Hi Folks,

I would discourage anyone from doing business with Cermark. I purchased my second Cermark Pitts a couple a days ago from my local dealer. The dealer had purchased the plane in anticipation for a Christmas sale.

The unopened box was in excellent condition with no visible signs of damage. I brought the plane home and opened the box the next day for inspection. The top and bottom right wing tips were wrinkeled. I was not alarmed at first because I thought the wrinkels were due to loose covering due to long journey from China. However, upon closer inspection it became obvious that the covering was wrinkeled because each wing tip was broken.

I immediately contacted my local dealer who owns a small one man shop. My dealer happily said bring it back and that he would contact Cermark. My dealer contacted Cermark 1 day after the the factory sealed was broken and the box was opened for the first time.

Cermark told him they would not replace the wings because he should have reported the damage within 11 days of purchase. He explained that he reported the damage 1 day after the factory sealed box was opened by the customer. He also told them that it was impossible to know there was any damage untill the model was taken out of the box. They told him that he should have known somehow that the model was damaged even though the outter shipping box and the factory box showed absolutely no signs of any damage. Cermark said they would not replace the wings. However, they would sell him another set plus shipping.

I was present during my dealers discussion with Cermark and I could not believe what I was hearing. Since my dealer did nothing wrong I thanked him for spending the 45 minutes on the phone with Cermark and I told him that I would contact Cermark. I was appauled that they did not support their local dealers but I was still convinced they would support their customers.

I called Cermark and told them of my purchase. I told them this was the second Pitts purchase I had made. I bought this second Cermark Pitts because I had worn out the first. To make a long story short they told me they would not replace my wings. They said the dealer should had known the plane was damaged even though the box showed no signs of damaged. I explained that the only way the dealer could have known the plane was damaged was if he broke the factory seal and opened the box and took the plane all out of the box. I explained that I would not, and have not, ever bought a new plane from a previously opened box. I told them that I have bought over 30 planes from dozens of manafacturers and I have never received a plane in a previously opened container. Why should they expect this dealer to open a factory sealed box that shows absolutely no signs of damaged prior to a sale??

The bottom line is that Cermark does not and will not stand behind their product. They will not even stand behind a damaged plane 1 day out of the box after purchase.To make matters worse, there is no excuse for treating a customer or dealer this way. It is obvious that Cermark could care less about either. I strongly urge all existing and potential Cermark customers to avoid doing business with this dispicable company.