[sm=angry.gif] OK I need to vent, the politically correct way,
I purchased a Lanier Mariner some months ago and while assembling the bird I missed placed the instructions [X(] that I needed to finish up the C/G location. I called Lanier and asked about replacement instructions and was told to go to the web site and download the instruction. So I went online to the Lanier site and guess what, you have to PAY [sm=pirate.gif] for the privilege of downloading the instructions and printing them yourself!

Like this is costing them a lot of money to have on the website! [>:] They charge $4.95 USD to use your own computer to download, I have unlimited hourly use per month but I know of other users who have to pay for each minute online, your own paper and printer which adds to the cost for the privilege to down load and print. [&o]

I have been to other manufacturers websites for information on their aircraft and was able to download the info for NO charge. Now you tell me, is this any kind of "Customer Support" [sm=confused.gif].

Maybe if enough people informed Lanier of this business damaging "Customer Support" practice they might stop it.

Thanks for letting me vent!!!! [sm=punching.gif]

I'm with ya bro! That is a BIG STEAMING PILE of TORO CACCA!!! I think a manufacturers' website should be used to promote and sell their products BUT they should have customer support (including instruction manuals) AT NO CHARGE !!! I have never seen such a thing on any website I have gone too for tech manuals and I'm not just talking r/c stuff. I have dl'ed manuals for all kinds of different things and never, EVER been charged.

A recent identical post said that after he ranted, he Emailed them. They will Email you the manual if you ask.

Just a suggestion, ask if they'll Email you the file.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

I hope Lanier is reading this thread. I for one, heavily rely on the online manuals to make a decision on what plane to buy. Except for my trainer, I have only purchased planes where the mfg allows the consumer to download the manual. Sig is another major company who needs to put their manuals on line.

I know of one sale that charge cost them... I was looking for a Citabria and was checking out the Lanier one and then found out about the charge to look at the manual... I thought it stunk... I bought the Seagull Decathlon instead and very happy with it...

It is amazing that the well-written, photo-illustrated Great Planes & Top Flight manuals are readily available for free download, while Lanier charges five bucks for the crude typewritten sheet they provide!

(I am referring to some older Shrike and Stinger kits here. Perhaps their 21st ARFs and newer premium kits have better documentation).

Maybe you should explain your situation better to them. They should give you a code to download the instructions for free.

I just went through the same situation with the manual for there 40% Edge. They wanted $4.95 for the download. This may be a business benefit for Lanier because if the average Joe was allowed to cruise through the manual before hand they would probably pass on the plane. [:'(]

Why's that? I bought one.

Good point, Klotz. While I find their documentation adequate for getting the kit built, they are a far cry from similarly established kit providers. It is definitely nothing I would charge anyone for.

I was the guy a couple weeks ago that posted on this... same thing set me off! I always want to look over the manual before buying a plane, and not seeing it would be enough to possibly not get it.

good news is they will email the manual, or if you use the URL I gave you still probably can get to it anyway...

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_22...tm.htm#2223938

luckily lanier doesn't realize that once it is out on the web, there isn't really much you can do to put the genie back in the bottle...

use this link ( http://web.archive.org/web/200402140...riner40arf.htm ) and then click on the manual or right click save as. (direct link to pdf is http://web.archive.org/web/200402140...ls/MARINER.PDF )

A different prospective and experience. I’ve always had excellent service from Lanier and I’ve been buying their stuff for thirty years. On the other hand I’ve never lost any of the kit parts or plans.

Yeah, I like Lanier myself. I even enjoyed the plastic TR260! I think they're just good people who got some bad advice from their web people or bean counters. Let's see if they respond to the Email I sent them, pointing to this thread.

Dave Olson

I like their products, and as I stated above, I find their documentation adequate for completing their kits. I've had several Stingers and Shrikes in various sizes and thoroughly enjoyed them. That being said, some folks buy assembled models secondhand and need access to documentation for reference. Others, being potential customers, might want to study the manuals prior to purchase.

Do I feel Lanier has an obligation to provide these free of cost? Not necesarily, especially if there are printing and mailing costs. However, the .PDF files are inexpensive to distribute and most importantly, the competition does it, so the expectation is there, at least for inexpensive "electronic documentation". I don't think anyone would be complaining if they were paying for mailed "hard copies" of the manual.

Hi Dave,
I talked to them on the phone and was told to go to the web site and order from their. Was told this was the only way to get the manual.

As stated in the original post "I told them that I had misplaced the manual" and was told by the lady on the phone that I would have to go online and down load from their, as this was the only way to get the manual. She never told me I would have to pay for the manual.

There are two problems with this link, one is that my plane is the Mariner 120 and the other is that I have already paid for the "PRIVILEGE" to down load the manual.

But thanks for the info anyway.

> I don't think anyone would be complaining if they were paying for mailed "hard copies" of the manual. <

This is true as I have purchased "Hard copy" manuals in the past and did not complain about this, as I do realize that it takes money, time and materials to make the "Hard copy" but scanning the printed manual and placing it in the company computer does not take that much time and effort, I maintain our R/C club website and have done all of the above items several times a week, and I know how much it takes to do it.

I have a friend who owns a hobby shop and he has had to deal with Lanier in the past. He had a Tiger 60 delivered to the shop with NO damage to the shipping box or the box the plane came in but the plane had some damaged parts that where very obviously damaged BEFORE shipping.
Lanier would NOT replace the damaged items and stated that they where either damaged in shipment or that he had damaged them and was trying to rip them off. No he was not trying to rip them off as I was the one who received the box from UPS and their was no damage to either boxes at all. [&o]

If this is Lanier's attitude to retailers of their products what makes you think they would treat the paying public any different?

Richard D.

I don't want to be picky, but are you sure that it was a Tiger 60? Goldberg makes a Tiger 60, but I don't think that Lanier makes one...

Actually, Lanier bought Carl Goldberg Models a year or two ago.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

Jake, go back to the workroom and build something.....and when you get tired of that - call me - I need some info on this electric P-40 you 'sold' me

Jerry

“Lanier bought Carl Goldberg Models”
Wow I did not know this! Thanks for the information.
I was about to order the SR. falcon arf. But not now
No wonder I cannot find a good photo of the SR. falcon arf.
Lanier is selling under another name.
Johnny

I have produced and distributed club documentation in the past and realize that scanning and preparing documentation is laborious and time intensive. I have also produced documentation for web distribution in a corporate environment, where the data was already in electronic format. Producing online documentation such as .PDF files from electronic documentation is much simpler and less labor intensive. In this case, I'm assuming the manuals are already in electronic format, created with some publishing package.

The configuration and maintenance of the e-commerce system used to charge the customers is likely much more effort than the expense of creating the files. Not to mention the customer service benefits. I think we're in agreement on this! [sm=tongue.gif]

Yep, I hate them too. I bought a Goldberg Ultimate secondhand. It was missing the instructions and I was hoping to down;oad them. Nope, the greedy people at Goldberg-Lanier need to try to make more money off the customers. I decided I won't be buying anything from them.

GET WITH THE rest of the world, manuals need to be free!