Power failure
A big storm rolled through our area last night and knocked out power for the past 15 hours. Since I schedule my time around a 12 hour work day this has been a meaningful hit to productivity. So shipments that were due to ship today/tomorrow will go out on Saturday with the other scheduled shipments. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Power is now back on fortunately. 
Announcements
Mk II LRRP:
In response to customer feedback regarding the helium release valve (”HRV”) we are making one modification so that this feature is optional. The HRV will be featured only on the case body using screw pins for the strap attachment. The case body using spring bars will not have the HRV. The version of the case with the spring bars will be the only case version compatible with the solid end-piece bracelet.
There will be a solid end-piece bracelet offered with the spring bar version of the Mk II LRRP. Mass production of that bracelet is currently in process and we will post pictures when available. The bracelet shown on the site is actually an older out of date sample so we won’t be able to show detailed photos until the mass production comes in.
Exchange rates:
Due to the weakening dollar over the last 12 months we will have to increase prices. The US dollar has fallen about 15% during this time and given the current environment isn’t likely to get better soon. In the hopes that the dollar will strengthen eventually prices will be increasing only 7.5%, or half of the change, on June 16th. Hopefully the dollar will strength enough to forestall another price increase scheduled for the beginning of 2009 to cover the other 7.5%
Vacation Notice:
I will be on vacation from July 18th through August 4th. Just for the record 
I wasn’t on vacation in April or this past week. Both of those were actually business trips. One for Baselworld and the other for a trade show in Lausanne. Business has been good but not so good that I can start goofing around.
E-mails bouncing
I am trying to answer e-mails while I am away. For the time being I will keep at it but I may have to save them until I get back to NYC to send them. I just tried to send them a short while ago and they keep bouncing from my server. This seems to happen when I am on a WLAN. If anyone has tried to use the Swisscom WiFi and knows the answer please post here. Otherwise I will send the replies when I return on Friday afternoon.
Travel Notice: 6/2 through 6/8
I will be traveling to Switzerland on business. Orders received after May 29th may not receive their sales order confirmation until after I return. I apologize for any inconvenience.
The online store will continue to operate and receive orders but please note that the orders won’t be downloaded from the server and processed until I return.
If anyone should have any urgent question/concern about a current order please call me at 484-683-1875. Please note that international long distance charges may apply as this is my cell.
Mk II LRRP
Announcing our first GMT watch….the Mk II LRRP.
Credit card processing problems - resolved (updated 5-21)
The online cart system seems to be acting up. If you have a problem paying by credit card please call me after submitting your order. We will take your card information over the phone until the problem is fixed. We have been able to process the cards manually through our processor. Sorry for any inconvenience.
After a software upgrade the online cart system is now processing credit cards automatically once again.
E-mails caught up to March 28th
with a handful of exceptions e-mail is caught up to March 28th. Due to the nature of e-mail access here and the volume of SPAM that is waiting for me to sort through I will have to download and reply to the messages received after March 28th when I return to Pennsylvania on the 12th.
E-mails going out again
I was able to find a way to send out e-mails while in Basel. Because of my current schedule of meetings and the amount of SPAM waiting for me in the inboxes I will be going through the backlog first and then downloading new messages in a few days.
If there is anything urgent please call me at 484 683-1875. Please note that I since this is US cell phone I don’t think long distance charges will apply but they might since I am “roaming” here in Switzerland.
E-mails
I will begin responding to the backlog of e-mails in the next 24-48 hours before I leave for Switzerland. In order to minimize delays for customers we have been working non-stop to complete as many orders as possible before our trip. Since we have been about 1-2 weeks behind schedule this has required an all out effort.
Travel Notice
I will be traveling to Baselworld (April 3rd through April 10th) to visit customers, friends and suppliers. Please note that orders placed this week may not ship until the 19th of April, depending upon what is requested. Due to the need to ship as many pre-orders of the Sea Fighter as possible, orders for pre-built watches placed after today will ship after I return to the US.
I will only have limited access to e-mail while I am traveling.