Hi,

Points taken. I do sincerely regret my comments from last night. I have
certainly heard many good things about Richard's customer support.
Certainly he and I have a lot in common in regard to the products we have
decided to sell and support. I guess I was just tired and frustrated that
he is apparently able to get the iPAQ cradles for less money than I. I
don't blame him for publicising that fact. I would do the same.

It does frustrate me that he chose to take a lot of content directly from my
web site (I've been told that some of the cable descriptions are word for
word identical to my site) - that is plagiarism. The reason it frustrates
me is that I put many, many hours into my web site and included many wiring
details in the cable descriptions in hope of helping glider pilots - not
competitive vendors. I knew there were risks to putting all the details on
the web site, but I chose to do it anyway. Also, his power converter is (I
think) pin for pin identical to the one Larry Goddard designed. I suppose
it could be argued that the data connections dictated the design, but it is
a bit odd. I guess I can't blame him for going into the cable business.
Perhaps I would have done the same thing in his place... I don't know.
There, I've said what I needed to say and I'll probably regret it. I won't
mention it again.

I've never met Richard and I don't have anything against him. As I
mentioned above it is obvious that he and I have a lot in common and we are
both trying to help glider pilots get their toys connected together and
working - with little monetary compensation. I look forward to meeting him
at the SSA convention. I think I owe him a beer at the very least, but I
think he owes me one as well.

A little competition is always good for customers, but at times I wonder
whether all the work is worth it for a $5 profit on a cable sale.

Ultimately, the glider community is small and I sincerely desire to have a
very friendly relationship with all glider pilots and those vendors who
support them. I guess my posting last night was not very polite or correct,
and for that I'm sorry. Historically I have tried to be a person who
advocates friendly exchanges in this newsgroup, yet I've sent rude postings
on a few occassions - and regretted it.

I am a bit surprized at the negative comments on my web site. I really
don't think I know everything. Really. What paragraphs come off as cocky
and arrogant? I really want to know. Is it where I state that "I aim to be
the most friendly, fun and helpful vendor of soaring supplies."? Note that
it says I "aim" to be those things, not that I am those things. I have
tried to make the web site a resource for helping glider pilots. There is a
bit of a marketing slant on it of course. I put the personal information on
the site to make it more fun. I think it is more fun to buy things from
people, not companies.

I'm sorry that I didn't give you the customer support you were looking for.
I do "aim" to please everyone. I wonder whether you caught me on a day
where I was swamped with dozens of e-mails. In any case, I'm sorry.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde


wrote in message
news
To start, let me state that I find posts of this nature completely
unprofessional! If you have an issue with another company for
infringement,
then take it up with them, not on here.

Let me share my experience with both of these vendors so the other side
can
be heard.

When I purchased my glider I wrote both Richard (Craggy Aero) and Paul
(Cumulus Soaring) the exact same email seeking help. I do not know either
of
them and have no other interest in them except as a prospective customer.

I included photos to assist them in deciding how best to solve my
problems.
After researching the sites they both appeared to offer a solution to my
problem of hooking up an Ipaq to a B50/Volkslogger.

Cumulus's web site certainly sells one on how experienced and wonderful
they
are (actually how wonderful he is), that's for sure. Craggy's web site
just
offer the basic info and pricing with little sales pitch. Actually it's a
bit spartan.

I received a very fast and extensive reply from Craggy within a day. It
included many suggestions including an offer to prewire everything and
ship
it to me within two days. I received prompt replies to further questions
and
basically he put up with the newbie trying to find an economical solution.
(What this thread is really about)

On the other hand, I never heard back from Cumulus and sent a second email
asking for advise and finally received what I would call a "simple" reply;
"OK, here buy this!." The 'tone' of that email what not unlike his post
here
attacking Richard. Nothing like I expected considering how the first page
of
the website reads! I mean really, this guy is really into himself and it
shows!

While I decided to wait for the SSA convention and see these mounts and
cables in person (as well as meet the respective individuals), I did order
an upgrade for WinPilot from Richard and have received excellent support.
I
also ordered a cable and it was not right and my return was treated very
promptly!

As I said, I find posts of this nature very unprofessional and for me
shows
exactly what kind of businessman you are, notwithstanding how wonderful
you
tell us you are!


"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:4MbBb.477861$Fm2.467503@attbi_s04...
Richard,

The note below is my expression of frustration on a tired evening. Your
note below "asked for it".