. Luckily all I need on the Model A for now is the panel that covers seat back springs in rumble seat compartment. Catalog online is very confusing to me with Hampton Coach Chevy products intertwined.

[midgetracer]

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I used to love dealing with LB. New management not so much. After the last snafu I will go elsewhere next time.

[Synchro909]

Sounds like some one doesn't mind losing a heap of money. Why do people buy a company, then run it into the ground? Incompetence? Stupid? What?
I've dealt with LB and thought they were a good mob to work with. I don't think I'd bother trying them now.

[HalcyonDays]

What alternatives are there?

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by HalcyonDays

What alternatives are there?

Classtique not to be confused with Cartouche.
https://www.classtiqueupholstery.com/


Bob

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by Bob C

Classtique not to be confused with Cartouche.
https://www.classtiqueupholstery.com/


Bob

Bob is right. Tom Wesenberg in the Minneapolis area has said in the past, that Model A owners he knew bought interiors from Classtique and were very pleased with fit, finish, AND customer assistance.

They look like the ones to check out.

https://www.classtiqueupholstery.com/

[Terry, NJ]

Classic or Classtique ???? from Wisconsin or Minnesota, I've heard a lot of good things about them and they were a little cheaper the L-B. I answer to the question of why companies get sold and then they are "Run into the ground". There're a lot of reasons. Paying hard money for something as ephemeral as "good Will" which can evaporate with one or two wrong words. Start up costs (Rent, taxes)were a lot less than now so the original owner had less of a "Nut" to make.The owner's specialized knowledge of vendors, suppliers,etc, developed over the years may not be passed along. This may be critical to the business' survival. Imagine if you were suddenly the owner of say, Brattons or any of our vendors. The inventory alone would be daunting. Then, The new owner's just may not be serious about the business, Actually running the business may be far different than it appeared before the transaction. There are more and different reasons, I just listed a few.
Terry

Originally Posted by HalcyonDays

What alternatives are there?

[Ted Duke]

Originally Posted by HalcyonDays

What alternatives are there?

Call Mike at https://www.classtiqueupholstery.com/
He does beautiful work and meets his time estimates.


Ted

[denis4x4]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Sounds like some one doesn't mind losing a heap of money. Why do people buy a company, then run it into the ground? Incompetence? Stupid? What?

In the early to the mid seventies, major companies were scouring the SEMA show looking for companies to buy in the high performance industry. Very simply, these hot rod equipment companies were very profitable. The prevailing thinking by the corporations was that if some guy with a high school education could make this kind of money making exhaust headers, think how much more money you could make with MBA's running the outfit.


While major corporations brought business knowledge and lots of capitol to the table, they lacked the knowledge of their customers and the passion of the founder and therefore failed. There were more than a few guys that bought their businesses back for pennies on the dollar.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Why do people buy a company, then run it into the ground? Incompetence? Stupid? What?
.

Originally Posted by denis4x4

While major corporations brought business knowledge and lots of capitol to the table, they lacked the knowledge of their customers and the passion of the founder and therefore failed. There were more than a few guys that bought their businesses back for pennies on the dollar.

There is some truth in this however there is often another side in this from what I hear in seminars, --that while it is unethical and illegal, it happens WAY too often in business sales in that the books are 'cooked' to represent an inflated P&L.


While many will be quick to say that this is fraud and rarely done, nothing could be further from the truth regarding the 'rarely done' part from what my banker and CPA tell me. Sometimes it can be found beforehand thru a full-audit however someone who is shrewd with the books can make this virtually undetectable until well after the sale has been consummated. Even when it has been discovered, an undercapitalized company generally does not have the funding to contest this in court. I would be interested to hear what Bill Underwood says in his experience with this type thing.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

There is some truth in this however there is often another side in this from what I hear in seminars, --that while it is unethical and illegal, it happens WAY too often in business sales in that the books are 'cooked' to represent an inflated P&L.


While many will be quick to say that this is fraud and rarely done, nothing could be further from the truth regarding the 'rarely done' part from what my banker and CPA tell me. Sometimes it can be found beforehand thru a full-audit however someone who is shrewd with the books can make this virtually undetectable until well after the sale has been consummated. Even when it has been discovered, an undercapitalized company generally does not have the funding to contest this in court. I would be interested to hear what Bill Underwood says in his experience with this type thing.

It happens lots -When I was buying my practice I learned very quickly not to believe the figures I was given. Turn over looks great if you are banking your own checks . I always used to just ask for the appointment book -Interestingly some guys were seeing 5 patients a day and putting through enough cash to have seen 60. You do get the other situation where the owners have a profitable business which they siphon cash out of into their back pocket. All good until Uncle Sam catches them or they try to sell their business (sometimes both at the same time) The books, of course, look dreadful and they wonder why they can't sell -Karl

[WHN]

I have sold two very successful businesses over the last 25 years. In each case the new owners ran them into the ground within a couple of years. New owners think they have a better idea of how things should be done than the old owners. Especially, if the previous owner is older!

95 percent of businesses are sold under duress. Look at Mac’s. Whether you liked them or not, they have changed since being sold. For the better?

[ursus]

I ran a successful business for 25 years during which time I was fortunate to have assembled a loyal and talented staff. When I announced my retirement the owners decided to sell the business. The new owners were clueless and treated the employees so poorly that many soon quit. That business went belly up within two years.

[kbinde2]

My initial order for a '29 Special Coupe interior was placed Feb, 2018. With almost weekly phone/email conversation, the kit arrived in August. Material in the kit was back-ordered from the supplier, and when finally received the dye (material color) did not meet LB specs, which caused supply delays.
I did stick with the original order, which eventually did arrive, was installed (after cutting and fitment adjustments), and all turned out well.
IMO.. another "experience" in Model A ownership, I'm sure we all have a few.!! kb

[28Ca8149]

I got a complete kit for a 30Fordor .I got a lady that had done several cars to lnstall it. She made many phone calls to the Co as she had to add material to get it to fit when doing the seats.about three months later we found out that the seat springs that a big supplier sold me were too high and I had to wire down the springs For some reason All these repo parts don,t fit .There was nothing wrong with the kit it was very good .Allso bought a new rad and the spout is 3/8” too high . I manufacture a few things and If it is not better than the original one I won’t sell it .

[HalcyonDays]

I did check with Mike at Classtique, unfortunately they do not do the Convertible Sedan...