Peter said:
Actually I work for John, who owns Marstar
OK, good to know as I am not familiar with your organizational chart
Peter said:
Good to know
Peter said:
To clarify I'll use the analogy of a representative at an automobile dealership. As a client who visits one, I'd have reasonable expectation that the sales rep or parts dep't counterperson who serves me should know or at the very least have ready access to all the basic information regarding whichever products I'm interested in. Horsepower, number of cylinders, ports per cylinder, number of gears, recommended fuel, what options are available, how big/heavy a trailer it can tow, etc. I'd be taken aback if I couldn't obtain information like that from the dealership and be tempted to take my business elsewhere.
What so now I (a prospective customer) am unreasonable in expecting comparative details between two guns that you are selling? Give me a break!
Peter said:
Now if for example I were to ask for the exact diameter, angle, and location of each cylinder port in the engine that's another story. In such a case it's entirely reasonable for the dealership to suggest the client contact the manufacturer directly since their engineering division would have access to those details.
I am curious? When was the last time you (a walk-in customer) had a "one on one" little chat with a busy engineer at Toyota, Chrysler, or Mercedes? When it comes to Norinco, you would stand a better chance (being a reseller and all) getting a response out of them. Putting the burden on the customer for the acquisition of information (from a Chinese company nevertheless) is just plain BS! To what level of detail you wish to know the products you sell is your own decision. It is mainly a business decision as there are costs associated with having a knowledgeable rank and file. By now it's obvious to me that my questions were too specific and well outside what you care or are able to answer.
Peter said:
Whether or not said measurements are of any use is not in question. As is the case with cars, many people like to 'hot rod' their firearms. We question only the validity of the statement we were 'less than forthcoming' with answers to product-related questions. Without knowing the whole story other members may be left with the mistaken impression that "we told a client who asked something simple like barrel length or mag capacity to email the manufacturer" which is definitely not the case.
Validity of the statement??? I am not sure where you are going with this, but let me be clear: I am entitled to my own conclusions as are you ... I've re-read my original post and all the kind people who answered it seemed to have understood which questions I was referring to. Where is this "Barrel length or mag capacity" nonsense comming from? Can you please stop turning this into something that it is not?
Peter said:
Though you don't seem happy with Johnone's message (due perhaps to his somewhat blunt writing style)
I took issue with the simple fact that he implied that in some manner I was confused about what happened. Let me assure you that I am not
Peter said:
the president of our company did take the time to come onto the forum to explain why we did not have the information you'd requested readily available.
For the record, I called back a second time as the email address at Norinco's website was bouncing. I was told that "... just find the specifications of a 1911 style gun on the internet and look it up yourself". when I had doubts about the validity of that suggestion with respect to a 9mm 1911 style pistol I was told "... i quess you have to buy the gun and measure it yourself".... and no I did not get the impression that the person I spoke to was interested in going outside their comfort zone, even the second time. That is my perception for whatever it's worth to you...
People are naturally free to make up their own minds about the whole thing, but in my book comparing a gun that has a few dosen parts to a car that has a few thousandth is just streching it. But I'll run with your analogy of car parts: the last time I dealt with the counter guy at Chrysler who did not know more technical details about a given part (a driver side bearing assembly) resulted in them pulling in a mechanic from the shop thus the answer was given to me without much fanfare.
The equivalent in our case would be the resident "gunsmith" and as stated by John I did speak to one at Marstar. Perhaps it is not realistic to expect a resident gunsmith to know the details associated with ramp angle, etc., if that is the case I am sure I will be so advised. I am not unreasonable, hence I don't expect that every questions has an immediate answer. By the same token I do expect the business to be interested in at least trying to find the answers, I will be spending my hard earned cash after all... Is this too much to ask?
My and your perception of why the information was not provided is clearly different. Insofar as others on the forum, I am convinced that they are capable of making their own minds up.
Peter said:
Others here are aware of our expertise in such fields as collectible Mausers, WWII arms of almost every type, and Lugers - to name a few - and how we've often taken a bit of time to research and provide answers even when doing such has no prospect of immediate financial benefit to us.
You may well be an "expert" in all the noted fields but in my case you have not taken the necessary time to provide all the answers I needed. I am not sure why this was so, and frankly I don't care. Just in case that it is because I am not a "prospect of immediate financial benefit" to you, please consider how much more motivated Norinco would be to talk to me
Just by judging the effort you have so far expended in this thread, it is very clear to me that you are willing to spend the time and effort when you feel it is to your benefit.
Peter said:
Our staff remain as ready and willing to answer everyone's product-related questions to the best of their collective knowledge as they have for the past twenty years. We will also continue to admit when we do not have ready access to the information requested and when possible will refer the client to the best likely source of the information they need.
Regards,
Peter
Marstar Canada
I harbor no ill feelings toward your company and I wish you well. If you wish to follow up please contact me directly as I intended this thread for technical matters regarding the guns.
Thank you for your reply,
Target221
