Roddenberry Question

[Aquaman]

Ok, this may open a big can of worms, but as a newer Star trek collector, I wanted to know about the roddenberry.com props. I was looking at them and wondered about accuracy, and quality. Like the Mark IX tricorder? Is it a great one? I know prices are high, but am really wondering about what they sell. Are the comm badges accurate? I do not build things myself so can't do kits. Please try to be honest and not insulting. This is really a newer guy wanting real info.

Thank you. I love this site. I have learned oh masters!

 

[WinstonWolf359]

Most of what Roddenberry sells is made by HMS, the same prop studio that made all of the props for TNG through Voyager. So all of their TNG era stuff is out of the same molds or from the same masters as the original props. So those comm badges and the Mk IX tricorder are about as accurate as you could get without owning an original screen used piece.

As far as quality goes, the resin castings I've seen are super clean and virtually bubble-free and all of their kits are very well engineered to build with a minimum of fuss, and their buildups are very well done.

I don't think you can go wrong with anything from Rodd, really. Great stuff!

 

[Aquaman]

cool, thx...

 

[Funky]

For the most part thier stuff is pretty darned accurate and the kits are pretty clean and nice builds. But man! Those prices are killers.

 

[MattMunson]

Yeah, I +1 on everything said so far, though I find their pricing quite fair.

I would argue that you simply cannot find a more accurate set of kits. They are LITERALLY from the same makers that made them for the films and movies. While they do sometimes re-engineer certain details to allow for mass production and easier assembly, they try to remain faithful to the originals.

So yeah, i say go for it. Anything else you might buy from a hobbyist is at least one generation out from what is being sold on the rodd.com site. So if accuracy, quality and lineage is important to you, go with the rodd.com stuff.

 

[Jediwannabe]

It seems they have terrible customer service. They sent me a broken Motion Picture badge over a week ago. I've called and emailed a half dozen time and had no response.

 

[silverskyes402]

Incredible kits, top notch, there customer service has always been great when I've dealt with them, even sent me replacement parts for free once!

 

[Aquaman]

wow cool. I love the medical kit.

 

[jhusel]

HMS makes great kits and are great guys. Now for Rod.com....that is another story. I have found the guy Eugene put in charge of the online store to be someone who doesn't care at all about "you" as a fan or collector. And THAT is why I won't buy from them again. They put on "contests" and claim to be fair, then say "if you can cheat, we don't care". I have no respect for them and will not do business with them again until they remove him and put someone in place who cares about the hobby and the collector again.

jhusel

 

[silverskyes402]

I totally agree with ya on the contest thing!!!

HMS makes great kits and are great guys. Now for Rod.com....that is another story. I have found the guy Eugene put in charge of the online store to be someone who doesn't care at all about "you" as a fan or collector. And THAT is why I won't buy from them again. They put on "contests" and claim to be fair, then say "if you can cheat, we don't care". I have no respect for them and will not do business with them again until they remove him and put someone in place who cares about the hobby and the collector again.

jhusel

 

[Aquaman]

ouch

 

[FHC]

HMS makes great kits and are great guys. Now for Rod.com....that is another story. I have found the guy Eugene put in charge of the online store to be someone who doesn't care at all about "you" as a fan or collector. And THAT is why I won't buy from them again. They put on "contests" and claim to be fair, then say "if you can cheat, we don't care". I have no respect for them and will not do business with them again until they remove him and put someone in place who cares about the hobby and the collector again.

jhusel

Sums it up for me as well.

 

[Roger Ramjet]

I tend to see HMS and the guys that work there as the Horse that pulls the wagon rather that the wagon itself.

Rod has never had an interest in the Store and now that Majel has passed, he has all of his "Goodtime" friends pulling him in all sorts of directions.

I would like to see HMS go out on their own, maybe one day.

 

[kaigoh]

It seems they have terrible customer service. They sent me a broken Motion Picture badge over a week ago. I've called and emailed a half dozen time and had no response.

Thats the exact experience I have had with them.

I brought a Mark IX Tricorder during June, it arrived very promptly, although I did have to fork out another £100 for import tax (nearly $200). It came with some crappy batteries, so I replaced them with brand new Duracells. The electronics just couldn't handle the fresh batteries. I reluctantly sent it back, I was reassured by their e-commerce "manager" that he would sort out any fees, i.e. tax, so I wouldn't have to pay again. I reluctantly returned my now £650 Tricorder. I insured it for the maximum that Royal Mail would insure international mail for, £500.

A week later, it arrived at Roddenberry Productions, apparently beaten up and smashed. It was in an "unrepairable state". I tried to assure them it wasn't my fault, they reluctantly agreed to replace the Tricorder, but on "Final Sale" conditions. This concerned me because I had already had to send the first Tricorder back. Anyway, July 3rd, I get a phone call from UPS. They want another £100 to clear the Tricorder through customs, despite Mr B from Rod.com assuring me that it would be taken care of. :angry

So, I am £700 out of pocket, no Tricorder (as of yet...), very little communications from Roddenberry.com, both email and telephone. Whenever I phone no-one every answers. I want to claim on the Royal Mail insurance because of the Final Sale conditions imposed on me by Roddenberry.com, but Royal Mail want photos, and I can't get hold of anyone at Roddenberry Productions to provide them for me.

Altogether,

NOT IMPRESSED! :cry

So, think very carefully before purchasing from Roddenberry.com, as their high prices might not be the only issue with them.

Kai.

 

[darthgordon]

You know, those prices used to be a lot lower until Viacom caught wind and shut them down until they paid some very exorbitant licensing fees.

 

[TwoOfSix]

Wow, sucks to hear that story. :eek

I got my Mark IX from them back in April and am very pleased with the quality of work done by HMS. Didn't have an issue with ordering or dealing with the rod site at all, the Tricorder was here 2 days after my order was placed. I also emailed them recently too with just a general question about a product I might buy in the future and they replied that same day.

 

[Onigiri]

Im not aware of any licensing fees ever being paid unless you know something new. The Roddenberry estate was grandfathered and was exempt from licensing fees. Viacom wanted to change the deal and tried some legal action and the store was shut down while that was going on but as far as I know the Roddenberrys continue to operate without having to pay licensing fees per their original agreement with the studio. This is what had other licensees panties in a bunch: That they had to pay license fees (which drove their pricing up) while Rodd.com did not hence the price difference between a $100 comm kit from rodd.com v. (for example only) a $200 comm kit from JLong.
The Rodd.com pricing does not reflect licensing fees. Its about a 1 key markup to essentially provide a profit for Rodd.com and pay the rent on the warehouse.
With a middleman youre paying for two folks to get paid before you get your kit.
HMS has to pay the rent so they charge $50 for a kit that costs them $25 to produce (as an example). Rodd takes that $50 kit and charges $100 so that THEY can pay the rent. If we threw in licensing it would be much higher.

You know, those prices used to be a lot lower until Viacom caught wind and shut them down until they paid some very exorbitant licensing fees.

 

[Onigiri]

PS if they ARE paying something now it is a pittance compared to normal licenses but as far as I know they are still operating under their grandfathered agreement.

 

[jlong]

Don wrote:

"(for example only) a $200 comm kit from JLong.
The Rodd.com pricing does not reflect licensing fees. Its about a 1 key markup to essentially provide a profit for Rodd.com and pay the rent on the warehouse.
With a middleman youre paying for two folks to get paid before you get your kit."

Perhaps not a totally fair example in this case however. The amount of
time and money that I put into producing my two kits, vs. the "profit"
margin? Well lets just say my kits really are a labor-of-love. I do totally
appreciate what you're trying to explain, just saying...

 

[Onigiri]

Yeah just trying to say that when you are having to pay licensing fees you have to charge more not to mention throwing in a middle man.