[Elecraft] K2 RF Board: Missing Bag of Parts #!!??#

[Dave Hottell]

Hi all,


At 09:47 AM 6/2/02 -0400, you wrote:
>With regard to this issue it seems to me a big deal was made over a minor
>error that is unusual compared to the normal Elecraft quality control.  

I am not sure that is a true statement.  My K1, #1124, had two parts
missing from one bag and the PIC for the KAT1 was defective.  There are
several of the defective PIC's for the KAT1's out there - a group was
misprogrammed - and then shipped.  I have seen other comments on missing
parts - so QC at Elecraft is not all that great.  

In my case the failure rate at Elecraft is 200%.  I have no other
experience to base an opinion on.  After reading all of the unfailingly
laudatory comments on Elecraft, I was considerably surprised to find both
parts missing and defective components in the same kit.  From my experience
the laudatory comments are not an accurate reflection of reality.


>The
>first action should have been to contact Elecraft directly.  Had that been
>done I expect that they would have placed a replacement bag of parts in the
>mail on Saturday to be delivered on Monday.  Because the complaint was
>issued to the list rather than the company's suport chain the replacement
>cannot be sent until Monday at the earliest.

The first message was not a complaint, but a question.


>
>Elecraft support goes beyond that of any know company in existance.  I have
>heard many stories on the local repeaters about Elecraft sending out free
>replacements for parts that were damaged by improper installation and other
>forms of service aid, as well as response times, that is unheard of for most
>companies.
>

While this statement may be true, there are definite weaknesses that need
addressing.  One thing that frosts me is the method of shipment for
replacements - USPS first class mail.  That means that in my case it took a
week for each of the replacement shipments to reach me.  Two weeks of
twiddling my thumbs while waiting - with the partially assembled K1 spread
over the work bench.  

If Elecraft were the totally first class outfit you describe there would
(1) be no missing parts (and certainly not entire bags of parts!!) and (2)
since the incidence of missing parts would be so rare, they could afford to
ship them by a reasonable method.

If they insist on using first class mail, the least they could do is have a
parts depot somewhere besides CA.  They need a depot more centrally located
so shipping time for all those replacement shipments won't take so long.


73 es gl,
Dave
AB9CA




>We all are sorry that you were short those parts.  Order the replacements.
>Do what you can with the inventory and complete it when the replacements
>arrive.  We will be here to help when things don't seem right.  I you are
>like most of us you will likely dispose of your other HF equipment.
>
>Good luck with the construction.
>73,
>Fran
>
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