Guys, I want to compliment the list on the way that you have handled
the problem with the bad crystal in the 38 Special kit. As you know, we got
a batch of bad crystals that were third overtone instead of fundamental for
the VXO crystal. I posted to the net that NorCal would replace them, and
that all that was necessary was that you send me your name and address if
you had a crystal marked Koyo, 22.1184, 87-35. No SASE or money required,
we are set up to handle the problem. I have not seen one complaint on the
list, and this is appreciated. We were embarrassed that it happened, and we
did the only thing possible, made steps to correct it.
Now to the second part of my posting. When you order a kit, either
from a club or a commercial company, the very first thing that you should do
is check the parts to make sure that they are all there. If you find a
shortage, notify the company or the club, and do it immediately. It is not
fair to the supplier if you buy a kit, let it sit on the shelf for 6 months,
and then discover that you are missing XYZ part. Mistakes happen, and we
are human. Every commercial company that I know of doing QRP kits now will
replace parts with no questions asked, at their expense, but, and this is
the important part, they must know about it. Take responsibility, inventory
your kit, and let the supplier know if there is a problem. But, don't post
it to qrp-l before you contact the supplier. Give him a chance to rectify
the situation first. Why? Because to the casual reader it gives the wrong
impression, that XYZ company or club is not careful, doesn't do a good job,
etc. Because, the guy who posts to the net that he is missing XYZ part or
having a problem, hardly ever posts that he got the part, etc.
Some of the commercial QRP kit vendors have sent me private email
about another "problem" that they see with qrp-l. They asked me to post,
because I have no vested interest, and it won't be self serving. If you
have a problem with a kit, please contact the commercial company first.
Give the guys a chance. I'll wager that 95% of the time they will be able
to help you with the problem immediately, because they have seen it before.
Don't post it to the list until you have tried the vendor. It will save
everyone a lot of time. Now, some of you may say, but what about alerting
the rest of the list to a problem so that they will be aware. Sure that is
what this list is about, but if you get the problem solved through the
vendor, you can be a hero, not only can you post the alert, but you can post
the solution, and I would always add creditbility by quoting the source, the
vendor himself. But what happens if you contact the vendor and he doesn't
have a solution? Why, then go to the list, but be polite about it. Do it
with class. Say that you have XYZ problem, that you have contacted the
vendor, and he couldn't solve it, does anyone have any ideas, etc. That is
only fair.
The commercial kit companies do a wonderful job. They are all fine
companies, every one of them. We need to support them, to help them, and
most of all, to work with them. Now a word about NorCal kits. NorCal kits
are different. They are field tests of designs that have been tested, but
not nearly as much as a commercial kit, and that is one of the reasons that
they cost a lot less. We know that they work, but we only have a small
sample that has been built. NorCal kits go out to the masses and the
feedback that we get on qrp-l is wonderful. We love it. You are the test
engineers. What you are working with in a NorCal kit would be called a beta
test with a commercial product. We want you to post the problems that you
are having with our kits to the net, so that we and I emphasize the word we,
can help you. NorCal is a club, not a company. There is no engineer on
staff waiting for you to call. No, the tech support staff of NorCal is made
up of all the guys on qrp-l and our other members. Ok, here is the bottom
line. If you have a problem with a commercial kit, call the vendor first,
then post to the list. If you have a problem with a NorCal kit and have not
seen the answer on qrp-l, post to the list and ask for help. There is one
more step that common courtesy requires. If you post a problem, you have a
responsibility to post when you get it resolved. Thank the person or
persons responsible. It gives closure to the problem, and that is
important. I would think that the other clubs would agree with this, but
will let them post their own ideas.
This posting is not a knee jerk reaction to any particular posting.
It is something that I have been thinking about for a long time, and I
finally decided to post. QRP is fun, building is fun, and learning is fun.
Stay positive, have a good week and trust your fellow man. See you in
Dayton. By the way, anyone going to post the weather for us this year? (I
had to do it.) 72, Doug, KI6DS
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