RunRyder RC Helicopter Topic - Be aware of Airfoil Helicam

RR Rated M For Mature

HOME rrTV-PHOTO GALLERIES MY GALLERY HELP-FAQ

myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 436 ONLINE 18 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER START HERE

1 page

613 views

TOPIC CLOSED

CarbonXtreme	.	Midland Helicopters	.	HeliProz
	.		.

Aerial Photography and Video > Be aware of Airfoil Helicam

swidd
Heliman
Location: Filtvet, Norway

My Posts This: Topic Forum

To help others not getting into my situation I want to tell my story in dealing with John Ohnemus at Airfoil Helicam.

We ordered a MediaPeckage, and paid for it March 23 2009.
We were promissed a deliverytime at 10-14 days.
It was shipped in September 2009 (6 months later!!).
John lied to me several times on the phone, and in mails that the system had shipped.

Shipping documents was inaccurate, and parts for $1200 was not shipped. Airfoil has admitted this fact, but we have still not received this money, and we probably never will.

If anyone is interested I can send you all the documentation.

This resulted in big losses for my company. All planned activity spring /summer 2009 was down the drain

I'm from Norway, so pls. forgive any typo's

John and his company is NOT trustworthy, so be aware !!

best regards
Stener Widnes

11-02-2009 06:35 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE

Matt Wright
Senior Heliman
Location: Harare Zimbabwe

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Thanks for posting.... I hate dealing with thiefs

If you go down...... Go down having fun

11-02-2009 06:46 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE GALLERY

Helicek
Senior Heliman
Location: istanbul - turkey

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Stener,
I sympathise with your situation. You must feel awful.

I don't wish to offend all the good people that provide alot of good stuff to us people outside the USA. Especially on this r/c AP and else. But allow me to write about this:

I had a very bad experience (I was buying a ready to fly autonomous heli) and lost more than $25,000 (yes twentyfivethousand) to Michael Fouche of NRI in Alabama(then). He busted his bussiness, did not atempt to pay anything, did not even say he was sorry and then he dissapeared. I am trying to recover both emotionally and economically.

So, when I hear a fellow AP enthusiast get cheated I feel very sorry. But these things do happen. Especially to foreigners because they can not go after the seller that easily (depending on where you shop).

I sincerely hope JO will return your money.
Better luck next time.
Ahmet

11-02-2009 08:15 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE HOMEPAGE GALLERY

jackheli
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver - Canada

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Is this the url: http://www.airfoilhelicams.com?

Interesting enough they have this on their contact page:

Quote
Mistakes and Returns If WE make a mistake and ship the wrong item, call us for authorization to return the item for the correct exchange.

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new
Albert Einstein

11-02-2009 08:31 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE GALLERY

swidd
Heliman
Location: Filtvet, Norway

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Hi jackheli

Yes, that is the company.

John also tried to blaim the 2,4GHz system and wrote the following in a mail to me : "I'm sorry it has taken so long, but as I stated 2,4GHz is a problem on cameraships"

This was NOT a problem when I ordered the system, but came up after 4 months.

This might be usefull to know for other people in europe where the 78MHz system is not allowed.

To Helicek, I am sorry to hear about your story. At least we got most of what we payed for. John only "forgot" the HeliCommand system, One extra set of rotorblades, The Radio and receiver for the cameramount.

Our only defence against these kind of companyes is that we make our stories known.

I'm in a prosess of making an dedicated web site with all of the documentation, and a copy of all the email, so potensial customers can see what kind of company this is.

I'll post a link to this page later if anyone is interested of taking a look.

best regards
Stener Widnes

11-02-2009 08:55 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE

shroomer
Heliman
Location: Chiang Mai Thailand

My Posts This: Topic Forum

I ordered some stuff from them a few years ago, I got it OK, but their customer service is terrible and I won't deal with them again if I can avoid it.

11-02-2009 09:33 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE GALLERY

SeismicCWave
Veteran
Location: Hilo, Hawaii

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Many people in this hobby think it is so easy to make a business out of it. So they try and found out that the complexity of keeping and running a business is beyond their ability. They also quickly realize that there are hardly any money to be made in the hobby business with a garage operation. So their customer service suffers. They start to short change their customers. Eventually they disappear.

That had happened over and over again during my involvement in this hobby. Those people really give the legitimate hobby business a bad name.

I wish there is really some way to distinguish the real good vendors from the bad ones. Unfortunately that is very difficult. However a bit of experience in watching the vendors and talking to some of them if they are on forum like this helps.

Also be aware of the false accolades. Some vendors will get a lot of their buddies on the forum to say good things about their products. That is usually a warning sign for me.

I am also wary of "vinyl carbon fiber" covered plywood.

11-02-2009 09:56 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE GALLERY

Brett Horton
Key Veteran
Location: ---------

My Posts This: Topic Forum

I have been dealing with John for about 6 years, many many times over these six or so years and never have I had a problem.... John (in his indirect support) has made me and my company 100's and 100's of thousands of dollars... (and no this is not an exaggeration) No ones perfect, and certainly John is no exception but in my experience, if you treat him good he will treat you good....
He does have alot to offer his clients in experience and knowledge, so step back and try to deal with him rationally and I would bet he would treat you better.... if not..... then don't...

11-02-2009 10:02 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE GALLERY

jackheli
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver - Canada

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Quote

If you are in good terms with him why don't you let him know about this thread and let him publicly defend himself.

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new
Albert Einstein

11-02-2009 10:08 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE GALLERY

BULLSEYE
Senior Heliman
Location: Texas

My Posts This: Topic Forum

I am so sorry to here about your experiences with AF. It must be so frustrating because it is so much money and you are in another country. You must feel so helpless.

I have been very fortunate in dealing with Photoship One. His customer service is top notch. I asked PS1 to build me a stretched Logo 10/400 front mount. I sent PS1 a set of frames and he received on a Monday. PS1 said I should have the mount complete in a week or so. I had it at my front door on Friday of the same week, just 4 days later!!! Now that is service.

Hope you can get this problem with AF resolved.

Joe

11-02-2009 10:15 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE

AirFoilAviation
rrAdvertiser
Location: IL.

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Brett has been a customer for probably 5 or 6 years. I already knew about this. He sent our company basically a blackmail email stating do as I say or I will slander your company. It was forwarded to Springfield to the FBI where they pulled all his info on that exact email.

There is really nothing more for me to say on this subject. We sell 100's of systems per year without any problems. If we make a mistake we fix it. It's really that simple.

12 years in business doesn't add up to never having a problem customer or making a mistake.

He is correct we generally on a Media Package have a 2-3 weeks out the door system. We upgraded his system to the new Prolite mount before the parts were even released. All 7075-6061T6 aluminum CNC'ed, No wood . We upgraded the heli to the new main gear/auto hub, all USA bearings. These were parts we were waiting and added at no cost. Then I added the new paddles for aerial work and main shaft that's design for this type of work not just payload. I told him we could ship the system now or give him every update we have coming at no cost. He said give him the updates. His wire came up $626.00 short so the helicommand was not included. The second set of blades did ship with the system so at this point we owe him for the 2nd transmitter for the camera mount which I have agreed to ship to him. That was in fact our mistake when it was left out. I had hoped once he was up and flying he could tell me if he needed anything else then we would ship what ever radio he wanted with anything else to get him going 100%, but then I get the blackmail email I'm going to RR and destoy your business.

How do I handle this? I sent the thread to the FBI in Sprfld 5 minutes ago. We did all we could then I'm guessing his business didn't take off and wanted money. This is how this type of BS works.

John

11-02-2009 10:18 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE

Gardo
New Heliman
Location: Halmstad, Halland - Sweden

My Posts This: Topic Forum

So, how do you move on with Mr. Swidd from Norway? As the problem has gone public I suggest that you go public with a nice solution for him. This is a great opportunity for you to show us all what a great guy you are and what a serious business you run.

I really hope that this will be cleared by the end of the week so that on friday we all can have a beer thinking what a great guy that AirFoil dude is.

Cheers!

/Peter
Sweden
www.fotoflyg.net

11-02-2009 10:43 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE

swidd
Heliman
Location: Filtvet, Norway

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Hi everybody

I'm setting up a webpage, were I'll put out all info and mail so you can judge for yourself.

Hopefully up and running in a coupple af hours, and I'll put out the link then.

have a nice day.
Stener Widnes

11-02-2009 11:02 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE

xcellgasman101
Elite Veteran
Location: WOODWARD, OKLA....

My Posts This: Topic Forum

Quote
John lied to me several times

Sorry that this has happened to you swidd,, Not very good publicity, I hope that everything works out to your satisfaction!!! I'm sure that this topic is going to get allot of post quickly.. Subscribed!!! XGM/VGM

John Crotts
www.soonerhelicamproductions.com

11-02-2009 11:27 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE HOMEPAGE GALLERY

AirFoilAviation
rrAdvertiser
Location: IL.

My Posts This: Topic Forum

This is a mute point but he had ask I send him I think $2500.00 or he would bash me on RR and send it via Paypal. I never use Paypal as I have a merchant account so I told him for the sake of arguing I would split it and send him $1200.00. No idea where is number came from in the first place. I just called my wife and ask if she had sent him the funds and she had per her personal accout she buys stuff with.

I'm not going to argue with two guys that have 4 posts between them including this thread. We did our best then we did more then we even caved and gave money back to help the customer.

John

11-02-2009 11:31 PM

PROFILE PM EMAIL POSTS BUDDY IGNORE

1 page

613 views

TOPIC CLOSED

Ron’s HeliProz South	.	MTA Hobbies	.	Model Rectifier Corp
	.		.

Aerial Photography and Video > Be aware of Airfoil Helicam

Print TOPIC

Advertisers

Subscribe to This Topic