Ive tried to stay a fan but blank quality is dropping lately and customer service is non existent. I was promised a Gary signed COA for one of their new blanks months ago… nothing. I guess the Shimano teet is still warm enough that we don't matter. The last blank I received a week or so ago looks like a broken finger off a melting snowman.

Here is a reply from Gary, also sent to Marc's email.

-----------------------------------

Marc,

I received a copy of your post to the rodbuilding.org forum from my CEO, Aleks.

I find your note incredibly disrespectful.

There are folks in this world who would fault a man for selling his company to another, once they are given 18 months to live. There are also those who would also write that reference to Shimano that you wrote without realizing that they have sued me at least four times.

I was the person that inspected your blank, as the case with every single C602 blank that we are shipping. I would gladly build on it. I have your signed certificate, we don't ship it in the same tube as the blank, as we do not want the certificate to be bent during shipping.

You also mention that the last blank you received looks like a broken finger off a melting snowman, I would like for you to attach some pictures, online is fine, my eyes are not as good as they used to be - but I can still spine a blank, and evaluate it for a first rate rod build.

In light of the above, I have asked our office staff to send you a return label, and I would like to purchase the blank back from you at full retail price of $300. (Just think, you will make $150 over the span of 90 or so business days, and that is a fantastic return on your
investment)

In addition, I think it is best that you find another blank supplier, we are not a good fit.

Gary

----------------------------------------

Link to email:

[northforkcomposites.com]

I would be happy to. I can also include a photo of the F 864-2 #507 that I still have in case you question my loyalty. Which you clearly have.

Photos sent

Here are the photos as sent by Marc.

[northforkcomposites.com]

Here is Gary's reply:

[northforkcomposites.com]

Here are the pictures provided by Marc.

Gary's reply in text:

----------------------------

> Marc,
>
> I've looked at the pictures.
>
> The first blank is the C602, and it has a very slight curve, nearly 100% of my blanks will have this, and always have. A perfectly straight blank is an exception, and not the rule. I have spoke many times about this, and if casting, place your guides on the outside of the curve and if spinning, on the inside.
>
> The second blank is a picture of my patented ferrule, the swirls of carbon are re-enforcements that are there to prevent the ends from splitting, and to allow the blank to flex through the ferrule.
>
> I would also like to buy the fly blank back.
>
> Gary

-------------------------------



and

Proof of everything I said. Thanks for posting. Feel free to share my other photos or the email string also.

I vote take this private and delete this thread.

Matt Ruggie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I vote take this private and delete this thread.


A year ago this sort of post would not have lasted an hour. Things change.

Mike Ballard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Matt Ruggie Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I vote take this private and delete this
> thread.
>
>
> A year ago this sort of post would not have lasted
> an hour. Things change.
I took some time off rod building and all the fishing forums. But from what I remember you are correct.

I would of gladly deleted this post, however, there is "no winning" in a post like this, as we are both the subject of the post and the owner of the forum.

If more folks weigh in on a removal, I am happy to do so.

Best,
Aleks

As a follow up. I love that fly blank. Would never sell it even though I have sold and donated builds on that same blank in the past. Just clean up your shop guys. My specific order that you are so graciously wanting to refund me for was in early August.

Marc,

Did you read Garys reply? There is nothing wrong with the fly blank, just as there is nothing wrong with the C6O2 blank (clearly seen from the picture)

Gary will not send you a certificate - he has made that clear. You will get a return label, and we will no longer do business.

The order that you put in August was quoted as a pre-order, and although I appreciate the note to clean up our shop - I don't think I saw a note of apology to Gary about how the "teet of Shimano is still warm"

Aleks

My point is made. Delete if you want. Censorship isn't my hill to die on

Post like this should be deleted. Especially after looking at the pictures I don’t see nothing wrong with a blank. I would love to buy that blank and post pictures after it’s built it so something amazing like it was intended to

Marc is happy. Aleks and Gary are happy not to have to do business with an unhappy client. Sell the blank to Ivan and he'll be happy too.

Kudus to Aleks and Gary for taking an open, straight-forward, position and communicating it so well. Looks like all the facts in the dispute are very clear.

Dear All,

I have taken some time to reflect on the above post.

"I guess the Shimano teet is still warm enough that we don't matter" Is a comment left by Marc above. It is a clear, disrespectful dig against Gary. It is undeserved.

Although Gary wont say anything, I am going to stick up for him.

I have suspended Marc's account pending an apology. He has Gary's email address.

I am going to leave the post up, as I believe when you accuse someone publicly - you deserve a public reply.

Best,
Aleks

Aleks, I agree!
Norm

On my screen, that "looks" like quite a bend in the blank. Too bad the picture was not taken along a straight edge for clarity.
Gary

So hard to tell with just a pic. Looks like a pretty good bend from that angle tho