Old Buzzard’s Soaring Book

[jbird]

This book has been recommended by numerous people for someone new to thermal flying (I qualify :D ).

I checked on the internet for the book. Skybench came up in the search, but the site indicates they're out of stock. The only other site that came up was Carstens Publications. I ordered the book and received email order confirmation right away.

After two weeks went by, I emailed Carsten inquiring about the order. Two more weeks have gone by with no response.

Has anyone else dealt with Carstens? Is this their standard way of doing business? Should I alert my credit card company not to accept their business (since it appears that no product will be forthcoming)?

Thanks for any comments.

Jim

[StevenatorLTFO]

This book has been recommended by numerous people for someone new to thermal flying (I qualify :D ).

I checked on the internet for the book. Skybench came up in the search, but the site indicates they're out of stock. The only other site that came up was Carstens Publications. I ordered the book and received email order confirmation right away.

After two weeks went by, I emailed Carsten inquiring about the order. Two more weeks have gone by with no response.

Has anyone else dealt with Carstens? Is this their standard way of doing business? Should I alert my credit card company not to accept their business (since it appears that no product will be forthcoming)?

Thanks for any comments.

Jim


It's been a couple of years, but Carstens is where I got mine. I don't remember it taking a real long time, but it might have been a few weeks. Maybe give them a phone call?

Steve

[neilmny]

Don't worry too much. I remember mine took a while to arrive. I kind of remember thinking it wouldn't arrive. On the flying models "book hangar" web site where I ordered mine (links to Carstens) http://www.flying-models.com/

it states -

Prices and availability subject to change without notice.
Please Allow 4 to 6 Weeks for Delivery

Prior to ordering the book I emailed an enquiry and got no answer at all. I still ordered it and on placing the order I got an automated acknowlegement of the order.

Neil.

[panzerd18]

I ordered 3 dvd's from Radio Carbon Art on thermal soaring.

[jbird]

Neil; thanks for the info. I'll hang in there awhile.

panzerd18; ? Does Radio Carbon Art have business ties with Carsten? I don't understand the connection.......

[prodjx]

The latest Issue of Flying Model's show's that book just inside the back cover as being for sale, though it look's like the soaring selection has been thinned out, it's a great book BTW.

[nuevo]

have you called Carstens?

[dhaverlah]

Don't know about the connection, but the RCA dvd's are worth every penny.

[jbird]

I haven't called as that costs money. I would think in this day and age, email would more than suffice but since it's not being answered...........

For the time being, I'll wait longer to see if it shows up. All the other vendors I've dealt with in this hobby have very quick delivery times as part of their service, so was concerned when that didn't seem to be the case with this vendor.

Thanks for all your responses and help,

Jim

[nuevo]

ok, I just figured everyone has cell phones, which come with free long distance. Most regular long distance is just a few cents / minute.

Realize that since email is free, all vendors (not just this one) get 100's of emails per day asking every question under the sun. Mostly from tire kickers that are never going to spend a nickel. Since their email addresses are often published on the web, they are ripe for literally 100's of spam emails per day. That means, like it or not, emails likely have a much lower priority for a vendor. There's just too much chaff to sort through. If a customer cares enough to call, then they pay attention.

Best wishes on the book. Let us know how it turns out. I've had a few friends order this exact book from Carstens with no problems. I got my own copy from Thornburg himself, long ago.

[GBR2]

I ordered mine a year or so ago from Carsten's. Took a few weeks for it to show up but it did. Think it was sent out book rate which has a pretty low priority for the post office.

[jbird]

No, my cell has no free long distance......my wife gets on me if I use any regular minutes as it is.... :rolleyes: ..... since I share the minutes with my college age son who needs the minutes more than I do :D .

Good point on the email, I'm in a different type of business where email is considered a standard form of communication. But, they say patience is a virtue so I'll just practice that. Nice to know that Carstens just takes longer and probably not a problem....

Thanks,

Jim

[jjc]

I bought a copy from Carstens last winter. It was very slow in coming, but it finally showed up. It is a fun read. John

[Jurgen]

It is a very nice & funny book to read, but nowadays, searching downwind is more common practice than back then, due better wind penetration.

[Wylie Shaw]

I bought a copy from Carstens last winter. It was very slow in coming, but it finally showed up. It is a fun read. John


It's still a good read, I've read it a couple and re-reading it again..


Wylie Shaw

[arukum17]

I wish Buzzard had written a sequel for electric assisted soaring

[FrogChief]

Someone should scan it to PDF.

[Ken Barnes]

Someone should scan it to PDF.

As far as I know Dave Thornberg is still among the living. He gets income from every copy of the book that is sold. I doubt he wants the book scanned to .pdf.

[onethermal]

By far it is one of the best books for new pilots and for old ones to that need a good chuckle. I met Dave a few years back and I got him to sign My book.

PDF is not a good thing without hearing from Dave himself.

I know that when I have ordered books off the internet from small book sellers and they are slow, and everyone likes to use media mail...extremely cheep and slow to match the price.

Clarence

[Bob Cook]

HI Jbird,

The book is a gold mine of good basic info. I have the RCA DVD's too. It's all good stuff. If this deal goes bad for you, let me know and I'll give you the address to order it from Dave.

Bob in Seattle

[FrogChief]

As far as I know Dave Thornberg is still among the living. He gets income from every copy of the book that is sold. I doubt he wants the book scanned to .pdf.


Ok. No problem there.

It's just that I've been trying to get a copy for over two years with zero success.

Perhaps it could be scanned to .PDF and distributed electronically for a fair sum. I do know Amazon allows .PDF and ebook downloads for about 30% less than a print version.


It may be an idea.

[FrogChief]

HI Jbird,

The book is a gold mine of good basic info. I have the RCA DVD's too. It's all good stuff. If this deal goes bad for you, let me know and I'll give you the address to order it from Dave.

Bob in Seattle


Bob,

Could you please PM me the ordering info as well???

Thanks,

-Sean

[Bob Cook]

Sure thing Sean, stand by.

Bob in Seattle

[RollingR6]

Well, I ordered one from Carstens after reading this thread. I hope he gets his book. I had previously seen the book for sale on amazon for like one billion dollars or so, and thought that I could finally get one for a decent price.

[Hossfly72]

Hey fellers! Take a trip over to Skybench (http://www.skybench.com/index.html?http://www.skybench.com/nostalgia/articles/favorites.html) and you can read a few of Dave's articles while you're waiting for the book. There may even be a few articles that aren't in the book. Either way, it'll get you in a good frame of mind for the book when it arrives!

[LVsoaring]

I ordered one a couple of years ago, and it did take a while. I finally called and spoke to a very nice lady who apologised for the length of time it took to ship, but didn't offer an explanation as to why. Hang in there, it will show up.

[ashinsky]

i ordered two copies a few weeks ago- apparently Carsten is re- organizing the staff- they lost my order and i needed to call them 2 or 3 times- I would highly recommend that you call them- the women who handles the orders was very pleasant and apologetic

[jbird]

Thanks for the info. I've still not received anything and no response on emails. I checked my credit card web site and nothing has been charged against it. I know most places don't charge until shipping but it may mean a lost order also. I may have to spend the long distance dollars to call.

Jim

[Steve Stenbom]

I got a copy of this book some months ago. I ordered it online, and then nothing - for a couple of weeks. So I called. I talked to a nice lady who was very apologetic and frazzled-sounding. She complained about people being on vacation, etc. They don't have any order automation at all, or at least they didn't then. Anyway, she got the book in the mail in the next couple of days.

Just call. You'll be glad you did.

Steve

[Ray Hayes]

Someone should scan it to PDF.


Just so you guys know, attorney's are loving the internet, it is providing a big boost to their earnings due to infrignments as suggested above.

Here is the Link to the "Soaring Histroy" page on my web site, click on "My favorite articles by Dave Thornberg" .

http://www.skybench.com/nostalgia/nindex.html


Ray
Sky Bench Woodys For Ever
http://www.skybench.com

[RollingR6]

jbird, did you ever get your book? I ordered one a few days after your post went up and am wondering if I should call to speed the process up. I will be moving in about a week.

[jbird]

No, haven't received anything. Haven't followed up again though either. :rolleyes:

The only field with in reasonable driving distance for my 3m is not available anymore. I'm working on a big bird but am changing to a motor glider and flaps so I can operate from smaller fields. Not many of them around that aren't fenced off but at least there's some. So since I'm not flying for awhile, less urgency. :(

I'll have to give them a call.

Jim