ScopeBuggy -- Buyer Beware!!Posted By Al Ferrari |
Hello All,
I am sorry to say that my experience with the Scope Buggy was not so positive. I had a JMI Wheely Bar for over 15yrs that I sold with a scope and needed a new base for my CGEM and 9.25" Celestron. ScopeBuggy seemed a good choice as an option. I liked the big tires. This is what my experience was:
1) Gold paint on the hubs is extremely poor quality. Its flat-out cheap. It scrapes off with the lightest rub of a fingernail. There are white spots all over the hub which are areas of missing paint.
2) Poor quality control of welds. One of the rear footpads would not slide on. When it went on with a light tap of a soft mallet, it was at an angle. A huge glob of weld was on the inside the pad. OK, I filed it down.
Now these are all cosmetic and although I would have expected a little better quality, I was willing to live with it.
However, the 3rd issue sealed its fate.
3) The front axle measures 0.625" OD. The holes in the yoke are severely elongated and measure 0.98" with all rough edges. This makes the front wheel completely unstable. (See photos)
Close examination of the reviewed buggy on Cloudy Nights does NOT show this. They didn't get the lemon. I did!!
I called Mr. Fisher to go over these issues and he made continued excuses how the buggy was not designed to go up a mountain. What does this have to do with drilling a basic "round" hole. As an aerospace engineer and a person who managed a machine shop, I don't see how drilling a hole (slightly bigger than 0.625" can be too difficult. Mr. Fisher refused to accept this as a manufacturing defect. He did ask me "more than once" if I had the box and subsequently to ship it back if I was not happy. I said fine if he paid the shipping. To this, he took great offense and said quote, "Im not going to listen to your Bull $$it." Now howz that for custmer service. I was served alright.
Mr. Fisher could have easily resolved the issue by offering to send another yoke with properly drilled holes. Instead he chose to be very disrespectful to a customer and subsequently hang up on me.
So, if you are pleased with your buggy, I am happy for you. I got a lemon and extremely poor customer support. I contacted PayPal and they will support me 200% in disputing the charge. Once I have my funds returned I will be contact JMI to purchase a product of quality. I can live with the hard wheels.
PS: I also almost cut the heck out of my finger as the tow bar holes was full of sharp metal shavings. Poor manufacturing across the board.
I am sorry to say that my experience with the Scope Buggy was not so positive. I had a JMI Wheely Bar for over 15yrs that I sold with a scope and needed a new base for my CGEM and 9.25" Celestron. ScopeBuggy seemed a good choice as an option. I liked the big tires. This is what my experience was:
1) Gold paint on the hubs is extremely poor quality. Its flat-out cheap. It scrapes off with the lightest rub of a fingernail. There are white spots all over the hub which are areas of missing paint.
2) Poor quality control of welds. One of the rear footpads would not slide on. When it went on with a light tap of a soft mallet, it was at an angle. A huge glob of weld was on the inside the pad. OK, I filed it down.
Now these are all cosmetic and although I would have expected a little better quality, I was willing to live with it.
However, the 3rd issue sealed its fate.
3) The front axle measures 0.625" OD. The holes in the yoke are severely elongated and measure 0.98" with all rough edges. This makes the front wheel completely unstable. (See photos)
Close examination of the reviewed buggy on Cloudy Nights does NOT show this. They didn't get the lemon. I did!!
I called Mr. Fisher to go over these issues and he made continued excuses how the buggy was not designed to go up a mountain. What does this have to do with drilling a basic "round" hole. As an aerospace engineer and a person who managed a machine shop, I don't see how drilling a hole (slightly bigger than 0.625" can be too difficult. Mr. Fisher refused to accept this as a manufacturing defect. He did ask me "more than once" if I had the box and subsequently to ship it back if I was not happy. I said fine if he paid the shipping. To this, he took great offense and said quote, "Im not going to listen to your Bull $$it." Now howz that for custmer service. I was served alright.
Mr. Fisher could have easily resolved the issue by offering to send another yoke with properly drilled holes. Instead he chose to be very disrespectful to a customer and subsequently hang up on me.
So, if you are pleased with your buggy, I am happy for you. I got a lemon and extremely poor customer support. I contacted PayPal and they will support me 200% in disputing the charge. Once I have my funds returned I will be contact JMI to purchase a product of quality. I can live with the hard wheels.
PS: I also almost cut the heck out of my finger as the tow bar holes was full of sharp metal shavings. Poor manufacturing across the board.
