Dodgy Dealers at Canberra Outlet Centre and a Toothless Tiger

Canberra+outside=wind.
Even when it’s not “windy”. I’ve got a couple hundred dollars worth of Twister helicopters too. First one went ok for while then started to look a bit beat up so thought I’d buy another. Impatience got the better of me and I launched it from a rear balcony only to have a sudden gust fling it straight back at me and into the brick wall below. Every attempted fly since has resulted in weird flying behaviour so I went and got a Tamiya car instead.
The boy has a small Losi AWD rally car that goes well and bounces off things when it hits them. $149 from Monaro Hobbies and extra batteries are only $12. Best RC I’ve found yet for a kid under 10.

I’ve tried the cheap indoor mini helicopters. They’re fun but don’t last, especially if you crash a lot.

My feeling is that a $100 larger version is just that – a larger version pretty much the same stuff. Should have been maybe $40.

Still, it should fly indoors reasonably well regardless if it’s been in the sun previously. If it’s stuffed early on in the game, I’d take it back and stick it to the vendor, have them recharge it and fly the bastard straight and if not then at least provide a replacement.

Why should we be buying this crap? Sure buyer beware, but if we’re going to export all that hardly-taxed shit to have it remade into other over-taxed shit we should at least have some shit that works to some reasonable expectation or duration.

Hell with that, I say chase it up.

Its a $100 toy helicopter and it flies outside just not in the wind. Helicopters also take a bit master even gyro versions. I’d imagine due to scale size it wouldn’t take much wind to be hurricane forces. Buyers remorse from a spontaneous purchase.

imarty said :

Thanks all for your constructive comments, especially you Trollsniffer, good to see you’re living up to your name and rep, well done champion.

The “brand” and model is a Digi One Flying Fox 888-203. It’s not a small one it’s about 50cm in length.
It cost >$100 and nowhere on the box or in the instructions does it say anything about not being able to be flown outside, indeed it says don’t fly in windy conditions which makes sense.

My point was that even in conditions with the tree tops barely moving it can’t be controlled beyond up and down and round and round (I’m sure I’ll be corrected on the proper terminology for these manoeuvres …) and yes we tried it down the local oval.

I understand I’ve done my dough, it was an impulse purchase, my post was simply a way of making myself feel better and an attempt at bringing your attention to the business’ idea of customer service and in the process limiting the amount of people that might make a purchase there.

You might not consider it constructive, but my advice is to cut your losses and tag it up to a learning experience. Having played with RC for many years (more cars and trucks than helis, but I have a few) I can tell you that a halfway decent heli suitable to fly outdoors will cost you $500+ and that may or may not include a remote and will more than likely be a kit that you need to assemble.

Then you need to learn to fly it, which took me about 2 months to get good enough to fly with confidence around obstacles and I am still learning years later.

If you want to get something you and your son can play with down the park, go buy a couple of buggys or monster trucks (electric will do if you are only going to do 15-30 mins at a time, nitro if you want to go really fast and not have to recharge) and go tear some dirt up.

Gee Riot Act responses have got bitchy lately – maybe the poor possums are feeling tetchy in the post Gillard world.

I reckon its bad luck – the copter CAN clearly fly outside – as long as there is no wind .

“….They had absolutely no intention of giving me a refund so off the the Office of Regulatory Services to submit a claim. After a few days I was contacted by a nice lady explaining their procedures but she was not at all confident of getting a refund. The ORS also have no powers to compel dodgy companies to provide refunds….”

This is classic he said/she said. You have no power here because YOU didn’t read the box. You have already stated the manufactures instructions said it couldn’t be used outside. The company can simply said they told you it couldn’t.

What a waste of people’s time. Before you rant and rave to ORS think about the people there with real legitimate claims and how you are tying up the processes because you believed a salesman over what the instructions said.

But I will give you one tip, I’ve heard the Kings Avenue bridge is coming up for sale, I’m going to buy half of it but I need more funds to buy the other half. So why not chip in and own some infrastructure instead of a plastic toy. I can guarantee you 100% that this is a real offer, take my word for it.

“….They had absolutely no intention of giving me a refund so off the the Office of Regulatory Services to submit a claim. After a few days I was contacted by a nice lady explaining their procedures but she was not at all confident of getting a refund. The ORS also have no powers to compel dodgy companies to provide refunds….”

Having now looked at this:

http://www.ors.act.gov.au/community/fair_trading

I assume that the only option in dealing with a stonewalling merchant would be formal legal proceedings, which would hardly be worth it for a relatively modest purchase(?)

If all you wanted was a gripe, then why did you go to such extremes to get a refund and push your weight around? <$100 toy is lucky it flew at all

Leave the poor store alone…

imarty said :

, indeed it says don’t fly in windy conditions which makes sense.

I understand I’ve done my dough, it was an impulse purchase, my post was simply a way of making myself feel better and an attempt at bringing your attention to the business’ idea of customer service and in the process limiting the amount of people that might make a purchase there.

A salesman sold you something which didn’t fit the manufactures description? Well time to rant on about it on the RiotAct and called the entire store dodgy. Have you ever brought a car? Why on earth did you think it would be worthwhile for others to read this? Next you’ll be warning people about dihydrogen monoxide.

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

Caveat emptor, a fool and his money will be soon parted.

They fly fine outside, you just have to be aware of the breeze and compensate accordingly. Having a few giggles with your boy about his crazy new toy is the correct response here. Then take it down to the park and see how high it will go!