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Robbe Cuatro - Millennium - Nova - Dyna-X > Robbe Rep support

gwright
Senior Heliman
Location: Melbourne, Fl

The "problem" is not with Paul at HUI,.. he's been great to work with,.. the problem is with Robbe Germany. It's the germans who don't give a damn,.. Paul tries his best to support the product here in the USA,.. he just sometimes has his hands tied. I've been sponsered by Robbe for several years (robbe Germany, although I do work with Paul regularly), and I can assure you that any problems exist due not to Paul, but with the company in germany. One "key" person just left their employment, and due to the way this person handled things with the USA,.. it is only good news that he is gone. Things could possibly get better now since that roadblock (person) is no longer with the company.

02-21-2002 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

Andy17
Senior Heliman
Location: Ellijay, GA

I hope so, love the futura se hate to see it go. Surely Robbe knows the potenial of the US market and will now take better advantage of if. The problem may have been overseas with the home office we'll just have to wait and see. I would think Gary would know being a rep for the company. I for one hope to see a big difference in support and product.

Andy

02-21-2002 Over year old.

vetrider
Elite Veteran
Location: Daleville, AL (Ft.Rucker)

I saw

my first Futura this past monday and I was impressed with it's nice design and mechanics.
The guy flying it has years of plane experiance but only one year in heli's. He flew it very well and with some mild 3D.

Love to see some more. Gary....hint hint hehehaha

Magnum Fuel

02-22-2002 Over year old.

Maxx
Key Veteran
Location: Shreveport Louisana

GW, was it FH that got "das Booten"? As I said on the Schluter List; I didn't mean to ruffle anyones fearhers (rotors) personally...I just believe Robbe is headed in a silly direction with the cancelling of the Conquest and the possible cancellation of the SE; that would leave the Mossie (OK bird but it ain't no Conquest) and the Milli/Nova with nothing in between, price wise! The Conquest was a better .50 sized heli than there is on the market today and if they advertised them right, Hirobo wouldn't be selling the half the Scoobie Doos they are right now! Someone on the Schluter list said:" there must be a method to their madness". I don't think so...madness without method is just Stupidity!. Anyway, It's good to see you on this Forum... Chris

02-22-2002 Over year old.

RCMarket
Key Veteran
Location: Belgium , Europe

Robbe stuff.

Gents.

I dont get something clear.
I was living in Middle east, and today in Europe, Belgium
Previously i was flying Xcell, and their dealer was crap, why?
expensive prices, the service was so-so, any way, me and some guys contacted some shops in USA, we got all parts by mail, faster then to ask them locally, and gues.... cheaper including shipping!!!.

I was a hobby importer, so i familiar with robbe, and other companies and people.
I can understand the HUI, because he feels the same thing that Europe people feel about XCELL, in usa you have few companies of helis,
so europe companies have to competite with shipping, import and so.
in Europe MA dealer has the same problems.

My solution!!! MA will merge with Robbe.

The other solution, buy parts from Europe.
I sending to some people over usa parts, they have it in 2-3 days, in regular mail!!! what can be better? Shipping is cheap.
I sent a package with 2 mufflers, some t.blades, it cost 5 $, the guy had it in 2 days, think again!!!
The same way i asking shops in USA to send me parts, you can do that. Find someone you can trust, do business. Robbe has a nice machines, so you prefer to give up because parts? I understandthe comfortability of ordering it locally, but its a psichological matter, whats the difference, if the shipping comes from other part of USA, or Europe.
I never was in Usa, but i know that flight from side to side is 7-10 hours?
from Beglium to usa is 8h.
I know how Robbe think, Germans are very good in production and marketing, but it is also depends how the importer threats it.
If the HUI will see that you getting parts any way, he will invest in the issue, Here comes the point that customer pressure on Dealer.
As a customer, and you are lots of them over there, you have a huge force, you can do that.

If you need help, let me know
rcmkt@hotmail.com

02-22-2002 Over year old.

gwright
Senior Heliman
Location: Melbourne, Fl

maxx, I hardly ever read any of the schluter list , so I didn't see your post,..but yes it was Frank Hienrich. He didn't get the boot,.. he quit,. and he's moving to the USA to be the importer for Ikarus. I hear he'll be living on the other side of florida,.. I guess that's far enough away from me

02-22-2002 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

Millibee
Heliman
Location: Kansas City Missouri

With Gary Wright's help I have decided that continuing to be a Rep for Robbe will not be in the best interest of Robbe.If I can't help them then I shouldn't be a rep. I was premature in my statement " where's the support". The support is there for those individuals who are willing to help and share in their passion of Robbe machines without much expectation. This is not to imply that they don't offer anything because they do! My expectations were unrealistic! I did not intend for my post to generate any bashing. I was looking for clear answers or way's to make a positive change.After the post I did talk to Paul at great length about how limited he is with what happens with the product. After re-reading some of the post the finger pointing at HUI should be redirected toward Robbe Germany. GW said it's really on Robbe Germany to provide the product support. As I stated earlier my hope was to make a positive change and it looks as if change is on the horizon with more reps and product support. I would also like to apologize to those rep's which made a positive mention to Paul about me being a rep and to Paul for the flack he has had to endure because of my post which was unwarranted.The Millennium has been the best machine I have owned. I credit the Millennium to my level 7 achievement. No other helicopter will hold that distinction with me and for that reason alone it will be the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

02-22-2002 Over year old.

Maxx
Key Veteran
Location: Shreveport Louisana

OK, so if the problem is with Robbe of Germany why don't I see any adds for HUI/Robbe Products in MHT or Rotory? Where are the give aways that are at every Fun Fly by Hirobo, Bergen, Miniature Aircraft, etc.? Maybe if HUI had a larger distrubution and a large and VOCAL customer base then the even the Hardheaded German Robbe Gestapo would take notice?. I've met Paul and he helped me a lot at Corpus Christi (as did you GW...I was in the Red 'Vette) and I don't know what he had to deal with, but I too am in the Distrubution Business and have always found that Volume (both piece and Doller) made the way to what I needed easier if I am the Biggest Dog at the Bowl.... When any section of business becomes large enough it all the sudden becomes very valuable to a Manufactuer and the Manufacturer acts like it!...Do we need to go direct to Robbe's website and inindate it with e-mail stating our displeasure with the way things are going or do we get so big in the USA that when Paul asks for something (logical) Robbes marketing manager falls out of his chair trying to comply to the best of Robbe's ability?. These are thing that need to be answered, can the products not be imported for some reason? Robbe makes the best bird on the market and no one (save a lucky few) know anything about them...Is this a supply or a marketing problem? Chris

02-23-2002 Over year old.

mkiner
Heliman
Location: Oklahoma

Hi, I just joined RunRyder this morning.

I have a couple of comments on this support subject.

Millibee, your comments in your last post tell me that you are indeed ready to continue as a Robbe Rep.

If you feel the Millennium is the best machine that you have owned then continue to fly it.

About HUI, now Robbe USA:

Those of us that remember the Pica years know that the Robbe situation in this country is much improved from the past. You can call many dealers (my first choice is Ron Lund) and get parts readily. The availability of Robbe parts has been as good as and better than most machines. Even when compared to those machines that are made in the USA.

Paul has done better than any importer in the past. Up until this past summer the most common machine at IRCHA and at the fun flys I attend was Robbe. I know many of you are dissatisfied. I don’t like the ground we have lost in the last year either. I also loved the Conquest. I will not throw away my Mille because I wish I had not lost my Conquest.

Paul is not a large corporation like Horizon and as such does not have a large advertising budget. If you want to criticize his business expenditures I think you should consider the financial risk. Many of you realize there is great financial risk for any individual businessman in today’s economic environment and this is not a large corporate budget, it is Paul’s money and if you were in his shoes you might not do anything any differently. Yes advertising might pay off, but it is a gamble.

Robbe machines are top class machines. Most people that buy them are not doing it because of a 3 color add. I think the choice of investment in the rep. program is the best place to put the money. If Robbe had a low cost entry-level machine like the Raptor, I could see Paul investing money in advertising that would attract the new buyer.

Mark

02-24-2002 Over year old.

whrlybrd
Senior Heliman
Location: Little Rock, AR

Thanks Mark for the input. I am new to helos ( 1 year ) but got the Robbe bug after looking over the machines. I have restored 3 full scale fixed wing planes in the past and appreciate the engineering. So much that although I am still a novice I am rebuilding a Milli and have a new SE in the box. When my current 50 is no longer feasible to rebuild post crash my LHS has a Conquest NIB which has set >1 year while he sells other machines. Yes I agree the rep support program is a great way to invest $$. In addition since I am new is the Mosquito not a machine that would solve the entry issue and why is it not imported? Thanks for joining us here and I looked for your website in the links above but appears that it is no longer active. What is your new address. Once again thanks.

02-24-2002 Over year old.

gwright
Senior Heliman
Location: Melbourne, Fl

Regarding advertising in magazines,..yes it might help,..but the cost is VERY HIGH. I've recently investigated it for my growing electric kit business, and the thousands of dollars spent per month just aren't worth it for me. The best advertising is going to events, and showing the product in action. Look at what Bob Violet has done. Yes, he does place some ads in magazines, but he will be the first to admit to you that the hardcopy advertising is of little to no benefit. 99% of his "
advertising" is by showing the product at events. Showing the product in action at an event is the best advertising and worth many times the cost of a single magazine ad.

02-25-2002 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

JMDooleyRCH
Heliman
Location: Lancaster, CA

I also am new to RC helis. I have nearly all the back issues of Rotory Modeler. I believe that Robbe makes the best Heli in the World! Paul was very nice and helpful in letting me order a owner's manual for the Nova. Even though we don't see any ads in magazines, Paul is still there backing us. I believe that the new machines and parts will only help to further strenghten the robbe line. From what I have seen from other companies does not compare to Robbe on a cost to quality basics. Sure, it seems that the parts are too much. However the build quality is much higher. I also like the fact that Robbe doesn't make changes for just the sake of making them. My first RC heli will be a Nova. Yes, I know that this will be an expensive way to start. I need this machines size, weight and quality because of the different types of flying weather I live in. Lets keep supporting Robbe!

02-25-2002 Over year old.

Maxx
Key Veteran
Location: Shreveport Louisana

OK...sign me up! Just let me know where I send the money for my Robbe USA wear and bumper stickers!

How's THAT for inexpensive advertising? Chris