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This thread has grown by 30 pages since my original comment and I have tried to do my due diligence of finding it here so I apologize in advance if this is being repeated - please don't dox me lol. I just found this angle interesting considering there have been screenshots released of APG mentioning that customers could pre-order via ADV website.
Reply from APG (ADV Fiberglass' production partner) attached.
On August 7, 2024, Advanced Fiberglass Concepts (ADV), formerly known as Glassworks Unlimited, unleashed a series of premeditated publications (in written and video formats) which unjustifiably attack and blame APG for their inability to deliver promises made (or refunds of deposits taken) to their own customers. APG cannot be blamed for the decision that ADV made to accept customer pre-orders and deposits for a product that was still in development by a manufacturer (APG). To be clear, APG never required or requested that ADV market and accept pre-orders of the Bronco Hardtop products. That decision was made by ADV and ADV alone.
ADV is not the designer or manufacturer of hardtop products that it apparently pre-sold to thousands of its customers. Rather, ADV was granted distribution rights for the hardtop products in anticipation of those products being designed, developed, manufactured and brought to market. ADV is just a distributor and nothing more. In fact, the lawsuit filed by ADV contains a copy of the Distribution Agreement between APG and ADV. There are a few key elements of that contractual relationship:
1 APG is the manufacturer while ADV is a distributor.
2 APG owns all intellectual property rights to the hardtop products, including patents. ADV does not have any ownership interest in those rights by virtue of its role as a distributor.
3 ADV agreed that all advertising and promotion of the products would be completely factual and conform to the highest standards of lawful, ethical advertising.
4 ADV agreed to adhere to the highest reasonable standards of business behavior, honesty, integrity, fair dealing and ethical conduct in all dealings with its customers and APG.
The recent publications and lawsuit filed by ADV is an obvious attempt to shift its customers’ focus from itself to APG. The agreements between APG and ADV did not require pre-orders to ADV’s customers. In fact, APG reserved the right and always intended to sell the hardtop products direct to its own customers, but only when the product is ready for immediate sale and delivery. Despite many customers requesting pre-order rights from APG, we made the responsible decision not to accept pre-orders or customer deposits.
This project has involved 2+ years of development, thousands of engineering hours, millions of dollars, and an international supply chain which has been cultivated over years of experience in the specialized manufacturing field. We did not set out to make a quick and cheap fiberglass roof with an aftermarket design strategy (as others did). We set out to do what we always do: manufacture the highest quality product possible… and that takes time.
When APG sets out to design and manufacture a product, we do not rush to market and we certainly would not accept individual orders for a product that is still in development. ADV made the business decision to accept pre-orders with full knowledge of the status of development. Any delivery estimates provided to ADV have been “estimates” and nothing more; ADV knew that. All major projects can have setbacks and delays; frankly, it’s to be expected.
APG was never informed of how many pre-orders ADV accepted. To our complete and utter surprise, John Gerwatosky recently told APG that they “pre-sold” approximately 1,250 hardtops. At an average retail purchase price of $6,800.00 (i.e. cost + tax, shipping, all options, etc.), that math calculates to $8,500,000.00. The real question everyone should be asking is what did ADV do with the money? We at APG have an idea of how the money was spent by ADV and its principals, but we’ll save that for litigation. The lawsuit filed by ADV is a transparent attempt at damage control by a distributor who needs to face its own customers for its irresponsible business decisions. APG will not accept blame for ADV’s actions or allow ADV to continue its charade of falsehoods. We categorically deny and reject each and every claim made by ADV and will uphold our reputation as we prove their wrongdoing in court.
While we are sympathetic to the customers of ADV, we will not break from APG’s dignity and ethics. We will continue to manufacture the finest 6th Generation Ford Bronco Products in the world and will announce the availability of the hardtop products when we know, for certain, that we can accept, fill and deliver our customers’ orders.
Reply from APG (ADV Fiberglass' production partner) attached.
On August 7, 2024, Advanced Fiberglass Concepts (ADV), formerly known as Glassworks Unlimited, unleashed a series of premeditated publications (in written and video formats) which unjustifiably attack and blame APG for their inability to deliver promises made (or refunds of deposits taken) to their own customers. APG cannot be blamed for the decision that ADV made to accept customer pre-orders and deposits for a product that was still in development by a manufacturer (APG). To be clear, APG never required or requested that ADV market and accept pre-orders of the Bronco Hardtop products. That decision was made by ADV and ADV alone.
ADV is not the designer or manufacturer of hardtop products that it apparently pre-sold to thousands of its customers. Rather, ADV was granted distribution rights for the hardtop products in anticipation of those products being designed, developed, manufactured and brought to market. ADV is just a distributor and nothing more. In fact, the lawsuit filed by ADV contains a copy of the Distribution Agreement between APG and ADV. There are a few key elements of that contractual relationship:
1 APG is the manufacturer while ADV is a distributor.
2 APG owns all intellectual property rights to the hardtop products, including patents. ADV does not have any ownership interest in those rights by virtue of its role as a distributor.
3 ADV agreed that all advertising and promotion of the products would be completely factual and conform to the highest standards of lawful, ethical advertising.
4 ADV agreed to adhere to the highest reasonable standards of business behavior, honesty, integrity, fair dealing and ethical conduct in all dealings with its customers and APG.
The recent publications and lawsuit filed by ADV is an obvious attempt to shift its customers’ focus from itself to APG. The agreements between APG and ADV did not require pre-orders to ADV’s customers. In fact, APG reserved the right and always intended to sell the hardtop products direct to its own customers, but only when the product is ready for immediate sale and delivery. Despite many customers requesting pre-order rights from APG, we made the responsible decision not to accept pre-orders or customer deposits.
This project has involved 2+ years of development, thousands of engineering hours, millions of dollars, and an international supply chain which has been cultivated over years of experience in the specialized manufacturing field. We did not set out to make a quick and cheap fiberglass roof with an aftermarket design strategy (as others did). We set out to do what we always do: manufacture the highest quality product possible… and that takes time.
When APG sets out to design and manufacture a product, we do not rush to market and we certainly would not accept individual orders for a product that is still in development. ADV made the business decision to accept pre-orders with full knowledge of the status of development. Any delivery estimates provided to ADV have been “estimates” and nothing more; ADV knew that. All major projects can have setbacks and delays; frankly, it’s to be expected.
APG was never informed of how many pre-orders ADV accepted. To our complete and utter surprise, John Gerwatosky recently told APG that they “pre-sold” approximately 1,250 hardtops. At an average retail purchase price of $6,800.00 (i.e. cost + tax, shipping, all options, etc.), that math calculates to $8,500,000.00. The real question everyone should be asking is what did ADV do with the money? We at APG have an idea of how the money was spent by ADV and its principals, but we’ll save that for litigation. The lawsuit filed by ADV is a transparent attempt at damage control by a distributor who needs to face its own customers for its irresponsible business decisions. APG will not accept blame for ADV’s actions or allow ADV to continue its charade of falsehoods. We categorically deny and reject each and every claim made by ADV and will uphold our reputation as we prove their wrongdoing in court.
While we are sympathetic to the customers of ADV, we will not break from APG’s dignity and ethics. We will continue to manufacture the finest 6th Generation Ford Bronco Products in the world and will announce the availability of the hardtop products when we know, for certain, that we can accept, fill and deliver our customers’ orders.
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