Plastimo Parts :-(((( YUK!

Dougal

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Never again will I knowingly buy another Plasimo part! Sick of fitting expensive parts, only to find the supplied (so called stainless steel) fasters have started to rust, severely staining any nearby surfaces.

I know how easy it would be to purchase the fasteners separtely, but why should I have to when paying for them.

What a pity they have such a huge chunk of the market:-(
 
I guess it's like a lot of suppliers who manufacture certain items which have always been their speciality then expand their catalogue by buying in all the other gear. Unfortunately, many manufacturers don't understand the true needs of equipment specified for the marine environment - and that stainless doesn't mean rust-proof! On the whole 316 grade remains rust free whilst 314 doesn't, but there are quite a few other, cheaper grades not suitable for marine use which still qualify as stainless. On the other hand, a lot of suppiers don't even specify stainless fasteners for things like switch panels!

Rob.
 
I guess it's like a lot of suppliers who manufacture certain items which have always been their speciality then expand their catalogue by buying in all the other gear. Unfortunately, many manufacturers don't understand the true needs of equipment specified for the marine environment - and that stainless doesn't mean rust-proof! On the whole 316 grade remains rust free whilst 314 doesn't, but there are quite a few other, cheaper grades not suitable for marine use which still qualify as stainless. On the other hand, a lot of suppiers don't even specify stainless fasteners for things like switch panels!

Rob.

Yes it's common, but the term 'not fit for purpose' springs to mind. Who's gonna take a supplier to court? PBO? I doubt they'd risk their advertising income stream by highlighting such woeful practises. But would they publish a report if the OP took a case against Pastimo?
 
Plastimo went belly up a year or two back, so it's possible that spares on the shelf today are from a time when they were penny-pinching and trying to stay solvent. Not that that is any excuse for poor quality, but maybe the Phoenix Plastimo is producing better stuff now?
 
Sometimes (!) the phoenix company that has been bought from the administrator trades on the market awareness the previous incarnation had. This can enable them to sell shoddy goods to a trusting market. It loses them customers but they are probably just getting the balance sheets to look better whilst stripping assets, before selling on.
Not saying that is what they are doing but I know it's pretty common in High Street retailing. I know somewhere that is happening at the moment.
 
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I never use the screws supplied with anything, because it's an easy place to cut costs for the supplier. So I always but screws separately.
 
I got so sick of buying inferior screws (even those claimed as 316) that I had a bulk order made by a company and put another order in when each size gets low, self tappers and machine screws, I select the torx drive option so I don't mix them up, has the added advantage of easier use with power drivers. Expensive but I know the job is right.
 
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