Viking Engine

[Mike53]

Isn't the point of a deposit that it is not refundable?

I put a car for sale on Craigslist on a Saturday one time. A girl gave me a $200 deposit to hold it for her until she could get the rest of the money out of the bank on Monday. Other people were calling and I turned them away. Monday she changed her mind and asked for her deposit back. I gave it back because she was a whining girl.

I probably could have sold the car in one day if it was not for her dinking me around. Instead, I spent four or five days selling it.

If I ever take a deposit again, I am making it clear I keep the deposit if they back out. It is compensation for them making me do things in reliance on their agreement to buy.

Eggenfellner wound up with some screwed Subaru customers. But, I do not think this means he should lose he right for life the keep a $1,000 deposit from someone who backs out because they find a deal they like better on something else -- like the used Jabiru 3300 you scored on Barnstormers. In my opinion, this is true even if you comb the internet for other reason not to like Eggenfellner -- all of which you could have found before making your deposit.

I agree with you generally speaking.When you get down to individual cases it's a judgement call based on money spent and time spent .If Eggenfeller used the deposits as a trigger to invest in more inventory than he feels justified in keeping the deposit.If on the other hand he just deposited the money and spent $0 on acquiring the needed inventory to cover said deposit and spent zero time on said order than in clear conscience he should return the deposit.From what I have heard about Eggenfeller,I still refuse to pass judgement other than not to deal with him on faith alone ,you know ....just in case he is a cad :o
The best is to get in writing what a deposit entails.How much if any is refundable and under what conditions.
I run a Kitchen cabinet business and I require a deposit to pay for the doors and drawer fronts I will order and it is understood in writing that this deposit is non refundable once the door order goes through.

[rizzz]

Last week I ordered my remaining welded components from Sonex, including the VW mount so thought with this decision I ruled out the Viking option for me once and for all (I was kind of relieved ;-)).

It seems though the adapters for the Viking on a VW mount are becoming reality: http://www.vikingaircraftengines.com/SONEX.html.
Although unlikely, he might still be able to win me over after all.

[fastj22]

Nowhere on the sales contract I signed at AirVenture says the deposit is non-refundable. I even asked him at the time, was the deposit refundable. He said it was. To my face.
I assumed he was using his deposits as proof of potential orders to secure a loan for another production run. He could have done that. In that case, I have no problem with him using my potential order to convince a bank to loan him money. I don't know what he did with the deposit. I don't care. I don't think I'll be seeing it again.
Buyer beware.
I can sleep at night knowing I won't be throwing more money down a potential dry hole.
The lost deposit was just a cheap lesson for me (considering how much I could potentially lose).

[rizzz]

I'm afraid it's the Eggenfellner story all over again:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vikingair ... ssage/1079
Whatever happens, it's always the R&D department, ahum I mean the customer's fault.

[Sonex1517]

Wow. I mean really....that is just amazing to read. I went through a few other posts....wow....

[rizzz]

And it's going from bad to worse, now this:

Now we have a question of what to do about the Sonex installation. The 2.33 gear
ratio we use as standard will work if a 3 bladed Sensenich prop is used. This is
the original Sonex blade x 3, rather than 2. I have a new 1.79 / 1 ratio
designed but because of the MUCH lower order quantities on these gears, the cost
is $1 000 more than the 2.33 ratio.

I don't think we have much choice but to try the 2.33 ratio first.

Jan

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vikingair ... ssage/1082

First the change in engine mount recently, now he seems uncertain which prop/gear will work...
How are we supposed to get any confidence in his product?

[fastj22]

There will be no confidence in the Sonex/Viking installation until the R+D department have successfully flown one.

[fastj22]

Anyone notice Jan said on his web forum that the first Sonex installs will go out in Dec?
He told me that 2 Sonex engines had already shipped to Thailand back in August.
Anyone heard anything different?

[rizzz]

Anyone notice Jan said on his web forum that the first Sonex installs will go out in Dec?
He told me that 2 Sonex engines had already shipped to Thailand back in August.
Anyone heard anything different?

That's what I read too, here's what he posted on his forum:

4 engines to Thailand but only one of those were a Sonex. We have decided to do this installation here, as we did with the others. Then everything can be controlled and tested right here. We will have one hanging on a fuselage before Christmas the way things look right now. This will be Jon Croke's "Homebuilt Help" "How to build a Sonex" DVD project. Not sure how he is doing with getting started, but will talk to him. Last I heard he was approached by someone that would want to be part of that but not sure if it went anywhere. He usually does not keep the plane once completed.

Jan

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vikingair ... essage/787

[rizzz]

Well, here's the reply:

We had one going to Thailand, among 4 engines for 701's - This one might become a 701 engine as well
We were close to having one here for an engine upgrade
We were also close to have one built next door.

All above fell through

Jan

Also:

The oned being built next door is a OneX and will go to the land of the Vikings.

Jan

hmmm, a Onex with a Viking.