MFJ Enterprises closing down their manufacturing facilities in Starkville, MS

[KC8CKZ]

Not sure if this company's demise, or just the Starksville facility.
Here's a copy of email I just received..

Dear Fellow Hams and Friends,
April 25, 2024
Dear Fellow Hams and Friends,

It is with a sad heart as I write this letter.

As many of you have heard by now, MFJ is ceasing its on-site production in Starkville, Mississippi on May 17, 2024. This is also the same for our sister companies’ Ameritron, Hygain, Cushcraft, Mirage and Vectronics.

Times have changed since I started this business 52 years ago. Our product line grew and grew and prospered. Covid changed everything in businesses including ours. It was the hardest hit that we have ever had and we never fully recovered.

I turned 80 this year. I had never really considered retirement but life is so short and my time with my family is so precious.

I want to thank all of our employees who have helped build this company with me over the years. We have many employees who have made MFJ their career for 10, 20, 30, 40 and more years.

We are going to continue to sell MFJ products past May 17, 2024. We have a lot of stock on hand. We will continue to offer repair service work for out-of-warranty and in-warranty units for the foreseeable future.

Finally, a special thanks to all of our customers and our dealers who have made MFJ a worldwide name and a profitable business for so many years. You all are so much appreciated.

Sincerely Yours, 73s

Martin F. Jue, K5FLU

[SWAMPER]

Yesterday, MFJ Enterprises announced that they would be closing down their manufacturing facilities in Starkville, Mississippi effective May 17th, but would continue selling their wide selection of imported products including portable/mobile antennas, power supplies, clocks, and antenna switches. This closure also impacts all of their sub-brands: Ameritron, Hy-Gain, Cushcraft, Mirage and Vectronics.

Letter from Martin F. Jue, K5FLU >https://mailchi.mp/62e24f2ccc99/a-heavy ... qq1xdaaxl3

[EBOUDET]

I was just about to buy a mfj antenna tuner. Is this a reason to start looking at a different brand?
-Erik KQ4PPQ

[RichieC1]

The message from the owner says that they have a lot of stock which they will continue to sell. They will be keeping the repair department open to handle in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs so no worries there.

[Michael M]

For housekeeping, I have merged the two topics.

[wd4llq]

I was not aware these brands were "inter connected". This is going to affect the hobby in a big way.

[Michael M]

This is the first opportunity I've had to comment, so I'll put my two cents in.

This certainly is not good news, but I don't think it's as bad as people might think.

I can't think of anything that MFJ manufacturers that aren't available elsewhere, and usually a higher quality… of course that comes with a higher price point. I'm not slamming MFJ. I know they get a bad rap (Mighty Fine Junk, etc.), unfairly I would add. Personally, I found some of their products to be long on the engineering side, but short on the QC side. Their business model of allowing customers to do warranty repair is very unique. Very few industries could find that business model sustainable, ham radio being one.

The good news is that nature abhors a vacuum, and this market will self-correct. On the long haul, I don't see all of their subsidiary companies simply going away. The biggest question for me - where is Tim Duffy in all of this?

And then there's the Harley Davidson story.

[cbenulis]

I am surprised they lasted this long. I must have dropped my 259D SWR meter 10 or more times until this winter it was fatal.
Bought the CAA500MARKII as a replacement.

MFJ 1972-2024 52 year run started in a Hotel room
Heathkit 1947-1992 45 year run started from bankrupt Heath(aircraft).