Futaba doesn't care about their customers!

[3dz]

Originally Posted by DavidH

Guess he has problem reading the label that is on the gyro and servo that has a label that says Made in Taiwan. LOL
Maybe they didn't teach to do that when he got his background in manufactuering. LOL

David

The person I spoke with over the phone said they are in China, so maybe
you are wrong, and they moved. They probably kept their Taiwan label, to
save money, and probably still have the facility in Tawain, but the Gyros are
now coming out of a factory in China.

[3dz]

>> Look at it this way, now would be the perfect time to take your $$ and support a smaller
>> company like Spartan or Solid G.


I do have a Spartan Gyro, and also a Logictech, as well as several 401's, that
wasn't the point though.

[3dz]

Originally Posted by saltyzoo

Why should they not profit from selling you an item? Using your logic they shouldn't profit from your original purchase either.

You broke it. You need another one. You have to buy another one. I don't understand why that is so complicated.

"Who's fault it is" has everything to do with it. If their product caused the crash would you be willing to "share" the blame with them? I'll bet not. So why should they "share" the blame of something that is 100% completely your fault?

You obviously didn't read the post correctly. I have no problem from them making
profit on the original purchase, and I stated this very clearly.

The only thing I haven't seen all you 'get over it / go buy another gyro' folks do is
make a comment regarding Castle Creations replacement policy.

So tell me why CastleCreations can do it, and Futaba can't...

[saltyzoo]

Originally Posted by 3dz

So tell me why CastleCreations can do it, and Futaba can't...

Who knows? Maybe CastleCreations jacks their retail price up so that they can afford to do this and Futaba prefers to keep the retail price as low as possible. That's only the first explanation that popped into my head.

The bottom line is if you don't like Futaba's policy, buy a CastleCreations gyro next time.

[3dz]

Without working for Futaba, we can't confirm what these
things are costing them to make. My guess is ~ 25.00 shipped,
but this is speculation, so it's not going to help. What I do know
is that retail stores mark things up from 50 to 200%. I've been on the
selling side, and have been told this straight up by many stores.
The range depends on volume, and how popular the item is.
I have worked with many companies and have gone through the
entire cost and profit structure, so for the store to sell these around
140.00, the mfg. is most likely building them for the price I listed above,
but obviously, I can't confirm this.

Bottom line, for them to want to KEEP my broken Gyro, and want to charge
me 120.00 for a replacement is offensive. That is my opinion, I figured
more people would agree, but whatever, have fun making Futaba rich....

At TowerHobbies right now, they have them brand new for 129.00.

[saltyzoo]

Originally Posted by 3dz

Without working for Futaba, we can't confirm what these
things are costing them to make. My guess is ~ 25.00 shipped,
but this is speculation, so it's not going to help. What I do know
is that retail stores mark things up from 50 to 200%. I've been on the
selling side, and have been told this straight up by many stores.
The range depends on volume, and how popular the item is.
I have worked with many companies and have gone through the
entire cost and profit structure, so for the store to sell these around
140.00, the mfg. is most likely building them for the price I listed above,
but obviously, I can't confirm this.

Bottom line, for them to want to KEEP my broken Gyro, and want to charge
me 120.00 for a replacement is offensive. That is my opinion, I figured
more people would agree, but whatever, have fun making Futaba rich....

At TowerHobbies right now, they have them brand new for 129.00.

You're offended, but you're making Futaba rich the same as us that aren't offended. And my blood pressure is lower.

PS> You can send me the $9 if you don't think it's worth anything.

[HydroJoe]

Keep your broken one and buy one of these.... https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=105156

I realize your fustration but that is how Futaba does buisness (like it or not). They are not going to change for you (or anyone else.) Don't like it.....don't buy Futaba. It's not like they are picking on you (they would tell me the same thing.)

[DavidH]

Originally Posted by 3dz

Without working for Futaba, we can't confirm what these
things are costing them to make. My guess is ~ 25.00 shipped,
but this is speculation, so it's not going to help. What I do know
is that retail stores mark things up from 50 to 200%. I've been on the
selling side, and have been told this straight up by many stores.
The range depends on volume, and how popular the item is.
I have worked with many companies and have gone through the
entire cost and profit structure, so for the store to sell these around
140.00, the mfg. is most likely building them for the price I listed above,
but obviously, I can't confirm this.

Bottom line, for them to want to KEEP my broken Gyro, and want to charge
me 120.00 for a replacement is offensive. That is my opinion, I figured
more people would agree, but whatever, have fun making Futaba rich....

At TowerHobbies right now, they have them brand new for 129.00.

If you think the hobby dealers have a 50% to 200% markup on items. You have never been in the selling side of the hobby shop business. I worked in a local hobby shop for 10 years. You would be really surprised how little markup is in the items.
That 401 gyro that Hobby Services offered at 50% off the MSRP of $199. That is less than what a dealer pays for it. So do the math and see what precentage a dealer is making. LOL
The saying in the hobby shop, the quickest way to make a large amount of money small is to open a hobby shop. The hobby dealers that are successful are doing a large quanity, the ones that have shut down couldn't make it on the quanity they were selling. With the world market and the internet, pricing on items is at the bare minimum to keep the doors of the dealers open.

Order the 401 gyro from Tower Hobbies, they are the same company that wanted to sell you the replacement for $100. So if it was going to be $20 shipping on the $100 gyro, it will be $20 on the $129 gyro. Tower and Hobby Services, same company, same location.


David

[3dz]

Originally Posted by HydroJoe

Keep your broken one and buy one of these.... https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=105156

I realize your fustration but that is how Futaba does buisness (like it or not). They are not going to change for you (or anyone else.) Don't like it.....don't buy Futaba. It's not like they are picking on you (they would tell me the same thing.)

agreed...

[3dz]

Originally Posted by DavidH

If you think the hobby dealers have a 50% to 200% markup on items. You have never been in the selling side of the hobby shop business. I worked in a local hobby shop for 10 years. You would be really surprised how little markup is in the items.
That 401 gyro that Hobby Services offered at 50% off the MSRP of $199. That is less than what a dealer pays for it. So do the math and see what precentage a dealer is making. LOL
The saying in the hobby shop, the quickest way to make a large amount of money small is to open a hobby shop. The hobby dealers that are successful are doing a large quanity, the ones that have shut down couldn't make it on the quanity they were selling. With the world market and the internet, pricing on items is at the bare minimum to keep the doors of the dealers open.

Order the 401 gyro from Tower Hobbies, they are the same company that wanted to sell you the replacement for $100. So if it was going to be $20 shipping on the $100 gyro, it will be $20 on the $129 gyro. Tower and Hobby Services, same company, same location.


David

True, I don't know the hobby shop numbers, so without seeing a buyers price
sheet, I'll accept your info..

I wasn't asking for a free item though, just for a fair replacement. If they would have
dropped the price by $20.00 I would have been okay with it. As I've mentioned, I
like Castle's policy, it just sounds fair. And as far as a prev. reply about Castle
having a higher retail, I don't think so, competition would price them out if they
didn't have a product to stand behind the cost.

..and at least Tower Hobbies is not asking for my broken one...

[saltyzoo]

Originally Posted by 3dz

True, I don't know the hobby shop numbers, so without seeing a buyers price
sheet, I'll accept your info..

I wasn't asking for a free item though, just for a fair replacement. If they would have
dropped the price by $20.00 I would have been okay with it. As I've mentioned, I
like Castle's policy, it just sounds fair. And as far as a prev. reply about Castle
having a higher retail, I don't think so, competition would price them out if they
didn't have a product to stand behind the cost.

..and at least Tower Hobbies is not asking for my broken one...

If you think companies are giving replacement deals without factoring the cost in their budget somewhere I'm confident you are wrong.

It's not going to price them out of competition to raise the price a buck or two to cover their replacement plan. And they can use that as a sales feature as well. Isn't a better replacement plan worth a buck or two? Obviously you think so. :p

[DavidH]

I wasn't asking for a free item though, just for a fair replacement

So you don't consider the price they gave you of $100 as fair? I have checked around a few shops. The least expensive price I have found for a GY 401 gyro only is $126.00. That is a few dollars less than MAP. Thou the dealer is not advertising at $126. It can be bought from them at that price.
I know the price of $100 is less than what a dealer pays for a 401. So if a dealer is lucky they are making 10 to 15% over what they gave for it.
Futaba has had the same replacement policy for many years. As do other manufactuers they have very similar pricing policy on replacement items. I would think most people would appreciate that a manufactuer is offering to replace an item that was destoryed by the consumer for a very fair price. A price that is less than they can buy from any dealer.


David

[3dz]

Originally Posted by DavidH

So you don't consider the price they gave you of $100 as fair? I have checked around a few shops. The least expensive price I have found for a GY 401 gyro only is $126.00. That is a few dollars less than MAP. Thou the dealer is not advertising at $126. It can be bought from them at that price.
I know the price of $100 is less than what a dealer pays for a 401. So if a dealer is lucky they are making 10 to 15% over what they gave for it.
Futaba has had the same replacement policy for many years. As do other manufactuers they have very similar pricing policy on replacement items. I would think most people would appreciate that a manufactuer is offering to replace an item that was destoryed by the consumer for a very fair price. A price that is less than they can buy from any dealer.


David

No, and mainly because they want to keep my broken one.

I consider 100.00 shipped acceptable, although I really thought it would
cost around 80.00. For 120.00 I could just pick one up from Tower Hobbies,
no tax, and pick the 7 day shipping for $5, and I don't have to return my broken one.

I accept the fact that some of you guys think that deal is fine, I just don't
agree. To me, it's like they want your totalled 20K car, and they want to
sell you another one for 17K. And I've seen what the junk yards charge
for parts... they use a dealer price guide as a reference! Just my opinion.

[DavidH]

They have a reason for keeping the broken one. That is so it will not be sent back in at later date so a new one can be bought for $100 again. And yes they have had people try that when they first took over Futaba and started doing service work. So they modified there policy to if the item was unrepairable and a new one was sold to the customer at a discount. That they take the old item and trash it.
As for me, I would be satisfied if my $20K vehicle was totaled and I was offered a replacement for $17K. That would be $3K I would have in my pocket. Same thing with the gyro, just think of it has having $25 you did not have.

David

[Big Fil]

Not to mention they may even need to show proof of reciept of that damaged item were they to ever have to go through a SOX audit. You can thank Enron for that.

[ErichF]

Originally Posted by 3dz

Explain to me why it is acceptable to pay almost full store price for a replacement?

Because it's new off the warehouse shelf? You're not getting a refurb of some second hand part here...you are getting a NEW UNIT.

When your lightbulbs burn out, do you get upset when Wal-Mart charges you full price for a replacement bulb?

Dang dude, your getting out of paying sales tax, shipping, and still getting a better deal compared to if you bought a new one at the LHS, or mail ordered. A new unit from Ron's is $140

Stop acting like you're entitled to something you ARE NOT....and for Pete's sake, kill the victim routine, that you are not.

[Gutaaaooo]

Just my experience. I had a 401 on my Raptor 30, and it had only the foam tape holding it in place. During a flight I saw something fly off, and when i landed i saw that the top part of the 401(the sticker with the numbers, etc) had flown off, and I could not find it. I tried to buy a new one, but could not find it, so I emailed futaba (aka greatplanes) asking how I could buy a new one. They just asked me for my adress, and a week later it was on my mailbox, not once cent spent, along with a apology for the mishap.

Futaba DO CARE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS, so with no further ado "You broke it, you buy it!"

[Aussie X-400]

I have been using Futaba for years and have nothing but praise for them.

[Kustom]

sorry mate but as long as this threaad has been going on for i would have allready got a new one .. don't get mad i understand how you feel i got ripped in the past.. Just send them a certified bag of dog poo .i know it's not right but it's funny just write repair on the box .. and tell them you dog ate it and you want them to fix it ..ok that was dumb i know sorry this thread need a little durr factor

[jschief]

Some reason I think there is more wrong with the gyro than a broken case.

The blades on my mini Titan hit the gyro and broke the case I sent it back and they replaced the case. I do not think they would charge you for a new one if more was wrong with it.