The Sorry State of Sino-2.4GHz Distribution

CHINESE SLIP UP AGAIN

In order to make my upcoming 2.4GHz module/receiver shootout as useful as possible, I've been trying to purchase a number of new products that have appeared on the market.

One example is the module/receiver combo that is sold under the KDS brand.

I contacted KDS to find out where I could buy one of these units and they referred me to their local dealer. I emailed the dealer.

No response.

When I contacted KDS about the lack of response, they appeared puzzled that I would find this to be an issue. "Just email him again and wait" was (to paraphrase) their response.

It's clear that by lumbering themselves with substandard dealers, companies like KDS are digging their own graves in what has become a highly competitive marketplace.

This very much mirrors my attempts to purchase a WFLY 2.4GHz system -- the manufacturer referring me to a local agent who ignored my email for nearly a week.

It's not just me who's having trouble either...

I've had quite a few emails from people who have read the review of the FlyDream 2.4GHz module/receiver combo here on RCModelReviews and decided they'd like to purchase a system.

They've come back to me with complaints that the manufacturer ignores their emails and/or that they've had bad experiences in the past with the dealers who stock the product.

I've emailed FlyDream to see if I can get some kind of response to this issue -- no reply.

The common factor here is that these "dealers" appear to be "virtual" traders who probably have no real commitment to the product and simply acquire the local agency in the hope that someone will want to order something.

That's simply not good enough and I suspect it's one of the reasons why the Chinese aren't really enjoying as much success as they could when competing with big-name products that cost three or four times as much.

I've opted not to include the KDS or the WFLY systems in my shootout -- simply because they make it too hard to buy and if the level of customer service I experienced before I purchased is anything to go by, the after-sales support would be zero.

It's important to remember when buying anything in the RC world that the sticker price is seldom the total cost of ownership.

Stuff breaks and often stuff needs to be upgraded due to bugs or design errors that only become apparent well after the initial launch. If you can't get any local support then you may have to face writing off your investment in a system -- before it writes off your model.

One day, when I find a Chinese manufacturer who has gotten their act together by offering a good product with a readable manual at a good price, through a reputable chain of enthusiastic and capable resellers then you'll know all about it because I'll shout long and hard.

In the meantime, the Chinese are still ankle-tapping themselves at almost every turn.

And, once you consider how very little it would cost to do things right, I have to ask myself why?

Perhaps the reason that there are still so many expensive Futaba, JR and Spektrum sets at most flying fields is now becoming clear.

Of course if any Chinese 2.4GHz manufacturer believes they have gotten everything right then I implore them to contact me so I can tell the world.

I'll wait right here.