FOX Manufacturing - What is going on ?

A couple of weeks ago,I emailed a question to FOX asking if their 35
Stunt head bolts were all socket headed,but no reply. So,I sent in an order for around 200 bucks worth of stuff,but got no indication of how much shipping would be to Australia. All I got was an automated response email saying they had received my order. I waited for 6 days and still no word from FOX re. shipping (or anything else!)so I cancelled the order - still nothing! This comes about 2 months after ordering a couple of FOX 15 C/L engines from a well known eBay seller of FOX engines (now mainly selling ENYA stuff)only to be told the 15's had a casting defect in the case,and he was waiting on replacements from the factory which never arrived. My biggest fear is,they have my credit card details,and it appears as if the FOX factory is not interested in replying to customer queries or answering any of their emails. Any ideas on what's happening? BOB

The company is only open one day of the week due to the recession

>The company is only open one day of the week due to the
>recession

Luckily, your only allowed one post a month due to you being "The Idiot"

A guy in our club had a number of issues with Fox starting last summer, when he received a new Fox 35 with a serious casting defect in the case. It seems like they are going through a low point in terms of quality control and customer service.
Steve

I'm not trying to stir controversy here, but I just purchased 5 engines from Fox. A few parts I had ordered were out of stock, Sharon was very helpful in leaving messages by phone and via e-mail. One muffler was incorrect for the engine I purchased, they swapped it out and took care of postage. I couldn't of asked for better service. I took advantage of their 50% off trade in policy. I had some older engines that were a bit tired and lacking mufflers. You do pay 50% of the listed internet price. Were lucky to get anything in todays age. Ken Cook

> I'm not trying to stir controversy here, but I just
>purchased 5 engines from Fox. A few parts I had ordered were
>out of stock, Sharon was very helpful in leaving messages by
>phone and via e-mail. One muffler was incorrect for the engine
>I purchased, they swapped it out and took care of postage. I
>couldn't of asked for better service. I took advantage of
>their 50% off trade in policy. I had some older engines that
>were a bit tired and lacking mufflers. You do pay 50% of the
>listed internet price. Were lucky to get anything in todays
>age. Ken Cook



I'm glad to hear that. Our club member got: no communication whatseoever, no postage for the stuff he had to return or get shipped back out, and, the replacement case they finally sent him (to replace the original flawed case) was another reject, the replacement was useless because it had a grossly oversize bushing that let the crankshaft wobble like a worn out McCoy. That, and they happily charged him full retail for the replacement case, despite the fact he had a defective casting the first go around. He has been dealing with Fox for many more years then I have been on this earth, so I guess he would qualify as a loyal Fox customer, and he knows that they have had ups and downs and is usually ok with that. But he was pretty annoyed this go around(!) I think the insult to injury of getting billed retail to replace a defective part did the trick.

I'm glad you evidentally got the "A" team there when you called them for your motors. Maybe they are back on track.

Steve

If he got an engine with a defective case, he should have returned the engine. Fox will repair or replace the part for free and when they have to work on an engine like this they make sure that everything is working fine before returning it to the customer.

My dealings with Fox have been nothing but positive. I have broken crankshafts in three engines over the years. Each time I sent in the complete engine, and they replaced the cranks no charge, and paid the postage back to me. If you have an engine with a broken or defective part, send in the complete engine as Len says, and they will fix it. Do not just send them the defective part as I do not think they will replace parts this way.

Thanks Guys - twould be a shame if an iconic brand like FOX went under. I see that the seller known as flyingamodel is also listing FOX 10 C/L engines. BOB

Their internet site went downhill after Fox changed to another provider, about 1-2 years ago. It is more confusing than ever.

Another problem is that a number of employees have been shuffled into other jobs.

Call Sharon Shawkey (Office Mgr.) at 1-877-I-FLY-FOX (it's a toll-free number). She's always straightened out any problems I've had.

Pick up the phone!

I'm not sure if it was missed but he is in australia.
I'm not sure the whole engine might not be worth the cost of the call
so i'm guessing this is why he is trying to deal with the web site
Dave.

I saw that. I have called OZ before when buying a prop. I told them I was calling from the US and needed to make it quick. They understood and the whole call was about 6$. Be worth it if you think someone has your CC# and you aren't sure what is going on.

For what it is worth, I seriously doubt Fox will do anything malicious. That simply is not the way they do business from what I understand.

If customer relations at Fox Mfg. were my responsibility I'm not so sure I would want to be paying someone to answer a question the likes of yours. I mean, for how many years have they been producing Fox 35s with Phillips head screws...?!

Besides, this is the kind of post I detest as it can do damage to the reputation of a pretty fine company.

Dan

Dan, don't know where you've been hiding,but 35 Stunt screws are now
socket headed mostly - I didn't want to order 10 sets and find out they were the old stock Phillips type. Your sideswipe at the sensibility of my question raises doubts about your own. BOB

The new screws I bought for my Fox .35 were socket head.

No problems with service at all - ordered new screws and gaskets - turned up nearly as fast as a purchase from Enya does.

cheers,
Colin

BIG BOO-BOO! BIG BOO-BOO!

In my previous submission, I gave the WRONG NUMBER for reaching Fox Manufacturing.

The correct, toll-free number is 1-877-FOX-3883.

If the toll-free number doesn't work, out of country (most do not), try their regular number: 479-646-1656.

Their web site is: www.foxmanufacturing.com

Their e-mail address is: [email protected]

Sorry about any inconveniences, due to my brain-flatulence. I got their number confused with some rinky-tink model airplane organization.

>Dan, don't know where you've been hiding,but 35 Stunt screws
>are now
>socket headed mostly - I didn't want to order 10 sets and find
>out they were the old stock Phillips type. Your sideswipe at
>the sensibility of my question raises doubts about your own.
>BOB

I was unaware of any change to Fox 35 specifications.

My apologies.

Dan

To put things in perspective, FOX manufactures many, many items for the US miltary and the model engine business is only 10% of their total manufacturing.
I learned this in a conversation with them by phne a few years ago.

At one time they made small engines for the drones we used to launch by rocket assisted take off from the fan tail, then try to shoot them down. The drones, I believe, were made by the then Ryan Aircraft Corp. in San Diego. I think we called them "Katydids".