Anybody knows if this engine company is still operating?

I have no received replies to several mails I have sent to their support.

Post in the BME 115 thread seem to suggest there is no support anymore.

Does anybody have a qualified answer? Has spoken to Mike/Keith?

I see their website is still up. Have you tried calling them?

I have had a number of emails to various RC parts and equipment suppliers go unanswered when I click on the "contact us" link. Many times those links, especially when they are form-based, are broken. The vendor never gets the message.

I hope not.[sm=bananahead.gif]

Easy guys.....just kiddin'


Seriously though. Yarom. Just imagine you just spent $1400 for your setup and suddenly you have a problem with your brand new engine and need some help to get in the air quick....
The problem you are describing is not an isolated incident. (but you already know that since you read that thread) BME has always been and probably always be a little hit and miss with its customer service.

I was told it is for sale for 250,000

I wouldn't be suprised with the last round of problems with the 115.

Keith had a run in with Kidney stones, then his right hand man (and only employee) left to do some other work. The last e-mail I received a few weeks ago Keith said he was drowning in repairs and still trying to build engines. Until he hires more help, service will be a little slower.
Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be.

I hope he is doing OK.
Also hopping to see BME115 doing his thing in the market.

To be honest I don’t see the point about installing a heavier engine in my next 35% project if we still could count on BME and Keith.
Especially if we fly in high altitudes like the one I am doing where weight savings is a must.

RTK,

The man needs to take the time to get the message out to the public regarding the company status. To leave e-mails unanswered and to not answer the phone deflates customer and public confidence very quickly. You can have a thriving business but if the customers feels they are "alone in the wilderness" they will shortly look for another source for the products and services they desire. So the message needs to go out before all credibility with the customer base is lost. Unhappy posts about service promote more unhappy posts so something needs to be done, and done quickly, before the doors get shut from customer neglect.

He builds a good product. One of them has had some pains for sure but that's not a valid reason to withdraw from the world.

I hear that Pat, he did make a post on another web site but nothing since that. When you get home I have all kinds of new toys for you to play with

I agree with Pat. Good products overall, nice guy, but again with the business skills.

Oh well. I guess this will give everyone something to talk about for months to come.

I'm afraid you're right.

Pat hit it right as per usual. It seems once a week for the last few months there are posts like this. It doesn't take that much energy to clear off your answering machine and return a couple calls / emails just so people don't feel like they are forgotten.

RTK,

I ordered one of those 5 gallon Abell gas cans and pumps. That 2.5 gallon hand pump leaker I have made me think about having a gas can that actually seals completely for a change. We'll see how it works out. No more hand crankin' for me A bit pricey but it saves me the time of chasing parts and assembly. Now all I need is a big single for that Cub and figure out a camera and mount for the belly. You'd think I'd have enough of the camera stuff already but what can I say? This could end up a lot more expensive than the aerobats in the long run if I get carried away....

Sounds like you are gonna have lots of toys from Santa too I have an extra twin here you can use for that cub if you like, its light as any single.

Santa my heinie. More likely the USMC. We'll see if it fits. Cubs have a narrow cowl and I don't think I want to mount an engine with the cylinders oriented vertically

Sinergy,

How right you are. Makes you wonder if he would really be struggling at all if the business skills were above average instead of the way they are now.

Well I don't know.. personally I have never dealt with Keith.. I have always heard good things for the most part.. until the last few months really. I hate when I loose an engine for a week or 2 let alone 4-8+ weeks with no response. There are many people who have engines in and have no updates.. the number of posts across various forums shows that.

He also pulled another 55 announcing 2 new engines, getting pre-orders and then nothing once again.

I don't really mean to knock the guy.. but the countless posts asking about BME being in service and all the people who can't get an update on their engine gets under my skin.. it's just not right. My dad had issues with stones for years and would get them frequently.. too often really. However he was self employeed.. if he didn't get to work no money was coming in. He did what he could. For months people are lucky to get an email back machine has been full.

Put all that aside and he is not looking at the big picture of how many customers he has probably lost forever because of all the people looking for him. At one point I would have liked to try out a 115.. no way is that going to happen now.

Will you kindly quit adding fuel to the fire? Sheesh

hey now.. I have been pretty good the last couple of months! /me goes and hides

I've gotta ask. Why in blazes would you mount a twin verticaly. Mount it correctly with the cylinders sticking out the sides and call it a Bird Dog. Both planes are so fugly no one would know.

And 5 gallons of gas?? you're never here more'n a couple weeks.

Smart *****. I was planning for the future for when I might actually benefit from getting more than a gallon of gas at a time As for the twin, I don't think I need to be taking off at idle throttle settings. You can only go so low ya know.

As for Synergy being nice, you know as well as I do that if RCIGN was still here you wouldn't have been able to control yourself for more than ten minutes

HAHA hrmm you caught me at a lost of words

Ok. I was self-employed for over 15years. I know how tough it can be. No work no pay. BUT... there is no way I would've let me client base fall through the floor. It may cause me a little money to hire one of my competitors to help me out or to hire a couple extra guys but that's peanuts compaired to how much I would lose if I let customers go elsewhere not only on this transaction but all of the future transactions.

With such a great product, makes me wonder what I could have done with it... quick someone punch me..snap me back to reality. self-employment[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

Hey it can be tough for sure.. I did it for 5 yrs.. Jan 07 I sold/merged with a larger company an unloaded all my headaches, got paid vacations, health benefits, and got a secretary