The Smallest Minority

Big props to Eric for his ethical stance.

I agree with Unix-Jedi; a person integrity is quite refreshing these days.

Thanks for the nice words, guys. Honestly, I feel like complete shit over this - I've tried all my life to be an ethical, responsible person in all my dealings, and so many times it has gotten me screwed over, and yet I keep at it because I can't change who I am. I am starting to lose faith in small businesses in this country - I feel like I need a lawyer with me everytime I deal with one.

I have sent out refunds to everyone this morning so you should have them by Monday at the latest.

Again, my sincere apologies for this.

Eric - I've got several shirts (the ones in black are GREAT), and have given a couple as gifts. Keep us posted if you can find a reputable vendor, we'd like to get more shirts.

In the meantime, I, for one, deeply appreciate the integrity you've displayed. I don't have any shirts on order at the moment so this doesn't directly impact me; it's rare for a company, much less an individual, to stand proud and accept responsibility.

Let us know when you're back in business.

And, Kevin - thanks for providing the link between Eric and us.

This is a stand-up thing to do, and I intend to order a shirt when the factors come back together to produce the shirts and I also have money.

In the meantime, at least it wasn't the Hello Kitty people threatening to sue over a useage that falls within the fair use satire exception to copyright.

Ah heck. I was going to get one of the shirts for my wife next time they were offered.
I can wait.

I like the Kalashnakitty, and hope she remains on the internet forever so I can at least use her as a screen saver on occasion.

I wondered why you never told me where to send the check...I guess now I know.

Eric, I salute you for your ethics and personal responsibility--qualities all too lacking in today's world. And your vendor deserves repeated kicks to the junk.

I hadn't ordered any, but, if you ever offer the line again, count me in. I would be proud to buy from such a trust worthy vendor. My respect, sir.

Class act, Eric. Sorry about the fiasco, but good on ya for standing up like a man.

I like the Kalashnikitty, but never really had a particular person I wanted to give one to, nor the disposable cash either.

But I'll be on the lookout for both now.

Credit where credit is due, Marky has one thing right: There is a depressing shortage of integrity in the modern business world. Unlike him, I think the proper response is to reward it when you do find it, rather than attempting to achieve integrity in an organization by having corrupt politicians mandate it.

Yeah, I hadn't ordered a shirt before, but when you find a new printer, I will the next time they come up.

Guys and gals . . . wow. That is all I can say to your comments. Thank you. So far everyone but one of my customers has been gracious and understanding. The other one . . . . well, there's always one in every crowd I guess.

Your comments are making me much more likely to do this again in the future than I was originally planning.

Add one more vote for keeping it up. In addition to shirts I wouldn't mind getting a Kalashnikitty hat.
Think about making some of those if you (hopefully) stay in the Kalashnikitty business. I think it would be cool.

Ohh, hats. I would definitely get some hats.

I've made sure to plug the shirts on my site every year since I first heard about them. The ones I ordered a while back have held up to regular wear for years.

Make sure to keep me up to date for when/if you do another run. You can count on my for support.

Good show, Eric. I didn't order any this year but I've bought a number of them, and if (when, please!)you start making them up I'm in for more.

As for your business reputation? Good as gold IMO.

Jon

Eric - If you need a production source for these let me know. I just hooked up with the guy who supplies the custom T-shirts for most of the overseas AFES market.

I had ordered, already received refund (Thanks, Eric, very fast refund!), also told Eric to a) not beat on himself; not his fault that supplier turned into an asshole, and b) keep me on the list of immediately-available future customers, when he gets sorted-out with a new supplier and is again ready to sell Kalashnikitty. Such culture-specific artworks must not be allowed to expire, if for no other reason than that public display of items like this are enough to deeply aggravate anti-gun morons, and reduce lefties like Pelosi, etc. to helpless tears.