Devastated!! Firefly Down!!

[helsam67]

Hi All

I picked up my Fireflash from the postoffice today and couldn't wait to get it home. I waited until I put my daughter to bed to enjoy opening it but to my dismay I found it smashed to pieces IN SIDE the perfectly protected outer box. The fuselage was snapped off at the point where it joins the cloud and the two engines were snapped of at the fin. I can't contact RH now until 4th January 2011 for a replacement but I know they'll question the breakage with no damage to the box. What can I say other than I received it that way. Has anybody else received their's in a similar state?

Gutted...........:mad::(:confused:

[evertonian]

Hi,

unpacked mine this morning as well. As not enough room due to growing collection. Exactly the same damage. I have e-mailed sales to tell them. Disappointed too. Also I am still waiting for at least 5 figures to arrive.

[MattB]

Extremely sorry to hear....Of course it goes without saying that we will endeavour to replace your figure, though obviously we cannot do anything about your understandable disapointment, other than offer you our sincere apology. Not the bloomin start that we all hoped for clearly....:(

all the best and very sorry indeed MattB:)

[helsam67]

Hi Matt

Thanks for quick response. Now that we've talked to you I feel a whole lot better! I'll contact the office when it reopens in January. When I held the bits together it look fantastic so am not that worried. Thanks for the understanding. How do you think they got broken with no damage to the boxes?

Any way Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

Steve (Not so gutted)

[MattB]

I think with the very nature of the sculpt a busy xmas period with very enthusiastic postal workers the figures have become victim of inertia.....they were well packed but with a heavy shunt and abrupt stop they obviously have become unhinged and the rest is collision horror.......It has been on my mind all day and I am trying to think ahead...I can't imagine you will be the only ones....

Either way we will sort you out...will have to be when we all get back after the festive period...though don't worry we realize we have work to do..

all the very best MattB:)

[teroknor34]

I am rather glad to be reading this as was devestated when i opened my box to find similar damage to what has been described elsewhere on this forum.I was wondering if it was a design flaw because all the descriptions of the damage seem to be almost exactly the same

[Nighthawk]

I'm not the only one then.

Firefly was delivered on Christmas Eve.

Not a good sign the parcel was rattling, when opened the starboard tailplane had fallen off.

As others have said the external packaging was fine, as was mine but the internal packaging was minimal!!

[Draydurbullies]

Damn same thing happened to our Lost Wax Bronze Sailor:eek:;):D:D

[Windy Emma]

I do not know what to do? I want to order 1 or maybe 2 fireflash's but fear for breakages. As with the santas list piece that was damaged I then had to pay return postage of over £6. I know its impossible to guarantee these pieces in one piece but shouldn't return costs be refunded? Maybe someone could let me know and then this would make up my mind whether to take the gamble?

[Draydurbullies]

I bought 2 Lost Wax Bronze Breed Stds and BT Sailors, just in case one arrived broken:eek:

However it could well happen to every piece we buy, so if i was you i'd purchase just one at a time, just incase;)

Hope you aren't to Merry x

[Windy Emma]

still doesnt solve the return post costs dray. Yes very merry thanks to the port!!!!!

[Draydurbullies]

Have RHD always asked for pieces to be returned at the cost of the person who ended up with a busted piece?
We have only ever received one bust and we took that back to the Mill in person, as it clearly should have been part of a pair!:D

[SDF]

My Fireflash fortunately arrived A-OK. The inside polystyrene packing had some tears and breaks, but the model itself is intact.

It is certainly a delicate model, but boy, it is a great piece. The polystyrene could perhaps be a tougher and less brittle variant, but I would say it could do with some more polystyrene packaging to cradle the main fuselage to the base.

Hope all gets sorted for those affected.

[Dan]

Hi, we are extremely sorry for any breakage issues regarding the TB08 Fireflash and we are endeavouring to sort it out as soon as possible. Rest assured that any broken Fireflashes returned to us will be replaced and we have always supplied a FREE POST return address, so the customer should not lose out on the postage costs.

Thanks
Dan

[Carla]

Another devastation!

I hadn't even checked my Fireflash (not even seen my Firefly yet!) until i read this forum, and as i hadn't visited the forum for a few weeks i rather worryingly read the problems with Firefly so decided to check my Fireflash which was to be a present for Steve in feb so i didn't think to look. Good job i did! Fireflash was in three pieces!!!! Strangely enough this item was sent with the Green Christmas OES which i did open as it was a christmas present to put in our cabinet but that piece too was broken!.... and still waiting for my return address label/s.

Fireflash is a very delicate piece but we have bought many delicate pieces in the past with no trouble.

[Draydurbullies]

Another devastation!

I hadn't even checked my Fireflash (not even seen my Firefly yet!) until i read this forum, and as i hadn't visited the forum for a few weeks i rather worryingly read the problems with Firefly so decided to check my Fireflash which was to be a present for Steve in feb so i didn't think to look. Good job i did! Fireflash was in three pieces!!!! Strangely enough this item was sent with the Green Christmas OES which i did open as it was a christmas present to put in our cabinet but that piece too was broken!.... and still waiting for my return address label/s.

Fireflash is a very delicate piece but we have bought many delicate pieces in the past with no trouble.

I'm sure everything within RHD power will be done to rectify yours and any other buyers problems as soon as they can.
I'm also sure that over the years many piece's have arrived a little worse for ware. I guess it is as much the fault of the bored Postie's at lunchtime, as it is the company for attempting to not only break boundaries but also have a quick game of "Lets see how many parcels you can volley into my sack" game:D

[Carla]

Indeed RHD are doing what they can, and going by the amount of breakages it must be a right pain in the royal mail bottom.

It was a brave move to design the Fireflash piece so authentically, obviously though it was a touch too far for the medium.
When resin is used this thinly it's really feels more like plastic, then again as we all no doubt know that resin is basically a form of plastic.

I will try and get a replacement, but if that one arrives damaged then i think it's refund time. Pity if that happens though.

[Number 452]

I do sympathise ............ I ordered a jigsaw for Christmas and when it arrived it was in a 1000 pieces.

[MattB]

We are modifying the base to maintain a firmer contact with the wing and fuselage....the piece with appear identical though should be more solid........all companies have technical gremlins that can haunt from time to time...we will of course make sure you are all looked after one way or another......

all the best MattB:)

[helsam67]

We are modifying the base to maintain a firmer contact with the wing and fuselage....the piece with appear identical though should be more solid........all companies have technical gremlins that can haunt from time to time...we will of course make sure you are all looked after one way or another......

all the best MattB:)

Hi Matt

Thanks for all RH are doing to ensure the customer gets the perfect piece. I'm intrigued how you are going to do this without changing the appearance of the model? What are you doing with the models you've already made and not despatched?

Just my thoughts

Steve

PS How's the new catalogue coming along?

[Carla]

If the revamped piece solves the problem then it can only be a good thing.
Of course it will mean this then becomes a second edition, with some people owning the first edition but worrying about breaking the piece every time they even move it!
Great stuff. This is what it's all about! :D

[probodie37]

HI, newbie here.

Just wanted to say I bought my Fireflash at the Fanderson Convention in October last year and was stunned at how gorgeous it was. I got straight in there and paid and made sure I would get one.

Sadly, when it arrived in December, one of its wings was snapped completely off. I do not in any way, shape or form blame Robert Harrop. They did everything they could to ensure it was protected, IMHO. I believe Royal Mail have everything to do with it. They arent exactly careful with delicate packages.

What I will also say is that Robert Harrop were brilliant. I sent off an email to them during the Christmas period and got an email back with a freepost address to send it back to.

Unfortunately for me and it would seem several others, this means now waiting for the second batch. However, if it means I can still get hold of a gorgeous Fireflash figure - one that a lot of Anderson fans have been waiting for - I am willing to do so.

I must admit, I thought I was perhaps the only one out there with a problem. I see I was wrong. But I have every faith in Robert Harrop and if it means perhaps a trip to the factory to pick up the item myself, then I would be willing to do that.

Cheers