A few words from Alex Robinson.

What a terribly disappointing letter.

I have owned a few firms and NEVER would have sent out something this ridiculous.

First, check your spelling and grammar. My god, the letter is atrocious on this basis alone.

Second, why in the name of god would you ever admit that you did not know how to manufacture it in the beginning? Learning with customer money?

Third, customer service is easy. Empower your employees to inform customers that if they are abusive they will hang up the phone until the customer is able to discuss the matter in a rational and courteous manner. But telling everyone on a board like this that you will be put on a back burner? Some things should remain internal.

Fourth, crying in public about all the whiners and naysayers? Get real. That just happens in business and if you can't take it then go be an employee somewhere else.

Lastly, never publish anything like this letter that your competitors can use to erase you. Did Alex actually think that this would instill confidence or gain customers? From the comments I don't think so.

This would be a great example to use in a business school course on what NOT to do.

Krunch
 
I can't wait...actually I can, I've got a few things to buy first and if my 6.8 is any indication I'm good with holding on for a while. the stock length didn't quite help accuracy, but funny how a little enginuity can fix that sort of thing. I still think that although Alex is a bit eccentric, he seems to be trying. I also own a rem. R25, horrible gun, have to make sure I have brass just for it. Damn thing. Accurate as hell though, but kind of ugly, I hear they got a bit of a bad rap too, mind you the I'd think execs at Cerebus( or what ever) aren't intimate with the product, so even if they'd come off as cranks, or not...you'd never hear from them anyway. 13 pages, right on, I know a few guys that are interested in an XCR, so hopefully some more will show up on the EE.
 
I am now wondering if this guy isn't more a whiz kid than a PR/Sales & Marketing retard.

At first glance he is the typical gun-tard who considers himself part of the chosen elite and a god to the shooting sports - and the rest of us peons in the sport are beneath his contempt. Bad PR? At first glance it certainly looks like it...

But look at the response he has gotten: if you are a black rifle geek and you came to this thread not knowing what a Robinson was - you will now. You might even do a web search and familiarize yourself with the rifle and note the pro's and con's. After you do that you may consider even buying one. This thread is 13 pages long and still going.

The man is either a master or an idiot of sales and marketing. Hell...could he be both?

Weird.
 
You give him way too much credit than he deserves. Masters of Sales and Marketing can spell.

Glenfilthie said:
I am now wondering if this guy isn't more a whiz kid than a PR/Sales & Marketing retard.

At first glance he is the typical gun-tard who considers himself part of the chosen elite and a god to the shooting sports - and the rest of us peons in the sport are beneath his contempt. Bad PR? At first glance it certainly looks like it...

But look at the response he has gotten: if you are a black rifle geek and you came to this thread not knowing what a Robinson was - you will now. You might even do a web search and familiarize yourself with the rifle and note the pro's and con's. After you do that you may consider even buying one. This thread is 13 pages long and still going.

The man is either a master or an idiot of sales and marketing. Hell...could he be both?

Weird.
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Glenfilthie said:
I am now wondering if this guy isn't more a whiz kid than a PR/Sales & Marketing retard.

At first glance he is the typical gun-tard who considers himself part of the chosen elite and a god to the shooting sports - and the rest of us peons in the sport are beneath his contempt. Bad PR? At first glance it certainly looks like it...

But look at the response he has gotten: if you are a black rifle geek and you came to this thread not knowing what a Robinson was - you will now. You might even do a web search and familiarize yourself with the rifle and note the pro's and con's. After you do that you may consider even buying one. This thread is 13 pages long and still going.

The man is either a master or an idiot of sales and marketing. Hell...could he be both?

Weird.
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Actually, on my computer I only show 2 pages ;)

A good firearm is a good firearm, no matter how awful people perceive Alex after reading his message.

I'm going to buy one, because they are reliable and they look pretty sweet. good enough for me ;)
 
freddyfour said:
Who cares about his attitude, your buying the rifle not him. :redface: Chances are you will never meet him, see him or talk to him.
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Actually, the opposite is true. When dealing with a salesperson, 90% of your decision to buy is based on whether or not you like him/her. Along with his new customer service staff, he needs to invest in a PR person. His tone needs improvement. He needs to be venting privately, not publicly.
 
I couldn't care less about this letter or what others perceive Alex to be...

I have an awesome non-restricted XCR-L with uppers in both 223 & 6.8spc that he designed that I can and have legally hunted with...

The XCR-L is a phenomenal rifle that I will carry for as long as it stays non-restricted and I do not have to deal with RA I deal with Wolverine who always bends over backwards to look after my needs...

:)
 
He was honest. I can respect a man that is not kissing my ass. Asskissers are making up for other shortcomings that may take a long time for me to uncover and cost me needless expense. The haters out there need to realize that someone being nice to you doesn't mean they are on your side.
 
I've recently corresponded with Mr. robinson on some performance questions I had about my XCR, He was fine to deal with. Oh ya I didn't start out by telling him his rifle was a piece of ####.
 
Just seems a little premature to assume his rifle is the best thing to happen to small arms ever, I see the advantages this rifle offers but this is physics we're dealing with if you gain something in one area you lose it in another. It's a balancing act, as for Stoner's AR it is not perfect but it has some advantages that are lost by going to piston systems and other modifications. You can't really expect to have a rifle that's the best at everything it'sall about finding a balance that suits your need. If the XCR suits your needs get one. As of yet I'm sticking with my AR but if a better fit comes along for me I will get it then but not solely because it's new.
 
blaxsun said:
There's a big difference between pride and arrogance; this open letter smacks of the latter. I had heard great things about the XCR and have seriously considered it, but after reading this I completely lost any desire to own one.
:bsFlag:
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Just watching Dragon's Den. You know how sometimes they will get a really in your face type person, and the Dragons will say: "I love you product, but I could never work with you." or, "I will write you a cheque, but if you ever call me for any reason I'm cutting you out."

RA would be much better off if this guy left the company. I had never even heard anything about the company until yesterday. I saw the XCR a couple months ago, but I didn't know about this guy. What a jack off. I'd never buy a RA gun. This guy is a sociopath or something. You can't talk to people like that and expect to gain new customers. #### him.
 
It's got to be a rough go to design something new from scratch. He sounds like a small enterprise. Hopefully his product will continue to improve over time and gain acceptance, but in the meantime he needs to hire someone with people skills for his communications! I like the no BS approach, and he sounds tired of being beat-on, but that's not the letter of a reputable company, that's the letter of a backyard mechanic. Come off as a professional, and you'll be treated as a professional - can you imagine a letter like that going to the head of US army trials?

Still, good to see that product out there. Hope it continues.
 
The XCR is not nearly as spectacular as he is making it out to be, and he comes off as overly defensive and arrogant. Why the hell would you call people who think your product is sub-par non-patriotic? Pointless rhetoric like that, and claiming that the XCR is the best thing to happen to small arms EVER, make the entire letter abso-f*cking-lutely brutal.

Guess what, Alex? AR-15's and variants thereof are still in use worldwide for a reason. It'll take something far more revolutionary than the XCR to change that.
 
tootall said:
That letter knid of went downhill about half way through.
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I agree... At the same time... I understand the frustration.

Still... I think the XCR is still a promising platform.

We also need to keep in mind, that this is coming from one of the few company's (basically Robinson & Kel-tec) who are doing what they can to be "friendly" to Anti-Gun areas/places... Most other company's will not go out of their way to make firearms that are compliant in places that have special laws.
 
I like honesty too but when you address people who could spend upwards of $2500 for a a rifle dont be an a-hole. And i'm sorry but for the price of an XCR your customer service better be a bit better than that. I'd be pissed too if I spent that much on a gun and parts fell off when I was firing it. I know the world is more than not lacking in integrity and good old fashioned manners but still I'd rather buy another 858 that goes bang everytime than an overpriced non-restricted black rifle from a company that ####s on you. Come on people we are not in the military or doing special missions. And you all know that a bolt action rifle is far superior for hunting. We all love black rifles because they look cool are fun shooting and very little else. Besides lets see if we end up with a liberal government and I bet my ass that the XCR and AR will have a lot more in common.
 
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