Democracy is dependent on a free press. There are plenty a places in this world that give lip service to the concept - but they do not practice it (to the determent of there citizens). I subscribe to this list to hear the good and the bad. Once you have muzzled the members of this list, it becomes no better than a magazine that well never do a derogatory review. (So far, Sal - NSP - has come out pretty well.) Please, if you have had a bad experience from any vender, do not be bullied into silence by a few rude flamers'- just be objective. If you subscribe to the theory of "the divine right of kings", move to one the backward (government, not people) nations of the world with a state controlled press. Freedom is a precious and a fragile concept that is not guaranteed. It gets stronger with practice but will atrophy with disuse. To be objective, Freedom is also undermined by misuse. so please be objective. Regis -----Original Message----- From: James Porter Jr [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2000 2:34 AM To: soaring Subject: [RCSE] Complaints about vendors Alright, I'm getting on my high horse now. Those of you who like to complain won't want to read this but you should. Ok, everybody, give these guys a break. It's a tough job to answer all the questions that come up every day, 365 days a year. I speak from experience - having worked for SIG for over four years. It's amazing the STUPID questions, the UNRESEARCHED questions and the TRIVIAL questions that are asked of a vendor or manufacturer of model airplane products. Realize that all these guys have a lot to do in addition to answering your questions, many of which you could solve yourself with a little thought, some light reading or a little listening. The Internet has made it very easy to contact a vendor and ask a question - and often without thought as to what was really asked or how difficult the answer might be. And although there are many 'standard questions', there are many more that require individual answers. Each unique question might take two lines or two pages to properly answer. Think about this. If you received two hundred emails a day and could read and answer each one in two minutes, that's 400 minutes or over six hours a day. Can you understand why the answers become short and/or the responder sounds a little rushed or irritated? Now as to product complaints. I have been on the receiving end of calls that were anything but polite while blaming the design and materials of a kit for a failure. Closer inspection of parts revealed things like: spars 'spliced' with butt joints; wings which required struts assembled without the hard points so it was obvious no struts had ever been used; covering put on with the backing still on; kits extensively modified by a person obviously lacking in structural or aeronautical expertise; .90 sized engines on airframes designed for a .40. The list is endless because nothing is foolproof - and fools are often particularly ingenious in expressing their foolishness. Product availability is another issue entirely. Most of these companies depend on other companies for their products. Many of the suppliers are across the big water and can not, will not or are not able to supply what's needed when it's needed. As the demand for prefabricated (much nicer than ARF) products grows so do the delivery problems. Consider this: if the DEA decides your container load of product might have drugs in it they; one, drill holes and take samples; or two, empty the container onto the dock and open the boxes; or three the dockworker spears the boxes with a fork truck. Each action delays the delivery and frequently ruins the contents. Sure, you generally get your money back, but in the meantime you have no product, you don't know where it is and you don't know when you're going to get it. How about the way a customer uses your product. Naah, you get the idea. It becomes VERY difficult to stay civil when you receive nothing but complaints, because very few people ever express their thanks for the things that are done well. Ask intelligent questions. Be patient, you are not the only customer. The best price does not always generate the best outcome. Don't call first thing Monday complaining about Sundays crash, think first. Don't call Friday for something you want/need Saturday. Expect that things not available today might not get in until at least tomorrow. 8<) If you get lost in the shuffle, try again. It probably was unintentional. Remember how many people may or may not work for the company in question. When was the last time you went a year, a week, a day without making a mistake? I'll accept positive feedback only. All others reply offline Jim Porter Bettendorf, Iowa RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
