Heard a rumor that 2 of their 3 stores are closed....Eagle River still open....Manufacturers semi's loading up crated stock and hauling off........

Anyone know the REAL DEAL.....................

I was just up in land o this past week and didn't hear or see about Heckels, but I'm sure you knew about Trackside dropping Cat last winter.



Nick

Yes....Fortunately for A/C they only had to load and haul Tracksides remaining stock down the road to Heckels....

I heard the same about Brule Sports, any truth to it?

Unfortunately there is more truth to it than just the 2 stores. Yes, Heckels has filed chapter 11 here in Eagle River.

I concur. I heard this on the radio up there this past weekend. I think they had said sales were down over 40%.

Gee homo, thanks for telling me. You're sleeping in the garage next time.

Wow, very sad to hear that. I hate to see this happen to the sport, no matter who it is.

I think this is just the tip of the ice berg for many dealers this winter. From what I see I am betting lots of sleds hit the used market this fall. I'm also betting with gas prices the amount of sleds hitting the trails this winter and those traveling long distance to do so are going to be low, very low.

mps

Sad to see this happening. I had heard through the grape vine up here that they were in the hole for very high multi million dollar figures. I guess when tring to support 3 families that want to live a very, very lavish life style this thing can happen. Could see it coming from people that know them have told me with the economy and no change in life style.

Greetings from "Northern Illinois", formerly known as Wisconsin...

Here's the link...

http://www.waow.com/global/story.asp?s=8748618

Very bad deal. I know of a few guys who have lost their boats. While in there shop for service. The manufactors came to get there stuff. Well appearently heckels didn't pay for these guys boats. The Guys are pretty pissed. They are guides and need their boats.

too bad they didn't get any revenues the ATV crowds could offer in Eagle River.

I heard that they were overstating the value of their inventory which was being used as collateral for bank loans. From the little bit I know about banking, banks typically do not like this. Some of these loans were recalled by the banks, and they do not have the funds to repay. Hence the chapter 11.

sales down 40% doesn't help much either.

I think it is true they are shutting it down, they sent all new inventory back. Sad times here I live in Brule and have delt with them for along time. I miss the old owners of it. How is the Cat dealer in Mason?

Wow, that sucks. Id heard that the bank told Heckels that they wouldnt loan them any more money, but I had no idea that they were overstating the value of their inventory.
Times are tough all over right now though. I expect you will see a lot of dealers pulling the plug. With the state of the economy and the gas prices, I expect a lot of businesses that rely on snowmobilers for their business to pull the plug. I dont foresee people making as many trips north when gas is $4 a gallon and I dont see people buying new sleds nearly as much when sleds nowdays are $10,000-$12,000.

Ervs sales and service in Tomohawk dropped Cat this year also,now I have to travel to get to another dealer it's like starting from scratch.This sucks they would let me use tools and parts ect great to people to deal with.They said cat is terribly to deal with.

I'd try R&R in Hazelhurst. I have had good dealings with them so far.

randy is a hard guy to get to know, once you get used to his cat is the greatest additude. He is fine. Don't go in there with a non cat brand clothes he treats you like shit.

www.heckelsbankruptcy.com has some info

good link. should clear up alot of confusion and bad info.