Kits with missing parts -- rant

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Bobalu

Bobalu

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
604
Location
Social Circle, GA
Does anyone ever check the hardware kits to insure that every part is present and in good condition? I know that I don't and have paid the price more than once. :frown:

Last night I finished the second of two Majestics I turned this weekend. This morning I looked at them sitting side by side and suddenly realized that something wasn't right. The most outer smooth band on the tapered finial for the lower section was missing. My first thought was it had fallen off during assembly, so I scoured the bench top and floor for the missing ring, but came up empty. Then I checked an unopened kit and realized that the ring was press fit. There was no way to get it off without some destructive effort. The ring couldn't have fallen off on its own. The kit had been like this since it left the factory. :mad:

The good new is the kit was a FP, so the slightly shorter length isn't going to be an issue. I can't sell it, won't sell it, but it can still be used as a gift to someone who would appreciate it despite the flaw. The bad news is the kit was on closeout, and not returnable. The old adage of you get what you pay for sure applies here. But it leave me wondering if the supplier didn't know what they shipped. :confused:

My only hope is that there is still one supplier selling this kit (not the one I bought it from). I have a large order to submit for other things. Maybe, just maybe, they may have this final or ring available from another busted or returned kit. I can only hope. :redface:
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
I usually do, and when we have been buying those kits from Smitty he encourages you to check each and every one of them.

Lin.
 
I try to check 'em before committing to using them. But not always. Sometimes I just don't have time or are too busy.

I haven't been bitten yet, but now that we've talked about this it'll happen. Sigh.
 
I doubt vendors have the time or personnel to check every kit leaving their business.

I do a casual check when kits arrive, regardless where the kits come from. Usually order a number of kits at a time to get a discount, so do not look at every component in the kit. I do line up components per kit instruction when making a pen. Knock on wood never had any kit missing components.

Have only one mix up on an order and quick phone call solved the problem. I have sent part of an order back to a vendor because of low quality and got a partial refund.
 
Bob:
I suspect that you got these kits from a bigbox wood store when they were on deep discount. I bought 25 of the Majestic FP's and 25 of the Majestic RB's. Not only did they come with wrong intsructions (listed the wrong bit sizes), but some of kits were missing the "recess" ring at the cap.

The good news is PSI sells some "repair" parts for the Majestic. If PSI will not sell you the part, send me photo of the part missing. There is a 100 percent chance I have it in titanium finish. I have already had to canniblize 5 of the kits due to missing parts.
 
Wildman said:
I doubt vendors have the time or personnel to check every kit leaving their business.

I do a casual check when kits arrive, regardless where the kits come from. Usually order a number of kits at a time to get a discount, so do not look at every component in the kit. I do line up components per kit instruction when making a pen. Knock on wood never had any kit missing components.

Have only one mix up on an order and quick phone call solved the problem. I have sent part of an order back to a vendor because of low quality and got a partial refund.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing... I have all the assembly instructions in a note book and open it to the instructions for every pen I make... especially if it's one I don't make regularly.... I lay out the parts on a cloth in assembly order and check them against the instructions... I've been doing pens for 8 or 9 years and do this religiously... if a part should be missing, I can catch it before I start to assemble... I may lose the tubes if I didn't check before hand, but I almost always have a supply of spare tubes on hand as well. At the risk of causing a jinx, I've had no problems with missing parts yet.
 
Right on

Wildman said:
I doubt vendors have the time or personnel to check every kit leaving their business.

I do a casual check when kits arrive, regardless where the kits come from. Usually order a number of kits at a time to get a discount, so do not look at every component in the kit. I do line up components per kit instruction when making a pen. Knock on wood never had any kit missing components.

Have only one mix up on an order and quick phone call solved the problem. I have sent part of an order back to a vendor because of low quality and got a partial refund.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely correct shipping 250 - 1000 kits a day unbagging all the kits and checking that the components are all there would cause serious delays in shipping.

On all kits but slimlines (I can always replace those) I ask my customers to check immediately upon receipt. I will make good on everything but it is annoying to have a complaint come in 6 months after you sell the item, especially if it was something that could have been picked up right away. It is also much easier for me toget replacement parts included in my next order if I get inputs right away.
 
PenMan1 said:
Bob:
I suspect that you got these kits from a bigbox wood store when they were on deep discount. I bought 25 of the Majestic FP's and 25 of the Majestic RB's. Not only did they come with wrong intsructions (listed the wrong bit sizes), but some of kits were missing the "recess" ring at the cap.

The good news is PSI sells some "repair" parts for the Majestic. If PSI will not sell you the part, send me photo of the part missing. There is a 100 percent chance I have it in titanium finish. I have already had to canniblize 5 of the kits due to missing parts.
Click to expand...
What is a "big box wood" store. I'd like to find one near Conroe, Texas. Can't be Home Depot or Lowe's. They don't carry pen kits.
 
"I can't sell it, won't sell it, but it can still be used as a gift to someone who would appreciate it despite the flaw."

I'll take it...lol:biggrin:
 
Jgrden said:
PenMan1 said:
What is a "big box wood" store. I'd like to find one near Conroe, Texas. Can't be Home Depot or Lowe's. They don't carry pen kits.
Click to expand...

The two I visit are Woodcraft, and Rockler. I mail-ordered most of my pens and tools from Lee Valley, but I've bought a lot from Woodcraft lately, since they have a lot of penmaking supplies, and they happen to be close to my house (which is both a blessing and a curse).

Concerning the original post, I bought about 20 pen kits before actually checking them to make sure they were complete, but luckily they were. At least for the Woodcraft purchases, if I had an isue, I could handle it personally during my next visit.

Lee
Click to expand...
 
GaryMG and All,

Gary's statement is not totally accurate. Our customers are allowed five days to check their kits for any missing parts. The five day period begins on the day the order is delivered.

As an aside, we began checking every Baron and Sedona kit we received beginning on May 28, 2009. The reason for the inspection was that people were losing the spring because of its small size and, being round, it easily rolled off a table. We expanded the inspection to include every part of both kits.

Bill Baumbeck
Arizona Silhouette Inc.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom