[tripoli]

Obviously, as I have put it. no. Nope. Not really, upset as is, but definately hate taking a loss for convenience to the company or distribution network. After putting the hours, time and of searching and the money of buying a poorly made obviously defective model, not wanting to take on the loss of doing so. No, not really without feeling that I have taken a loss at the expense of customer service. And for others thinking about purchasing or going the extra mile, or having any loyalty to such a business practice, would you expect anyone else to take a loss because its cheaper to do business that way at the customers expense? If you think so, I don't want to purcghase or do with the business you run or work for either. At least I would know up front what I was dealing with though.

If I have to take a risk in buying or doing business with you, again, there is plenty of others out there that care enough about their product and customer satisfaction to earn my hobby dollars.

[lanslide]

Why should CW pay for your decision to pay way too much for something? They have already offered to replace the model. You want them to pay for your pain and suffering too? Sorry man - I can't agree with you on this point. But I definitely agree with you that they owe you a replacement.

[lanslide]

Tripoli, after you calm down I bet you'll be back buying that Crusader we are all hoping for! Right? Come on...it will be irresistible!

[tripoli]

"Why should CW pay for your decision to pay way too much for something"

Because I did so in good faith that I would be getting a new quality product with no defects directly from one of their own distributors. Plain and simple.

Otherwise again, there is no warrenty of any implied trust that you can or could purchase from any dsiributor in their network of your choosing without the risk of getting stuck with a bad product at your own loss. Now if they don't care about customer service, so be it. If their distribution network is only in place for their own needs and not of the customer, then so be it. This thread is a great example of letting their customers see and know exactly where they stand in the terms of quality and customer service.

[lanslide]

Tripoli, if in the end you get what you wanted in the first place (as close as possible anyway), why would you expect anything more? We are now talking about having them compensate you for your time and expense in resolving this. Now that I have spent so much time debating this, I want a free Tomcat too!

[tripoli]

I am not asking for anything more. You assume too much. I am asking only that I get compensated for the cost I spent on a defective product nothing more. I don't think I should have to pay at any further loss either for the replacement. I don' think it is s fair of Flying Tigers to have to absorb the cost of shipping it back directly to them, or for me to CW. I think the US distributor should cover it temporally and ultimately CW back to their distributor. It was CW's mistake, their responsibility to their network as well ultimately to me. Nothing more. Thats what I would expect of a good customer service network.
Again:
Because I did so in good faith that I would be getting a new quality product with no defects directly from one of their own distributors. Plain and simple.

Otherwise again, there is no warranty of any implied trust that you can or could purchase from any distributor in their network of your choosing without the risk of getting stuck with a bad product at your own loss. Now if they don't care about customer service, so be it. If their distribution network is only in place for their own needs and not of the customer, then so be it. This thread is a great example of letting their customers see and know exactly where they stand in the terms of quality and customer service.

Its obvious to me you don't see eye to eye on the issue of what is fair. Ultimately for me to take a loss due to purchasing a defective product or for CW to take a loss due to them selling a defective product. Lets see what choice they make. I have laid out the issue, you don't see it as fair, I don't see it as fair, now let see what Century Wings thinks. I have no choice but to accept that afterall.

[lanslide]

Okay, Then I think we agree that The Flying Mule should send you any Tomcat you want and you should send your defective model back to them to deal with all at NO COST TO YOU. The Flying Mule, and other retailers/distributors, and Century Wings should also send you an apology letter for not being more responsive in the first place. Would that scenario allow you to be a CW customer again?

[tripoli]

I am asking only that I get compensated for the cost I spent on a defective product nothing more. (Given I paid double to get this, I would hope I could get two aircraft in trade) . I don't think I should have to pay at any further loss either for the replacement. I don' think it is s fair of Flying Tigers to have to absorb the cost of shipping it back directly to them, or for me to CW. I think the US distributor should cover it temporally and ultimately CW back to their distributor. It was CW's mistake, their responsibility to their network as well ultimately to me. Nothing more. Thats what I would expect of a good customer service network.
Again:
Because I did so in good faith that I would be getting a new quality product with no defects directly from one of their own distributors. Plain and simple.

Otherwise again, there is no warranty of any implied trust that you can or could purchase from any distributor in their network of your choosing without the risk of getting stuck with a bad product at your own loss. Now if they don't care about customer service, so be it. If their distribution network is only in place for their own needs and not of the customer, then so be it. This thread is a great example of letting their customers see and know exactly where they stand in the terms of quality and customer service.

Its obvious to me you don't see eye to eye on the issue of what is fair. Ultimately for me to take a loss due to purchasing a defective product or for CW to take a loss due to them selling a defective product. Lets see what choice they make. I have laid out the issue, you don't see it as fair, I don't see it as fair, now let see what Century Wings thinks. I have no choice but to accept that afterall.

[lanslide]

Stop worrying about what is fair to the CW network and concentrate on what is fair to you. Surely you don't expect them to cover what you paid for the item when they can get you a replacement. What if you paid $2,000.00 for a Tomcat from Nicaragua?

[tripoli]

Again:
Because I did so in good faith that I would be getting a new quality product with no defects directly from one of their own distributors. Plain and simple.

My last e-mail to The flying Tiger Shop and their reply:

Hi Micheal,
First off, I appreciate the e-mail back. When I first contacted the shop there to make the purchase, I felt from the e-mail that there was some hesitation to ship the model overseas. Not getting an e-mail back, I figured the worst case senario for both sides had occurred. It is rough, because for me to ship it back just incures more money on an item that already has turned into a boondoggle for me. And I am sure your not that happy on that side with the circumstances due to the shipping cost either. I was surprised thought that someone did not take a quick look and catch it before it went out. Its a really glaring error.
I really wish CW would step in since it is their product and keep it cheap for both the distributor and the customer by letting me trade it back in to the US distributor for a trade in on my cost of the product and shipping. I would think that would be one of the benefits of having a world wide distribution network. The at first Flying Mule here did not want to deal with it because I did not buy it from them. But I had already bought a few CW models directly through them. Shocked me they took the position they did THE official distributor in the US. And disapointed with their own offered solution.
I am hoping some part of the CW network can take a step up on the customer service aspect of this, but after going back and forth on it for so long, I am at a loss to see it happen. I had really hoped CW would be monitoring the post on the board and take the extra step this should require. So far I have taken the lumps on this one, I hope CW would consider it a bit more.

Best Regards,

Jeff Bassett


Hi Jeff,

I agree with you completely!

The CW Tomcats were so well thought of in the marketplace and we had NEVER had a return, we just sent the model. Most collectors feel that if we inspect their models too closely, that they are somehow second hand! As soon as they come into stock, they go straight back out. The difficulty for you guys is also the ridiculous exchange rate. We did a Gemini Aces commission and where we usually have fantastic support from North America, this was not so good, as you are all faced with paying almost double for this product.

Getting back to Century, because they have now publicly acknowledged this problem, I think you should formally write to them with your grievance and financial loss details and they should provide some recompense. At the very least, they should send you a couple of free models.

I am sincerely sorry for the trouble you have experienced and in particular for our part in your upset. I hope you do get some joy with Century, because we retailers are being battered senseless at present and I really fear for the future of our hobby.

Sincere best wishes


Michael Clegg

Managing Director

Lanside, are you working for CW? Because if so, you are doing a lousey job of negotaiting in my opinion and I have stated where I stand on this. If not, why not wait and see if CW does do anything on this instead of a needless further debate.