parker, uggh!
 

well, talked to doug, becky, and tom the vp of operations. they charged me $7.10 in shipping for a 1 ounce draw length module for my neighbor. told me that's what ups charges. i deal with ups all the time and that's bs.

also doug cost me 3 hours labor. he's a tech guy. he gave a customer untwisted string lengths for his bow. they don't even know the correct finished length. i talked to doug and he believes you can twist 1.25" out of a string. in other words to start 1.25" long. this, as any string maker will tell you will never work. so, if 90" is printed on a parker limb the correct string length may be around 88.75", or it may not.

i also asked him for a tuning gap or reference pt for timing the cam on my neighbors bow. he said " well, how i usually do it and it seems to work pretty good is kind of get the limb somewhere between 1 of the holes in the cam" its a big hole. he had no idea where that cam was really supposed to sit. i let the vp of operations know no other company i have dealt with, which is all major companies, does business like this. that all other companies have a finished length for their strings and cables and have tuning gaps or specific references because they knew where their bows performed optimally. i know string lengths are not exact, but parker can't even get you in the ballpark, and what's listed on their bows are not even close to correct.

all this is after becky spoke with me for a while, put me on hold for 4 minutes and then i was transferred to her voice mail. this is the most unprofessional company of people who have no idea how to give specific information i have ever dealt with.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

Makes me love my Bowtech more and more :)

RE: parker, uggh!
 

WOW, company's like that wont last long..

RE: parker, uggh!
 

I had strongly considered getting a Parker Hunter Mag, but now I'm extra glad I didn't.I don't regret buying my Ally for one minute!

Mike

RE: parker, uggh!
 

Thats not cool! Sounds like they need to practice what they preach.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

I shot a few parkers.My shoulder still is vibrating from wrist up:D

RE: parker, uggh!
 

As far as the tuning bowtech will tell you the same thing. They are not real clear on exactly how to do it or where the referenence point is. I was told they do it on purpose because it really isn't that important. My shop apeased me by drawing a line on my cam that lines up with my limb for a referance mark. I was going to do that any way. Didn't matter though because it hasn't moved since the day I bought it a year ago, and I even cut a few strands on my string by accident.

My darton has very clear timing marks and good instructions on how to adjust them. However it is a hybrid cam. And I was also told it really was not that important, the bow would still shoot well if they were off. And they were right, I have had them severely off the marks before and the the bow still shot fine. It may not have been as effecient, but it still shot great.

I bet with every bow and set up you would have to actually play with the cam setting to get it perfect, one measurement or setting probably would not be optimum for every set up and draw length.

Mathews is not very clear on how there timing works either. Well actually they don't have any. It works about the same as the bowtechs do.

Parker has been around for a while I don't see them going any where soon.

Paul

RE: parker, uggh!
 

paul, bowtech has very specific tuning gaps. even with the new binary cam bows, if you talk to todd he'll tell you exactly where the cam ought to be, depending sometimes on production date of the bow.

mathews also. if you call bob at mathews and talk to him about proper timing of any cam on any of their bows he'll give you very specific instructions and even send pictures. he'll tell you exactly what peg you better be using, etc. sure, they'll shoot, and you'll hear that line a lot - 'single cams don't have to be timed.' but i always take that to mean they don't feel like fooling with it at the shop. anyway, it was like calling billy bobs bait shop.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

Paul your shop shouldn't need to draw a line on your cam for timing because most BowTech's come with the timing mark's anyway's ,you may not see them but if you use the light they'll be there .

As for Parker they need to sharpen their skill's and be able to answer these kind of question's because somewhere along the line ,I'm sure they've been asked before ,Why should a string maker have to guess .It's either black or white none of this grey..

nubo

RE: parker, uggh!
 

I have an infinity cam, it does not have timing marks. The timing for this cam is described as being checked between the limb and module screw. The timing gaps are listed in thousandths of an inch and said to be within +/- .010. However it never says whether this is the botom of the screw, middle of the screw or top of the screw. I ask the dealer and they said it really doesn't matter they are not that sensitive. They looked at it and said it was fine. Then they drew the line on the cam for me.

And from what I understand mathews works the same way, you go by one of the holes in the cam or something. This is not the same thing as a definable timing mark like some other bows have. It's pretty easy to just draw a line on your came with marker though. It makes it very easy to see if any thing has changed at a quick glance.

Maybe the newer infinities and other cams have some sort of marks on them, but mine is a 2004 and it doesn't.

I honestly don't believe it makes as big a difference as people are led to believe. Heck I threw my darton out of time and it actually got faster.

I love my bowtech, but we had a local dealer get them and he couldn't quite get the hang of adjusting the posts and cams properly and he said bowtech wasn't much of a help to him. I think he pretty much dropped the line and stuck with AR's. Of course maybe he just isn't that mechanically inclined because I didn't think it was that complicated really. It just doesn't work the way you think it should is all.

I can't really comment on Parkers customer service, I have never dealt with them. However I have shot quite a few of thier bows and thought they were pretty nice in comparison to others on the market. The only bow company I have ever had to deal with is Darton and they were top notch over the top helpful. From what I understand bowtech is pretty much the same way.

Paul

RE: parker, uggh!
 

I've heard these horror stories about parker before. I shot a parker phoenix the other day. altho quick, I don't know that I was all that impressed with it. Now I haven't shot a 'naked' bow in some time, but it appeared to me that there was a good amount of vibration in the handle. my hoyt is nothing like that. I haven't heard any put downs about matthews or hoyt. I think that posts like this are helping me narrow my search.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

Hey Paul, Just so you know. Mathews bows have two marks on the cam that when you run astraight edge through them, the line will run parallel with your string. I don't know how much more simplied it can get then that.[8D]

As for other bows, I don't know so I wont comment about them.[&:]

RE: parker, uggh!
 

An actual line on the cam that lines up with your string or cable so you can just look at it and see if it's off. That would be easier. Which is how a darton and a few others are. And that is basically what we did to mine by drawing a line on it.

I thought with the mathews you lined it up with two holes in the cam or something? I don't know, it's been a while since I checked. I don't own a mathews and have not looked real close at the new ones.

Paul

RE: parker, uggh!
 

You need to get out a little more.;):D

Actually, if you go the the right forum, you will see endless bashing of Mathews and Hoyt. In fact, more so than any other bow company. Personally, I don't believe most of the bashing is justified. People with problems tend to gripe about them, and there are more Mathews and Hoyts out there, than most other bows, therefore more opportunity for something to go wrong.

For awhile Parker was one of the fastest growing companines in the country. You don't get that way by being poor at what you do. No matter what, every company will have problems and drop the ball on occassion. If it is frequent, dealers will drop the line for other companies, sales will suffer and it will be obvious to most that you might be taking some risks by dealing with that particular company. It could be that Parker is on the way down, or it could be that this is a somewhat isolated incident.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

I do no have any first hand experience with a Parker bow, so I will stay out of the "mine's better'n yours" argument. But what I do know is the President of the Company, and more so his right hand man Johnny Grace. Johnny was a local pro here in Roanoke, Va. He had his own shop and I bought tons of bows from him. He is their principle designed and spokeperson. They both took me to lunch back in March when I met them at a Game Department meeting. Both of these guys are as solid and as great guys as you could ever meet. They do care about what the shooting public think about the company, and would be glad to address ANY problems anyone might have. They area very fast growing company, and are in the top three right now. If they continue their current rate of growth, they will move into number 2 very soon. With a growing company you always have growing pains, and maybe some issues with production, but these guys are in business to make money, but they do so with taking care of the customers first. Lots of the local pro shops sell their bows, and I rarely hear a negative remark about their equipment here locally. If you do have problems, give Johnny a call. I will be willing to bet he takes care of you in short order.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

Top 3 of what? #2 of what? Of *rate* growth maybe, (sell 1 more than the 1 you've already sold and you've grown 100%) but as far as quality of equipment not hardly. Of advertising, I'm not aware of their campain, and you would think that speaks for it's self. I'm not putting them down, just challenging your claim. Parker bows has some damage control to do hear, lets see how they handle it. You know them, give them a call.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

In sales. Not overall market share, but the number of bows sold. I'm not saying that they are the best company, or that they make perfect bows, but I am saying that from what I know of these guys they will stand behind their product and try to do what is right. They do advertise, but not like a company like Matthews does. Three page ads in every bowhunting mag on the planet, now that's a pretty penny spent. I think word of mouth and pros at the shops sell more Parkers than their ads in a magazine. Why, did you have bad expeience with a Parker bow?

RE: parker, uggh!
 

I bought a Parker UL-31 I think in Sept 2002. I fired several bare bows in comparison and it felt the best to me. I shot the bows (at Cabela's) and found it very smooth, quiet, vibration free against about 6 others (can't remember what they were but none were Mathews or Bowtech). At this time, Parker was not really advertising much and seemed to be putting all, or most, of their money in the archery equipment and customer service.

Ayear or so later, I noticed a flood of marketingcoming from Parker in magazines and on televisionalong with the addition of bow"packages". This isn't necassarly a bad thing, but I've been curious if something had changed at Parker. This year I shot the UL-31 with the santoprene grip (my old one has a very nice wooden grip). I noticed a great difference in the way the bow felt. It was still accurate and fairly quick, but it did have more vibration and didn't come to draw like my older one. If I were in the same position and choosing today, I doubt I would choose it with other bows in that price range.

I still have not had problems with their customer service however. I do think that something has changed at Parker, and from looking at what they are doing from the outside, it looks as though they are putting more of that money that went to R & D and QC toward advertising and getting more of their product out. Both can be done equally well, but in this case, I think the bows have went from excellent down to good, and their marketing has went from poor to adequate. Maybe in the future both of those will be on par with each othe in the excellent column, but until then they will probably loose some of their old customers. JMO

RE: parker, uggh!
 

No, gibblet did. I don't know if I've ever held one all though I think I have. I just found your claim to be interesting. Now they have a P.R. problem here and how they handle it also interest me. How they do handle it will determine whether or not I do look at their bows. I know it's difficult to communicate emotion here and mine is one of suprise at your claim and curiosity at how things turn out. Nothing really negitive other than saddness for the way things are so far. I really would like to here a happy ending to this story. You said you knew them (i think) maybe you have a part to play aye.
:D

RE: parker, uggh!
 

Holy smokes! If Mathews had to personally confront every negative internet post about their company, they'd have to hire 5 fulltime employees to do the job. And for what? To refute, deny or smooth over claims that may or may not be completely true. As a company, they'd look rediculous doing such a thing. In my opinion the smart company stays away from discussing problems on internet forums. Handle all problems by phone, or person to person. The internet absolutely sucks for effective communication.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

They don't have to handle it over the net but could if they like. I was in on one that involved spot hog here that didn't impress me ( supposedly the owner was involved here). The company could at there choosing contact gibblet and try and smooth things over. He has already wasted enough of his own time. I hate to say more because it may affect how they respond. There is a big audience here and it wouldn't hurt any manufacturer to put a plug in here. I know bowtec does. I don't think the net sucks for effective communication, negative post do hurt who ever is mentioned, I am proof of it. You have a point, but to respond here is absolutly free. An appoligy cost nothing here and could push them to #2. :D

RE: parker, uggh!
 

This is probably where our basic differences lie. I'm convinced there is nothing worse than the internet for communication. Also, to respond to every complaint, by internet, will simply encourage more customers to whine online in an attempt to get something out of the company.

Even though you are offended by the company not responding, many are offended when a company does respond, especially if the company makes absolutely any effort to put forth their side of the story. Many assume that what we read here, happens exactly like the poster says. Quite often, important details are left out and/or exagerated. Staying away from this type of interaction is in the companies' best interest. I've yet to see a company do poorly because they stay away from interent interactions. They door poorly when they fail to put forth a competitive product with competitive service.

I do agree that a personal communication would sometimes be effective, but it sounds like they already had one that didn't go too well. In addition, how is a company expected monitor all interent forums for anything said about them? There are dozens of hunting forums. They have a company to run, and with the many thousands of internet posts each day, that would be an enormous job. And in my opinion, a fruitless one.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

you know i was told by the vp of something or other that their strings come in from the string manufacturer untwistes and they twist them to length. that means there are no twists under the serving, and i would about bet anything that they are made overseas or in mexico. straightarrow, i left nothing out and didn't exaggerate, that's the bad part. you make strings, you know how to ask questions, you call them up and get a finished length, or try and find someone there, anyone there, who has any idea what they are. go ahead and ask them if the lengths they print on their limbs are finished or untwisted - and the twists they put it only occur where there is no serving. there's a big debate over this, but you know as well as i do that those strings will twist under there over time until every thing starts evening out, driving a tubeless peep shooter nuts.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

Gibblet,

I wasn't implying that you were exagerating - just pointing out that it occurs frequently.

I agree that most stock strings are horrible and that the manufacturers aren't completely knowledgable about them. This is precisely why I make my own. They are better than any string you will receive with any bow. I know exactly how they'll perform and the amount of creep that will occur, because I make them precisely the same way each time. It's a situation that I take control over, because I know that no manufacturer's stock string will live up to my expectations. I think that the problem is that some companies view this as simply a cost cutting area, and they have strings that are even worse than average. My opinion is that since every string should be replace within a year (or two if you don't shoot much), you might as well put a custom string on your bow from the start, and then always replace it with the same string, made by the same person (company) so you know what to expect. The quality of the string is more important that the bow brand you choose, so why not pick the best you can find, and toss the stock string, no matter what bow company you're dealing with?

I've always been amazed that people will pay $700+ for a bow and shoot a string that they don't how it will hold up over time.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

Some one had a bad day apparently at Parker. I've dealt with them quite a lotsince purchasing my Ultralite Pro and found them to be quite helpful and knowledgeable. In fact my draw length was incorrect on the bow I bought and they sent me all the parts I needed to change my draw from 31 to 28". FWIW.

RE: parker, uggh!
 

I've had this string problem also with Parker. Their strings/cables are bad. On the Phoenix they now use Stone Mtn. Yahoooo, now I hope they listen to everyone and put this quality string/cable on all their bows! Here's the answer to string/cable lengths for Parker bows, subtract 3/4" form the string length and a 1/4" from cable length, boom, the correct twisted length. I know this from experience too! So if the string says 90" on the bow sticker, order a 89 1/4", if cable says 44" on sticker, order 43 3/4". Hope this helps everyone who has questions about Parker strings. If anymore questions, please feel free to pm or e-mail me. I wish all bow manufacturers would put pre stretched string/cables on their bows! I'ld pay the extra $20!!