Recommendation Rescinded

Optec, Inc. Do not do business with them. If you have done so in the past, I think you should stop. If you haven't, then don't start. Nothing good will come of it.

"What's going on?" you may ask. Well, glad you did.

A few months ago the company - owned and operated by Jerry Persha since it's inception back in the late 1970's - was bought by an ex-employee of his. Now, Jerry could have declined to sell, but sell the company he did.

Almost immediately the changes began. People were let go, and this guy brought in his own people. I had stopped by a month ago, and there was a strange person sitting at my friend Ron's desk (Ron is the head of the manufacturing and machining there). I saw two others I didn't know, and since I was in suddenly unfamiliar territory, I beat a hasty retreat.

I know that when a new boss/owner comes in changes are inevitable. I used to work in the retail business, and that happened all the time.

For part of his "payment" Jerry only comes in a few days a week, and has given up all say in the running of his former company. In fact, at the end of the year, he will be out completely.

So today, my friend Ron calls. He's been fired.

Yep, you read that correctly. Fired.

Fired from a job he's had since Optec put in a machine shop. There was no machine shop before Ron was there. Ron single-handedly did the programming of the mills, lathes, and other equipment that manufactured the Optec line of goods.

It's quite a shock. But my Dad told me that the new owner was probably planning on doing this all the time, to get rid of anyone from when Jerry owned the business. And after thinking about it, he's right.

This clown that owns it now used to be, like I said, a former employee of Jerry's. He left of his own volition because he couldn't stand the way Jerry ran things (Jerry was a stickler for doing things "his way" and this guy didn't like that). So he's probably holding a grudge, even though he quit. So now that he's got the company away from Jerry, he's going to run it as he thinks it should be run. And that means getting rid of anything from the past.

And I dont' know how smart that is. I've heard through the grapevine that their sales have been waaay down. And why not? People don't know this new owner. They've dealt with Jerry and Ron for decades. And now some new person comes in? I know I wouldn't trust him.

So there you have it. I will not recommend that anyone who needs astronomical, visual, or any other types of equipment of the like buy from Optec. Shop elsewhere.

So anyone out there need a journeyman tool & die maker? Someone with over 20 years experience? I know someone for you.

(And oh yeah.... anyone need a photographer? I'm available).