As planned (long ago) we will be CLOSED and unavailable from now
until Wednesday, Feb. 26th as we are attending the S.H.O.T. Show in
Orlando, the Daytona 500 and related events leading up to it, and
driving the thousand miles each way to and from Louisville to attend
(with tables) the "Show of Shows" and "National Gun Day", all in
rapid succession. I expect to be home less than 24 hours total
during this period. . . not enough to actually get anything done.

I have taken-down our web-pages in the interim, as I will not have
any internet access (or very spotty access) and won't be able to
print invoices, fill orders, or even likely return emails while away
so it's pointless to tempt potential customers.

To make things a big, fat pain in the rear UPS started requiring us
to use their "new & improved" software (UPS Worldship 5.0) on Friday,
and for some reason the tracking-info emails we routinely have sent
to customers for many years when we ship something no longer
functions. This is the message I got for each package sent:

> ***Do not reply to this e-mail. UPS will not receive your reply.

> You requested that UPS forward a notification regarding a
> shipment. The notification was not delivered.

> Reasons your e-mail could not be delivered include:
> 1. An error in the e-mail address,
> 2. The e-mail address is no longer valid, or
> 3. The recipient's e-mail system was unavailable.

[none of those scenarios existed, of course. . . ALL of the emails
were valid and had been used in the past without error]

> If the problem was related to Item 1 or Item 2 above, please:
> 1. Check your address book and correct. This will avoid failures
> in the future.
> 2. Forward this e-mail directly to the corrected address.

> You may wish to notify the recipient directly.

Well THAT'S a big help!

As I am now away from my office I have no idea what the tracking #'s
of items we shipped for the last couple of days may be. . . that info
is simply not available to me while I am "on the road" so my
apologies in advance if you happened to be expecting something from
us. You will STILL get it. . . I just cannot tell you when. UPS
realizes the problem with their software and has promised to rectify
it "soon".

Finally, Gunboards.com (formerly known as "Tuco's Collectors Forum"),
which we proudly sponsor, is currently "down" for maintenance and
server upgrades and should be back online in a few days (in one form
or another).

Sorry for all these inconveniences. We are going to try to have a
good time while we are gone despite them (and after I get back I'll
*really* be in need of a vacation)! ;^>

The one bright spot in this whole message is that after this trip is
over we will certainly be publishing a bunch of "New Stuff" pages
with a load of interesting items we plan to purchase while away
(including some of which we have already acquired). Wish me luck!

Dennis Kroh, owner, Empire Arms
e-mail: kroh@...
95 Seminole Ave, Ormond Beach FL 32176
(386) 677-7314 FAX only (386) 677-7324
web-site: http://www.empirearms.com