[10kman]

I've been reading this thread off and on, but didn't really have anything serious to contribute. Still don't actually have anything to report on with the truck, but if you want to know why, read on....

Let me say too, that even though the Quark 125 Air Master is way cheaper than the Monster Pro, I hope that no one has flamed Quark directly for the price difference. Take it as a learning experience, so we can keep getting them for a good price. I've goofed a few times in my life and learned the hard way, so hopefully we can all do better in the future.

Now, on to the truck. I STILL DO NOT HAVE A BATTERY. I'm not holding back now and being vague with my e-tailer, it is maxamps.com. They are terrible with service and letting the customer know what is going on.

The story begins when I originally place my order on 5/31. Site says the 4s2p's are in stock, I order it up, start getting amped up, and a few days go by. Order still says "in process" on the site.

I finally email them to ask what is up, and I find out that the cells are backordered. Peeves me off that I was not told after the fact, or before the fact for that matter via a note on their site, email, SOMETHING.

I write back a well-crafted email, explaining how that could possibly not be the best idea for business, not having an up to date status, and secondly not communicating if there is an issue.

Few days go by, and I get a postcard (remember those?) in the mail, from Austin. Note on the back was a half-apology, half you were right, and half disturbing all at once.

Disturbing? Yes. After a sentence explaining that the reason they do not post backorder status is because they often do not have a "Definite" ETA, there is a sentence "We lose more business to the delays than if we say nothing."

Pretty much, if we let people know that we don't have things in stock, we'll lose more business than if we just let it go, and essentially LIE to the customers.

"People want their product now" was the next line in the postcard. Well duh, that's why I ordered from you in the first place. Their point was made, if it had said that it was out of stock, I honestly would have tried elsewhere. BUT, knowing that they have the cells that I want, for the application I have, I probably would have waited. I'm not one for buying something quick just to get it quick, I'll wait a while and get the one I want.

"I just wish there was a more beneficial solution" is how it was left. There is, let us know as customers what is going on BEFORE we order. If your cells are that good, then people will wait. At least they'll KNOW what is going on, and not find out that their beloved project is going to last x weeks longer because you want to lie to us just to make a buck.

And speaking of which, I paid via Paypal, and that money has been sitting in their account since 5/31, earning the paypal rate of 5.25% most likely. That money is just as good in my pocket earning interest, and if you couple that with all of the other people they are hosing, it adds up to free money.

If I don't have a real answer, as in "cells are in, pack is being assembled", I may cancel the order and find another solution. I was told the cells would be in 6/15, nope, pushed to Monday, I asked today, and haven't heard back yet.

This is borderline pathetic, and I can't believe people run a business like this. I'm going to wait patiently for an answer, and hopefully someone on this board will calm me down, but I honestly am not happy at all.

Back to the truck - I made a heatsink for the Quark, since I have so much time on my hands while I wait. It is a simple "L" cradle for the bottom and top-side of the unit, and I popped a graphics card heatsink on the top via some Arctic Silver Thermal Epoxy (thanks Brian, awesome tip). Have some aluminum diff housings coming, they'll be here in a couple of days and I can at least build something fun for the truck.

That's my update. Sorry it is lame, but hopefully others see the frustration in this.

-10k