Forums > Technical Discussion > Stuff from Firetoys dot co dot uk
Login/Join to ParticipateShoryuken!
233 posts
Location: Hexham, Newcastle, England
233 posts
Location: Hexham, Newcastle, England
Posted:
Apparently the poi I bought are the forth version they have released, but they really aren't safe, so be warned.
Firstly, the quick links that attatch the handles and wicks to the chains are waaaay to quick for my liking. 1 tangle is often enough to open them up, leaving the wicks free to fly off once you start spinning again. Not fun.
Next - the tube-core wicks are put together so that if they become misshapen (more than likely when playing with meteors) it is possible for the bolts attatching them to the chain to snap out. Not fun.
And jesus christ, while playing the other night one of the 360 swivels just went, leaving my wick to fly godknows how far away from me, towards
I really didn't need to be on fire. I really don't know how this one happened - it was during a regular spin - no tangles, no bumping of any sort, and wheeee, bye bye 360 swive, fall appart as you will.
Eeesh.
Davy
EDIT: THIS IS NO LONGER A PROBLEM, THE DESIGN HAS BEEN SORTED, ALL IS WELL. YAY.
EDITED_BY: nilid69 (1098370900)
Written by:
Our designs are continuously updated and rigorously tested to ensure that we remain the standard for high quality Firetoys manufacture.
Apparently the poi I bought are the forth version they have released, but they really aren't safe, so be warned.
Firstly, the quick links that attatch the handles and wicks to the chains are waaaay to quick for my liking. 1 tangle is often enough to open them up, leaving the wicks free to fly off once you start spinning again. Not fun.
Next - the tube-core wicks are put together so that if they become misshapen (more than likely when playing with meteors) it is possible for the bolts attatching them to the chain to snap out. Not fun.
And jesus christ, while playing the other night one of the 360 swivels just went, leaving my wick to fly godknows how far away from me, towards
I really didn't need to be on fire. I really don't know how this one happened - it was during a regular spin - no tangles, no bumping of any sort, and wheeee, bye bye 360 swive, fall appart as you will. Eeesh.
Davy
EDIT: THIS IS NO LONGER A PROBLEM, THE DESIGN HAS BEEN SORTED, ALL IS WELL. YAY.
EDITED_BY: nilid69 (1098370900)
GOLD Member
now available in "advanced"
6,086 posts
Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom
now available in "advanced"
6,086 posts
Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom
Posted:
I bought some tube cores off them too! and the stuff that I didn't want to be set on fire when the swivel gave up (on my first spin with them, might I add) was my dear dad, who was innocently taking photos of the evening! Needless to say, we were not impressed!
Written by: nilid69
And jesus christ, while playing the other night one of the 360 swivels just went, leaving my wick to fly godknows how far away from me, towards
Eeesh.
Davy
I bought some tube cores off them too! and the stuff that I didn't want to be set on fire when the swivel gave up (on my first spin with them, might I add) was my dear dad, who was innocently taking photos of the evening! Needless to say, we were not impressed!
My state of mind is not yours to define!
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
BRONZE Member
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Corporate Circus Arts Entertainer
3,989 posts
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posted:
f you haven't already, guys, please contact them ASAP and let them know of these issues, so they can respond appropriately, and if these aren'ty one-offs, change their product lines too.
If you have contacted them, what are their responses?
f you haven't already, guys, please contact them ASAP and let them know of these issues, so they can respond appropriately, and if these aren'ty one-offs, change their product lines too.
If you have contacted them, what are their responses?
HoP Posting Guidelines
* Is it the Truth?
* Is it Fair to all concerned?
* Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
* Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
GOLD Member
Pooh-Bah
2,110 posts
Location: Philadelphia, PA - USA
Pooh-Bah
2,110 posts
Location: Philadelphia, PA - USA
Posted:
If thats the 4th version, wonder what the first three were like
If thats the 4th version, wonder what the first three were like
Let's turn those old bridges we crossed into ashes.
We'll blaze a new trail,
and torch the rough patches.
-Me
GOLD Member
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom
Posted:
they seem to have lots of gumph, talk and hype in their site but unless I'm really stretched for time I won't be going back me thinks. I only bought glowy stuff but it was mediocre at best.
I like the quote about their new stores techniques so they never run out of stock and then you go to buy something to find it's out of stock and has been for a few weeks
they seem to have lots of gumph, talk and hype in their site but unless I'm really stretched for time I won't be going back me thinks. I only bought glowy stuff but it was mediocre at best.
I like the quote about their new stores techniques so they never run out of stock and then you go to buy something to find it's out of stock and has been for a few weeks
Let's relight this forum 
BRONZE Member
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Posted:
Yeah, I'd have to say let them know - HoP can't really help you out there...
I'm quite a fan of their stuff (Heh, I'm also a modertor there now, but that's nothing to do with it)
If it's the one's I'm thinking of - Aren't the snaplinks only for adding additional heads? I think I had a pair somewhere which said to just use the split ring to connect the head to the chain - but this could've been a different manufacturer.
I've used quite a few of their poi and all seem fine - although I agree the swivels are a little light-weight
Yeah, I'd have to say let them know - HoP can't really help you out there...
I'm quite a fan of their stuff (Heh, I'm also a modertor there now, but that's nothing to do with it)
If it's the one's I'm thinking of - Aren't the snaplinks only for adding additional heads? I think I had a pair somewhere which said to just use the split ring to connect the head to the chain - but this could've been a different manufacturer.
I've used quite a few of their poi and all seem fine - although I agree the swivels are a little light-weight
Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,207 posts
Location: "In your ear", United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,207 posts
Location: "In your ear", United Kingdom
Posted:
guys come on...
running a shop is hard, and its all down to cost at the end of the day, i have had this happen to me, and i knwo what moves cause it, (at teh time i assumed it was just my poi and dont use firepoi much anymore anyways) but lets face it, it could just be our poi, its easly seen how one bad batch of material from the suppliers may be distributed to customers!
guys come on...
running a shop is hard, and its all down to cost at the end of the day, i have had this happen to me, and i knwo what moves cause it, (at teh time i assumed it was just my poi and dont use firepoi much anymore anyways) but lets face it, it could just be our poi, its easly seen how one bad batch of material from the suppliers may be distributed to customers!
Step (el-nombrie)
Shoryuken!
233 posts
Location: Hexham, Newcastle, England
233 posts
Location: Hexham, Newcastle, England
Posted:
I just sorted the quick link problem with some pliars (needles to say, they aren't so 'quick' anymore) but yeah I've told them about the 360 swivel problem. It only happened the other night so I wrote this thread just after contacting them.
I'm not trying to ruin their business, when I upgrade my staff I'll probably get one of theirs if I still can't be arsed to make my own, but there are safety issues with the poi.
Durbs, I just checked, and the links are deffinatly essential on my poi. I might not be using the right name for them mind.
I just sorted the quick link problem with some pliars (needles to say, they aren't so 'quick' anymore) but yeah I've told them about the 360 swivel problem. It only happened the other night so I wrote this thread just after contacting them.
I'm not trying to ruin their business, when I upgrade my staff I'll probably get one of theirs if I still can't be arsed to make my own, but there are safety issues with the poi.
Durbs, I just checked, and the links are deffinatly essential on my poi. I might not be using the right name for them mind.
BRONZE Member
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Posted:
Eeeek
Although in fairness - a lot of firetoys break, not just Firetoys (need's the capital, or that makes no sense
)
Just goes to show, it's always best to check your props thoroughly before lighting them.
Spanner - I heard you had "difficulties" with them. Seems both sad and odd... They're nice enough guys when I met them, but I was really shocked to hear what they'd said to you
Eeeek
Although in fairness - a lot of firetoys break, not just Firetoys (need's the capital, or that makes no sense
)Just goes to show, it's always best to check your props thoroughly before lighting them.
Spanner - I heard you had "difficulties" with them. Seems both sad and odd... They're nice enough guys when I met them, but I was really shocked to hear what they'd said to you
Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude
Shoryuken!
233 posts
Location: Hexham, Newcastle, England
233 posts
Location: Hexham, Newcastle, England
Posted:
Spanner, they communicated well with me thankfully, but said that they are about to discontinue their warranty scheme so if you want stuff replaced I'd ask them quickly.
Spanner, they communicated well with me thankfully, but said that they are about to discontinue their warranty scheme so if you want stuff replaced I'd ask them quickly.
GOLD Member
Fool
2,020 posts
Location: Cornwall, UK
Fool
2,020 posts
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posted:
My firetoys contact staff is completely fecked after only a few weeks. The screws holding the wick in place were rubbish and fell out, meaning that the wicks fly off the ends. The tape covering the stick burns, and has burnt off down to the wood underneath.
To be fair, Firetoys didn't make it, it was from them but manufactured by a different company, and they've told me to send it back to be replaced. Only problem is, I'm skint, and it costs lots to post a stick.
My firetoys contact staff is completely fecked after only a few weeks. The screws holding the wick in place were rubbish and fell out, meaning that the wicks fly off the ends. The tape covering the stick burns, and has burnt off down to the wood underneath.
To be fair, Firetoys didn't make it, it was from them but manufactured by a different company, and they've told me to send it back to be replaced. Only problem is, I'm skint, and it costs lots to post a stick.
"I believe the cost of life is Death and we will all pay that in full. Everything else should be a gift. We paid the cover charge of life, we were born."
Bill Hicks, February 1988
not a stranger
558 posts
Location: wales
558 posts
Location: wales
Posted:
Ask them to pay your postage.
They might if you threaten them with trading standards etc.
You could also threaten to sue.
From the sound of it someone could get hurt, and then they might get sued real bad.
Ask them to pay your postage.
They might if you threaten them with trading standards etc.
You could also threaten to sue.
From the sound of it someone could get hurt, and then they might get sued real bad.
Eat when you're hungry
Sleep where it's dry
No one is ever what they seem
Gabriel King - The Wild Road
member
22 posts
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
22 posts
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posted:
I've seen the swivel break on one of their big burners and I see they're not selling any of the big poi heads at the moment.
I guess they've realised they have a problem with their swivels.
I've seen the swivel break on one of their big burners and I see they're not selling any of the big poi heads at the moment.
I guess they've realised they have a problem with their swivels.
GOLD Member
Fool
2,020 posts
Location: Cornwall, UK
Fool
2,020 posts
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posted:
Good thinking Frog girl!
Good thinking Frog girl!
"I believe the cost of life is Death and we will all pay that in full. Everything else should be a gift. We paid the cover charge of life, we were born."
Bill Hicks, February 1988
BRONZE Member
The GF of HoP
492 posts
Location: Somerset, England
The GF of HoP
492 posts
Location: Somerset, England
Posted:
I most say in firetoys defence that there return policy is not all that bad. My pair of henrys diabolo sticks broke yesterday so i sent them an email asking for a replacment which sounds fair enough but when you take into acount that i got them 3 months back i think that pritty nice of them.
I was planing on getting some poi heads from them 2 but maybe ill just go somewhere else because those swivels do sound scary.
I most say in firetoys defence that there return policy is not all that bad. My pair of henrys diabolo sticks broke yesterday so i sent them an email asking for a replacment which sounds fair enough but when you take into acount that i got them 3 months back i think that pritty nice of them.
I was planing on getting some poi heads from them 2 but maybe ill just go somewhere else because those swivels do sound scary.
fire leads to creation
enthusiast
523 posts
Location: Edinburgh, UK
523 posts
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Posted:
I've bought wick off them a couple of times, and the service etc. was fine, really quick delivery.
Don't get the tubular wick though - it seems like a nice idea, but it doesn't burn very well...
I've bought wick off them a couple of times, and the service etc. was fine, really quick delivery.
Don't get the tubular wick though - it seems like a nice idea, but it doesn't burn very well...
monkeys ate my brain
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,207 posts
Location: "In your ear", United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,207 posts
Location: "In your ear", United Kingdom
Posted:
mags, just goes to show you should buy a staff off me, wanna talk about it pm me if you wnat one
mags, just goes to show you should buy a staff off me, wanna talk about it pm me if you wnat one
Step (el-nombrie)
SILVER Member
addict
469 posts
Location: nottingham, england. cornwall wales denmark or pra...
addict
469 posts
Location: nottingham, england. cornwall wales denmark or pra...
Posted:
make your own kit
not hard, cheaper, you get a nicely customised design for you, if it does break you can repair it cos youll know how.
i made a pair of fire poi that have lasted for 9 months being burnt for at least 2 hours a week with zero mainenance.
wick is looking a bit tired but thats it
smitsbit
make your own kit
not hard, cheaper, you get a nicely customised design for you, if it does break you can repair it cos youll know how.
i made a pair of fire poi that have lasted for 9 months being burnt for at least 2 hours a week with zero mainenance.
wick is looking a bit tired but thats it
smitsbit
my original signature was tooo long.
this one is shorter
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,252 posts
Location: sheffield, United Kingdom
Posted:
I agree with originalsmit, having never bought a single fire toy because it was so obvious that I could make better ones than the commercial designs and save much money in doing so.
IMO, for fire toys, swivels are totally unnecessary, as are metal tube cores for wicks; they seem to have no benefits and serve to complicate the design and introduce weak points.
I agree with originalsmit, having never bought a single fire toy because it was so obvious that I could make better ones than the commercial designs and save much money in doing so.
IMO, for fire toys, swivels are totally unnecessary, as are metal tube cores for wicks; they seem to have no benefits and serve to complicate the design and introduce weak points.
"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."
--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!
BRONZE Member
Irish
525 posts
Location: Dallas.........ish, USA
Irish
525 posts
Location: Dallas.........ish, USA
Posted:
ive said it once...ill say it again
tubecore is essentially worthless...they look horrid, they dont get a good burn time, they have metal parts that heat up and can burn
tubecore=bad
ive said it once...ill say it again
tubecore is essentially worthless...they look horrid, they dont get a good burn time, they have metal parts that heat up and can burn
tubecore=bad
Jesus saves sinners and redeems them for cash and
prizes
Co-Founder of Keepers of Light
Educate yourself about the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!
activist for HoPper liberation.
1,643 posts
Location: ffidrac
1,643 posts
Location: ffidrac
Posted:
my fire poi came from Firetoys and yes the swivels are identical to those i have on my practise poi (which have tennis balls in them) but they have been fine. The only thing that did happen was one of the links connecting wick to chain came unclipped once, when they got tangled, but i've put it back together and it's been okay since... i think though that they've revamped them since i bought mine, they don't look the same
my fire poi came from Firetoys and yes the swivels are identical to those i have on my practise poi (which have tennis balls in them) but they have been fine. The only thing that did happen was one of the links connecting wick to chain came unclipped once, when they got tangled, but i've put it back together and it's been okay since... i think though that they've revamped them since i bought mine, they don't look the same
Aurinko freedom agreement reached 10th Sept 2006
if it makes no sense that's because it's NOn-sense.
Miss Whippy
1,262 posts
Location: Cornwall & Oxford
1,262 posts
Location: Cornwall & Oxford
Posted:
Before i got my monkey fists i had a set of tubecores from Firetoys. I had version 2 i think, maybe 3. They didnt have those evil little swivels or clips which is probably why they were so nice, never broke, tangled and untangled nicely.
As a shop, they are great. I lost one of my tubecores once and they had stopped making the version i had. They very nicely told me to send the remaining poi to them and they made a new set just like my old ones.
I know a few people have had problems with them, but i havent, at all and ive bought loads of stuff from them!
Before i got my monkey fists i had a set of tubecores from Firetoys. I had version 2 i think, maybe 3. They didnt have those evil little swivels or clips which is probably why they were so nice, never broke, tangled and untangled nicely.
As a shop, they are great. I lost one of my tubecores once and they had stopped making the version i had. They very nicely told me to send the remaining poi to them and they made a new set just like my old ones.
I know a few people have had problems with them, but i havent, at all and ive bought loads of stuff from them!
Aim high and you'll know your limits, aim low and you'll never know how high you could have climbed.
SILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Posted:
My experience of standard Firetoys chain poi is that they aren't up to wraps, the link things that came with them broke in about 5 burns and the core design was flimsy and, the way it had been built, totally pointless.
They were quick to deliver but they weren't cheap.
And my actual HoP ones are about a million times better. The ring cut into the flattened top of the core is so much better than the little metal pipe thingy with washers on it on the Firetoys one. If you're lazy like me and don't fancy making fire props until you've used a few pro-made ones, go for them.
By the way, I agree, swivels on fire poi are pointless. As a poi man, I find they're only useful on things with tails. Everything else is basically round enough to turn as it swings. But I do like the core with the flattened top with the hole punched through it. It reduces weak points that other fire poi have, and in my experience is the most reliable point to fix to a chain.
My experience of standard Firetoys chain poi is that they aren't up to wraps, the link things that came with them broke in about 5 burns and the core design was flimsy and, the way it had been built, totally pointless.
They were quick to deliver but they weren't cheap.
And my actual HoP ones are about a million times better. The ring cut into the flattened top of the core is so much better than the little metal pipe thingy with washers on it on the Firetoys one. If you're lazy like me and don't fancy making fire props until you've used a few pro-made ones, go for them.
By the way, I agree, swivels on fire poi are pointless. As a poi man, I find they're only useful on things with tails. Everything else is basically round enough to turn as it swings. But I do like the core with the flattened top with the hole punched through it. It reduces weak points that other fire poi have, and in my experience is the most reliable point to fix to a chain.
What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau
BRONZE Member
member
44 posts
Location: southampton, United Kingdom
member
44 posts
Location: southampton, United Kingdom
Posted:
I had a similar issue with some poi from Oddballs in camden, I usually make my own, but needed some then and there. Well during the show the ring form the chain to the finger loops stretched open. Luckily the wick and chain hit the ground before anything/one else.
So i wrote to Oddballs to warn them about this problem and this was the reply.
We do not differentiate between disciplines in the shop, we use juggling as an all encompassing word that covers everyone and everything in our shops. Our London staff are actually much more into poi than anything else and most of them also perform with poi outside of the shop hours.
(name deleted) who runs our London shop will not sell any products he does not personally believe in, I think he would be very upset at the inferral that he was deliberately selling low quality products.
We do guarantee all of our products, mainly for the customer's benefit but also so we can keep an eye on quality levels but unfortunately there are always some defects in any batch. It seems that sadly you got the dodgy one out of the batch.
Generally for performers I recommend the cathedral poi as they are built to be super heavy duty, the links on these will take 600lbs of breaking strain, much more than any other of our poi (or any poi with split ring connectors).
I am very sorry that you are not happy with our service and of course I would happily give you a refund on your poi but I can say that we stand by our policy 'we do not sell stuff we don't believe in'.
Sorry again for any trouble you may have had
Craig Paterson
General Manager
Oddballs
I Thought this was fair enough as a reply and i may not have been completely gracious in my complaint so i can understand the tone of this reply. However it still worries me that this could still happen and people could get hurt.
I had a similar issue with some poi from Oddballs in camden, I usually make my own, but needed some then and there. Well during the show the ring form the chain to the finger loops stretched open. Luckily the wick and chain hit the ground before anything/one else.
So i wrote to Oddballs to warn them about this problem and this was the reply.
We do not differentiate between disciplines in the shop, we use juggling as an all encompassing word that covers everyone and everything in our shops. Our London staff are actually much more into poi than anything else and most of them also perform with poi outside of the shop hours.
(name deleted) who runs our London shop will not sell any products he does not personally believe in, I think he would be very upset at the inferral that he was deliberately selling low quality products.
We do guarantee all of our products, mainly for the customer's benefit but also so we can keep an eye on quality levels but unfortunately there are always some defects in any batch. It seems that sadly you got the dodgy one out of the batch.
Generally for performers I recommend the cathedral poi as they are built to be super heavy duty, the links on these will take 600lbs of breaking strain, much more than any other of our poi (or any poi with split ring connectors).
I am very sorry that you are not happy with our service and of course I would happily give you a refund on your poi but I can say that we stand by our policy 'we do not sell stuff we don't believe in'.
Sorry again for any trouble you may have had
Craig Paterson
General Manager
Oddballs
I Thought this was fair enough as a reply and i may not have been completely gracious in my complaint so i can understand the tone of this reply. However it still worries me that this could still happen and people could get hurt.
SILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Posted:
So he's selling "dodgy" products, but he still believes in them..?
Contradictory, and the fact they have these super-heavy-duty chains or links or whatever for the Cathedral wicks, but not for other poi when they've been made aware of problems like this = cost cutting with disregard for safety.
It's understandable that mechanical things go wrong and break, but it's not cool to say that someone would be upset at the inferral they're selling low quality products. They just acknowledged that sometimes they are.
Personally, I think I'd be more upset to get a stray wick in the head.
[/rant]
Written by: hadez
[...]our London shop will not sell any products he does not personally believe in, I think he would be very upset at the inferral that he was deliberately selling low quality products[...]there are always some defects in any batch. It seems that sadly you got the dodgy one out of the batch.
So he's selling "dodgy" products, but he still believes in them..?
Contradictory, and the fact they have these super-heavy-duty chains or links or whatever for the Cathedral wicks, but not for other poi when they've been made aware of problems like this = cost cutting with disregard for safety.
It's understandable that mechanical things go wrong and break, but it's not cool to say that someone would be upset at the inferral they're selling low quality products. They just acknowledged that sometimes they are.
Personally, I think I'd be more upset to get a stray wick in the head.
[/rant]
What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau
BRONZE Member
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Posted:
Hmmm, I think it's a fair response - they sell a lot of poi, and you will always get duff ones. This doesn't mean they're "selling dodgy products" - merely they aren't 100% reliable, which I don't think any fire-prop can really be.
Having not seen the complaint letter, it's hard to see if their response is fair - but working in Customer Services dealing with complaints most days, it looks like it's being as reproachful as it can be without being rude - perhaps the first letter was a little strongly worded?
I don't think they're cost cutting - just weight saving. Part-time spinners don't need that heavy-duty spinning stuff, people spinning their poi for long periods most days do, and they can cope with the heavier weight and and larger amount of metal. The breaking strain of all the fire props is well above what they should ever be exposed to - but mechanical failure does happen.
Only thing to do is to check your gear before each burn and report any defects, politely, to the manufacurers.
Hmmm, I think it's a fair response - they sell a lot of poi, and you will always get duff ones. This doesn't mean they're "selling dodgy products" - merely they aren't 100% reliable, which I don't think any fire-prop can really be.
Having not seen the complaint letter, it's hard to see if their response is fair - but working in Customer Services dealing with complaints most days, it looks like it's being as reproachful as it can be without being rude - perhaps the first letter was a little strongly worded?
I don't think they're cost cutting - just weight saving. Part-time spinners don't need that heavy-duty spinning stuff, people spinning their poi for long periods most days do, and they can cope with the heavier weight and and larger amount of metal. The breaking strain of all the fire props is well above what they should ever be exposed to - but mechanical failure does happen.
Only thing to do is to check your gear before each burn and report any defects, politely, to the manufacurers.
Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude
SILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Posted:
I see your point
I just don't think it's fair to bring the pride of the owner into it, regardless of the initial complaint. In an apology for what could have been a fairly serious mechanical fault this looks pretty rude, and would have pissed me off if I'd got it.
Why am I getting so involved? Grr bloody internet
I see your point
I just don't think it's fair to bring the pride of the owner into it, regardless of the initial complaint. In an apology for what could have been a fairly serious mechanical fault this looks pretty rude, and would have pissed me off if I'd got it.
Why am I getting so involved? Grr bloody internet
What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau
BRONZE Member
member
44 posts
Location: southampton, United Kingdom
member
44 posts
Location: southampton, United Kingdom
Posted:
Ok by popular request (?) here is the compaint letter. I think the tone is ok apart from the cheap shot in the final paragraph. Im sure this lessened the crediblity of the complaint, but its a lesson learnt, and i was pissed off at the time.
Dear Oddballs Team.
I am part of a fire performance company based in Southampton. In the past i have bought a wide variety of performance equipment from your stores for my personal use and to supply a circus skills group. I have never had any complaints about the products you supply except possibly the price compared to some internet based stores. I understand this is as you have to cover certain cost being a based on the "high street", and was never really troubled by this since i enjoyed the convenience of trying out new products in the always friendly atmosphere of an Oddballs shop.
However on firday 3rd of September i had a booking to perform at a bar opening just oustide London, but on the way managed to misplace my fire poi. So i stopped into your Camden store to get some quick replacements. I purchased a pair of pretty basic 3 inch wick, chain fire poi, they came to about £30. In the shop everything seemed fine, but after roughly an hour of spinning one of the chains came detached. Thankfully the wick hit the ground and did not injure anyone. After inspecting the poi i noticed the key rings used to link the finger loops to the swivels were very lightweight and had stretched, one completely open.
I am not writing to you for a refund as these parts are easily replaced. However i have always trusted your products in the past and i am concerned due to the potential risk to other performers and those around them.
Your moto is "run by jugglers, for jugglers", spinning poi isnt juggling, but i would have hoped that your fire products would be tested thoroughly by those who do, for those who do, before being put on the market.
Yours sincerely. Jonathan Slator
So there you go you decide.
Ok by popular request (?) here is the compaint letter. I think the tone is ok apart from the cheap shot in the final paragraph. Im sure this lessened the crediblity of the complaint, but its a lesson learnt, and i was pissed off at the time.
Dear Oddballs Team.
I am part of a fire performance company based in Southampton. In the past i have bought a wide variety of performance equipment from your stores for my personal use and to supply a circus skills group. I have never had any complaints about the products you supply except possibly the price compared to some internet based stores. I understand this is as you have to cover certain cost being a based on the "high street", and was never really troubled by this since i enjoyed the convenience of trying out new products in the always friendly atmosphere of an Oddballs shop.
However on firday 3rd of September i had a booking to perform at a bar opening just oustide London, but on the way managed to misplace my fire poi. So i stopped into your Camden store to get some quick replacements. I purchased a pair of pretty basic 3 inch wick, chain fire poi, they came to about £30. In the shop everything seemed fine, but after roughly an hour of spinning one of the chains came detached. Thankfully the wick hit the ground and did not injure anyone. After inspecting the poi i noticed the key rings used to link the finger loops to the swivels were very lightweight and had stretched, one completely open.
I am not writing to you for a refund as these parts are easily replaced. However i have always trusted your products in the past and i am concerned due to the potential risk to other performers and those around them.
Your moto is "run by jugglers, for jugglers", spinning poi isnt juggling, but i would have hoped that your fire products would be tested thoroughly by those who do, for those who do, before being put on the market.
Yours sincerely. Jonathan Slator
So there you go you decide.
BRONZE Member
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Posted:
Seems fair enough
Seems fair enough
Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
Slacker of enormous magnitude
geek, level 1
5,300 posts
Location: everywhere
5,300 posts
Location: everywhere
Posted:
to be honest, i know all the team at oddballs london(or did the last time i went throught london) and they are alll fine poi spinners, and wouldn't have taken offence in anywayy at your letter. i think its the general manager who's overreacted with the tone of his letter.
so worry not. as the man says, its pretty much impossible to produce mass poi without one or two having a problem. i've spun the exact same set you used, in the shop for an entire day, and they were absolutely fine. the problem is in the split rings, which are someone elses domain entirely. we get thousands of split rings, and they vay from one to the next even when they look the same.
anyhow.
quick defence of oddballs london staff over with;
i might send them a mail tho recommending heavier splitrings tho...
R
to be honest, i know all the team at oddballs london(or did the last time i went throught london) and they are alll fine poi spinners, and wouldn't have taken offence in anywayy at your letter. i think its the general manager who's overreacted with the tone of his letter.
so worry not. as the man says, its pretty much impossible to produce mass poi without one or two having a problem. i've spun the exact same set you used, in the shop for an entire day, and they were absolutely fine. the problem is in the split rings, which are someone elses domain entirely. we get thousands of split rings, and they vay from one to the next even when they look the same.
anyhow.
quick defence of oddballs london staff over with;
i might send them a mail tho recommending heavier splitrings tho...
R
Holistic Spinner (I hope)
Shoryuken!
233 posts
Location: Hexham, Newcastle, England
233 posts
Location: Hexham, Newcastle, England
Posted:
Just so's y'all know, Firetoys have, as promised, stopped attatching their poi wicks with those puny 360 swivels + have gone for a heavy duty approach with quick release links instead. Good times, good times.
Just so's y'all know, Firetoys have, as promised, stopped attatching their poi wicks with those puny 360 swivels + have gone for a heavy duty approach with quick release links instead. Good times, good times.