Any update on QMX's Mal's gun?
- Thread starter Grouch
- Start date
Steve,
In the time it took you to post that ridiculous smoke, bluster and testosterone filled rant, you could have simply answered the question. :cool
Want to know why they are asking you here rather than your beloved "CS email address"? Because despite your assertions, some people never get replies. Worse yet, those who are fortunate enough to be worthy of a reply, they get a cut and paste of vague crap that is weeks old and less informative than "2nd quarter".
You want to huff and puff and be arrogant? Fine.
:angryHey MR. QMX...quit with the evasive vaporware answers and give us a real update on your vaporware guns!:angry
Direct and abrasive enough?:angel
Now you have a reason to be snippy and cute.
edited low blow out of line baiting comment. The rest ain't great, either. -Tr
In the time it took you to post that ridiculous smoke, bluster and testosterone filled rant, you could have simply answered the question. :cool
Want to know why they are asking you here rather than your beloved "CS email address"? Because despite your assertions, some people never get replies. Worse yet, those who are fortunate enough to be worthy of a reply, they get a cut and paste of vague crap that is weeks old and less informative than "2nd quarter".
You want to huff and puff and be arrogant? Fine.
:angryHey MR. QMX...quit with the evasive vaporware answers and give us a real update on your vaporware guns!:angry
Direct and abrasive enough?:angel
Now you have a reason to be snippy and cute.
edited low blow out of line baiting comment. The rest ain't great, either. -Tr
Agreed, after all this time, the least they could do is tease us with some prototype pics beyond the three that have been lingering on the site for months with "Revised product images coming soon" under them.
Seriously, either update it, or remove the teaser since "soon" went out the window around December.
Give us some proof that this is not vaporware and we'll stop griping. As to not answering Customer Service type questions on this forum...sorry, but I don't think you have that right. You are A #1 at QMX. Your company has a chunk of my money paid last year for a product that as far as anyone knows is non existent. You should be prepared to answer Customer Service type questions anywhere and at anytime.
What are those statistics about happy customers telling X number of people and unhappy customers blowing that number out of the water? Non communication and outright snarkiness is not a good idea for a startup company.
Seriously, either update it, or remove the teaser since "soon" went out the window around December.
Give us some proof that this is not vaporware and we'll stop griping. As to not answering Customer Service type questions on this forum...sorry, but I don't think you have that right. You are A #1 at QMX. Your company has a chunk of my money paid last year for a product that as far as anyone knows is non existent. You should be prepared to answer Customer Service type questions anywhere and at anytime.
What are those statistics about happy customers telling X number of people and unhappy customers blowing that number out of the water? Non communication and outright snarkiness is not a good idea for a startup company.
Steve, with all due respect I believe that as the President of QMx and having the high public profile you do that it's absolutely *critical* that you do take a few minutes to address at least a few of the concerns (yet again) being raised about the Mal Pistol. People, especially customers need to have confidence in a company in order for that company to survive even in the best of times, but when products are delayed (for whatever reason), it's even more important that people feel they're not getting the runaround.
I think it's a mistake for you to try and rationalize *not* giving at least some sort of update, especially since it's been two weeks since the QMx blog has had any activity because it only gives the impression that you either don't want to answer any questions, or you don't have any good news to give.
And honestly, neither one instills much confidence.
I think it's a mistake for you to try and rationalize *not* giving at least some sort of update, especially since it's been two weeks since the QMx blog has had any activity because it only gives the impression that you either don't want to answer any questions, or you don't have any good news to give.
And honestly, neither one instills much confidence.
Wakal
Sr Member
No, Steve, you can post whatever you like. But QMX's customer service sucks. On toast. When the "fast reply" you seem so proud of is nothing but cut and pasted information from old "newsletters", without answering the actual question (as detailed in this very thread), then...yes, your customer service sucks.
If you have time to type out lengthy posts about a company that you were involved in years ago, but nothing about a company that you are involved with now...then perhaps your time would be better spent taking care of actual "right now" customers who want to give you money.
Like everyone who has put down the cash for a (thus far) vaperware Mal pistol, and has been blown off by your customer service department and now, in this thread, you.
Thanks.
Alex
If you have time to type out lengthy posts about a company that you were involved in years ago, but nothing about a company that you are involved with now...then perhaps your time would be better spent taking care of actual "right now" customers who want to give you money.
Like everyone who has put down the cash for a (thus far) vaperware Mal pistol, and has been blown off by your customer service department and now, in this thread, you.
Thanks.
Alex
Blad
Sr Member
Steve answered all queries regarding QMX back in March (03-15-2007, 02:50 PM) - as CS just cut and paste newsletter info. I thought I'd save Steve time in answering the new queries above by cutting and pasting his reply from 3 months ago.
Gentlemen…
Once again, here is one of those: “I heard from a VERY reliable source that XXX company went out of business…” posts.
And once again…the “reliable” information is patently incorrect.
Since we have some “lemons” here, please allow me to open up a lemonade stand.
A few updates:
-We have newsletter #2 going out in the next week. (And newsletter #3 will be right behind it with some great announcements.)
-We are sponsoring several Browncoat activities in the next few months.
- We are producing a commercial to be shown at the beginning of several Serenity theater screenings this spring.
-We have recently cut deals with various actors for signature editions.
-We are introducing a new product program next month.
-We will be ready to start shipping a NEW product in the next month.
-We are preparing to ship another wave of Dracula rings.
-We have cut deals with several new vendors for several new product lines. (including a number of people right here from the RPF.)
-We have current product in full-production in China and the US. (Including those darn Mal pistols)
-We have just negotiated a very large deal with Universal to add several new product lines to our existing contract.
-We have the CGI files for the Serenity, the Galactica, and numerous other BSG, SG-1, and Atlantis ships, and have started development on several of them.
-We answer EVERY customerservice@quantummechanix.com e-mail that we receive.
All of this will be in the next 2 or 3 e-mails to our customer list, but I have summarized a few highlights here for you. If you would like to be on our mailing list, please feel free to sign up on our website!
Also…please don’t start the “Better get your money back!” chatter. It is not applicable here.
We have a small number of people who paid in advance for product because they used Paypal and that is part of the Paypal rules. (not ours). The handful of people who are on our layaway plan have likewise agreed to make monthly payments. Otherwise, we are not currently accepting payment in advance for pre-orders (except for Paypal and X-Pay as noted above). ALL X-Pay and Paypal orders are held in separate escrow accounts, and are fully refundable at any time, as noted in the terms and conditions on our website.
I respectfully request that members refrain from such idle (and hurtful) chatter. Sure, it’s a prop board and people will talk, but sometimes, “talk” is inappropriate and I feel this is one of those times.
Please allow us the same, common courtesy as any other, long-standing RPF member deserves.
All is well…we have had some production “hiccups” (which were all due to an initial poor vendor choice) but we have jumped that hurdle and are moving forward 100%. Again, all of this will be in our next e-mail blast to our customer list.
So, there ya go! Onward and upward!
Ok, this might sound like I'm one of QMX's henchmen... which I'm not... and if people are indeed getting cut'n'past answers to legitimate questions that doesn't sound very professional.
But... regarding the "not answering on the RPF " issue. I can completely understand this. There are dozens of prop boards, each with members that have the same right to get answers. Any kind of answer on one of them from a company rep can (and very often will) spawn a string of rumors, grape-vine-twisted answers and even more questions. If said company rep doesn't keep answering new questions, things can snowball to the point where "company X doesn't care about my business and is a crap company".
It often ends up being a no-win situation. Every time Steve answers a QMX question here, he potentially digs just a little deeper in the hole he's already standing in. How do I know? Well, it happens all the time in the game industry. Video game companies have to be very careful when dealing with fans. Answer too little or in the wrong fashion and you risk alienating your most loyal customers. Answer too much and your fans will suddenly think they're on-staff and demand you implement each and every suggestion they have.
So... if you've got issues with the company, I would take it up with them directly. If you don't get an answer to your e-mail (and frankly, I still don't fully trust e-mail with any important communication) then give them a call. Long distance rates are cheap nowadays (and I've spoken to Steve personally at the QMX CS number). If that doesn't help... and you don't think it's worth risking the wait... let your money talk for you and cancel the order.
I like it when companies like MR and QMX give us info directly here as much as anyone, because it does show that they care. (Even if it's just to say they won't answer any questions.) But I also know that it can turn into a PR nightmare if they're not careful.
Also, as for Steve posting about MR... perhaps he did that on his own time... only as a prop fan with some insight to share? (If so Steve, perhaps removing the "QMX" from your screen name would make it look less like you're here in an official capacity? Just a thought.)
All that said... I DEMAND that large-scale Serenity BEFORE Christmas!!! You hear me QMX? Answer! Answer now dammit!
But... regarding the "not answering on the RPF " issue. I can completely understand this. There are dozens of prop boards, each with members that have the same right to get answers. Any kind of answer on one of them from a company rep can (and very often will) spawn a string of rumors, grape-vine-twisted answers and even more questions. If said company rep doesn't keep answering new questions, things can snowball to the point where "company X doesn't care about my business and is a crap company".
It often ends up being a no-win situation. Every time Steve answers a QMX question here, he potentially digs just a little deeper in the hole he's already standing in. How do I know? Well, it happens all the time in the game industry. Video game companies have to be very careful when dealing with fans. Answer too little or in the wrong fashion and you risk alienating your most loyal customers. Answer too much and your fans will suddenly think they're on-staff and demand you implement each and every suggestion they have.
So... if you've got issues with the company, I would take it up with them directly. If you don't get an answer to your e-mail (and frankly, I still don't fully trust e-mail with any important communication) then give them a call. Long distance rates are cheap nowadays (and I've spoken to Steve personally at the QMX CS number). If that doesn't help... and you don't think it's worth risking the wait... let your money talk for you and cancel the order.
I like it when companies like MR and QMX give us info directly here as much as anyone, because it does show that they care. (Even if it's just to say they won't answer any questions.) But I also know that it can turn into a PR nightmare if they're not careful.
Also, as for Steve posting about MR... perhaps he did that on his own time... only as a prop fan with some insight to share? (If so Steve, perhaps removing the "QMX" from your screen name would make it look less like you're here in an official capacity? Just a thought.)
All that said... I DEMAND that large-scale Serenity BEFORE Christmas!!! You hear me QMX? Answer! Answer now dammit!
Yeah, that's gonna happen :rolleyes
Darbycrash
Well-Known Member
Joe you seem to miss the point by addressing Steve we are talking to the owner and founder of QMX. So yes we are dealing directly with the company. The last post he made about the Mal guns being shipped never happened. Customer Service is giving cut and paste responses. How do we know it's not Steve himself sending out those responses.
Steve as for your response I am quite disappointed how you handled my question. As President of QMX you should be a bit more professional with your responses. We are your customers and deserve to get a courteous answer.
I get the point... (and I'm frustrated at not having the Mal Pistol yet or getting more info too). I'm just saying I understand why QMX (or any company) wouldn't want to handle customer service or similar issues in an official capacity on a forum like the RPF. In my opinion, they'd do better at answering anyone's concerns by posting more regularly on their website.
Maybe it is Steve himself sending out cut'n'paste answers... I have no idea. The last time I contacted them was with a small problem with the Serenity Blueprints. It took a few days, but I got a friendly and detailed CS e-mail from someone named Katrina, with full contact details for QMX, and the problem got sorted out.
If you've got a question, I still advocate giving them a call. Personally, I wouldn't assume that any company would automatically read every message on a forum, even if it's about or directed directly to them.
Maybe it is Steve himself sending out cut'n'paste answers... I have no idea. The last time I contacted them was with a small problem with the Serenity Blueprints. It took a few days, but I got a friendly and detailed CS e-mail from someone named Katrina, with full contact details for QMX, and the problem got sorted out.
If you've got a question, I still advocate giving them a call. Personally, I wouldn't assume that any company would automatically read every message on a forum, even if it's about or directed directly to them.
pennausamike
Sr Member
At some point this thread is just about whining.
Despite the complaints and disappointments over the wait for the Mal pistol, I think any reasonable person believes:
The Mal pistol will be finished and delivered.
No customer will lose his money.
I know I have many unfinished prop-projects in my collection, not ready for display.
They sit there, condemning me; pleading with their little prop eyes, "finish us, please!"
So I just view my QMX Mal pistol as the unfinished prop that isn't here to nag me about MY failure!
Mike
Despite the complaints and disappointments over the wait for the Mal pistol, I think any reasonable person believes:
The Mal pistol will be finished and delivered.
No customer will lose his money.
I know I have many unfinished prop-projects in my collection, not ready for display.
They sit there, condemning me; pleading with their little prop eyes, "finish us, please!"
So I just view my QMX Mal pistol as the unfinished prop that isn't here to nag me about MY failure!
Mike
I would disagree, Mike. Picking apart an item that's been manufactured, shipped, delivered, and received would more accurately be viewed as a 'whiney' thread.
This thread is about the lack of any further information regarding a product that as far as anyone can tell has met none of those criteria. A product that all the vendors, pre-orderers, and possible purchasers have been told repeatedly would ship long before now but hasn't. And how the owner of the company, who has apparently all the time in the world to wax nostalgic on his past accomplishments can't seem to take one minute to answer a few questions about his current enterprise.
I think this post (from another thread), perfectly illustrates the feelings of some who may not feel comfortable enough to say it in just such an emotionally raw manner....
Oh, if I were only more into Sigmund Freud....he'd be having a field day with this one.
This thread is about the lack of any further information regarding a product that as far as anyone can tell has met none of those criteria. A product that all the vendors, pre-orderers, and possible purchasers have been told repeatedly would ship long before now but hasn't. And how the owner of the company, who has apparently all the time in the world to wax nostalgic on his past accomplishments can't seem to take one minute to answer a few questions about his current enterprise.
I think this post (from another thread), perfectly illustrates the feelings of some who may not feel comfortable enough to say it in just such an emotionally raw manner....
Oh, if I were only more into Sigmund Freud....he'd be having a field day with this one.
pennausamike
Sr Member
I understand what you are saying, but will any of the complaints move the product out of production and into customer hands any faster?
The Serenity Blueprints came after the Mal pistol and were announced, shipped and received bing, bang, boom.
I think that is where QMX wants to be.
I don't think QMX is happy with the Mal Pistol situation, either.
The measure of their success as a company will be whether they follow the model of their Serenity Blueprint release or their Mal Pistol release.
I guess I'm just willing to give a start-up company more slack in the learning curve from their first release. The reason I'm comfortable with that is that I don't feel my money or the company's basic soundness is in jeopardy.
Maybe I should have used the word "venting" rather than "whining".
Mike
Chris Martin
Well-Known Member
Then QMX should apologise to customers for the prolonged delay which they hope customers will understand is part and parcel of a new start up company and the new schedule is this. If any customers are unhappy with the new schedule then refunds will be offered.
Not: I refuse to answer questions about my own company. If you wish to ask the same question to someone I pay to answer these sorts of questions because I'm too important to talk directly to you little people, please email.
Chris Martin
Well-Known Member
BTW, if anyone is interested, there is already a metal Mal pistol kit finished and ready to ship on eBay. I'm sure anyone interested enough could find it.
Sidewinder
Sr Member
CM, if you refer to the one that ends @ 07:45 then read the description - its not metal its resin.
SAS
SAS
That would've been something, huh? If JR's resin model had indeed been metal, selling for $100? You know what they say about "too good to be true..." :rolleyes
ALWAYS check the description. There is an MR SE prop offered for sale on eBay right now for what seems to be a steal. In the description, it notes "Signature Plaque and papers NOT included." Oh. :angel
ALWAYS check the description. There is an MR SE prop offered for sale on eBay right now for what seems to be a steal. In the description, it notes "Signature Plaque and papers NOT included." Oh. :angel
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