Figarti I,m PO,ed! (2 Viewers)

[em_linney]

Wow. I am glad that I checked out this post. I don't own any Figarti models, but there are several on my TS "wish list". I think I will strike those, or move them to the "If I win the lottery and can afford to have them fixed list". Thanks for the heads up everyone. It's a bummer because they make some really nice looking and unusual models.

 

[jazzeum]

I have several Figarti models and I've had trouble only with one so we need to have a balanced view here instead of the overwhelming negative view that I've seen here. Have there been problems? Yes. Will Figarti try to address your problems if you bring them to their attention? Again, yes. If you had intended to buy a Figarti model, I would encourage you to do do or at least talk to your dealer about it.

Let's not forget that this Forum only attracts a small percentage of the actual collectors, albeit a vociferous one, and there are undoubtedly many satisfied collectors out there.

 

[gk5717]

Brad, I respect your opinion. But as you know I,ve been in this hobby a long time, not afraid to spend my money. But what I,m posting is fact, not opinion.
Let buyer beware when it comes to Figarti.
Gary

 

[jazzeum]

Gary, what you're posting is your experience but you're trying to masquerade it as applicable to every model Figarti has made. No one denies there have been problems but to say that applies to all Figarti models is incorrect.

 

[redhugh]

Gary, what you're posting is your experience but you're trying to masquerade it as applicable to every model Figarti has made. No one denies there have been problems but to say that applies to all Figarti models is incorrect.

I have quite a few figarti models from when they first started the 30 series. Have had paint flake on only 2 items , the early V2 rocket a little bit around the tail fins and a little bit on the black V2 launching pad. Even then didn't think it was noticeable enough to bother with a touch up.

Otherwise no signs of flaking on many figures or vehicles many of which are in glass cabinets for the last few years. Having seen the bad flaking on the one's Mitch repaired I'm not quite sure why those sets flaked and mine didn't, because I presume they were painted in the same way..It's certainly not down to gentler handling on my part as they get used in diorama's. Humidity, sea air .. I don't have a clue.

As regards breakages on arrival , I've noticed improvements and don't automatically reach for the glue anymore^&grin. For example none of the Russian series I bought had any breakages. They do produce unique models in their own particular style which I'm a big fan of, and my own experiences certainly haven't put me off future buys.

 

[vandilay]

Really, Paint flaking on the new Huey models ????? Stukas with parts broken off out of the box.Who ever is in charge of Figarti's R&D department should be replaced as things are not working out.......IMO !!! :redface2: Repeated breakage, Paint flaking stories, etc has driven me away from buying anymore from this group.

To be honest , as detail has improved and they become more delicate I can handle the odd broken antenna etc , [packaging seems very good for the most part these days] and with the rigours of international shipping s%$# happens as they say.
Flaking paint seems more avoidable to me though , I have 7 tanks in the past and 4 of those have had flaking paint .
[the last piece before I purchased before the Huey was montys lee ] so it was quite some time ago.

So to once again have flaking paint was a problem I thought would have been sorted, its still a cool piece and
my little boy has dibs on it. But unless I am extremely unlucky in the models I have bought it ain't a flash hit rate.
I should add that I would still buy there pieces as they make some cool stuff , but I always keep in mind
how I think it will survive its journey to NZ and the possibility of touch ups.

 

[maddadicus]

I own a Figarti Lee tank,( which I repainted by choice and not by an issue ) and a Flail Sherman, which I sold after a couple of months, to make space. I did not have problems with either piece. If they made a tank, I like, then I would still buy from them..( since I am somewhat skilled in fixing and painting, if needed ) I might be more tolerant than most. Michael

 

[Mitch]

Brad...

I think on the whole you are right in a balanced approach. However, lets not forget I speak with a lot more people who are not on forums who have problems and, either don't get it sorted from wherever they have bought Figarti from (no names) or, don't get a satisfactory response from Figarti itself. I was looking and have including my own repaired in varying levels 68 Figarti sets for paint flaking and broken parts which, on the whole is down to some strange packaging. The response from Figarti: Send it back at own expense and we will repair and give a figure seems to be what I have heard several people say. Why should the collector be out of pocket any further??

Also, keeping the balanced approach Figarti make very small numbers of models so, when you get ten or fifteen people all having similar issues with the same set from a sample of 90/100 its really quite a large % to be going wrong. A lot worse than say a manufacturer who sells 1,000 items and ten or fifteen are faulty. I know the two are still bad as its a fault of equal magnitude to the collector but, its not like this issue could not have been sorted in the blink of an eye.
Mitch

I have several Figarti models and I've had trouble only with one so we need to have a balanced view here instead of the overwhelming negative view that I've seen here. Have there been problems? Yes. Will Figarti try to address your problems if you bring them to their attention? Again, yes. If you had intended to buy a Figarti model, I would encourage you to do do or at least talk to your dealer about it.

Let's not forget that this Forum only attracts a small percentage of the actual collectors, albeit a vociferous one, and there are undoubtedly many satisfied collectors out there.

 

[gk5717]

Brad, you are correct, as I have Figarti pieces that have not flaked. My point in this thread is that NO pieces should flake. Occasional breakage, ok, but not on the level I experianced with Figarti. When I shell out a couple of hundred dollars for a piece, I should not be expected to have to worry about repainting.
Lastly, and this is just my opinion, their figures are the worst in the business. I kept buying for years thinking they would improve, they did, a little, but never on the level of others, again, my opinion.
Am I bashing Figarti, YES! I feel I have spent enough money with this company over many years that I have the right to express my disatisfaction.
Gary

 

[jazzeum]

Gary,

Do you want to come on here and complain or do you want results? Have you tried contacting Figarti. I know they stand behind their products.

Again, no one is saying they haven't had problems and that these problems shouldn't happen but you're acting pretty petulantly.

I asked you to send me a photo of the item yesterday and gave you my email address. Are you going to send that as I may want to buy it.

Brad

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Gary,

Do you want to come on here and complain or do you want results? Have you tried contacting Figarti. I know they stand behind their products.

Again, no one is saying they haven't had problems and that these problems shouldn't happen but you're acting pretty petulantly.

I asked you to send me a photo of the item yesterday and gave you my email address. Are you going to send that as I may want to buy it.

Brad

No Brad - buy mine. It still has all the paint.

Terry

 

[Mitch]

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

Gary,.

Do you want to come on here and complain or do you want results? Have you tried contacting Figarti. I know they stand behind their products.

Again, no one is saying they haven't had problems and that these problems shouldn't happen but you're acting pretty petulantly.

I asked you to send me a photo of the item yesterday and gave you my email address. Are you going to send that as I may want to buy it.

Brad

 

[Warrior]

Wow. I am glad that I checked out this post. I don't own any Figarti models, but there are several on my TS "wish list". I think I will strike those, or move them to the "If I win the lottery and can afford to have them fixed list". Thanks for the heads up everyone. It's a bummer because they make some really nice looking and unusual models.

This is exactly the sort of thing you don't want to see happen; much like the panic in the streets that the "I've got a problem with the new Figarti Stuka" caused, to the point where collectors were cancelling their orders on a plane that in the end did not have any issues, a plane which is now sold out, so said collectors now have lost the opportunity to own one all over nothing.

Don't let the negative experience of a collector/collectors (wow Mitch, 65 repair/repaints, that's quite a number) deter you from buying something; if nothing else, simply ask the dealer you're considering buying the piece from to check it prior to shipment. AND, if you do have an issue with the item after getting it, rest assured it will be taken care of, all Figarti dealers and Figarti themselves stand behind their products.

I've sold well over 1,000 Figarti items in the time that I've been a dealer (I've been with them since their first trip to the Chicago show, thanks for having me as a dealer Rick) and I can count the number of issues customers have had with items shipped by me to them on one hand and every last one of those were resolved either directly by me or with Ricks and Peters assistance.

At the end of the day, all of the manufacturers stand behind their products 100%, as do the dealers who represent the products, the manufacturers have stood behind their products for me whenever there has been an issue, never once have I had a manufacturer tell me "Sorry, you and your customer are out of luck on this one."

Ok, carry on fellas.

 

[Mitch]

Wow!! Not really sure why you feel the need to repeat the number of repairs and flaking paint from one manufacturer. That is a fact and others have also repaired many in the US. Might be ok to mock it but, its a simple fact and look at the number of people affected on here. If you have been fortunate to avoid such stuff great but, it does not help anyone who has.

Why not make a comment on Terry who has stopped buying altogether because of poor quality control or any of the other posters in this thread who made comments eh seems a bit sarcastic and rather no need when its a factual and rather reasonable discussion that collectors were having???
Mitch

This is exactly the sort of thing you don't want to see happen; much like the panic in the streets that the "I've got a problem with the new Figarti Stuka" caused, to the point where collectors were cancelling their orders on a plane that in the end did not have any issues, a plane which is now sold out, so said collectors now have lost the opportunity to own one all over nothing.

Don't let the negative experience of a collector/collectors (wow Mitch, 65 repair/repaints, that's quite a number) deter you from buying something; if nothing else, simply ask the dealer you're considering buying the piece from to check it prior to shipment. AND, if you do have an issue with the item after getting it, rest assured it will be taken care of, all Figarti dealers and Figarti themselves stand behind their products.

I've sold well over 1,000 Figarti items in the time that I've been a dealer (I've been with them since their first trip to the Chicago show, thanks for having me as a dealer Rick) and I can count the number of issues customers have had with items shipped by me to them on one hand and every last one of those were resolved either directly by me or with Ricks and Peters assistance.

At the end of the day, all of the manufacturers stand behind their products 100%, as do the dealers who represent the products, the manufacturers have stood behind their products for me whenever there has been an issue, never once have I had a manufacturer tell me "Sorry, you and your customer are out of luck on this one."

Ok, carry on fellas.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

These continued examples have sealed the deal so to speak to focus on my one particular brand that "Does Not" Flake or have issues.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Issues with this company have been going on for years now. I'm confused how their products continue to enter the market year after year with the same issues. I know if it were my company I would make dam sure that these issues had been resolved way back when the problem first occurred. You can say that the company stands behind their products all day long, but wouldn't it be smart business to resolve these manufacturing problems and avoid all of these negative discussions about your products. From a consumers point of view why take the chance of getting burned again. I have been in this hobby for many years now, and I know that when I have some kind of an issue with 100% of a company's product it's time to stop buying.

You can't polish a turd.

 

[Warrior]

Wow!! Not really sure why you feel the need to repeat the number of repairs and flaking paint from one manufacturer.

Why not make a comment on Terry who has stopped buying altogether because of poor quality control or any of the other posters in this thread who made comments eh seems a bit sarcastic and rather no need when its a factual and rather reasonable discussion that collectors were having???
Mitch

I felt the need to repeat the number of repairs and flaking paint you've experienced because that number struck me as being extremely high.

That is the reason.

So relax Mitch.

 

[Warrior]

Issues with this company have been going on for years now. I'm confused how their products continue to enter the market year after year with the same issues. I know if it were my company I would make dam sure that these issues had been resolved way back when the problem first occurred. You can say that the company stands behind their products all day long, but wouldn't it be smart business to resolve these manufacturing problems and avoid all of these negative discussions about your products. From a consumers point of view why take the chance of getting burned again. I have been in this hobby for many years now, and I know that when I have some kind of an issue with 100% of a company's product it's time to stop buying.

You can't polish a turd.

I'm sorry you've had issues with 100% of the products you've purchased from Figarti.



As far as the issues going on for years, I can't speak to that as again, the issues I've had/my customers have had have been minimal and those were handled by either myself of Figarti directly.

As far as other collectors who have had issues with items they've bought from other dealers, I am sorry to hear that, I never like to hear about collectors who have issues with items they buy.

The main point of my comments was I hate to see a collector lose out on buying something he wanted to add to his collection due to something he read on an internet message board.

That was it, end of story.

Ok, listen; I've had a **** week, probably one of the worst weeks of my life, so I'm done with this.

Carry on.

 

[Mitch]

As calm as they come George but, past experiences made me ask. I have every damaged set faulty flaking paint issue I have done of figarti and from every other manufacturer pictured so, I could have posted many ''horror'' pictures but, that really would not have made you very relaxed!!! It was one of the reasons I place the Werner Von flakypaint thread as a couple of members called me a liar and basically said I just hate Figarti!! Nothing is further from the truth I just don't like the figures so, a proof thread was required.

While it may not garner pleasure with dealers!! I think everyone has the right to be furnished with every bit of pertinent information they require and then some before parting with their hard earned money in what is a rather expensive hobby. Is that not what everyone wants in the hobby an open frank discussion?? Surely, its better for a dealer that customers are aware to avoid them losing their profit etc and having all the additional work of having to replace or refund items due to negligence or poor craftsmanship??

We are always told that the hobby is a close knit one its the least collectors deserve I think one sleeps better at night even if a purchase is lost knowing someone may not have had to go through what many on here are discussing.
Mitch

I felt the need to repeat the number of repairs and flaking paint you've experienced because that number struck me as being extremely high.

That is the reason.

So relax Mitch.

 

[em_linney]

This is exactly the sort of thing you don't want to see happen; much like the panic in the streets that the "I've got a problem with the new Figarti Stuka" caused, to the point where collectors were cancelling their orders on a plane that in the end did not have any issues, a plane which is now sold out, so said collectors now have lost the opportunity to own one all over nothing.

Don't let the negative experience of a collector/collectors (wow Mitch, 65 repair/repaints, that's quite a number) deter you from buying something; if nothing else, simply ask the dealer you're considering buying the piece from to check it prior to shipment. AND, if you do have an issue with the item after getting it, rest assured it will be taken care of, all Figarti dealers and Figarti themselves stand behind their products.

I've sold well over 1,000 Figarti items in the time that I've been a dealer (I've been with them since their first trip to the Chicago show, thanks for having me as a dealer Rick) and I can count the number of issues customers have had with items shipped by me to them on one hand and every last one of those were resolved either directly by me or with Ricks and Peters assistance.

At the end of the day, all of the manufacturers stand behind their products 100%, as do the dealers who represent the products, the manufacturers have stood behind their products for me whenever there has been an issue, never once have I had a manufacturer tell me "Sorry, you and your customer are out of luck on this one."

Ok, carry on fellas.

I'll come out and say that I troll the boards of K&C, CS, TGM, FL, & from time to time Figarti. I make small monthly purchases in the $100-150 range, usually figures or smaller vehicles. This makes most Figarti models (and AFV's from most manufacturers) out of my usual price range, so for me to consider an AFV is a special event, and if I choose to purchase I make a special appropriation to myself. I can deal with transit damage, it is disappointing, but a fact of life when collecting assembled scale models. However, I have no skill at painting, and would find it extremely dishearten
ing to have paint flake off a model once it had been on display for a while. Reading the forums just make me a little more cautious, or impulsive, when I weigh purchasing one product against another on my ever growing "TS wish list". I haven't sworn off Figarti, just more cautious. They make really nice looking and unique pieces. Perhaps someone can share their experience with ETG-077 39H Wurfrahmen or RMG 008 & 009 - Ground Stuka (251 and Winter), those are the models I have been looking at.

It is good to know that dealers and manufacturers are committed to the products they sell/produce. Thanks for the feedback.