[Closed] I've been reading this forum for some time now and

Hi Tom - respectfully, I disagree with your premise, sir. I don't see us as a group just using this

Forum to only complain, and never offer praise when it is deserved.

A recent Case-in-Point: when DM released their wonderful 1948 Buick Fastback, the comments on this Forum were dedicated for quite awhile to singing the praises of this beautiful new model.

The joy and delight that this lovely Buick delivered were very evident in all of the spontaneously sincere posts that appeared on this Forum.

Of course, complaining does go on, but honestly, speaking as a consumer who wants to be fully informed before I go spend my dollars on sub-par, over-priced diecasts, I genuinely appreciate reading the "negative" comments that I read here. That way, if I choose to go ahead and purchase a model whose defects have been pointed out by others, I can't say that I wasn't warned.

Diecast manufacturers charge a lot for these items - and they are businesses, not charities. Therefore, they deserve both kudos when the product is superb, and catcalls when they fall short of the mark. As with any business, they would do well to embrace their critics -- because those who point out your weaknesses and shortfalls are really giving you a very great gift: the opportunity to improve your product, and therefore, the long-term health of your business.

No. Constructive criticisium is very good, for collectors, and, manufacturers. However, some people go too far, and, just rant and rave over this and that tiny inaccuracy. These cars are representations of real cars, and, yes, sometimes are not 100% accurate. I like my models to be the best they can be just as you and everybody else here. But, I'm not going to loose sleep because tha "Caution" decal is missing on a fan shield of a 59 Cadillac model. Bottom line, buy what you like. Don't buy what you don't like. And, by the way, your opinion is most welcome, here, as everyones is.

Cost and claims...

While I don't expect perfection in these offerings, I do expect a reasonable amount of care to be taken by the companies to avoid grossly obvious flaws and inaccuracies. After all FM started this business using the term "Precision Diecast". The word precision does imply a certain level of accuracy.

If we're being asked to pay $105 and up for these vehicles I think collectors have a right to be critical of the product, within reason of course.
A good example was the DM New Yorker convertible with a totally out of whack ride height. Enough people were critical of that very obvious flaw that DM did finally address the issue.

And now that the prices of these pieces are creeping, or in some instances leaping, up we need to hold these companies to a reasonble standard of performance more than ever.

Thom please understand this.......Constructive criticism is one thing. But as I sit here reading this forum the SAME names are constantly slamming FM. Don't get me wrong, if something is really wrong with a product-----by all means, send it back and complain. But on the other hand I've read that the ride height was off. Which insued a lot of debate and complaints (again from the same few) Now lets be honest ----who really cares if the car in question is an 1/8" higher in the rear end? It seems that again it's the select few. It would be interesting for me to find out what these gentlemen did in the real world and how perfect their lives and surroundings are/were.
I could babble on and on about this with many of you out there that seem to have had a lot of education. But what do I know.....10th grade education for me. I'm 58 years old and have been retired for three and a half years. My wife is 55 and today was her LAST DAY of work as she retired today. Not bad for someone who just worked with his hands (and mind) for 40 years.

Hey!! Hope that you both enjoy the retirement together, Tom!! I guess what I'm saying is that I kind of count on the criticisms that I read here in order to decide what I should buy and what I shouldn't.

But I do get your point that some things that seem to really bother others do not matter that much to me at all.

Happy New Year to all of my friends here at the D4C!! May the wind always be at our backs!!!

Well said, let us all remember we are volunteers at whatever we do

Thom ----Thanks, health permitting, we're going to do a lot of bumming around the country as well as more trips to the Carribean. As to the main discussion-------Most of these criticisms are pretty much petty and it gets tiring to read them. Before anyone says it.......Yes I know I don't have to read this stuff...