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[Rum_Pirate]

I am in the process of building a Penobscot 17 and it will be gunter rigged.

I will be looking for sails, albeit a very small order. BUT it is an important order - to me!

From posts that I have seen on forums there are two manufacturers that I will not be approaching - even for a quotation.

1. Quantum Sails

2. Kemp Sails.

Why?

Well the treatment/response/customer service post payment that I have come across on the internet (isolated as the incidents may be in comparison to the probable quantity of sails they produce) does not encourage me to do so.

This decision/stance will continue until I see different information that corrects those incidents.

While I would not want to see a black list formed by isolated incidents, given the coverage of the short comings I think the manufacturers in question should come forward shoulder any blame where applicable and make good.

The publicity (read advertising) generated in doing so would way surpass the negative status they now have.

 

[Sixpence]

I'm with you on that , bring on the manufacturers and let them answer any comments , good or bad

for once it would be nice to hear from them

 

[Bajansailor]

There is an excellent sailmaker here in Barbados - Nigel Ritchings of Undercover Canvas - he called himself 'Undercover' because when he first set up on his own he was moonlighting while working for a large international sailmaker.....

Good sailmakers in Antigua as well, and they are a bit closer to you. Definitely worth considering Windie sailmakers, especially as the GBP is so strong (good news for folk in GB, not so good for folk in the Windies who are tied to the US$).

 

[cliff]

I for one have dealt with Kemp Sails on a number of occasions in the past and have not had any problems. I have not dealt with Quantum personally so cannot comment on their service. As with many items price is a deciding factor - you will not get a Rolls Royce if you are only prepared to pay the price of a Mini.

As you are based in the Caribbean I suggest you look for a sail maker in that region, perhaps on one of the local islands - I am sure you will find someone who can make you some sails out of coconut fronds or banana leaves for the coast of a bottle of local rum /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Rum_Pirate]

[ QUOTE ]
I for one have dealt with Kemp Sails on a number of occasions in the past and have not had any problems.

[/ QUOTE ] You are are probably one of the vast majority.

[ QUOTE ]
I have not dealt with Quantum personally so cannot comment on their service.

[/ QUOTE ] I have dealt with neither Kemp or Quantum and this will be my first purchase of a set of sails.

[ QUOTE ]
As with many items price is a deciding factor - you will not get a Rolls Royce if you are only prepared to pay the price of a Mini.

[/ QUOTE ] One of my requirements for good quality products and customer services is that I live on an island in the Caribbean.
We pay significant import duties and it is quite expensive (freight) to 'return' a defective product so quality is a priority and IF it goes wrong, a good customer service.

[ QUOTE ]
As you are based in the Caribbean I suggest you look for a sail maker in that region, perhaps on one of the local islands - I am sure you will find someone who can make you some sails out of coconut fronds or banana leaves for the coast of a bottle of local rum /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ] It is a shame that you have to descend to the level of insulting personal attacks.
I shall not condescend to say any more in this regard.

 

[Sixpence]

Take it from me , the comments were said with tongue firmly in cheek , he's jealous cos he's where he is and you're where you are /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
It is a shame that you have to descend to the level of insulting personal attacks.
I shall not condescend to say any more in this regard.

[/ QUOTE ]What personal attack? - FFS get a life and stop trying to criticise companies that you have no personal experience off. If you don't like what you read about a company then go elsewhere or consider the possible motives of those decrying this company or that company and make your own mind up. I could name one or two high price "professional" sail makers that have supplied sails to members of one of the local clubs and the sails have set like washing on the line - even the "good" guys get it wrong on occasion. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[cliff]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Sixpence]

I thought you'd see the funny side , how's life in hot and sh*tty land ? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bav34]

Regarding getting a Rolls Royce for Mini money .........

HERE


SORRY ..... couldn't resist /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Rum_Pirate]

[ QUOTE ]
<span style="color:blue"> What personal attack? </span>

[/ QUOTE ] Read what you wrote.

[ QUOTE ]
<span style="color:blue">- FFS get a life and stop trying to criticise companies that you have no personal experience off.</span>

[/ QUOTE ] I have not criticised any company I have stated what I will be doing (as I have no personal experience [off?] in dealing with them) and also made suggestion to one company on how they could cash in. Why are you so defensive of them . . do you have shares or other financial interest?

[ QUOTE ]
<span style="color:blue"> If you don't like what you read about a company <u>then go elsewhere </u> or consider the possible motives of those decrying this company or that company and make your own mind up. </span>

[/ QUOTE ] Why can I not state my views on the subject on this forum and what I intend to do? Who made you God? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I thought that this was a forum. Please correct me if I am wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif


[ QUOTE ]
<span style="color:blue">I could name one or two high price "professional" sail makers that have supplied sails to members of one of the local clubs and the sails have set like washing on the line - even the "good" guys get it wrong on occasion. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
--------------------</span>

[/ QUOTE ] I have no doubt about that and have never said that it was not so. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[cliff]

Yea, right. 1972 with 18 previous owners - how much for a 1972 mini with 18 previous owners? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
do you have shares or other financial interest?

[/ QUOTE ]Not that it is any of your business but NO, no shares or other financial interest in Kemp Sails.

As for the rest of your ramblings - I can't be arsed answering - I'm off sailing - more fun....... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Bav34]

£155 /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif



HERE


Well, you did ask /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Rum_Pirate]

[ QUOTE ]
<span style="color:blue"> Not that it is any of your business but NO, no shares or other financial interest in Kemp Sails.

As for the rest of your ramblings - I can't be arsed answering - I'm off sailing - more fun </span>

[/ QUOTE ] . . and the vanquished leave the field. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Come on it's only a forum. don't sulk. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bajansailor]

Where would we be without ROTFLs? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[whipper_snapper]

I have personally used Kemp on one occasion and could not fault their service or the quality of the product.

An organisation I was involved with spent a lot of money with Quantum on a very large set of very heavy, very specialised sails. They were quick and efficient - and so were the sails!

I don't claim any specialised knowledge of sailmaking, I am just another random customer.

 

[boatmike]

Quite agree Cliff.
This thread was seemingly started for purely malicious reasons IMHO and mouthing off from barbados about a hitherto prestigeous company in the UK without any knowledge of them at all is not at all constructive and just climbing on the bandwagon.
I can't say it often enough. Everyone cocks up from time to time. I had a cock up myself from a very large and prestigeous sailmaker of international repute as I said previously. It took them 3 attempts to get it right. I feel that if Kemps had been given the opportunity they would have too. They were not as the customer never went back to them saying he was still, even after their comments and suggestions, still having problems. I really do wish they would have the balls to say so and stop all this.

 

[Barr Avel]

Boat Mike.

Re-read the original post. It is balanced and in no way constitutes mouthing off. He is simply drawing attention to the fact that there has been negative feedback on this forum about these two companies. These companies have the opportunity to defend themselves and provide us with an explanation. To date they have chosen not to.

He moderates his comments by pointing out that these are no doubt isolated events, not the experience of many customers.


Marc.

 

[Bajansailor]

Errr Mike, time for a geography lesson......... I hope you are not suggesting that I was 'mouthing off' from Barbados - I thought I was merely suggesting a good sailmaker locally here (or in Antigua)........

The Rum Pirate is on a wee island about 350 miles away.

It gets interesting when you have Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, Bahamas, Bequia and Barbuda all getting mixed up together...... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif