Dog crap service from Skymaster
10-08-2018, 07:04 AM
#1
Dog crap service from Skymaster
7 weeks ago I ordered a new stab for my SM F-4. After 3 emails from my dealer to John he said no word from SM OEM. The last time I owned a SM I had the same non existent level of service. Guess I was nuts from getting another. It will be my last if I dont get my stab. Read the SM threads, everyone is waiting for kits, parts etc. The only thing they do with any urgency is take your money! Come on Anton and John, it's just a plain white 1/1.75 stab.
Last edited by tp777fo; 10-08-2018 at 07:10 AM.
10-08-2018, 08:42 AM
#2
In addition to my order thru A&E Jets. Eric has another customer waiting over 6 months for F16 wings and one over 4 months for an A4 kit that was stated to be in stock. Neither Anton or John will answer emails. Whats up? Why would anyone in their right mind order another Skymaster product? SEND MY PARTS....you got your $$ as soon as I ordered!
10-08-2018, 09:46 AM
#4
Just to present the other side of the coin, I order my Skymaster product directly from Skymaster and have receive nothing short of outstanding service. I get the impression that if a dealer orders the kit, they expect the dealer to handle the customers issues and answer their questions. If that's the case, it doesn't sound like all that unreasonable an expectation to me.
I also recall hearing a similar discussion a while back where the customer was complaining he had ordered an airplane, paid in full and it was taking forever to show up. It turned out that while the dealer had collected all the funds, they never actually fully paid Skymaster for the airplane and that was the reason it wasn't being shipped. Probably not the cause of your problems but when there is a 3rd party involved I always find it difficult to understand the real source of any problems that arise.
On the same line, a friend ordered his Skymaster through BVM. He'd called BVM and they weren't able to fully answer his questions because they had never built that particular model before and when he called Skymaster they didn't respond, presumable because they expected BVM to handle these types of issues.
As for parts, I damaged the canopy glass on my Skymaster / XtremeJets Dragon. I sent John an email and asked him about availability of a new canopy glass and mentioned that I would like to get it ASAP so I could fly my Jet at an upcoming Jet rally. It took him several days to get back to me but when he did, he let me know that the new canopy had been shipped, provided tracking information and then asked me to pay for the canopy via PayPal after it had already shipped. The price including DHL shipping was very reasonable and I think it took about 10 days from the time I first contacted him until I received my new canpoy. I've contacted John with questions and when I needed needed parts a number of times over the past several years and John has stepped up and provide fantastic service in every single case. I think the difference is that I ordered directly from Skymaster vs a 3rd party.
Just to be clear, I'm not implying that your dealer did anything wrong, just that when there is a 3rd party involved, communications get more complicated and it's difficult to tell where the real problem lies.
I also recall hearing a similar discussion a while back where the customer was complaining he had ordered an airplane, paid in full and it was taking forever to show up. It turned out that while the dealer had collected all the funds, they never actually fully paid Skymaster for the airplane and that was the reason it wasn't being shipped. Probably not the cause of your problems but when there is a 3rd party involved I always find it difficult to understand the real source of any problems that arise.
On the same line, a friend ordered his Skymaster through BVM. He'd called BVM and they weren't able to fully answer his questions because they had never built that particular model before and when he called Skymaster they didn't respond, presumable because they expected BVM to handle these types of issues.
As for parts, I damaged the canopy glass on my Skymaster / XtremeJets Dragon. I sent John an email and asked him about availability of a new canopy glass and mentioned that I would like to get it ASAP so I could fly my Jet at an upcoming Jet rally. It took him several days to get back to me but when he did, he let me know that the new canopy had been shipped, provided tracking information and then asked me to pay for the canopy via PayPal after it had already shipped. The price including DHL shipping was very reasonable and I think it took about 10 days from the time I first contacted him until I received my new canpoy. I've contacted John with questions and when I needed needed parts a number of times over the past several years and John has stepped up and provide fantastic service in every single case. I think the difference is that I ordered directly from Skymaster vs a 3rd party.
Just to be clear, I'm not implying that your dealer did anything wrong, just that when there is a 3rd party involved, communications get more complicated and it's difficult to tell where the real problem lies.
10-08-2018, 10:10 AM
#5
I’m staying neutral in this I’m not defending or arguing. My experience with Skymaster has been very good. I’ve always dealt with them direct and they always reply to my emails right away and gave me good deals with prices. I ordered parts which they said will take a couple months but explained there’s a back log of orders which is why it takes a while. You should maybe try order direct rather than going through a dealer (middle man). I do find that sometimes there is communication errors with dealers
10-08-2018, 11:22 AM
#7
I am on the other side of that wall, I have ordered directly thru John at Skymaster, Never any issues, good communication, usually takes a day or so,but considering where they are that's to be expected. I have ordered numerous parts and never had an issue getting them. Hope you get it worked out
10-08-2018, 12:21 PM
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Redstone, CO, USA
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10-08-2018, 02:06 PM
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
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I am also a very happy Skymaster customer. I have always dealt directly with John and Anton and their service has been 5 STAR. Since 2005 I have bought many kits and had various issues sorted out by them. Their outstanding service is the very reason why I believe Skymaster is the single best hobby company I deal with.
JanR
JanR
10-09-2018, 04:17 PM
#15
My Feedback: (12)
I have purchased 12 Skymaster Jets over a 11 year period. I have always found John and Anton very responsive to replacement parts.....especially if the model was damaged in shippment for any reason. New orders usually arrived within a couple of weeks of promised delivery date. I have always ordered directly from Skymaster. The dealers in the USA maybe are not always as responsive to solving your problem, particulary if they selling competeing products!!!
David "Two Dogs " Carter Satisfied Skymaster Customer
David "Two Dogs " Carter Satisfied Skymaster Customer
10-09-2018, 09:48 PM
#16
Tom, good to hear you're getting a new stab sent out soon. Mine arrived with a delaminated trailing edge....easy fix with some hysol but I asked them to send me a new one, which they promptly did for me, matching paint and all. If I may ask, what did they charge for the replacement stab?
10-12-2018, 11:25 AM
#20
My Feedback: (29)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Pembroke Pines,
FL
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Tthis is my first time buying from Skymaster. I ordered an A-4 on June 26. I was told everything was in stock by my dealer Eric Clapp and he was quoted a 5 week process time to complete and ship. Long story short my A-4 is JUST NOW GETTING ready to ship. Was told different stories by Skymaster, new paint personel, jet power, and the icing on the cake was that they were waiting on gear that I was originally was told was in stock!
Also so after being told the price originally, I have to pay 100 more for shipping and now was told I have to pay an extra 3 percent for using PayPal. I believe that should have been stated up front and not right before they are ready to ship.
i will say that I reached out to Anton directly and he responded right away. However he is not the one taking care of shipping, install etc I believe.
My thanks to Eric Clapp for the assistance and trying to get the 3 percent fee waived. Unfortunately Skymaster would not budge on the issue.
Honestly can say this has not been a very pleasant experience for me
Also so after being told the price originally, I have to pay 100 more for shipping and now was told I have to pay an extra 3 percent for using PayPal. I believe that should have been stated up front and not right before they are ready to ship.
i will say that I reached out to Anton directly and he responded right away. However he is not the one taking care of shipping, install etc I believe.
My thanks to Eric Clapp for the assistance and trying to get the 3 percent fee waived. Unfortunately Skymaster would not budge on the issue.
Honestly can say this has not been a very pleasant experience for me
