Defiance sold to Bob Beck

[Sako76]

Wasn't McMillan supposed be on financial hardship before Beck bought them?

 

[SDHNTR]

One would think so.. but the whole thing with airing a TV hunting episode in which he kills 2 deer in ID, explains how to get 2 deer tags in ID, but knows full well he only purchased 1 tag and tagged 1 of the 2 deer, makes me question if it is possible.

Can you post video? I’ve read about this but haven’t seen it. The dude does seem to be a blowhard and quite full of himself. Unilaterally concerned only with the filming of the trophy shot, zero apparent regard for the meat, respect for the animal or sanctity of the hunt. JMO.

 

[BBob]

Wasn't McMillan supposed be on financial hardship before Beck bought them?

That’s a story that was peddled here and there at the time. Seems it worked before so why not again? The McMillan’s were getting old and likely it was time to retire and sellout. Same I’m sure goes for Harrison, he’s been around for a long time so probably time for him to get on with it too. I’ll bet both of those companies were profitable just not as profitable as Beck and Co want them to be and they smell more $$$

 

[SDHNTR]

That’s a story that was peddled here and there at the time. Seems it worked before so why not again? The McMillan’s were getting old and likely it was time to retire and sellout. Same I’m sure goes for Harrison, he’s been around for a long time so probably time for him to get on with it too. I’ll bet both of those companies were profitable just not as profitable as Beck and Co want them to be and they smell more $$$

I don’t fault a man for being a capitalist! But a poacher? Get a rope!

 

[BBob]

I don’t fault a man for being a capitalist! But a poacher? Get a rope!

Well in this economy I’m sure they needed some sort of an increase and more manufacturers will follow but yeah that seemed to be a pretty big jump.

 

[wind gypsy]

Can you post video? I’ve read about this but haven’t seen it.

This happened over a decade ago, ive no idea if the episode is still out there. Which makes me feel obligated to point out the obvious, it's not always reasonable to judge someone currently based on actions from over a decade ago.

 

[Ryan Avery]

You know people who shot animals they didn't have tags for, never bought a tag for, didn't self report, and then aired it on TV, and only got a slap on wrist?

I did some reading to refresh on the story. From what I gather from news reports and statements from Bob, the facts are the following:

• Bob shot 2 whitetails in ID on film for his TV show but he only had 1 deer tag
• He did not purchase a second tag for the second deer after the fact. He stated that when he got home to Oregon he looked through his office for a missing second tag which didn't exist.
• Bob still aired the episode of both deer getting shot and the episode even included him explaining how you can buy 2 deer tags in ID, knowing that he shot a deer on that episode without having a tag for it.

Disputed details:

• It was reported in articles that Bob never tagged the first deer and instead put the tag on the second deer which would make the violation much more egregious to me. Bob disputed this and said he tagged the first deer and was later surprised to not have a 2nd tag that he thought he bought. I never saw this driven to ground definitively but based on the other chain of events and his statements, no way I'd take Bob's word for it.

With how ID licenses at least used to work when you could buy a second, I can see how a guy who buys two every year could forget to buy a second and make the mistake thinking they had 2 because they always did previously. It's a stupid mistake to make but we all make dumb mistakes occasionally. However, I have a hard time giving Bob the benefit of doubt after being so bold as to air an episode killing a deer that the state can obviously see you never had a tag for and even explain the regulations on the episode!

If that is the truth? No, I don’t know anyone that has happened to. It’s been a few years since I read the court doc. From what I had read Bob had a printed receipt but didn’t validate the tag. I do know several people that have gotten warning for this. If that’s not the case he got what he deserved.

 

[OSU Fisher]

The price increases are pretty extreme. I couldn’t believe the tenacity at almost 1600 bucks. I’m not a bob fan. I won’t do business if it benefits him. I don’t judge people that do. We all can make our own choices. I just know to much history. We are from the same ish area. Before his big time hunting/shooting stuff he had other financial ventures. Some become successful by being great people and running a good honest business. Some get there by stepping on everyone’s heads and being selfish….. the poaching thing wasn’t right. I fully believe he knew what he was doing. I also believe it wasn’t the first or last. He has a stupid amount of opportunities. His tv show drives me crazy. A lot of real tough back country hunting…. In the end there’s other options out there for me. We will see how the market takes the changes. I think they will make it. Enough don’t care where there $ goes. And then you have their sponsorship…. Me, I have morals and care about who I support.

 

[wind gypsy]

I have no dog in the fight and anyone can read my opinion from a business standpoint on whats going on on the SH thread. I own no Defiance actions although I've had several, and wouldn't buy any of their current offerings over others on the market price increase or not.

With that said, I'm not sure it's completely fair to bring the poaching incident into this. Bob was called out, charged and I'm sure it was an embarrassing moment for him and still continues to be. The judicial system is designed in theory to be corrective, not to mention the court of public opinion he went through. So unless something happened after the fact that suggests he continues to engage in illegal activity then I think it's fair to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's in check, but that's not to say it should be forgotten. He's made himself quite successful so unless he's just incredibly lucky I would say it's safe to assume he's the kind of person that learns. I'm sure as **** not going to sit here and say I never did anything wrong and said things to get out of it, I think most of us have at some point but some of us learn the consequences of that whether we got away with it or not.

Regardless the fait of Defiance is still concerning given that there are consumers and dealers who have deposits in that may not be able to absorb those losses if the ship sinks which we have seen several companies do in this industry.

Is the defiance machine user name on the 'hide Eric Stecker?

 

[BBob]

Is the defiance machine user name on the 'hide Eric Stecker?

Eric Stecker is/was the President of Berger Bullets. He’s the grandson of Walt Berger.

But I see now he moved over to McMillian in 2020 before the sale to Beck so I suppose he’s part of the Beck group now.

 

[Unckebob]

I’m not in M&A’s. But I would be firing whoever analyzed that deal and said buy, if true.

If that is true, they would have been sold as a distressed asset.

Indeed, I wouldn't be shocked to find out they essentially bought it from Defiance's lenders. In distressed sales, the lenders often do better if the business is sold prior to bankruptcy.

After the sale, Beck injects capital into the business to keep the business running and stops making any product at a loss.

Sidenote: with inflation the way it is, I am surprised other companies have not jacked up their prices. I bought an Origin action and two barrels earlier this year in anticipation of price increases to come.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Is the defiance machine user name on the 'hide Eric Stecker?

I’ve got no clue who’s posting under their username.

 

[SDHNTR]

That ARC Nucleus sure looks a lot better all of a sudden!

 

[wind gypsy]

Eric Stecker is/was the President of Berger Bullets. He’s the grandson of Walt Berger.

But I see now he moved over to McMillian in 2020 so I suppose he’s part of the Beck group now.

I'm familiar with him from Berger but it appears he's working with Bob Beck overseeing mcmillan and defiance.

 

[gbflyer]

I have Kelly McMillan era stocks and Bob Beck (who I never heard of until all this started) era stocks. The Beck ones get done way faster. My contact there told me that they were spending an inordinate about of time, like 90% time on 30% products, that don’t sell well. So they eliminated a bunch of inlets, and some stocks all together. What was 6-8 months on a stock has changed to 6-8 weeks. At least that has been my experience.

 

[WRO]

I have Kelly McMillan era stocks and Bob Beck (who I never heard of until all this started) era stocks. The Beck ones get done way faster. My contact there told me that they were spending an inordinate about of time, like 90% time on 30% products, that don’t sell well. So they eliminated a bunch of inlets, and some stocks all together. What was 6-8 months on a stock has changed to 6-8 weeks. At least that has been my experience.

That's what good business people do. If you look at the outdoor industry, most companies are started by passionate people rather than business men. That's why so many fail.

 

[SDHNTR]

That's what good business people do. If you look at the outdoor industry, most companies are started by passionate people rather than business men. That's why so many fail.

Agreed. I don’t fault the guy for his business practices. In fact, I applaud them. Profitable businesses are good businesses.

I fault the guy for being a Class A Delta Bravo! Just watch a few of his videos. He’s in it for the ego stoke.

 

[Kimber7man]

I have Kelly McMillan era stocks and Bob Beck (who I never heard of until all this started) era stocks. The Beck ones get done way faster. My contact there told me that they were spending an inordinate about of time, like 90% time on 30% products, that don’t sell well. So they eliminated a bunch of inlets, and some stocks all together. What was 6-8 months on a stock has changed to 6-8 weeks. At least that has been my experience.

They explained that and more in their over 1 hour podcast with Long Range Only, it's linked/posted above. Took a long walk today and listened to the whole thing.