Their website has been a PITA so they let it fold. Don't think because they chose not to spend money on a web site that they are hurting for cash.
Then today I was at the next closest WalMart and the guy there told me straight up they were not getting anymore and that Kingsford had put the pressure on WalMart to carry only K as a national brand.
I knew absolutely nothing of this rumor until I read this thread. I do not use RO or Kingsford, nor do I shop at WalMart. In short, I have no dogs in this race.
But I do know a little about business and marketing. It's inconceivable to me that a company would "fold" a web site because it's a PITA. It costs about $10 a month to host a web site, maybe up to $200 a month if the traffic is exceptional (not including developer/admin costs). If it's really exceptional (millions of hits per month) the costs can be far greater but I doubt this is the case. And I do know that because I manage a few sites. I could understand a site overhaul but even the simplest business models would allow for a static, digital brochure that guides potential consumers where to purchase the product or get more information. So, at the very least, the company is not very savvy about digital marketing.
The comment from the Walmart employee is also disturbing. It's hard to imagine a distributor's employee would or even could make something like this up.
And, I've talked to many people associated with businesses over the years that swear up and down they are not in trouble only to find out the next day, week, or month that they the doors have closed. I've even worked for troubled companies and given similar lines myself. The business journals and political news have many examples of folks denying the end is near just before the doors shut.
And one only has to Google Royal Oak to see that they have had financial problems since at least 2005.
Again, I know nothing about the company. I'm just a skeptic at heart.
