Topic: HYDRA customers who are unhappy w/the product

[Nick's Picks]

i'm sure this post will get me lots of leads. and Ts.

<snip>

edited for loss of temper.

But...I left most of my ranting here.
USPS has somehow misplaced 3 deliveries ($500+ in orders that I have to replace).  Its left me shy on parts and under the gun to get replacements out.
as for USPS, out of my hands.  I will always do delivery conf. and insurance from here out.

for the custom chopped XLR customers who were not pleased for whatever reason.....
For the record, these suck to make.  take a lot of time to get them right.  reliability is my first priority.  with no locking mechanism in place, I worry about things coming "undone" and use a lot of goo in there to secure them.

Fit and Finish...
sometimes its awesome.  Sometimes not.
I've gotten complete refund requests based on how they look.  I know, its your money.  you can complain all you want.
If you want choppers, and are very concerned about how they look in your bag...best get them from Hi-Ho or Ed.  they look much better than mine.

I know, its bad form for a retailer to vent like this.  And i'm sure it will cost me in many ways.
fuck it.  Worst case is I dont make cables any more, loose a bunch of T's and can just enjoy being a "civilian" again among my peers.
I'm just fed up w/the "I need these in a week" orders that then B&M about it once I get them there.
If you want perfect fit and finish, then order factory ends.  Nothing wrong w/those new Neutrik RA ends.  they are slim and fit anywhere.  they are just long...and can block other things.

[johnmuge]

Nick,
        I like the cables you made me with the chopped ends on both sides.  Not only do they look good,  they sound great.  +T brother

[rastasean]

I will not be one of those who is subtracting from your tickets. You were more than willing to give me a break on my cable request and you took the time and quickly replied to all my PMs.


Thank you and I look forward to getting my cables!

[deadheaded]

hey nick
big +t for you!
The chopped or stubby cables that we make are a big pain in the ass to build.
In my case it is a labor of love.  i really enjoy making cables and i really get off on knowing that people are making amazing recordings using my cables.  plus i would rather work for myself making cables, than going back to working full time in the restaurant business again.  that business really sucks!!  like you i believe quality of workmanship is most important, but sometimes that darn epoxy doesn't go where we want it to go.
keep up the good work and don't get discouraged.
ed

[Nick's Picks]

Thanks Ed.
+T
it just sucks sometimes.
last week, I sent out what I thought were some of my best cables to date.  Only to have them nit-picked to death on appearances ....costing a refund.  swallowing a lot of time.
I"m just pissy today I guess.
Leave it to Mr. Church to straighten me out and remind me that I sound like a douch w/this rant.
thanks bro.

[willndmb]

do you have any chopped "2nds" for sale?
i'll give you $30 for some 10-15 ft

+t you your work and troubles
i never used your mic cables but the power cable you made me worked great

[Chuck]

Nick, many of us know that you are a good guy. Though unconventional, I don't think your rant was out of line. I have recently had an incident that has changed my perspective on my work. It happens from time to time... Don't let it throw you. Keep making those cables, and especially, keep making those great recordings!

[Nick's Picks]

together, more or less in line

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

+T for letting some people know how it is (ie REALITY).

I would NEVER expect anyone like you or Ed to drop everything in your life to make me cables...NOW!!

I'm all for supporting the little guy, and would much rather buy from you guys even if I have to wait several weeks.

On top of that, I couldn't give a rats ass how my cables look, just as long as they work. And from what I've heard yours work great.

Keep up the good work!

[manitouman]

At first glance, the cable you made me for my Church Audio 9100 to Microtrack recorder looked ugly as hell! You know the one, one 1/8" plug to two 1/4" so I could connect to the Microtrack using the TRS inputs. But you know what, it fit like a glove and it pulled an excellent  recording. I cannot and will not complain if it does what it is meant to do. Hell, look at the truck I'm driving. I'm just lucky I haven't lost a door or the bed for that matter, driving down the road. Have enough epoxy to hold my truck together for at least another 20 years?

Keep up the great work! +T

[pmonk66]

The shorties patch and the switching the RA Connectors with shorties to my existing hydra are all good (minus that one little hiccup) and look forward to using them on 3/26

[69mako]

Nick,
You've been more than patient with me and all of my questions about my future order.  Kindness like that is not something that you will find going to big chain stores.  Just another reason why I perfer to buy from fellow TS members.  I plan to place my order next week.

Four channels here I come!!!!

Mako

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

Some people just want to bitch about everything...

Let it go, the REAL folks know what's up and appreciate all you do for the Community.  Props to you and your Family!

+Ts!

Terry

[Nick's Picks]

its all good.
sometimes its just hard not to take things personally when people complain. 
not functioning on arrival..., i'll bend over backwards for you.  dont like the way it fits your gear, I'll alter it so it works.  Dont like the way it looks...., thin ice!

one recent customer ordered a cable for his stereo mic.  He wanted techflex that wasn't in stock, and he had a deadline ...tight, but I could meet it.
they get the cable, 3 days before "go time" (leaving on a trip).  It worked going out the door.....
plugs the thing into his 660 to find the RA neutriks dont line up the way he wants.  unscrews the plug to adjust...breaks a wire.  (small conductors do break easy..sometimes if you just look at them hard).
fuck!
I sent him a backup that I just happened to have.  paid nearly $50 to overnight it to him.
stupid chopper XLRs didn't fit his 660 either.
d'oh!!!!!!!!

but the customer was not an ass about it.  Frustrated...sure.  but civil.

another customer...orders total custom chopper cables for power requirements.  gets them (free shipping to another country) and the first thing response is "wow...., i hope your mic cables look better than this...really disappointed".  This particular order was sort of a PITA as the parameters changed 100 times before construction started.  I guess I dont know what they were expecting for appearances.

this is all this week, and thats only 1/2 of the negative feedback.  I dont know what gives!

regarding these choppers, from here out I am using only black MX style plugs.  they dont require any cutting.  just a notch/whole for the cable to pass through.  They cost more, but that'll be my problem.  I should charge more for them but I wont.
Instead, there will be a 50% restocking fee if the cables are returned for any reason other than "broken".

Folks...I"m sorry.  I dont meant to bitch and moan on the board in public.  I try my best to do right for the people I work with.  All I ask is that my customers respect and understand that i'm one dude, in the basement freezin' my ass off with small kids running around asking for this and that...and the temptation to get off the bench and go whale on my Hammond sitting next to me (good break time).
I'm not a big company, nor am I faceless. 
I do appreciate all the business I get.  And as a customer, when you pay someone a couple hundred bucks you are intitled to your opinions.  At the very least, try to make them constructive in such a way that I can either fix/rectify/meet the expectation as well as improve my skills for "the next guy".

One customer here wouldnt' even give me the time of day when I asked why he wanted to return the cable I made him.  Funny too, as he's someone who is very active here.  I asked for feedback and got silence.  I fight the urge to -t him every time I see their posts.  I dont, btw.  I may have initially though.
Everyone here I consider my friend, and I'll treat you as such.

Same goes for our other esteemed cable gurus here at TS.COM. 
we all get off on having our fingers in the taping pie.

[stevetoney]

its all good.
sometimes its just hard not to take things personally when people complain. 

I got some of nicks subbies too and I luv em luv em luv em!

Hey, they're broken in like a glove and they fit into the tightest bag scenario I can throw at it.

Regarding appearances, all I can suggest to people is look at Stevie Rays guitar.  Man that butt ugly motha fu**er could sing!!!  And now there's a million people that would pay a million bucks for that ugly piece of shit!

[silentmark]

Hey you could always sell your tye dyes    I still get questions on the ones I got from you AND inquiries on how they can get some, hint, hint, nudge, nudge ... +T for dealing with customers ...

[Nick's Picks]

you want more shirts holmie ?
I can deliver.

[willyp523]

Damn!...wish I had heard of this before placing an order 

Seriously though, nearly everything I do is stealth...pretty cables are the least of my concerns. 

Nick, as I mentioned in my first note to you...I have nothing planned in the near future.  So I'm in no rush at all.

[silentmark]

you want more shirts holmie ?
I can deliver.

PM sent 

[Nick's Picks]

Damn!...wish I had heard of this before placing an order 

Seriously though, nearly everything I do is stealth...pretty cables are the least of my concerns. 

Nick, as I mentioned in my first note to you...I have nothing planned in the near future.  So I'm in no rush at all.

huh ?
that is my other problem.  Keeping track of who's who.
ts.com usernames, various emails and "real life" names never seem to all be in the same message.
remind me...what did you order ?

[pmonk66]

Actually, now I think about - your cables are pretty ugly!

<ducks out of room>

[Nick's Picks]

yea, well so's yo' moma!

[stevetoney]

Actually, now I think about - your cables are pretty ugly!

<ducks out of room>

Ugly is as ugly does.  I've got his Hall-of-Fame museum quality prototype models that he sold me for a great price a couple months ago, and I think Nicks cables are very beautiful!

[Nick's Picks]

ah!
now those are ugly.
made lots of good pulls w/those cables though.

[illconditioned]

Kudos to you and others who build gear for others.  Not an easy job.
If all else fails, just return the money and/or stop orders and "close" shop for a while until you can regroup.
Not worth losing your health over this.
Anyone who has built gear for others will understand .

  Richard

[twoodruff]

thanks for each and every cable, battery system, microphone, audio equipment???, and all else I have purchased from you. I have never had an issue that wasn't fixable and Nick has always stood behind his work. Love ordering from him and will continue to do so until he quits making cables, and then will probably still pick up a mic or two

[~~~>]

Your right.  Very bad form.  No offense intended but I am glad I've never purchased cables from you reading the drivel you have posted here.  And posting customer communication?  Really lame.  Followed this thread since you started it.  You've received about 25 plus tix for it.  Why people?  These are the same people who -t'd Church for ranting on here yet Nick get's plus t'd.  The hypocrisy here is amazing at times.  If you wanna charge 100 bucks for cables then ya I expect em to look professional.  Don't really care where, how or by whom made them.  Glad I went with the Hi-Ho's.  And ya sling the -t's folks.  But I figured there needed to be a counterpoint to all the Di#ksucking going on here.

I know, its bad form for a retailer to vent like this.  And i'm sure it will cost me in many ways.

[aegert]

Hey

Building custom stuff ain't easy... Attacking others ain't nice.... Vote with your wallet.... They do not make a standard strain relieved stubby connector.. You got to pot them... they will never look pristine... The question is do they work and are they reliable...

People say yes... It seems he takes returns so if you like the look of things and cosmetics is number one not then there was no loss anyway as you returned them. So beating on him gains nothing...

I am not a customer nor do I endorse purchase as I have not used them but how we treat each other is important.

A

[illconditioned]

Your right.  Very bad form.  No offense intended but I am glad I've never purchased cables from you reading the drivel you have posted here.  And posting customer communication?  Really lame.  Followed this thread since you started it.  You've received about 25 plus tix for it.  Why people?  These are the same people who -t'd Church for ranting on here yet Nick get's plus t'd.  The hypocrisy here is amazing at times.  If you wanna charge 100 bucks for cables then ya I expect em to look professional.  Don't really care where, how or by whom made them.  Glad I went with the Hi-Ho's.  And ya sling the -t's folks.  But I figured there needed to be a counterpoint to all the Di#ksucking going on here.

I know, its bad form for a retailer to vent like this.  And i'm sure it will cost me in many ways.

I think most of us supported Chris when he had stress/problems/complaints/gripes earlier.  As far as looks or whatever, did you get a look at photos first?  If they were not good enough, simply return them.  If you can't get the product, or return it, then a complaint is warranted.

By the way, I am in no way supporting Nick's specific products - I would not pay that much for a cable myself!  I'm just saying that we need to realize these people have other things in life besides building gear.  Hey, if anyone else wants to get into the cable business, go ahead.  There is more than enough room for more builders/hackers out there.

  Richard

[pgroove4life]

whew!11111  flew in here as fast as my w3sty would drive me to the interwebs!11  I see we have some troll surfin' goin on.  Surf aways grand master hoff!  I'll slap your ass silly wtih my locks of love  until you luvs them cables 

[Brian Skalinder]

Your right.  Very bad form.

It's also bad form to criticize fellow TSers (whether retailers or otherwise) while hiding behind an anonymous alias.    Grow some cajones.

Not going to speak about any of the specific situations mentioned, but I do have one suggestion, Nick:  consider posting detailed pics of what a "standard" set of cables looks like - one each for straight XLRs, right-angle, stubby, different cabling, whatever.  That way, no one's surprised by their appearance upon arrival.

[Javier Cinakowski]

Followed this thread since you started it.  You've received about 25 plus tix for it.

You got a lot of free time on your hands there Haslehoff.  Perhaps you need to get a life!

[Church-Audio]

I really dont need anyone to speak for me there David.. but I DO want to say I feel more then "supported" here. And yes I have had my issues... But that is water under the bridge. I dont care who gives me a -T... and Nick if I showed you pictures of some of my work when I started out you would laugh your ass off. We all start somewhere. Hang in there.

NICK I have heard nothing but positive comments from the 100's of customers I have sent your way and will continue to send your way.
Chris Church

[Brian]

Your right.  Very bad form.  No offense intended but I am glad I've never purchased cables from you reading the drivel you have posted here.  And posting customer communication?  Really lame.  Followed this thread since you started it.  You've received about 25 plus tix for it.  Why people?  These are the same people who -t'd Church for ranting on here yet Nick get's plus t'd.  The hypocrisy here is amazing at times.  If you wanna charge 100 bucks for cables then ya I expect em to look professional.  Don't really care where, how or by whom made them.  Glad I went with the Hi-Ho's.  And ya sling the -t's folks.  But I figured there needed to be a counterpoint to all the Di#ksucking going on here.

I know, its bad form for a retailer to vent like this.  And i'm sure it will cost me in many ways.

i'll take biggest coward on taperssection.com for $200, alex!

[Nick's Picks]

But I figured there needed to be a counterpoint to all the Di#ksucking going on here.

and I hope the HOFF is next in line !

posting transaction details...the only named person is myself.  other than that they are just stories with fictional characters.  names were replaced to protect the innocent.
no pets were injured (yet).

[Javier Cinakowski]

no pets were injured (yet).

Actually, that silver-clad dog leash you made for my Bishon cut her up fairly good...

[Nick's Picks]

I stand corrected!

[RobertNC]

Internet message boards have a peculiar way of intensifying both negative perceptions, and especially escalating negative participation, to a level that probably most of us would not approach were we having a face to face.  It's always been that way, is a universal phenomenon on every message board in existence, and the internet has been around long enough that by now most of us should realize that.  Obviously some people do a better job of compensating than others.

All in all, although they are prone to the occasional brush fire, I think some level of public airing of transaction disagreements are probably more rather than less beneficial to the overall community.

What is really bad form is sort of the reverse ad hominum argument:

1)  Person A has what they feel to be a legitimate beef with Person B.
2)  Person C thinks Person B is one of God's greatest gifts to the world of taping.
3)  Person C based on their feeling for Person B refuses to acknowledge it is entirely within the realm of possibility that Person B did in fact totally fuck Person A.
4)  Therefore Person C decides that, although they have no real objective knowledege, clearly Person A must be a lying sack of shit.

Then all the many other supporters of Person B also start to pile on.

As far as Nick's cables go, I bought a set over a year ago, just got a second set last week, and I think they are great cables. 

[sygdwm]

i like my cables just like my women. ugly and loyal.

[Anthony1]

I've been a lurker on the board for about 2 years now but I ordered two cables from Nick at the end of February.  I was away last week but when I got home the cables had arrived and I'm more than pleased with them.  Also, when I ordered the cables I over paid Nick without realising it.  Nick brought it to my attention and refunded the overpayment - that's about as honest and up straight anyone can get.  From my experience I'd have no poblem recommending Nick and HYDRA to anyone.

Anthony

[pmonk66]

Wait...you get free blow jobs when ordering hydra's 

[newplanet7]

Wait...you get free blow jobs when ordering hydra's 

sweet.
I've been married for 5 years so sign me up!

[rowjimmytour]

I made some DIY stubby cables w/ built in pads and its not easy making them look good. Working w/ epoxy can be tough no matter how long you been doing it so I think Nicks cables look pretty good and I can respect his skills. I agree w/ Brian and how you should post pics of the finished product and maybe compare a normal RA Neutric cable end to your stubby end w/ a ruler as a reference. Good luck and keep your chin up your doing a fine job.
Peace

[Nick's Picks]

I've been dyin' to do some pics, but I dont want them to look like I took them in my office w/a shitty camera.  I want them to look pro.  so I've been hunting down the lighting equip and thinking of making a "white box" to do the photo's in.

Hey...if any fellow stars here are photo buffs (and I know we have them) and can do a "product shoot"..., interested in some new mic cables in trade for a few snaps of the shutter ?
I need about 5 pics in total.

[eric.B]

I'll take       sounds good/made well   over    looks good/poorly made     any and every day....    meaning, two of the most important factors are the materials used (sonic qualities) and the ability to withstand the rigors of field use (good solder job/constructed properly).    I also like them to be black.. 

[jonicont]

ordered a cable on 3/11.  came today.  pretty as can be.  thanx Nick

[esteyes]

well i have consumed enuff liquid gold tonite to feel like chiming in here 

anyway as someone who has been building oddball custom things for 30+ years i feel for Nick. i don't think working with epoxy in this setting is easy - but at this price point i think it should be consistent cosmetically. (personnaly i don't think it is the right way to do it.) nevertheless it is a functional, cost effective solution and i think the customer has to understand that. he also needs to understand each piece is unique and will look that way - the same way he accepts that he can't change anything about his cable once the epoxy is poured.

That said, the builder must always strive to do his best EACH time while trying always trying to improve his technique or method. he must look at his work and if he is ashamed in any way of what he built, then he should sh*tcan it and do it over. then he must stand behind his sh*t for his customers (i think Nick does that, don't you??). if he does this then he has little to be ashamed about.

i think TS has a fairly large percentage of nontechy folks, part of its charm and much of its reason d'etre. to me, that likely means many of the TS vendors may see a higher percentage of unhappiness. ... especially when it comes to handwork like this kind of stuff. so that means Nick might mear more comments than more normal vendors...

unfortunately the usps issues and lost cables and "i want it this way but you made it that way" crap comes with the territory. and it is esp painful for the small business person financially. but just that's the way it is.

i do think that you need to find a way to do your work w/o the kiddies climbing your leg every day. if you are gonna make it a business, then you must treat it like a business. having said that and working from my home with 4 kids (i know the realities), i wish you and me both a bunch of luck.

so Nick,  i think the community here is very supportive of your efforts. are you ashamed of any thing you have done? likely not. so walk away from the table for a minute, have a cold one, take a deep breath, and go back and get yer *ss to work cause you do have good folks waiting on your stuff...

hope this is taken in good spirits, people willing to do good hand work (and stand behind it) these days are slowly disappearing
neil in san marcos

oh, and i've been married 25+ years now. so i'm gonna order a bunch o' cables cause i needs lots o' knobbers. i heard nick's gotta deal going on 

[Roving Sign]

just for the other curiosity seekers...

What are you doing with the epoxy?

[Nick's Picks]

using it as filler to hold things in place inside the chopped XLR chasis

[Brian]

excuse my ignorance but what's the point of these "chopped" xlrs never heard of them before this thread

as for the OP, i think a lot of good points have already been mentioned.  keep your head and keep striving to make great products.  you can't please everyone.  today it seems like more people demand absolute perfection than ever before.  that's a high expectation for a business where somebody is building something by hand

[OFOTD]

excuse my ignorance but what's the point of these "chopped" xlrs never heard of them before this thread

Here are two pictures of the HiHo Shorty XLR's for comparison.  The first picture is what I think one should look like quality wise.  The second picture is an example of how much space savings they afford.

As far as the cable quality in question in this thread the best way to make a judgment is to see the cables themselves.    Does the person that had a problem have any pictures for the thread?   

[illconditioned]

FWIW I have used Neutrix standard right angle connectors on the R4 without a problem.  I don't have photos, but I've built several nice pairs of interconnects using Mogami 3106 "siamese" XLR cable.  Looks like thick lamp cord, one part for each channel.  Not as compact as the shorties, and probably the connectors cost more, but I got them from cables I had already...

  Richard

[rowjimmytour]

FWIW I have used Neutrix standard right angle connectors on the R4 without a problem.  I don't have photos, but I've built several nice pairs of interconnects using Mogami 3106 "siamese" XLR cable.  Looks like thick lamp cord, one part for each channel.  Not as compact as the shorties, and probably the connectors cost more, but I got them from cables I had already...

  Richard

[waltmon]

Ok...

   I thought I was resolved and was content until I got called out in Nick's narrative. First of all I was polite in my complaint and would not even said anything had the connectors not been clearly "re-used stock"...one would assume ordering a custom cable that you would at least get new materials...the 2 chopped right angle XLR's did not match (1 gold, 1 silver)  1 looked decent and the other skewed off at a weird angle as well as there was epoxy all over the connectors.

    Laying them side by side with the Hi-Ho silvers was the problem as there is really no comparison when you are speaking of chopped shorties.  If this is such an obvious hassle, drop them from your product line. Your other cables look amazing.

 Being the Procurement Controller for a massive construction project in the West Indies, I deal with venders all over the world and like to think I treat them respectfully and just don't bitch to be a prick.  When you're in business, you are not going to please everyone 100% of the time.

   Personally, I think it was pretty un-professional to air your business frustration in a public forum such as this after we had come to resolution and I had apologized if I had been to picky in my complaint.

   I apologize for even chiming in on this thread but I felt the need to say my piece...