American Kitefliers Association

http://www.funwithwind.com have 82ft windsocks for sale, albeit for fairly large sums of money.

Well if we're gonna post links ...

We have them too at http://www.gombergkites.com/e-spin.html#spin in several styles. And we offer the AKA discount...

dg

Oops!  Sorry, David, I forgot that you had them.  Should have known, really, since you have almost everything.  And the choice of color scheme, too, in exchange for waiting a couple of weeks or so.

I noticed that Fun with Wind give this advice on storage of the spinsock: "Always store your Rotating Tube dry and free of sand or grass. "  No mention there of mice!!!

Jim

Just to throw out two additional pennies -

I'll offer my experience with both of the vendors linked to above.

These are my opinions based on my experiences - make your own decisions and draw your own conclusions.

GOMBERG KITES:  A model of customer service for the industry with 1st class product. 

FUNWITHWIND.COM:  Buyer Beware.  'Nuff said.

In regard to the comment above, I agree with the description of Gomberg Kites.  I have (at last count) 35 of David's kites, a number of line laundry items, and other bits and pieces, so I am very familiar with the products and service.  Any little problems have always been sorted out quickly and the quality and value are great.

I have not dealt with Fun with Wind, but I know people who have.  They appear to offer a large selection of items at very reasonable prices, including some things that are not generally available elsewhere.  They are merchant members of AKA, and offer free shipping to AKA members as well as the discount.  They are also members of KTAI.

If an AKA member has an issue with the company and is not satisfied with the outcome, I would think the correct thing to do is to take it up with the association.  To make a post saying "buyer beware" and thus cast aspersions on the company without providing any back-up is very unfair. 

If there is a real problem with any merchant member, then I would expect the association to put its members on guard and suspend the membership.  Since this has not happened here, I think the comment is unjustified and should be withdrawn.  It is far too easy to mar a reputation with a few careless words, and we should not abuse the forum in that way.

Jim

This is always a difficult topic.  Unfortunately neither the AKA nor KTAI is in the business of policing member merchants.  So it is up to individuals to share their experiences.

How do you give warning to others about a bad experience without being subject to a defamation lawsuit?  Although detailed information about the buying experience, poor quality and craftsmanship, and poor customer service would be nice, we do live in a very litgious society. 

Buyer Beware is one way of a giving a warning without saying anything actionable - it does not say anything directly negative.  Indeed, it only really gets its context from the comparison to the wholehearted endorsement of GPKI.

"Buyer beware" does have a very negative connotation, and if based on one experience that an individual has had, is hardly fair.  I don't agree that it is only viewed in comparison with the other vendor - the remark stands as a condemnation based on evidence that we are not given.  Is it the service complained of?  Or the quality of the goods?  Many of the latter which FWW sell are from very reputable makers.

I have a website, run for my own amusement, on which I post reviews of kites I own or have flown.  If, on occasion, I find something lacking in the quality of a kite, I say exactly why.  To just say "This is a bad kite" would serve no purpose except to condemn.  In this case, the contributor is condemning a business without any detail or evidence.

A contrast to this was shown on a leading KAP forum recently, when a subscriber had a problem with a company that sent an item which was very badly packaged and was damaged in the post.  The company refused liability and claimed the item could be easily fixed.  The story was told in detail on the forum, with photos, and the seller given the opportunity to put his side of the case.  At the end, readers were able to see the whole picture and make up their minds.  Much better than mere innuendo of "buyer beware."   (I am not suggesting, however, that we turn this forum into a complaints column.)

As for the AKA and KTAI not monitoring their members, I would still expect that if one of them found that a member was indulging in unfair or misleading trading or supplying faulty goods, then the member would at least be suspended from membership.  If I had a real problem with a member that could not be resolved, I would certainly let the association know that all was not right.  I would expect that someone would be sufficiently interested to check whether similar complaints had been made and ,if necessary, take it up with the merchant.

There must surely be a code of conduct that members subscribe to, or what is the point of membership?  I would not want to be a member of a club with no rules and open to any crook who wanted to join.  And I have assumed in the past that when I see an AKA logo on a company's website, it is a business I can have confidence in.  Is this not true?

As I said, I have never dealt with the business in question, and I have no connection of any kind with it.  I hate, however, to see unfair play of any sort, and I think insinuation without evidence or detail definitely falls into that category.

Jim

Interesting.  Let's Go There.

I have had 2 transactions with FunWithWind.com in this calendar year. 

My opinion of the first was a strong disappointment.    However, I gave them another chance and placed a second order at the end of May (over 60 days ago as I type this.)  I was immediately charged for my order and the order still has not shipped.  I called the shop PRIOR to placing the order to confirm stock, and I understood from our conversation that the product was on-hand.  After placing the order (and being charged) - the product is/has been on back order.  Very Frustrating.

Jim:  I have an opinion, and I do not cast it lightly.  I want any and all of the vendors serving us to succeed.  It disappoints me when service issues like the ones that I have experienced befall any of us from any supplier - let alone a kite supplier.  I would not recommend to someone (particularly anyone New to kiting) to purchase from anyone who I did not have positive experiences with, nor would I fabricate a negative experience or cast a non-recommendation lightly.

I think you were waaaaaay out-of-line and were quite rude and presumptuous to me, going so far as to suggest that I would make something up or attempt to discredit someone or some business for no reason (see "innuendo.")  I did not want to air any grievances with Fun With Wind here, nor did I really want to or intend to relate my experiences with them.  Personally, I think doing so lacks a certain level of tact. 

Have I called the shop owner and hashed it out?  No.  Does he have a side of the story?  I'm sure.  However, as a consumer, I should not have to negotiate for a positive buying experience.   

I shared my opinion.  I do not need to justify to anyone - particularly you after your remarks above - why I have that opinion.  I was not trying to sway anyone.  I still am not trying to direct anyone's purchases.  Anyone can make any decision for themselves.  If you do not value my opinion without me sharing the details, well then.  Say that and move on - rather than cast aspersions regarding my character and integrity.

Speaking of moving on...

Im glad that you were able to relace your spinsock. I know business has been good and limited your opporitunities to display it but im sure it will give you years of service if you can keep it away from the critters.

I wonder how many people have rethought thier storage ideas after reading about your troubles.