Rocna Anchors Has Been Sold !!!

[winddancer88]

I don't expect any improvements:

The acquiring company is headquartered here:
CMP Global Ltd.
The Business Center,
Upton, St. Michael
Barbados BB 11103

and manufactures here:

JiaDa Specialty Metals Ltd.
#8-1 YongDingHe Rd.
Beilun, Ningbo, Zhejiang
China, 315807

For all I know, this could be the same manufacturer that makes the current Rocna.

[mbetter]

Originally Posted by winddancer88

I don't expect any improvements:

The acquiring company is headquartered here:
CMP Global Ltd.
The Business Center,
Upton, St. Michael
Barbados BB 11103

and manufactures here:

JiaDa Specialty Metals Ltd.
#8-1 YongDingHe Rd.
Beilun, Ningbo, Zhejiang
China, 315807

For all I know, this could be the same manufacturer that makes the current Rocna.

Even I understand that it's not about the manufacturer, it's about what management directs the manufacturer to do... and I'm an idiot.

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by marinextreme

That's all well and good, but I don't see any evidence being presented.

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by mbetter

Even I understand that it's not about the manufacturer, it's about what management directs the manufacturer to do... and I'm an idiot.

How much direct familiarity do you have with Chinese contract manufacturing?

[JonEisberg]

Originally Posted by kwaltersmi

Hmm...given the bad press and current rep, the new owner might do well to change the "Rocna" name.

Perhaps they could change it to "RONCA", that's what most people appear to think the name is, anyway... (grin)

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

I think he did buy it at West Marine, but it would have been in the past three weeks. Seems odd to me that West Marine would continue selling something they have a recall on.

It wasn't a "recall", per se... West simply sent out a notification that there was information questioning whether the anchors had been built to the advertised specs, and inviting those who had concerns to contact Rocna, but would offer a full refund to anyone who wanted to return their anchor...

You're right, however, it is a bit odd they haven't pulled their inventory - the manager at my local store (one of the largest "Flagship" stores in the country) wasn't even aware of the problem with the Rocna... Probably safe to assume they won't be in the 2012 catalog, however...

[LinekinBayCD]

I contacted West Marine as I have a 33 lb China model. They have not had any anchors of any size returned because of bent shanks flukes or other failures. Only because of losing some galvanizing at the tips or undamaged anchors returned just because of "concerns" they don't seem to be too worried about failures.

[SJ34]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

China was NEVER the issue. It was the MANAGEMENT who made the decision to cut the quality of the steel used in the anchors, not the Chinese.

It was the MANAGEMENT who lied about having a RINA Certification years before they actually had one, not the Chinese.

It was the MANAGEMENT who was intentionally lying to customers about the grade of steel used in their anchors while knowing full well that grade of steel was no longer being used and had not been used since 2008.

The Chinese had no part in this other than to manufacturer what they were told to manufacture.

Maine

I have not been following the Rocna debacle that closely and wasn't really commenting on Hold Fast's shortcomings.

You're absolutely right, it is up to the new company to manage their contract manufacturer. I just personally don't see the practicality of enforcing such high mfg standards in the Wild Wild East.

When do you verify the manufacturing specs? How do you make sure the mfg didn't substitute an inferior grade material after the 1000th unit. Do you submit the 1001st unit for testing? If it comes back less that spec what do you do with the 500 units already sitting on retail shelves?
Unless you are Dow or GE how do you force the MFG to take back the inferior product? Will they reimburse freight, customs fees etc etc? If somehow you prevail, how do you prevent them from welding some useless widget to them and selling the returns under the name RONCA to some internet retailer?

The marine community is much more demanding of quality (rightly so) than the average WalMart shopper and I don't think marine safety products are a place for current Chinese mfg practices.

Again, just my .02 but coming from painful experience I wish I could give back.

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by LinekinBayCD

I contacted West Marine as I have a 33 lb China model. They have not had any anchors of any size returned because of bent shanks flukes or other failures. Only because of losing some galvanizing at the tips or undamaged anchors returned just because of "concerns" they don't seem to be too worried about failures.

To me this is a pretty good indicator of how much hype has been blown up around this whole thing. The hysteria was over the top, as evidenced by the above, but the handling of that hysteria by the company was doubly bad.

It's been an interesting study of how PR (both good and bad) can be used very effectively on the internet. So much so that it can take down entire companies in a very short time.

[T34C]

Originally Posted by LinekinBayCD

I contacted West Marine as I have a 33 lb China model. They have not had any anchors of any size returned because of bent shanks flukes or other failures. Only because of losing some galvanizing at the tips or undamaged anchors returned just because of "concerns" they don't seem to be too worried about failures.

That may be, but I can tell you that every WM store around here has removed the Rocna's from their shelves and some have replaced with Manson... (some don't and never had either)

[marinextreme]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Wow. I guess this is a bit of vindication, eh Grant?

If you always tell the truth then you have nothing to worry about but if you play with mud then you end up getting dirty.

The truth is always the cleaner option.