PL Products

[Gene Maurice]

Must be the comin' from Europe thing. I got an Eclipse straight from
Argentina during that period when there wasn't a US Importer. Shipping $48
US to my door. Undamaged by the way. 

 

Gene Maurice

gene.maurice at comcast.net

Plano, TX

NSRCA 877

AMA 3408

 

  _____  

From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of Ron Barr
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 9:27 AM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: PL Products

 

 

Lance,  I can say with confidence that PL made no money on the shipping -
they billed you for the actual shipping costs supported by invoices from the
shipper.

 

Over the past 5 years, I imported 3 Smaradgs and 4 Partners straight from PL
in France.  I used a Houston shipping agent for the last 6 airplanes who
arranged airfreight.  PL got nothing from that process.

 

Prices did go up over the years from two factors:  increase in price as PL
products kits got popular, and deterioration in the dollar to euro exchange
rate.

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Lance Van <mailto:patterndude at comcast.net>  Nostrand 

To: discussion at nsrca.org 

Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 10:13 PM

Subject: Re: PL Products

 

Russ,

OK, but here's how I drew that conclusion: I mailed a plane to Europe using
a PL prod box given to me from a friend.  My shipping charges were $100 less
than he paid.  Could be other reasons, but it struck me as odd since the
dollar keeps getting weaker against the Euro.

--Lance

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Russell <mailto:russ at ultimaterchobbies.com>  Honea 

To: discussion at nsrca.org 

Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 10:51 AM

Subject: Re: PL Products

 

Lance,

 

All good accessments but on # 4  ( We don't charge to make money on
shipping, but I'm sure PL does ) my experience in bringing in the PL
products to be sold through Pattern Proz was that the shipping cost if they
provided it was about the same as what I could find using all of our normal
shippers that we have access to.

 

Russell Honea

www.patternproz.com

 

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Lance Van <mailto:patterndude at comcast.net>  Nostrand 

To: discussion at nsrca.org 

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 10:09 PM

Subject: Re: PL Products

 

I liked Patrick's diatribe, but if you actually read all of it it points out
some facts about this business that I, as a one of the hobby's suppliers of
kits, can really understand.

1. We are garage shop small businesses.  People that treat us like deep
pocketed corporations don't understand the thread we hold on to keep above
water.

2. Kit making and glass layups is an artform that requires highly skilled
technicians.  I like the part where he says finding skilled labor is hard,
but finding labor that expects all the entitlements is easy.

3. We should all be a little in awe of the general quality level we are
being provided considering the manual sweat that goes into making a kit.  5
or 8 years ago we were happy to get a fiberglass shape full of pinholes and
no primer with a chin cowl that required internal framing and customization
to fit.

4. It's expensive in France to have a business. It's expensive in America
too.  AeroSlave shipping costs though, in the US are usually less than $100
but they are about $250 to Europe.  We don't charge to make money on
shipping, but I'm sure PL does.

 

--Lance

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Grow Pattern <mailto:pattern4u at comcast.net>  

To: discussion at nsrca.org 

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 10:27 AM

Subject: Re: PL Products

 

---- Original Message ----- 

From: Grow Pattern <mailto:pattern4u at comcast.net>  

To: wouter.vaneck at flyersoft.net 

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 11:22 AM

Subject: Re: PL Products

 

As an observer and spare time analyst of our hobby and sport, I can only
feel sad that another one bites the dust. It does not matter whether it is
USA based or not. Pattern is a worldwide community and I, for one, mourn the
loss of any supplier.

 

I had good and bad experiences with this one but never bad enough to wish
them gone. This sucks. Every time we lose one we lose a choice!

 

Regards,

 

Eric.

 


  _____  


From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of Verne Koester
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 8:13 PM
To: NSRCA
Subject: PL Products

I just heard a rumour that PL Products has gone out of business. Anybody
heard anything?

 

Thanks,

 

Verne Koester

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