32 replies to this topic

[team burrito]

A friend of mine is asking if Parma still in business? He owes a hobby store in San Carlos, placed an order directly with Parma, and has received nothing. He see them at trade shows, but not this year. I know they still make Retro bodies, but have they made anything else? I haven't see any 16D motors or chassis from them for over 10 years.

 

What is going on with them?

[DocSlotCar]

As far as I know, Parma is still in biz....  Their website is still up.

PARMA/PSE
13927 Progress Parkway
North Royalton, OH 44133 US
P: (440) 237-8650
F: (440) 237-6333

And these numbers still work.

[Tim Wood]

Contact Matt Porter, owner of Haven Raceway, Elyria, OH, (440) 412-4848. He is friends with Steve Keopp who has a lot to do with Parma production.

 

Say Hi for me to Matt and Justin.

 

Tim Wood

[Cheater]

Yes, Parma is still in business, but can no longer supply a number of products they formerly stocked.

 

IMO, Russ, your friend simply needs to pick up the phone and call them.

 

BTW, let's not turn this thread into an opportunity to 'bash' Parma.

[team burrito]

IMO, Russ, your friend simply needs to pick up the phone and call them.

 

He tried and nobody picked up the phone. It's pretty sad when you place an order and they don't bother to answer.

[Cheater]

That certainly does put a different spin on it, Russ.

[blue&orange]

It would be helpful for our entire hobby if someone, or anyone, could get a real answer to Parma's future.  Example:  at our local track we started a new "fun" CanAm series using old flexis and 499 Rotor motors because the 499's were "available."  Now that parts line seems to have dried up, and we have new people still wanting to build cars.  There are other answers, but a lot of guys have invested in Parma equipment.  I also have heard a story that Parma was going to be limited to doing bodies.  Is there an "official" answer?

[MattD]

Nothing is definitive in the slot car hobby. Fragmented with no common group to keep track of the industry.

[Phil Hackett]

I just called the number Parma has had forever and I connected to the same answering message I've heard for years. I didn't try to connect to any of the various departments. I'd say they're open for business.

[gc4895]

I ordered paint from the Parma website and its fulfilled by Mid-America out of Naperville, Ill. Same as last year.

[Ramcatlarry]

Shopatron is fulfilling orders from participating inventory from all retail; stores that want to participate - wholesale distributors and manufacturing shelves may not be able to participate in these sales.

[team burrito]

I just called the number Parma has had forever and I connected to the same answering message I've heard for years. I didn't try to connect to any of the various departments. I'd say they're open for business.

 

Give me the number and I'll pass it on to my friend.

[Phil Hackett]

Since the number is public, I'll post it here: (440) 237-8650... you will get a recording and an opportunity to connect to people if you have the extension. (Not posting those... sorry).

[Ivan B]

I hope Parma stays in business as they have always been around and have had some great stuff.

 

I know this hobby is really small. I would love if they started doing business in a more modern way, such as limited runs of bodies every once in a while and allowing crowdfunding from time to time.

[brnursebmt]

I was told over the weekend that Parma is officially out of business. Anybody know if this is true? If so, what a shame.

[Eddie Fleming]

I was told that too, Bobby. I hope it is not true. But if it is I hope someone finds a way to continue production of some of the product line.

 

Can that happen?

[Cheater]

All I can say is the phone number still works...

[Bill from NH]

Their website is still online too.

[Cap Henry]

They just shipped braid to distributors last week.

[Dan Ebert]

One of our racers in the Penn-Ohio Series works for Parma. He is still working and is planning on working at Parma in the future. I would think he would be the first to know he didn't have a job. 

 

I wish these rumors about Parma would stop. I realize some of their product line has ended. But in this world of change the vendors they deal with make changes, or go out of business and the product is not available. We just have to deal with that.

[MattD]

Slot car forums are one way a company can stay in contact with its market and not have rumors floating around that are not true. Being customer-friendly might also help business. Of course this would take a small amount of effort by the company or an employee. Probably take at least 10-15 minutes one day a week.
 
You either reach out and be customer-friendly or not.

[tonyp]

They completely missed the boat when it comes to internet customer interaction.

[MSwiss]

I wish these rumors about Parma would stop. I realize some of their product line has ended. But in this world of change the vendors they deal with make changes, or go out of business and the product is not available. We just have to deal with that.

Dan,

You cannot blame racers for being concerned. Not everyone on this board has the 'luxury' of racing with Steve once a month.

Parma's lack of communication has been astonishingly bad.

The fact that you are the one posting to assure everyone they are still in business is certainly proof of that.

[Racer36]

Mike,

Agreed that Parma could do a lot better job of keeping contact with the hobby. The biggest issue is the tendency, that we are all guilty of today, to repeat something we have heard without any investigation. In the “old days” it wasn’t a big deal because info traveled so slowly. Now a rumour makes its way around the world literally in a heartbeat.

Just a reminder to all of us to fact check before repeating things.

[MattD]

Sorry, but the biggest issue is Parma is acting like a company going out of  business and relying on word of mouth from racers to keep the racers  informed.