Help with Sierra Scale Retracts Company
05-20-2015, 08:04 AM
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Help with Sierra Scale Retracts Company
I am trying to get a hold of Darrel at Sierra Retracts for about A month and there is no answer, I tried calling email and messaging with no response . He has my retracts to be repaired for about six month. I do not know what to do in this point. Please help. Thanks , Nick.
05-20-2015, 02:39 PM
#9
I sent him a set of 60 size retracts for repair back in January and can't get a hold of him either. Gave him my cc information about three months ago (when it was ready to ship) but he never charged it. Guess he knows he'd have legal issues if he did. Honestly, I don't understand why he's like this. I intend on paying him a visit one of these days.
05-20-2015, 04:17 PM
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My sympathies to all of you who have gear or payments sent to him and are awaiting delivery. I was fortunate the three times I transacted business with him and he seemed to be a really nice trusting fella who delivered top notch products. I wish everyone all the best and hope there is some favorable resolution to all these issues.
05-20-2015, 05:22 PM
#11
Same for me. I was able to reach without much problem to get parts for my rotating retracts last fall. it is strange that he still has a web site and all but makes no real effort to keep customers satisfied.
05-20-2015, 05:27 PM
#12
Darrell seemed like a nice guy the few times I spoke to him on the phone as well. At first, I wanted to order the parts and fix the retract units myself, but he convinced me to send them in since they only charge for parts and can give it a complete checkout. At the beginning of the year, Darrell or someone else would always answer the phone. Now, nothing.
05-20-2015, 06:07 PM
#13
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If there is a person close to his company and do me a favor to pick my retracts up to send to me I will pay for it.
thanks , Nick .
I have my Su 27 on the working table and I can' t do anything or fly it for over six months.
thanks , Nick .
I have my Su 27 on the working table and I can' t do anything or fly it for over six months.
05-21-2015, 04:26 AM
#18
i had to wait over a year for a set of tires because they sent the wrong size originally. It wasnt till i threetened to charge back all of the purchase through my credit card that new ones arrived unexpectedly.
Then before that i bought a set of $900 retracts that fell apart after retracting them by hand twice. One of the scissor link bolts had a machine nut put on with red loctite. That probably would of been fine had there been more than 1/2 a thread engaging the nut. The bigger problem was the same bolt on the other gear utilized a nylon lock nut. Perfect! New bolt and nut nad we'd be in good shape.... So an email to darrell asking for replacement items to fix his new gear was sent. 6 months later, still no bolt. And because it was a custom shoulder bolt, it couldnt just be picked up at the local hardware store. It wasnt till an RCU member gave me a spare that i got a gear set that still didnt work.
Once assembled like the other side, the nylon nut either hit the strut or the retract frame when retracted. More emails over the course of a few weeks to Darrell. Nothing in return. Finally i had to file about 1/3 of the strut away in order to make it work.
Never again
05-21-2015, 05:39 AM
#19
I think someone said on here at one time that this is not his main business and perhaps he means well but just can't get it together to take care of RC business. Too bad, because his rotating gear for P-40's is he best I've seen.
05-21-2015, 08:32 AM
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Guys,
I'm having similar issues with Darrell. I sent him a custom Kerry Sterner Vampire nose strut that was made by him as it had damaged due to some machining error and he agreed to have it fixed asap. Initially I was able to get a hold of him easily and he mentioned he machined out a whole new strut to solve the problem. This was sent back in October 2014. After January 2015, no news from him at all. My plane has been grounded for over a year just for this strut!!!
If someone does pay him a visit, please collect my strut as well and I'll gladly pay for the shipping costs to New York. Thanks
I'm having similar issues with Darrell. I sent him a custom Kerry Sterner Vampire nose strut that was made by him as it had damaged due to some machining error and he agreed to have it fixed asap. Initially I was able to get a hold of him easily and he mentioned he machined out a whole new strut to solve the problem. This was sent back in October 2014. After January 2015, no news from him at all. My plane has been grounded for over a year just for this strut!!!
If someone does pay him a visit, please collect my strut as well and I'll gladly pay for the shipping costs to New York. Thanks
05-21-2015, 08:45 AM
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I hope Likae at SkyMaster is listening. He makes the best gear I have ever had. (A-10 and F-104) I would love to see what he could do for such planes as the Corsair and P-47. His air over hydraulic oleo's are wonderful. Just saying!
05-21-2015, 08:59 AM
#22
Wondering how long it will be before we can 3D print material strong enough for landing gear? How strong is the ABS with carbon?? If a 1911 .45 and a turbine can be 3d printed, its not gonna be long before we as hobbyists can do it, or sooner, send the .stl file to a shop that has metal printing capability.
05-21-2015, 09:52 AM
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Im guessing you were inquiring about buying something? Otherwise, after sale service is Zero
i had to wait over a year for a set of tires because they sent the wrong size originally. It wasnt till i threetened to charge back all of the purchase through my credit card that new ones arrived unexpectedly.
Then before that i bought a set of $900 retracts that fell apart after retracting them by hand twice. One of the scissor link bolts had a machine nut put on with red loctite. That probably would of been fine had there been more than 1/2 a thread engaging the nut. The bigger problem was the same bolt on the other gear utilized a nylon lock nut. Perfect! New bolt and nut nad we'd be in good shape.... So an email to darrell asking for replacement items to fix his new gear was sent. 6 months later, still no bolt. And because it was a custom shoulder bolt, it couldnt just be picked up at the local hardware store. It wasnt till an RCU member gave me a spare that i got a gear set that still didnt work.
Once assembled like the other side, the nylon nut either hit the strut or the retract frame when retracted. More emails over the course of a few weeks to Darrell. Nothing in return. Finally i had to file about 1/3 of the strut away in order to make it work.
Never again
i had to wait over a year for a set of tires because they sent the wrong size originally. It wasnt till i threetened to charge back all of the purchase through my credit card that new ones arrived unexpectedly.
Then before that i bought a set of $900 retracts that fell apart after retracting them by hand twice. One of the scissor link bolts had a machine nut put on with red loctite. That probably would of been fine had there been more than 1/2 a thread engaging the nut. The bigger problem was the same bolt on the other gear utilized a nylon lock nut. Perfect! New bolt and nut nad we'd be in good shape.... So an email to darrell asking for replacement items to fix his new gear was sent. 6 months later, still no bolt. And because it was a custom shoulder bolt, it couldnt just be picked up at the local hardware store. It wasnt till an RCU member gave me a spare that i got a gear set that still didnt work.
Once assembled like the other side, the nylon nut either hit the strut or the retract frame when retracted. More emails over the course of a few weeks to Darrell. Nothing in return. Finally i had to file about 1/3 of the strut away in order to make it work.
Never again
05-21-2015, 10:06 AM
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I have been waiting on a reply about buying two nose gears for Hostetler design Cessna planes I have plans for. Its going on three years now. Multiple emails, phone calls, no response. This is the only source that Hostetler lists for his plans. This is not good for Mr. Hostetlers business either.
05-21-2015, 03:22 PM
#25
Obviously he makes some great products but his customer service is awful. I guess he does not understand how important the customer service aspect of this hobby is. I will just send the rest of business to Shindin, Robart and Century Jet. I have asked him for 2 years to just return my spinner regardless if the work was done or not. He won't even acknowledge my emails regarding the spinner. I have met him in person and always considered him a good guy but not anymore. He seems to be fine with taking people's items and not returning them.
