Sportsmobile West Closing Shop?

[Bear Flag]

Originally Posted by ngennock

Alan and Liz Feld started Sportsmobile West, Inc. 32 years ago under an agreement with Sportsmobile Texas, Inc., allowing the use of the "Sportsmobile" name. Last year the founder of Sportsmobile, Charles Borskey, transferred control of the company over to his son, who then presented Sportsmobile West, Inc. with a new agreement. That new agreement was not acceptable to the Feld’s, so they are parted ways with the Sportsmobile brand. Per the old agreement the company name had to change as well. We are now operating under SMB West Vans, Inc. which it is still operating in the same Fresno location. Other current info is at smbwest.com

We are not closing or out of business as the first post suggests.

Thanks for the background info and I'm curious what designs will be offered once new orders are opened back up... sounds like July 1st per the website?

[kelpie]

So Sportsmobile West is closing, according to the Sportsmobile Texas/Indiana company that owns the Sportsmobile franchise?

[Bear Flag]

Originally Posted by kelpie

So Sportsmobile West is closing, according to the Sportsmobile Texas/Indiana company that owns the Sportsmobile franchise?

Not really as I understand it. The business operation in Fresno is running but lost its association with the Texas/Indiana company. It seems the Fresno operation is busy with existing customers or there is a legal agreement that there will be no new sales from the Fresno operation until July 1.

[rionapo]

Fresno Bee story from Field Van twitter post.

[Steve_382]

Interesting that Junior's business took in 180 orders while they were waiting for the non compete clause to time out. Seems like there could be some legal issues there, but I am not a lawyer and haven't slept in a Holiday Inn for a few days.

[Steve_382]

If you can't trust your father/son relationship, who can you trust?

In addition, Field Van already has a glut of orders (180) taken by Feld himself during the yearlong period when he resigned from the company his father started (and moved to a different office, for legal reasons) to set up and begin marketing the new business.

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by Steve_382

If you can't trust your father/son relationship, who can you trust?

In addition, Field Van already has a glut of orders (180) taken by Feld himself during the yearlong period when he resigned from the company his father started (and moved to a different office, for legal reasons) to set up and begin marketing the new business.

It doesn't mention anything about a falling out, nor have I heard of one here and lots of people here know the Felds.

Anyway, sounds like it was a plan rather than a disagreement to me.

[SteveTOaks]

Thanks for the link! That looks like my van in the center-left, except mine's not so shiny any more.

[Steve_382]

I was implying that it was a way to get around the non compete clause and still book orders.

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by Steve_382

I was implying that it was a way to get around the non compete clause and still book orders.

Ah. I see what you mean. Sorry....carry on.