Small Bear - Message To The Community

[mateusborges]

It's hard seeing you go but happy at the same time! Happy new adventures and Thanks for the great service!

[Phend]

I just ordered, and got an email....I live close by so I will see it soon !!

[vigilante397]

I ordered a few days ago and haven't seen a shipping notice yet, but that's been typical for me. I'm sure I'll get it eventually.

[theehman]

I ordered a few days ago and haven't seen a shipping notice yet, but that's been typical for me. I'm sure I'll get it eventually.

Put in an order on the 24th and got my shipping notification today.

[Kevin Mitchell]

From my experience as of the past year it takes around two or three days for things to be picked & processed. No biggie. The time is justified by the quality service - especially with all that's been going on in the world.

I can imagine it taking a bit longer since everyone is going to them before the doors close. Steve knows what he did 

[vigilante397]

From my experience as of the past year it takes around two or three days for things to be picked & processed. No biggie. The time is justified by the quality service - especially with all that's been going on in the world.

I can imagine it taking a bit longer since everyone is going to them before the doors close. Steve knows what he did 

I'm not in a hurry, these aren't urgent parts for me. I know I'll get my order. I know they've been slower than usual, especially now with shutting down and everyone making a run on the store.

[Kevin Mitchell]

From my experience as of the past year it takes around two or three days for things to be picked & processed. No biggie. The time is justified by the quality service - especially with all that's been going on in the world.

I can imagine it taking a bit longer since everyone is going to them before the doors close. Steve knows what he did 

I'm not in a hurry, these aren't urgent parts for me. I know I'll get my order. I know they've been slower than usual, especially now with shutting down and everyone making a run on the store.

You're so impatient, Nathan. Give them a chance!

My post was in reply to Govmnt_Lacky really. I found his experience unusual is all.

[bluebunny]

There was talk over on Muffs about Synthcube picking up some of the slack on some of those special items you could only get from Steve.

[Onion Ring Modulator]

Best wishes for your retirement!

I have already placed the first of my last orders, and I will miss you guys so much. I still remember how happy I was the day you guys came back online after your pandemic break.

Thank you for being there when I wanted to build anything with decent Germanium.

[Phend]

My order has shipped.!
Thanks Small Bear, have a great retirement. (From Vermont.)
Shots of Maple syrup all around.

[cloudscapes]

Thanks for everything!

[Jarno]

I think smallbear will forever be remembered by his description for the 741, "Sometimes you don't want fidelity"

[bluebunny]

741, "Sometimes you don't want fidelity"

Needs to be on a T-shirt. 

[aron]

End of an era! Small Bear - enjoy retirement!
Been a good run....

[vigilante397]

It took a while to get to me, but my last smallbear order got to me the day before the PCBs I ordered the parts for, so timing worked out perfect.

[EBK]

My latest (maybe last  ) Smallbear order has shipped.  I made them work harder for it by placing three separate panic orders and asking them to merge them.  Had a hiccup with a stock error on a couple of the ICs, but hopefully everything else will arrive (I'm trusting the humans over the computers to get this one right.   ).

I hope the website stays up in some form after the cave closes officially.

Edit:  I'm now preparing my FOURTH Smallbear order since the retirement announcement.  I'm still in a panic.   

Edit 2:  My triple order arrived, with a NOS cap bonus bag! 


The huge ones are 680nF, and I will definitely use them somewhere.   

[Processaurus]

I was idly wondering also, why not sell the business, I suspect the answer is that Steve probably was irreplaceable in the operation, like he had relationships with all of these manufacturers in the Far East, and all sorts of obscure sources for parts and knowledge about how to get the right stuff. All to say, without any inside knowledge, I could see it being pretty hands on, unlike other businesses where the owner just put up the money and shows up for board meetings, and staff handles the day to day, which makes that business more portable/sellable to some investors. Maybe training someone to handle the business side just might not have been feasible.

Thanks for your contribution to DIY pedals Steve, you were a pivotal resource for the hobby!

[fowl]

Edit 2:  My triple order arrived, with a NOS cap bonus bag! 

I got one of those in my order last month, lots of useful values and some NOS mojo too.  I have panic order #2 on the way now, several items were gone already, but I did okay.

[davent]

I was idly wondering also, why not sell the business, I suspect the answer is that Steve probably was irreplaceable in the operation, like he had relationships with all of these manufacturers in the Far East, and all sorts of obscure sources for parts and knowledge about how to get the right stuff. All to say, without any inside knowledge, I could see it being pretty hands on, unlike other businesses where the owner just put up the money and shows up for board meetings, and staff handles the day to day, which makes that business more portable/sellable to some investors. Maybe training someone to handle the business side just might not have been feasible.

Thanks for your contribution to DIY pedals Steve, you were a pivotal resource for the hobby!

I think that as long as it existed in any form the ties for Steve would never be severed, it would always be a presence. Closing it completely ends that chapter in his business life and gives him the freedom to move onto whatever he wants without feeling the need to be checking over his shoulder, his legacy intact.

Will be greatly missed, a huge contributor/enabler to this activity of ours! Thank you Steve!