Fletcher F-6100 CMC - No Longer made?

Curly's Mom

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Nov 11, 2000
Posts
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Loc
Morristown, NJ
What's up with this? I received a letter from Fletcher Terry today notifying me that they "will no longer manufacture and sell the F-6100" after April 30, 2003.
They aledgedly will keep selling parts, service and honoring warantees and are completing a software upgrade, but no more machines. Parts will be "made available for 7 years" according to the letter. Is this another death knell for a big company? Anyone else receive this letter? Any one from Fletcher have any other comments? :confused:
 
Hey Ron - better move over, it's about to get crowded! You're about to become the source of sage advise on how to cope
 
Originally posted by Judy Nansel:
......They are probaby trimming things that are not profitable for them and will stick with the things that have always made them money.
Absolutely right on, Judy. The Fletcher-Terry Company has been around for over 135 years, by making sound business decisions, and that's exactally what this is. Despite the fact that they've placed 100's of F-6100 CMC's across North America, the technology market is a small fraction of what the <u>Fletcher-Terry</u> Company does, and they have decided to focus on their core products.

You should feel secure Curly, in that the seven year commitment on parts for your F-6100 is part of Fletcher's policy on all products that they have produced and manufactured. Hey, you can even order spare parts for your F-3000 online!

As an F-6100 owner, I can tell you that I'm very happy with my decision, and that if anyone wants to sell theirs, keep me in mind......I might be looking for a second machine in about 18 months. (We're looking at opening a second location.) I'll wager that there exist alot of other F-6100 owners who would be unlikely to trade in their CMC for any other brand!

For those that do have questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Joseph Never, Sales Manager. You can phone him at 1-800-THE-FTCO (1-800-843-3826) or E-mail him: <u>nevers@fletcher-terry.com</u>

Sincerely,

John
(Consultant to The Fletcher-Terry Company)
 
John,

I haven't received the notice yet, but have heard that FramerSolutions will no longer be available. Is that true?

[ 03-31-2003, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: Mel ]
 
Mel,

Also true, that it is being retired, as part of the technology group. See this discussion on the main Grumble, Framer Solutions is GONE.

Regards,

John

[ 03-31-2003, 03:57 PM: Message edited by: John Ranes II, CPF, GCF ]
 
Haha, guess who has been on vacation!

After posting this, I went on to the main Grumble and saw that thread, then hurried back here to delete my post, but you, John, are too quick for me. Thanks for answering, though, and one more question while I have you. When is the cutoff date?
 
I had heard about the demise of the Fletcher-6100 about 1 1/2 months ago, but thought it just a rumour at the time. How unfortunate! :(

Although less than impressed with the 6100, I've always been a big fan of Fletcher. Perhaps there are plans for a nother/better machine down the line? :confused:
 
Just hold on to your hats it has only begun to rain. Times are getting tighter and and the squeeze is on. If it is not profitable or lower than other margins, off with its head. We are in what you call a consolidation period. More companies will close than open. More products will disappear than are introduced. So sad. Lets just wish the best to the ones who don't manage to last.
 
Originally posted by Mel:
.............Thanks for answering, though, and one more question while I have you. When is the cutoff date?
Mel, From what I understand,
FramerSolutions
will honor all orders received on or before April 30th.

Regards,

John
 
Disapointing to see such a demise yet I have to admit I am impressed with Fletcher "stepping up to the plate" and admitting that they do not have a good enough product to compete in the market, that takes guts.

It's good to see a range of pnuematic guns out that I can be sure to rely on!
 
Lance,

It’s unfortunate when uninformed comments such as yours are put forward on a forum such as this. The Fletcher-Terry F-6100 computer mat cutter was never placed in the New Zealand market and thus you are highly unlikely to have any knowledge of the machine. I assume you are jumping to conclusion.

There have not been any statements about the F-6100 being not good enough for the market and most of the hundreds and hundreds of owners would tell you it is probably the best CMC at cutting mats.

A common joke over the past years:

Question: Who can pack a RENTAL CMC into its box fastest?

Answer: The Fletcher-Terry technician!!

(The Fletcher-Terry technician came with the machine for setup and training)

Many, perhaps most, of those buying the F-6100 were replacing a disappointing rental machine. I was one of many to send the rental back and buy an F-6100. I wanted a quality cut - I found it with the F-6100.

When demonstrating the F-6100 at trade shows we would challenge framers to have the other CMC’s cut an oval and a vee groove and every time the F-6100 would produce a superior cut. Perfect oval and vee grooves every time – no emery boards or Xacto knife required.

In the past 5 years my F-6100 has cut close to 100,000 mats and has required almost no maintenance. The only adjustments since day 1 were when I needed to cut unusual types of mats.

The F-6100 is a first class CMC. It will be removed from the market as a business discussion.

An interesting note: I have had 2 phone calls and 1 email asking me if I would sell my
F-6100 since the announcement of it being discontinued.

I’ll be keeping mine.

[ 04-01-2003, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: John Gornall CPF ]
 
Lance,

Let's not confuse making an informed business decision with "admitting that they do not have a good enough product to compete in the market". I don't have insider information, but it's safe to say ..... The announcement regarding the F-6100 has nothing to do with product quality; and has everything to do with data necessary to make an informed business decision.

Manufacturers make informed business decisions to stop production of quality products all the time when the market is not there. There aren't as many buyers looking to purchase upper-end vehicles as there are buyers looking for just a car. Because Ford stopped production of the Excursion doesn't mean that the vehicle is not a quality product. It does mean that the market was less than initially expected after a reasonable length of time. There is a greater market for less expensive automobiles than there is for the more expensive luxury vehicles. It doesn't appear that the market for picture framing tools is much different; other than there are significantly fewer picture framers than automobile purchasers.

Even after hearing this announcement, I don't regret our decision to purchase an F-6100. Spare parts will be available for quite a while, as will service and support. In 3 years, our only maintenance expense has been the cost of a fuse. Resale value is less now, but that only matters if I am wanting to sell the machine. It's like selling stocks when the value drops.... it's not a loss until you actually sell the stock.
 
Please note the use of the word "market". I realise that some may wish my comment to be negative so as they can defend the quality of the machine (which I do not doubt). Of course any owner will tout the abilities and quality of the machine, any owner who does not has made a poor choice in machinery for their particular business.
 
Not to rain on anybody's parade, but what happens in seven years and eight months when that part you need is no longer availabe? Frankly, I would be pretty upset if I were a Fletcher owner.
 
"Disapointing to see such a demise yet I have to admit I am impressed with Fletcher "stepping up to the plate" and admitting that they do not have a good enough product to compete in the market, that takes guts." - Lance

I hate to cause dissention in the ranks, but I have to agree with the SPIRIT of Lance's comments above...

With Fletcher's longevity, experience, fantastic reputation and overall quality, it must be painfully obvious to all, that somewhere they have made a terrible error with their CMC - that somehow, the 6100 has proven itself to be "not good enough"...

Whether this error has been in design, marketing, pricing, timing, or a combination thereof remains to be seen; we mere mortals may have our suspicions but, indeed, we may never know the truth...

Regardless, the folks at Fletcher have obviously seen the proverbial writing on the wall. And it is here that Lance has hit the nail on the head: it is commendable to have the forsight and courage for the company to have cut its losses short - to have pulled the product off the market, before the product pulls the company down.

In the interim, my sincerest best wishes to you 6100 owners! I truly hope each of your machines will pay for itself many many times over, before you have to deal with this latest news!!! :eek:
 
What "writing on the wall" could Fletcher have seen, that made them give up their most advanced product?

I doubt that quality was the problem. My F-6100 is a very good machine, and I've heard no negative comments from other F-6100 owners. I plan to keep it a long time -- probably well past the time Fletcher will provide support. Someone will help us keep our F-6100s humming along for at least a decade, hopefully.

Fletcher is a good company and a huge contributor to our industry. It's unfortunate that they couldn't find a way to keep the F-6100 program alive until it could serve its highest purpose. That is, to serve as a cornerstone for Fletcher's participation in products embracing new framing technology.

I fear that Fletcher is not only giving up a CMC product. They also seem to be giving up their position as a leader in framing equipment innovation.
 
I think the end of the Fletcher CMC program has less to do with the quality of the product than the acceptance of the product in a competitive market. The leasing option by Wizard makes it a very attractive product and in a market where the typical operator generally doesn't make large scale capital expenses at any level has probably more to do with the termination of this division of Fletcher.

I think a more appropriate comment might be they didn't lose the battle because of an inferior product, but lost it because the failed to market the product appropriately. Perhaps the product was too good for the average framer and that level of framer that appreciated the quality and benefits of their product was simply too small to support the costs of production?
 
I have re-read my post and figure that it does not quite read the way I intended, as others have said the market was either not there or not found for this product which lead to it's demise. A seven year commitment to support is pretty darned good in today’s market, but really what is there to go wrong with the things anyhow?

For those who chose to be offended please understand that I was not "slating" the product, or the company.
 
Fletcher made an outstanding CMC and it's too bad that it's not going to be made any more. I suspect there'll be a thriving market anytime someone has to sell theirs. The people exhaling the loudest are probably the other CMC companies and the smart ones among them will review their own business in light of Fletcher's bold move.

I always wondered when the other CMC companies were going to get into the Wizard rental market, instead of maintaining the more traditional lease/purchase options only. THAT has been the real key for Wizard's early success, seems to me, and their nice new product will just cement them in further into the market. You can easily justify not making a (relatively) expensive equipment purchase, but you really can't justify NOT renting a CMC.
 
Frameconscience,

I thought I would pipe in here. My job is certainly easier now that Fletcher-Terry has decided to re-focus on their core businesses, but I do not believe the 6100 CMC was a failure nor is Fletcher abandoning their Model 6100 customers. In fact I believe they have gone out of their way to ensure that their customers are “taken care of” for several years to come.

CMC’s are technology products, and as such constant investment in updates and upgrades are required in order to keep the technology current. Fletcher simply made a business decision to invest their resources in areas more closely aligned with their traditional core competencies. This Company did not get to be 100+ years old by making decisions that run their customers off. Unfortunately a business will occasionally find its self in the position of making a financial decision that may not sit well with ever single customer, but on the whole they protect the overall business and act in the best interest of the majority of their customers and their shareholders.

I think Fletcher took the high ground here in announcing their path forward while making a long-term commitment to their existing customers, their approach is not the common one in any industry. From my perspective I know for a fact that they made us develop into a better Company, and the owners of our new Model 8000 CMC can thank Fletcher for pushing us into creating the next generation Wizard.

The Model 6100 is a product Fletcher can be very proud of, and the owners of these machines can be happy they have a quality tool for their business.

[ 04-28-2003, 06:14 PM: Message edited by: WizardEdd ]
 
Very Nicely said Edd.

Is it hard to type when you're giggling? :D
 
Jerry,

I'd be lying if I said that I wish Fletcher was still making the 6100, however, I do believe that having a strong competitor helps to keep you on your toes. No problem there though, Eclipse would be happy to see us rest on our laurels.
 
All I can say is "What a shame".
As the Fletcher CMC's were only made for the American market I was living in hope that one might one-day make its way 'down under'.
I was so looking forward to having a play with yours John (I mean the CMC!!)when I was supposed to be in Appleton in February, but by the sounds of all the positive vibes regarding the machine there will be plenty around on my next visit to the US.

Not to say we are unhappy with our Eclipse and Gunnar CMC's - but the Fletcher sounded like a real winner!
 
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