Hmmmmm.
I got my order today. I guess I should add the relevant details to this thread. Let folks make of it what they will.
First off, yes I'm obviously one of the ones that's been waiting a long time. As I've noted before, my only real build window is December into mid-February, so it has been super frustrating waiting all this time. I've lost the main chunk of time I had to build. This is NOT RW's fault, and I knew the possibility when I placed the order. Still, it's been frustrating for me - it is what it is. My order was simple - just two DYOK deals, some epoxy, and one extra length of 38mm coupler - I had hoped (wrongfully it turns out) that my order would be easy and filled very early in the process, but it wasn't meant to be.
I did call RW last week, got Curtis right away after just a couple rings. He was pleasant and professional. I inquired about the status of my order. He told me that it was "all set to go" but he was still waiting on that stick of 38mm coupler. I thought it odd that he was waiting for it to come from "the supplier", as I thought he WAS the supplier. Whatever, not a big deal. He said, "hold on a moment, let me check" and sure enough he found it there. How long had it actually been there? who's to say? So, he told me that the order could now ship and that it would go out later that day, or perhaps the following day. Great! Now, a number of folks have noted that a lot of orders just happen to ship right away for those folks that call, but I'm not going to second guess Curtis here. I'll take him at his word, and thank him for getting the order moving. Sure enough the email notice came later that day with a tracking number. Sweet!
Oh, actually one other cool bit. I had asked a long time ago if RW had any 24mm FWFG tubing, as I needed a small length for a motor mount. They did not have any at that time. However, I asked Curtis again since I had him on the phone. He replied that he indeed did have some now. I asked if he could add a piece for me in this order, and bill me the difference. He said "no problem", and also asked if I needed some CRs for it. I did, had forgotten to ask for them, and thanked him for reminding me. So, I had him include two of them as well, asked if he still had my billing info to which he replied "yes". Nice - I needed this one small thing and this helped a lot. I have NOT been billed for the added pieces (yet?) - perhaps Curtis decided to gift them? If so, that's pretty cool. If not and the charge is yet to come, that's fine of course.
So, today the order arrived. I'm very psyched (though will likely not have enough time to build the project I had in mind any more - it's now going to take a few months). Opened the box, and everything looks great. VERY will packed, and the parts are (as is usual for RW) great quality. Ends are cut square, CRs and bulkheads fit well, couplers fit very smooth into airframes, etc. The nose cones are especially nice. Excellent stuff. All the parts are accounted for. And the deal was a good one (especially the shipping!). Quite honestly I was a bit giddy fondling "my goodies". But...........then I realized something - all the parts were standard wall thickness. I had specifically requested thinwall. I went back and checked my original order (both the email notice and the order online in my RW account). Sure enough, I HAD ordered thinwall. But that's not what I got. Pretty big bummer. The main project I had in mind for these bits was a scratch-built two stage, that was 54mmAF/29mmMM to 38mmAF/24mmMM. Given the motor sizes, it's pretty important that this is as light as I can build it, and the reason why I specifically ordered thinwall. Standard thickness will work, but it's not ideal, and not what I ordered.
Given the timing, the wait, and the "situation" I guess I'll just keep it and build heavier than I want to. I really don't want to go through the hassle of shipping it all back and starting over. Dang it. That initial high of getting my order sure got knocked down by this, and honestly I'm feeling pretty bummed.
I'll order from RW again in the future I'm sure. None of this is end-of-the-world stuff, and I don't believe that they are bad folks. I realize that Floyd has been sick (and I do hope he recovers well/soon), and that Curtis has been in a nightmare situation. Their products are absolutely top rate, I LOVE the shipping deal; they're a good company. I've built a lot of great rockets with RW bits, and I'm sure I will again. The stuff I got today, while not exactly what I wanted, is very good stuff that I got a great deal on. I've had fine dealings with RW in the past (mostly). I guess I got unlucky this time around - the Black Friday deal for me this time has been "less than ideal".
sigh,
s6