Futaba doesn't care about their customers!

[piranhafreak]

Wow i think this is totaly insane so FUTABA is supposed to ASORB THE COST IN SELLING YOU A GYRO AT A DISCOUNT BECAUSE YOU!!!! BROKE YOURS IF THEY DID THIS FOR EVERYONE WHO BROKE THERE GYRO RETAIL MIGHT ACTUALLY TURN INTO 199.99 YOU BROKE IT YOU!!!! DEAL WITH IT IT IS YOUR FAULT!!!
I DOTN WANT TO PAY ANYMORE THEN I ALLREADY HAVE TO FOR MY GYRO CAUSE U KEEP BREAKING YOURS

ALSO TOWERHOBBIES SELL THIS GYRO FOR 149.99 NOT $120 AND THERE IS TAX AND SHIPPING

THE ONLY THING I FEEL IS THEY SHOULD HAVE STATED BEFORE YOU SENT TO THEM THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE TO SEND IT BACK

[Seeker]

I crashed my X-Cell 60 once... I called MA and asked if they could send me parts at cost cuz I crashed it... I even told them I would send in the broken parts, bearings, mainshaft and feathering shaft so they could match them up and see they would send me the right parts in exchange.... Oh... the blades I bought from them also... they were only 140 bucks... I think a new set for 70 would be good.

And... if they would have sent me new parts at cost (because I crashed), I would have a lot more money in my pocket.

OK... I'm only kidding here... but it's the same concept isnt it?

[robbertderouw]

Can't believe there are 3 pages spoiled on this subject!

What's the freakin problem?, there is no guarantee on crashing your model helicopter (at least not in the Netherlands).
Go to your local store and buy a new one, or fly without the gyro

[Helico-pteron]

Originally Posted by WayneBrown

You broke it, suck it up while you learn to fly. There are costs associated with crashing, if you can't handle or swing them, you need to explore other hobbies.

+1

You are mad at Futaba because you can't fly.

[Helico-pteron]

Originally Posted by 3dz

thanks for all the replies...

Strange that some of you think that it is okay to pay a crazy high price on
replacements.

No we just think it's not Futaba's responsibility to discount parts to you because you break them.

[Helico-pteron]

Originally Posted by 3dz

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.

So you think this way about everyone then?

You crash your car and want the dealer or whoever to give all the new parts for half the price?

I really think you should stop now.

Nobody here gets crashed parts replace at 50% unless the company does that like with lipos.

[Helico-pteron]

Originally Posted by 3dz

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

So we'll be seeing more threads from you about how these brands won't give you a discount after crashing the one you have?

[founder]

It's stuff like this that makes me want to start a little R/C Insurance company on the side. How'd be game?

[Punkin71]

how about my 2 month old 401 that futaba would charge me for shipping there and back (read 401 dead?), minimum $18.50 just to test it, plus who knows how much for repair charges. the way I look at it, if the gyro is found to be defective through no fault of the owner, it should be replaced at no charge other than maybe return shipping. these products probably cost no more than 15 bucks to manufacture. it's all about good customer service and product support (horizon hobby for example) but on topic, if you break it you buy it.

[seanh]

I didn't read everything....too many replies for what appears to be pilot error. Look if you can't afford to repair the bird then you can't afford to fly "PERIOD". Don't get upset at that statement...it's what was told to me when I started flying.


and seriously. I did wreck my Saturn L200 and can you believe that both the dealer and the company that they wouldn't pay for the repairs and to top it off they said "That's why you have insurance" I mean really, who do they think they are? Sure the accident was my fault but what difference does that make.

[Big Fil]

Sorry but your selectively leaving alot out if you believe it only takes $15 to produce the gyro. Sure maybe if you count just the material cost of the parts. Everyone always forgets they have to pay their employees, the rent, the electricity, the cost of the test equipment needed to test it. How bout the $$ that had to be invested up front to develope the thing.

[WayneBrown]

Originally Posted by Big Fil

Sorry but your selectively leaving alot out if you believe it only takes $15 to produce the gyro. Sure maybe if you count just the material cost of the parts. Everyone always forgets they have to pay their employees, the rent, the electricity, the cost of the test equipment needed to test it. How bout the $$ that had to be invested up front to develope the thing.

Then there's the marketing aspect. Add about 4 Billion percent for that..

[seanh]

Big fil,

You make a good point, but what wayn implies is very much correct. What will the market support?

Glock- I think most everyone is familiar with what that is. I used to run a gun shop back in the early 90's and had the opportunity to work with the reps, marketing agents and those who went around the country testing the things. I then found that Glock could sell the guns for half price and sales would actually drop. (people have a problem with inexpensive "plastic" guns) but if the price was raised, magic happened. No one ever looked at the test data from the materials used...just assumed and got their "expert" buddy.

manufacturing is all about time and materials vs number of products projected to sell. But that is only part of it. If I can sell you a 25 dollar product for 40, I will.

We as a society generally neglect to educate ourselves. Not in just reading a review but what components are being used and compared in a one to one basis.

If we took two of the same servo's from the same manufacturing plant who sells them with different company names (futaba, china X) which one gets sold first? Futaba, right? Why...same plant, same actual components but the china x is cheaper but has the china stigma associated with it.

Sorry got of keel here.

[3dz]

First of all, saying you need to learn how to fly, or you don't know how to fly
is B.S.. So your saying that once you learn how to fly, you will never crash ?

Second of all, many of the replies to my original thread are ignorant. Please
read the entire thread before commenting, because you are moving way
off the topic.

I am simply stating my opinion about Futaba, and was curious what other
people experienced or thought. Most of the insults or arguments are not
related to my original post, just rants from people that like to make Futaba
rich, and fine, go ahead, if I owned an RC product company, I would like you
very much.

I was mainly comparing Futaba to Castle Creations, and only one or so people
noted this, others just came up with 'you break it you pay for it' jibberish.

If you would read from the thread beginning, I'm not asking Futaba to give
me a free gyro. Using Castle as a comparison, I'm saying their replacement/
repair policy is much better.

Look I already helped pay for their marketing by buying their products.
Now it broke, so the question is, what can they do for me.

Any one who just throws it away and buys another is not very smart in my opinion,
or they have way to much money..

Here is the main argument, and don't reply without reading the entire thread,
because you are missing the point.....

Castle has some retail price, and most stores sell the ESC's for a lower price,
but the range of price between the stores is similar, just like for the 401's.
On Castles web site, they have a chart that says the ESC type/name/model,
and what the 'most' you will pay to repair it, if not under warranty.
If I break my ESC (because I don't know how to fly, or whatever you want to say),
I check that page, and it says they will repair or replace my product for a specific
price, here is an example:

Phoenix HV-30
RC Store price : ~ $120
Repair / Replace Price: $45

Tell me this isn't a good / fair deal ?

This tells me one thing. Castle wants to keep it's customers. They realize you
are buying their products, it breaks, or whatever, they want you coming back,
I like that, and it makes sense.

Futaba on the other hand:

Store price: ~ $139.00
Replacement from Futaba : $120.00

And as I mentioned earlier, Tower had the 401 for 120.00....

Case closed, as my thread title reads, and my opinion remains,
Futaba just doesn't care.

[saltyzoo]

Again, so buy a CC gyro. hmmmm wait a second do they make gyros? Apples / Apples? Nope.

Since we aren't comparing like products, let's talk Coke's at McDonalds. If your kid drops his coke at the counter I guarantee you McDonalds is going to refill it for him. 100% replacement at 0 cost. Therefore CC is EVIL for charging you $45! EVIL I say!!!!!

[gsxrbaby1000]

Originally Posted by saltyzoo

Again, so buy a CC gyro. hmmmm wait a second do they make gyros? Apples / Apples? Nope.

Since we aren't comparing like products, let's talk Coke's at McDonalds. If your kid drops his coke at the counter I guarantee you McDonalds is going to refill it for him. 100% replacement at 0 cost. Therefore CC is EVIL for charging you $45! EVIL I say!!!!!

He's not asking for a 45.00 replacement, it's the percentage cost, and ya, mcdonalds
coke much closer to a 401 than CC ESC, you make a lot of sense on that one.

[Big Fil]

Originally Posted by seanh

Big fil,

You make a good point, but what wayn implies is very much correct. What will the market support?

How I read Wayne's post was in reference to the amount of money that goes into the final price of a product due to the amount of $$ that many companies put into marketing.

[3dz]

I don't care if it is a gyro, and esc, a servo, etc.. There is a cost involved in making
the product. Any one knowledgable of the electronics / manufacturing industry
can make a pretty good quote on the cost of these components. All you have to
do is price out the electronics, the molded plastic, wire, stickers, etc., and the
quantity, then figure assembly, packaging, etc..

Point is simple, if the manufacture can produce a product for $20.00, then marketing
can sell it successfully for whatever is profitable, let's say $100.00, that's great.
So the mfg. may sell to it's distributers for say $40.00, then they turn around and
sell off in diff. quantities to hobby shops, etc., and the hobby shop sells them for
$100.00 or so. This is fine, and I understand that.

If the company has a no return, no repair, policy then fine, state that, and then
when you buy it, and it breaks, you are stuck with it.

But if they offer to repair or replace them, but then want to profit on the replacement,
much more than off their distributors, this is what I think stinks....

because, they are taking the purchased one from me, understand ? replacement?
they are not saying, keep your broken one, we cannot replace/repair it, and we
can sell you another one for the same price as Tower, they are saying, give me
your broken one (and I am supposed to trust them that they cannot cost effectively
repair it), and then charge me almost full retail for another one, get it ?


Any one who is saying that it costs Futaba 120.00 to replace a broken
Gyro is wrong, period! If Tower can sell them for 120.00 after buying
from a distributor, that tells you the mfg. is selling them to the distributer
for less than $50.00 one hundred percent, guaranteed!

Do you guys work for Futaba ? I'm not sure why you are so hard core for
them, do you enjoy throwing away money when it doesn't make sense ?

[3dz]

Originally Posted by RZ350Freak

He's not complaining about the fact that he needs to pay for what he broke... he knows he broke it a needs to pay for another. His problem is with their 50% of retail rule. (retail of a 401 is not 199 like they said and also the 20 for shipping.)

If he was in here complaining about having to pay for it all like some of you seem to think then I'd agree.. you broke it, pay for it. But that's not what he is saying so why everyone is addressing that is beyond me. You all addressing something he never said.

If you want to beat on him for something so badly then stick to the content of his complaint. Tell him things like... if you don't like what Futaba is offering you as damage replacement then go elsewhere and never buy their product again. Or... no, $199 is not retail but you are still getting a deal so suck it up. Or... as Wayne likes to tell him... go find another hobby. See? these are all things that are relative to the context

Just kidding everyone, I don't really think you are all that stupid that you miss the boat totally.

Thanks RZ350Freak, at least some one understand what I am trying to say...

[Big Fil]

Originally Posted by 3dz

Thanks RZ350Freak, at least some one understand what I am trying to say...

I understand what you are trying to say but may not agree. Why if some don't agree do you feel we are "hardcore" Futaba fans or work for them? Can't we just disagree?

I have no real bias towards electronics components. Run JR, Spektrum, Futaba, Hitec, Spartan, Kontronik, and Castle Creations in my birds and all of which i'm happy with in one way or another.