Bad experience with Losi

[prime]

I ordered an XX-4 WE and received it today. I barely started building when I had a problematic part failure. I was threading the layshaft set screw in and the socket portion of the screw cracked in half. To make matters worse, I noticed that the composite graphite chassis was cracked in the rear where someone tried to separate it from the rest of the mold.

I was very disappointed with the quality and when I called for support, they took my info and didn't call back. So much for $269.00 worth of "Worlds Edition" quality.

Anyone else have a bad experience with Losi products?

[BadRacer]

It was just a factory defect and couldn't be avoided! But it can be FIXED. Iv never had a problem with Losi products......they are the best in my opinion. If you get your kit running and fixed you'll like it.....im sure of that!

Keep it Real
BadRacer

[This message has been edited by BadRacer (edited 03-05-2001).]

[SirSpeedy]

Team Losi manufactures a terrific product. As with all manufactureing processes, there will always be defective parts.

Team Losi customer service will make it right.

If you do not recieve any response, let me know, sirspeedy01@yahoo.com

Keep in mind, this is a public board, and since you just recieved this kit today, you have not really given Team Losi a fair shot at meeting you demands.

Thanks....

[Fergy]

Prime, give them a chance. Remember there are three strikes in any ballgame http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/wink.gif

[JP]

Exactly why I will not buy another Losi again in my life. My XXT'CR GP had MANY problems. Lots of missing parts: screws, nuts, bearings, and even a shock spring and oil! Many broken parts: all of steering had to be replaced from my LHS which vost me an extra $55. Repeated pices: suspension arms, 3 rear shocks, no front shocks. I gave up and sold it as soon as I finished the steering, just too much that was totally messed up on the car.

[prime]

Guys, I hear what you are saying about factory defects happening but I disagree that it can't be avoided. That's what Quality Assurance is all about.

As for giving them a chance, the first thing I did was pick up the phone and call them. No one called me back yesterday to advise me on what I should do. I spoke with a lady who took my address and number and that was the extent of my support experience.

Why would it be acceptable to have manufacturing mistakes in something you pay a premium for? I can't see $269.00 worth the value in a product that's lacking in quality control.

[Nairb]

Are you sure they're not sending you replacements right now? They have your address...

[prime]

Considering it's been 24 hours since I called them and no one has contacted me, I'd say it's a slim chance they are sending me anything. I spoke only to the receptionist and she said they would call me. Guess not.

[rvrrun]

Now that everyone mentions it, I did have a few missing parts in both of the Losi kits I built.

I also remember having to make a couple of calls to get the parts sent.

MS

[XXXER]

JP, sounds like you need to learn how to DRIVE a car, LOL, just kiddin.

And Prime, i called after i got my XXX kit because i thought a bearing for the diff was missing, so i called, i had a spare from another car, so i used it, only to later find that it just slipped over another piece, and looked like it was part of it, i had already called, and they took down the exact same info, i did get the bearing i asked for, in fact, i got 2, but it did take about a week and a half.

[DerekB]

Like anything there will be problems in some kits. I say you should have called the place you bought it from for the fix. You don't go directly to Honda for problems with a Civic. Call the place you got it from and see if they can do anything for you. YOu might be surprised.

[prime]

I sent it back for a refund. I don't believe it's the retailer's responsibility to make sure manuals are correctly written, parts are inspected. A defective kit should never leave the factory (in this case Losi). This sorta thing only goes on because people tolerate it.

Consumers should not have to deal with this poor quality on any level. Especially when they shell out the big bucks. I mean, if you bought a Lexus and found manufacture's defects with it, you would be ****** at Lexus and not the dealership right? The dealership would fix it but you'd be less one Lexus for however long it took.

Well the fact is this sorta thing doesn't happen with Lexus because they are carefully checked before they ever even make it to America. I know this because the company I work for owns West Side and North Side Lexus here in Houston.

[This message has been edited by prime (edited 03-06-2001).]

[Fergy]

digital6, I've the same experience with Kyosho, if anything there are extra parts after you finish so you can setup different if you want. I always worry that maybe a part will be missing, but so far with Tamiya, Kyosho and even HPI, never shorted me on a part.

Don't quote me on this, but I've heard Yokomo sometimes shorts you on parts too.

[very low budget racer]

I have no idea how Losi could do something like this. I have had 3 Losi's, XXT, XX-CR, NXT-GP, and every one of them went together flawlessly. I have even owned Kyosho,Tamiya, Yokomo, and OFNA, and none of them has missing or extra parts or any defect. Im sure that Losi is buisy right now and they will get back to you Prime, but you wont be dissapointed with a Losi, there is no Guaruntee thet EVERY SINGLE thing every made will be perfect, but Losi will replace the parts if you are pacient.

[JP]

XXXER - whats my driving have to do with the missing, duplicated, and broken parts Losi gave me?

I know friends who have bought Losi's and report that there was no body at all, some report screws not being threaded, some have had a worse experience than me. I've built 3 AE kits, and own 2, and never had ONE problem with them during building. I think this is a little more than once in a great while. I contacted Losi too about the missing pieces and duplicating pieces. They said they would replace the parts...and im still waiting to this day 2 years later for them (they had my address). Too late now that the kit is sold partially built for real cheap. AE gained my trust for good, Losi lost it the second page of their manual...

[FilthyPierre]

I thought my XXX should have had two 4-40 lock nuts for the back of the rear camber link ball studs from the look of the manual. I used some spare ones (AE, ironically). I contacted Losi though the feedback link of their website but never got a reply. It wasn't much of a big deal and I was never certain of whether the nuts should have been included or not (vague diagram in manual at this point of construction).
Anyway, since then the car has run flawlessly. I've also built an AE car (a TC3) and I thought that the Losi kit was better quality. But that's just my opinion.

Bottom line - Horizon bought Losi to (amongst other things) improve quality control. Try contacting Horizon - it can't hurt. And keep on to Losi, they'll eventually send you the bits to get you off their back http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

Good luck. This sort of thing shouldn't happen at all IMO.

[RC Crazy]

HPI had a LOT of extra stuff, espesoly for the shocks.

[J mAn]

i got a defective power suply that came with came with my apex sigma plus. My first reaction was to call apex but someone advised me to call my lhs first. I called xtreme and by the next race i went to they had the powersuply for me.

As for defective parts, every company has defects and they can't be avoided. You can't just have someone sit there and make sure all 400+ parts are there and not defective.

[BadRacer]

I don't believe factory DEFECTS can be avoided. Iv never had a problem with any Losi kits.....never broken a part unless i was just being stupid. I do understand that it makes ppl mad when they pay alot of money for it.

I just got a new Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and it had transmision problems with it only having 34 miles on it. I to was mad but it got fixed. Mistakes are going to happen but i feel that Losi shouldn't have their name ran throught the mud due to a few kits not being right.....nothing can be perfect. If you don't like Losi thats cool, go with AE or whatever....just don't talk ill of them. Iv had ALOT and i mean ALOT of problems with Associated kits in the past...but i don't talk ill of them or run their name through the mud cuz thats just not right.

Mistakes will happen, and they can be fixed.
BadRacer

[Fergy]

JP, I feel about HPI the way you feel about Losi http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/mad.gif

[XXXER]

JP, it was a joke.....ha ha http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I dunno, there service is the crappiest around, but their products are top notch!

[Nairb]

Originally posted by BadRacer:
Mistakes are going to happen but i feel that Losi shouldn't have their name ran throught the mud due to a few kits not being right....If you don't like Losi thats cool, go with AE or whatever....just don't talk ill of them.

<marquee>That is correct. THAT IS CORRECT!!</marquee>

[This message has been edited by Nairb (edited 03-08-2001).]

[Fergy]

I've heard more than one person complain about Losi, kits and customer service. Maybe you can't avoid mistakes 100% of the time, but a company can cut the odds in the customers favor by having good quality control. There is no excuse for poor customer service, NONE! Even if your quality control is lacking, if you have superior customer service your companies name will not be run through the mud and customers will more than likely return.

When you pay the kind of money you do for a Losi, it doesn't cost them one extra cent to be concerned, polite and keep their word.

[digital6]

Losi undoubtedly makes quality products but lack of support from the company and parts either tooled wrong, missing, or broken is what makes people in general feel the way the do about a brand.

Its the same way when a company makes a great product, word of mouth. Everyone wants one because of how great the product is, support from the company was great, and all the parts plus some were included.

Maybe its just me BadRacer but when I fork over $200 - $500 for a car and build it, I don't want to have to go back to my LHS for parts or call the company who makes the product and wait for parts to be shipped or never get a call back at all!

I would hope that Losi is getting plenty of feedback about the lack of support and parts missing. I would hope that they are doing somthing to correct this miscommunication problem.

DiGiTaL6

[Nairb]

Yeah, rvrrun, we do know how far... http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

I agree that Losi's customer service pretty much sux. They are being very lame to those that need them most, their customers who get their mistakes. That must change.

BUT, it's important that we realize that bad kits are rare in comparison to the total of kits sold. If you want to spread your bad experiences by word of mouth, I feel I better share my good experience with my kits (including Losi). I've built and owned just four cars over the years (because I take great care of them and don't have the dough to get crazy, yet). My first was an AE RC10T. It has been great. I don't think I ever broke anything on it. Boy, have R/C designs improved over the years, though. Second was a used RC10, but I didn' keep it very long. Third was my HPI RS4. I thought it was the coolest car I'd ever seen when I bought it (it was one of the very first). It went together easy enough, but working on it is a PAIN. I hope HPI has learned better design for easy maintenance by now. Fourth is my new Losi XXXT. It went together perfectly. It is absolutely my favorite R/C vehicle I've ever owned.

NONE of these kits were missing any parts. NONE of them had broken parts included with the kit. NONE of them had otherwise defective parts included with the kit. I never had to get anything replaced before I could finish building any of the kits. Note, people, that this is normal. Most people have complete kits, your experiences are abnormal. I'm not denying that they're true and annoying experiences, I'm just saying that they are rare experiences, compared to the normal R/C kit experience.

FYI, holes in plastic or composites are never pre threaded, the threads are cut the first time you put a screw into the hole.

[This message has been edited by Nairb (edited 03-08-2001).]

[rvrrun]

Yeah, rvrrun, we do know how far...

Bob actually sent a couple of emails to me regarding that topic, or at least the emails came from his address.

Nairb, I never commented, in any negative manner, as to the quality of Losi kits or made any comment suggesting that missing or broken parts are the norm. It happens and is an expectation of any manufacturer. Once again, I reiterate it is only their business practice regarding the replacement of missing/broken parts that needs improvement.

After racking up over $9000 worth of brakes and suspension upgrades from Griggs racing a few months ago, I noticed that I had been sent two left lower control arms. I called on Monday and received a right control arm on Tuesday. They called and followed up to make sure that I was completely happy with their product, which I am. I know making a comparison between Griggs (who, I assume, sells far fewer suspension kits than Losi sells rc cars) and Losi is unfair but it exemplifies the point I am trying to make.

Losi will either get on the ball and listen to the people making these complaints and rectify the situation or loose a small amount of business as a result. Will it hurt them? No, as you already pointed out, the number of kits that have no problems far outnumber those that do and the quality of their kits is as good as any other I have built. Their only problem lies in customer service and posts like these are a great way to inform prospective consumers of any pitfalls while, hopefully, making a good company better.

stepping off my proverbial soapbox... for now

MS

[Nairb]

Dude, I totally agree with both of your posts. My comments were directed towards people who feel differently.

[rvrrun]

So, what... we cool? http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

Maybe it the Sudafed kicking in and makig me all edgy.

MS

[Nairb]

Yeah, we're cool. I don't have any problems with you.

[XXXER]

I think i need to learn some HTML, i want to make my posts look cool too........

[SirSpeedy]

This thread is such a laugh.

Can any of you imagine what this all sounds like to someone that is real familiar with Losi?

I have built A LOT of Losi kits. The early Triple X's did have some undrilled hingepin holes in a few front carriers. I can't really think of anything else.

TO:

Guy with half the kit missing.....I refuse to believe that your kit had the shrinkwrap on it if that is the case.

Guy who was missing the two locknuts....no, there is not supposed to be locknuts there.

Guy who sent the kit back for refund....Why? You did not contact them again? I even offered you my Email so that I could help you out...I would have been happy to assist you in your dilema. I had helped you, would that have not been Losi customer service in action?

I am glad to help anyone with there Losi products. Just ask. I know a few people in Chino.

And no Narib, you are not getting any bearings....lol....



[This message has been edited by SirSpeedy (edited 03-09-2001).]

[rvrrun]

I think Badracer is missing the big picture, or at least as it pertains to my post on this subject. This isn't a Losi kit quality/QC bash but a look at their customer service as it relates to said quality/QC.

I know you would be upset if you took your Jeep in for repair and was told that they would get around to it in a couple of weeks or, worse yet, that they will make the repair but its up to you to provide the new tranny fluid and put it in. Your comment about the jeep, and others I have heard, is one of the reasons I will never purchase one and why my fiancee drives a durango (which we aren't any happier with). This is also why I won't purchase any more kits from Losi. We all know how far I can take a grudge http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

The problem, as I see it, with Losi is the customer service and their lackadaisical attitude towards satisfying customers in a timely manner. I don't mind having to make a call or send an email to rectify imperative manufacturing defects, but when I have to babysit a company to get my parts I tend to become a bit annoyed.

MS

these are only my opinions, and you may not agree with them, but that's only your opinion!



[This message has been edited by rvrrun (edited 03-08-2001).]

[Aussie_Man]

I was one of those who had an undrilled front carrier hole. It was no problem to go out to the garage and drill it myself. I could see where it was meant to be and after I'd done it, the fit was better then the one that had been drilled. I have no problem with Losi, why isn't there a "Bad experiance with AE"? I'd bet you the AE drivers are smarter than you Prime to have a big sook over a car that had a few problems. You know what I think of people like you? Someone with too much money and big cry babies. Stop crying and get on with life.

[Fergy]

Wait a minute why are you getting on Prime? Read the side of your model box gentlemen. Mine from Kyosho says "This is not a toy". And neither was the price! This is big business. Oh yeah it's a hobby to us, but none the less big business with big business prices. When you own a company like Losi, with a reputation, you're suppose to support the people who support our business, with a quality product as well as quality support. The customer service is backup to your quality control. If your lacking in one area you excel in the next. This is business! If Prime has a complaint, however slight, the customer service support part, is suppose to handle that to his satisfaction, so he returns to support their product. If not he complains to his friends or associates, and some of them like myself, who would rather not experience his plight with the company, decide not to ever purchase their product.
Their stock holders if they them, would not be pleased with this! Kyosho, Associated, and HPI to name a few, are very happy to hear this. It spells more business for them. It's easy, all they have to do is have better QC and customer service.

For a company in this era of computers and the NET, a complaint spread through a chat forum can cost that company Buku Cash! Not only is that not good business, it's stupid business. That's all I've got to say about that http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/frown.gif

[DerekB]

I'm going to close this thread because it's really not making much sense or headed the right direction.

The proper steps when you have a problem with a kit (for all newbies)

1.Buy the kit

2.If there is a problem take it back to the place you bought it from, they should help you. When I worked in a shop and somebody was missing a part it came off the wall and I dealt with the company. That's the advantage of buying from a local hobby shop.

3. If you must contact the manufacturer, give them some time to respond. At least call back twice. Losi is a relatively small company that doesn't have a staff of 100 people manning the phones like a company like Traxxas who expects newbies to have problems. Losi is still a racing company and they currently target racers.

4. If you contacted the manufacturer and still can't get help, don't post it on a BB keep at it. Posting it here will bring attention to your problem, but won't get you your part any quicker. Give a brother a chance!

Derek