Axial availability

[Ghonda99]

Good to know guys thanks for the heads up. Makes me thankful I have a good local hobby shop that has been around longer than i can remember. I do have a kit on order with them so when production comes back on line hopefully I will have a place in line to get one.

[sherbs]

After following this thread for some time it would have been nice for Axial to have made a statement on their issue right from get go. All they seem to put up is a smoke screen and when May arrived change the dates to just string buyers along. They have played games long enough for me to ever trust them.

[Pete9]

I hear what you are sayings sherbs. I don't feel lied to like you do - when I reached out to Axial the response was that they were shifting factories, which seems to be the consistent story. Still, I like companies that are frank and honest with their customers, and Axial has not been forthcoming with the full story. The comments from Axial people about "having a good laugh" about some of the rumors seems kind of crappy. There's a bunch of people, customers of Axial, who care about the hobby and I think the company should show some respect for them. I think they should have just issued a fuller statement earlier. People tend to respond pretty well to plain honesty, in my experience.

(I get that "if I don't like it I can take my business elsewhere" - true, and I still think it's better for companies to show respect for their customers.)

[sherbs]

Yes Pete9, I feel the way I do because Axial went about their problem the way they did. A simple factual statement would have went a long way for them.

[Arctic Cat ZRT]

Originally Posted by Ghonda99

I think I'm still going to stop by and check out their selection. I love stopping by hobby shops while I'm out of town. It's not really out of the way for me so it's a nice stop in a long drive from buffalo, ny to allendale nj.

It is actually a cool store, not much for crawling I'd admit. They are more focused on track stuff. I just go to look at all the stuff they have. I actually went one day looking for a servo, low and be hold they had it but it was really expensive. I told the one kid behind the counter and I said how expensive it was. He went and looked and then marked it below what I would have payed for it on the internet. Told me to never be afraid to ask about the prices as they make mistakes often.

My experience has been good with that place. But then again I am an easy going guy and am willing take drives to hobby shops for the fun of browsing. I'd say stop by and see what they offer (covers many hobbies)!

[psn]

X2

The place is huge and even the wife whom could care less about anything R/C was impressed

There aren't many (any?) hobby shops like this left

If you are into radio control (and trains) its worth the trip.

[OSRC]

Originally Posted by Pete9

The comments from Axial people about "having a good laugh" about some of the rumors seems kind of crappy. There's a bunch of people, customers of Axial, who care about the hobby and I think the company should show some respect for them. I think they should have just issued a fuller statement earlier. People tend to respond pretty well to plain honesty, in my experience

This, in a nutshell. You don't seriously inconvenience your customers or put off new ones and then just make snarky jokes on FB. There should have been an official notice posted on their website from day 1 that all official inquiries should be referenced too, and updates given if timeliness aren't being met. That's how it works in a professional company...

This is a joke from a PR standpoint.....is Axial taking PR lessons from United and PEPSI?

[mikemcE]

Originally Posted by OSRC

This, in a nutshell. You don't seriously inconvenience your customers or put off new ones and then just make snarky jokes on FB. There should have been an official notice posted on their website from day 1 that all official inquiries should be referenced too, and updates given if timeliness aren't being met. That's how it works in a professional company...



This is a joke from a PR standpoint.....is Axial taking PR lessons from United and PEPSI?

Me thinks you get "news" from social media....... That is the real problem today. I don't bookfarce so I have to read ......

Im also trying to see where Axial still doesn't control the crawling market niche


Hang up and Drive

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by mikemcE

Im also trying to see where Axial still doesn't control the crawling market niche

Axial was first. That's so important in gaining market share. But they have lost chunks over time even if they are still "in control" as you call it.

I think their share is about to get suddenly smaller with the release of the Traxxas. The HPI Venture, IMO, will merely be a blip on any company's radar. But while Axial continues to mishandle things they will continue to lose market share. It's almost as if HPI is now controlling Axial with the bad management.

[OSRC]

I don't get news from social media. I barely look at FB anymore, and never bother with twita-insta-snapchat-o-gram. That garbage is for the kiddies.

Axial is a scale pioneer and has drive the scaler/crawler market to new heights both with their products, sponsorships, events and general presence in the community. I'm not badmouthing for the sake of it, just pointing out my frustration as a longtime significant customer (and former business analyst.)

In any case, I did just pull up their FB page, and there is nothing official from Axial that I can see, but 2 visitor posts on the right side asking if the company is going out of business. That's the first thing any new or potential customer is going to see. You don't lunch a new product, hype it to the moon, then let your supply dry up a few months later with no official word.... that's a fail all around. I just don't get how companies can utterly mismange the basics such as customer service and communication - especially in this age where communicating to your customer base has never so easy. There's ZERO excuse for it. Word of mouth and a few random FB replies aren't going to cut it. Especially when Losi (Vaterra) HPI and Traxxas are all looking to steal your customers.

Controlling the market niche because you are basically the only player in it will only take you so far.

[K.O.M.]

In somewhat related news, I just browsed the crawler selection at Tower Hobbies, and pre-orders are up for both the Traxxas (est. mid May) and the HPI (ext. mid June).

Hardly anything available from Axial in terms of kits, maybe a Yeti XL or Yeti Kit.

Market seems primed for either one of those two, more than likely Traxxas, to take a nice bite out of this market.

[ROWDY RACING]

Old I know but sounds like an explaination of the problem.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

[Ghonda99]

If axial can't get their act together I will look elseware for my trail truck needs. I like the traxxas and hpi trucks but no kit version = no dice for me. I love kits and if a vehicle is made in kit form I go for that. If hpi or traxxas come out with kit versions it's a no brainer. More likely hpi will come out with one. I've also been eyeing up the g made Komodo. Once again, playing the waiting game and only time will tell where I end up.

[imthatguy]

Originally Posted by ROWDY RACING

Old I know but sounds like an explaination of the problem.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

If I were going to Photoshop a Press Release/Letter, I'd make sure to get the company address correct.

[mikemcE]

I just watched a video of carpet wheelies, stoppies (good brake) and "cruise control" not a bump seen , I'm passing now, not sure Axial still has competition yet.


Hang up and Drive

[ROWDY RACING]

Originally Posted by imthatguy

If I were going to Photoshop a Press Release/Letter, I'd make sure to get the company address correct.

Errythang on FB is troof.

[Cyberk]

As available for sale Axial ->

https://www.scalerfab.com/products/a...ab-trail-armor

https://www.scalerfab.com/products/a...ab-trail-armor

[Sneetches]

Originally Posted by Cyberk

As available for sale Axial ->

https://www.scalerfab.com/products/a...ab-trail-armor

https://www.scalerfab.com/products/a...ab-trail-armor

I wouldn't be caught dead buying a Deadbolt for $375.

[Frank211]

Meet john marketing director of axial ..... He's the one who told me in 3 months....but I said 3 to 4 months so my foot wouldn't be in my mouth....so I think I would believe this guy.....

[makya]

Originally Posted by Frank211

Meet john marketing director of axial ..... He's the one who told me in 3 months....but I said 3 to 4 months so my foot wouldn't be in my mouth....so I think I would believe this guy.....

Dude, he's a marketing director, he's not going to tell you "we don't know". He's going to give you the best case scenario to make it sound better. That's what marketing does. It happens all the time, it's the same reason HPI gave an early release date, and then backed off of that over and over again.