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MALFUNCTION - Fixe Alien

Marc801 C · · Sandy, Utah · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
claty wrote:I have to say that after the BD recalls for pretty much this same issue (missing rivets) I was wary of using their products and actually switched to Metolious and Fixe to replace some of my cams...
Just to clarify:
1. The BD recall was for improperly finished/peened rivets, not missing rivets.
2. There was a single instance discovered in the factory prior to shipment to any users.

There is no reason to not buy/use BD cams. Just inspect them as you would any other piece of gear from any other manufacturer.
Jonathan Cunha · · Bolinas, CA · Joined May 2014 · Points: 62

I had the same thing happen to a Fixe Blue Alien--contacted Fixe and sent it in. It took about 3 months, but they sent a new one from Spain. I'd do that...

claty · · Cornudella de Montsant, Esp… · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 10

whoops yes my quick shorthand about the BD rivet issue was a bit wrong. The tape slings issue thing was pretty terrible, though! I still climb on my c4s I just thought I'd also use this opportunity to check out some competing gear.

Regardless, I more just wanted to let people know that this issue that was previously identified several years ago by the OP is still ongoing. And since my alien was never placed or used, I can feel confident that misuse/abuse was not the cause of the defect.

moral of the story: check your gear!

Aleks Zebastian · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 175

climbing friend,

on top of the deadly atc, we now have the microfracture in your karabiner, exploding cams, and unwashed and disintegrating ropes!

If you drop your climber, just quote lyrics of Awolnation "Sail" Song - "I blame it on my A T C"

you are going to do the dying

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuLhlrq-92w

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

Folks when theres these kind of issues Take and post up photos

Nothing gets the manufacturer moving like photos of defective climbing gear

Dont worry about "harming their reputation" ... If the manufacturer of life saving gear lets defective items out of the factory to the consummer then they deserve having photos of such gear posted

Its literally lives on the line

KAPUT !!!

I mean unless the manufacturer wants in publicized for a recall no climbing media will inform folks of the issues .... Sportiva delaminations, fixe QC issues, the old petzl ropes (pre edelrid) with sheaths blowing apart, etc .... When was the last time you heard any of this in the climbing media ... They are bought and paid for by ads and sponsorships

Its up to folks here to post up about it (until REI shuts it down under pressure)

As to the BD recall ... There was one MPer who found a defective camalot in his rack

;)

T340 · · Idaho · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 5

After reading this,I won't ever purchase Fixe cams-that's for damn sure.

djh860 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 110

Buy the totem version they are QC nuts !

T340 · · Idaho · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 5

djh,
That's the plan!

Aleks Zebastian · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 175

climbing friend,

For sale:

Rack of dangerous and unreliable fixe alien cams, 3 smallest sizes, myah, $150

T340 · · Idaho · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 5

Sorry but I already spent my "gear allowance" on two new Metolius UL Mastercams. Can't wait to try them out on the climbing rocks.

Myah!

Metolius #7,8 UL Mastercams

patto · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 25

Appalling... I wouldn't be surprised if they got their CE approval removed with such poor quality control. They probably don't have that many European sales though. Alien style cams (AKA CHH/Fixe/Totem) are a US thing. They don't seem to have caught on with climbers elsewhere.

In contrast I've had a replacement cam from an other company even when there hasn't been a manufacturing fault. (Cam held a decent fall, but spring stop broke.)

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
Kevin Daniels aka KD wrote:Hi, my name is Kevin Daniels, from Fixe Hardware, the North American Distributor of the Fixe Aliens cams. The information shared in this Forum is very important to Fixe Hardware and Techrock the manufacturer of Aliens cams. I appreciate the opportunity to address some of your comments and concerns. Fixe Hardware makes every attempt to be responsive to climbers’ inquiries, but to the extent anyone has not received a prompt response to their concerns, I sincerely apologize. In addition, I would like to provide the climbing community and our customers with accurate information about Fixe Aliens, their manufacture and improvements made to their design. And, it is necessary to correct inaccurate statements made by one poster. As many of you are aware, the original CCH alien design for Aliens included a round “end cap” nut that secured the axle end (it was secured by epoxy). This design had been used successfully by CCH for over 20 years in the production of many thousands of Alien cams. When Techrock purchased the rights to Mr. Wagner’s design, it was required that Techrock make no design changes to Aliens for a period of two years. However, prior to the two year mark being reached, it was brought to my attention that an end cap screw came off one of these “original design” Alien cams. How this happened was not clear. Contrary to the impression given by some, these end cap nuts don’t just fall off. However, in an abundance of caution, Techrock the manufacturer changed the end cap screw to a rivet system. This rivet system is also found on the newer Alien Evolution (“Evo”) series cams. The rivet found on all current “original” Aliens and the newer Alien Evo cams cannot be removed. The riveted end may rotate, but it cannot come off the axle. As the distributor for Aliens, Fixe Hardware has a process for reviewing any product which a warranty or other claim is made. If any customers have questions of concerns, they may contact us at: warranty@fixehardware.com. For warranty claims, you fill out a simple form and return the unit for inspection by the manufacturer. Unfortunately, it is now necessary to address the posts by “Claity” [Clara Soh] which are certainly not accurate. Without question, the Alien cam she mentioned was not defective in any respect. In April of this year, Fixehardware received an email from Ms. Soh claiming that a blue Alien she purchased from Rock & Snow was defective, and asking if she could return the unit and receive a replacement. Ms. Soh told me that she could remove the nut from the axle and disassemble the unit. I provided Ms. Soh with a warranty form and requested she return the unit to Fixe Hardware for inspection. Rather than returning the unit to Fixe Hardware, Ms. Soh did not communicate back with Fixe Hardware and instead called Rock & Snow and returned it to them (making the same claim). Rock & Snow inspected the cam and found nothing wrong with it. The riveted nut did rotate some, but the riveted nut could not be removed. Rock & Snow even took vice grips to unit and could not remove the nut. Even so, Rock & Snow contacted me and returned the unit to Fixe Hardware. I inspected the cam and confirmed what Rock & Snow reported: there was nothing wrong with the cam. Fixe Hardware remains committed to addressing any and all concerns of users of Alien cams. Aliens have been an integral part of climbers’ racks and a unique and vital climbing tool for decades. All Aliens manufactured by Techrock have CE certification. We believe that the new Alien units being manufactured by Techrock are the best Aliens ever produced. We appreciate your business and want to hear from you about any questions you have concerning these products. Thank you, Kevin Daniels Fixe Hardware
This is not going to go well. Outing customers on the internet, regardless of how you feel about them, is very poor form.

Kevin Daniels aka KD wrote:This design had been used successfully by CCH for over 20 years in the production of many thousands of Alien cams.
I laughed at this.
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
Ray Pinpillage wrote: T Outing customers on the internet, regardless of how you feel about them, is very poor form.
+1 Unfort its a one way street for the customer only...
claty · · Cornudella de Montsant, Esp… · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 10
Ray Pinpillage wrote: This is not going to go well. Outing customers on the internet, regardless of how you feel about them, is very poor form. I laughed at this.
LOL I laughed, too...thanks Kevin for sharing your (very biased) side of the story. If only you had responded with such care and conviction the first FOUR times I tried to reach out and contact you!

In case anyone is wondering, I have a recording of some of the 13 minutes that Kevin screamed at me over the phone (thanks to OR 165.540, I live in a one-party consent state, and was legally able to record our conversation) if you'd like to know how Kevin treats a girl who just wants to get out and climb when he doesn't realize he's being recorded I'm happy to share what really happened. Mr Daniels can make any unsubstantiated one-sided claims riddled with inaccuracies he wants here and make it sound like he's some kind of victim who just tired to do the right thing, but I have a recording of our call which I started after he verbally threatened me.

Suffice to say we have a difference of opinions on what my responsibility as a customer was and Fixe's responsibility was as a manufacturer but at least I tried to keep it civil. The same cannot be said about Mr. Daniels so I decided to terminate my interaction with Fixe and deal the the retailer where I bought the cam and who were super super nice and easy to work with. What Mr Daniels leaves out of his tirade above is that they were alarmed enough at the condition of the cam to IMMEDIATELY SWAP it out for a totem for me.

Regardless of what you think, just a little bit of searching in these forums will show you numerous instances of MP'ers being treated poorly by Mr. Daniels; his words and actions that others have experienced can stand for themselves. Just to get you started, here is about 8 pages of discussion Mr Daniels' charming demeanor: mountainproject.com/v/bad-c…

So, thanks for putting my name all over the internetz Kevin!! And for threatening me with your lawyers over the phone! Have a great life. It must be tough being so angry all the time. Smile and live a little...climbing is supposed to be fun! XOXO.
Aleks Zebastian · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 175

climbing friend,

The wang-slapping through tubes of internet has reached unbelievable new levelsszzzzz tubes of internettttzzzsssszzzzz!!!!

Draw Thief · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 70
claty wrote: LOL I laughed, too...thanks Kevin for sharing your (very biased) side of the story. If only you had responded with such care and conviction the first FOUR times I tried to reach out and contact you! In case anyone is wondering, I have a recording of some of the 13 minutes that Kevin screamed at me over the phone (thanks to OR 165.540, I live in a one-party consent state, and was legally able to record our conversation) if you'd like to know how Kevin treats a girl who just wants to get out and climb when he doesn't realize he's being recorded I'm happy to share what really happened. Mr Daniels can make any unsubstantiated one-sided claims riddled with inaccuracies he wants here and make it sound like he's some kind of victim who just tired to do the right thing, but I have a recording of our call which I started after he verbally threatened me. Suffice to say we have a difference of opinions on what my responsibility as a customer was and Fixe's responsibility was as a manufacturer but at least I tried to keep it civil. The same cannot be said about Mr. Daniels so I decided to terminate my interaction with Fixe and deal the the retailer where I bought the cam and who were super super nice and easy to work with. Regardless of what you think, just a little bit of searching in these forums will show you numerous instances of MP'ers being treated poorly by Mr. Daniels; his words and actions that others have experienced can stand for themselves. So, thanks for putting my name all over the internetz Kevin!! And for threatening me with your lawyers over the phone! Have a great life. It must be tough being so angry all the time. Smile and live a little...climbing is supposed to be fun! XOXO.
Jimmy Downhillinthesnow · · Fort Collins, CO / Seattle, WA · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 10

And through tubes of phone lines! I, for one, am pretty curious about that recording...

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

When my red alien (pic previous page) had the nut fall off midway up a 14 pitcher ... There was no sign of epoxy

Fortunately MEC took care of the issue

;)

claty · · Cornudella de Montsant, Esp… · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 10
James Sledd wrote:And through tubes of phone lines! I, for one, am pretty curious about that recording...
I'm more than happy to share more details offline with anyone who wants to hear the full story. I, unlike Mr D, am not in the habit of publicly putting my dirty laundry online. I feel it's more fair to everyone involved if they get all of the details individually rather than from a somewhat uncharitable recording of Kevin being posted online. Feel free to PM me for more details -- I might be a bit slow about getting back to you, though as I'm about to head out for the long weekend!
Aleks Zebastian · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 175

climbing friend,

I humbly suggest California is not a one-party consent surreptitious audio recording state, no, no. Perhaps start deleting posts to destroy the evidence and perhaps don't offer to email possible illegal recordings around in advance of inevitable lawsuit, if climbing friend daniels was in his home state at the time???

:-(

Climbing friend daniels, may I humbly suggest you realize you need to treat customers better and not as adversaries, even if some are crazy assholes, and even if you believe they are dirty, wrong, naughty walking cash machines from which the cash must be extracted!!! You must at least _appear_ to care, or at least _appear_ to want to care and take the high road, not engaging in public wang-slapping through tubes of internet.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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