jazzeum
Four Star General
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2005
- Messages
- 38,515
Brad...
After recently commenting upon a member and his ties etc to a manufacturer and his alleged defence or whatever one wants to call it is calling a member petulant really called for considering the well known ties you have/had or still have with Figarti. Its equally the case that some could say that your comments are more in keeping with someone with such ties and could be expected.
I am not certain that it would be warranted but, can see how it could be thought. Did you contact Rick about the damage to the stuka if you don't mind me asking? Was the response the reason why you sold it shortly after the show? I know from comments with a number of people that they have not been satisfied with the additional expense of returning an item for repair and then risk additional damage in a long haul dispatch and return.
I think this is the very place to air ones annoyances at such issues when the price we are paying is not really peanuts. I know I have contacted Figarti about damage to two pieces and received no reply back.
What are collectors to do?
Mitch
Mitch,
I don't mind you me asking about my ties to Figarti considering what I said about another member. Fair is fair. I consider Rick a friend although I'm not in constant contact with him. However, that doesn't mean that I won't contact Rick privately if something irks me. However, I won't lambaste him on the Forum. There are better ways to express your point of view. I have received two items from him as gifts. One is when we were in China on vacation in 2010 and we visited the factory and as a result he gave me a tank. However, his standing policy is that he will give any collector who visits the factory any item of his or her choice. This was therefore not something I received that another collector who was visiting the factory would not have. I was asked to help out at the Figarti table at the Valley Forge Show in 2011, although not by Rick (although he was given a list of who would be doing so), and he provided a tank to each person who did so.
I did not contact Rick or anyone from Figarti about the Stuka. I was not happy so I sold it. I never did mention it to Rick.
I never said Figarti shouldn't get criticism for the paint flaking issue. However, I believe Rick has said in the past that if someone has an issue they should contact Figarti. As I've only had an issue with one item (and that occurred before Rick made the announcement) I have never done so. I don't know if Figarti's policy is that they will pay for the cost incurred by the collector to send the item back to Figarti. However, if not, I believe they should do so.
My only point in making the comments about being balanced in our comments is that we shouldn't "throw the baby out with the bathwater."
My further view is that sometimes whatever you say is unlikely to change minds. I have basically said what I have to say and am unlikely to say more on the topic, especially as this is not a new issue.
Although I am not affiliated with the company in any capacity, I don't think it's good that you contacted them and received no reply. If this should happen in the future, please let me know and I will see what I can do to get you a response, although I would first work through Clive.
Brad