Complaint Review: Mead Floats - Sebring Florida

Update

Mead has continued not to return calls, emails & letters from several attorney's requiring the refund Phil Mead promised back in Nov 2010.

Until this is resolved aurthories both here and New Zealand where Mead is from, will be waiting "to have a chat" should he cross the borders.

Buyer beware!

Grant

Firstly I totally agree with you, but when the legal system in the US lacks support for small businesses I can appreciate why sites like this exsist, frustration comes to mind.

I am not certainly Mead, was his Australian dealer and he personally left this business high and dry with accepting our deposits and failing to deliver. You must understand, one case in FL, Jerry's mate he never received refund for 3 years and only when I pressured him legally, it's similar to my ex-customer who had waited nearly 2 years after paying full amount for something never delivered and then it's me, stil waiting after 12 months. There is a pattern!

What's disappointing is their use of brands, I've never discredited the Mead product, but will discredit the way they do business which is a big difference and why so many over here in Austrlalia were effected, yet we still wait.

I'm not entering into a debate with him, ex-employee or expert in water operations however blaming Clamar for a crash is poor when the NTSB report along with eye wittness on the day can prove otherwise and just confirms Mead's way to cloud the real issues around his business which is what his being doing to us, his ex-customers over 2 years.

Rgs Grant

In regards to the first 2 rebuttals made in defence of Mead, I find it an amazing coincidence that 2 folks favorable to Mead just happened to be passing by, with no axes to grind against any business at the time, and lo and behold, discover this post by an angry Mead customer from overseas, and each jumps in to the water to save their friend Mr Mead! First of all, even if both of your experiences with Mead are legit, it doesn't negate what these folks in Australia experienced with Mead. Second of all, unless both of you habitually scan Ripoff Reports for no reason other than you both enjoy reading the site posts (plausible since that's why I'm here, but NOT probable), it's clear you were either both put up to posting by Mr Mead, or both of you ARE Mr Mead.

Mr Roberts,

I have over 1000 water landings to my credit and several floatplane/amphibs plus floating hull experience and that aircraft water taxied just fine.

Your obviously connected with Phil Mead somehow, equally your statement just shows lack of "actual floatplane" experience. That a/c had a qualified test pilot at the controls at the time after I flew it, and had been operating quite well till the engine malfunction which caused that crash as per the NTSB report.

There were 3 people with us at the time, you were not one of them!

Grant

Would like clear the air about the above topics -

# I was the Australian Mead Float Dealer mentioned earlier and would like to correct Jerry's statement, an ex-employee who resigned!

Firstly Mead had been (still ongoing) investigated by 3 Law Enforcement Depts in the US, 1 in CA and the other in FL and here in Australia regarding the failure by Phill Mead to refund my deposit of $10,000 paid for a set of floats never completed (or even started) by a set contract date signed and agreed to by Mead Floats and myself. That date came and went, thus after several failed promises to deliver I had no choice but find alternative suppliers. Nearly 12 months went by and threats of legal action did Mead return $2,500 (that is admitting guilt) with more funds to follow every 4 weeks! That was in Jan 2011 and nothing since.

Let's clear some comments Jerry made for Phil Mead

# Rans Aircraft - I was one of 4 sales reps here in Australia, I had a good relationship with the importer and Randy, I paid for a kit, and they supplied a very good product. # Comp Air - I was the Australian rep, only after the owners spent over $30,000 of the money meant for the engine & prop and following legal action did I resign! Who could blame me! # Mead Floats - I was the Australian rep, only after the failed contractual agreement expired did I have to seek alternative suppliers, I was one of 3 people I knew off who Mead owed money too, 2 of which Mead legally was bound to repay! # Jerry Roberts - He worked with Mead, left after a dispute, funny his suddenly turned up?

# Comp Air Crash - yes, my C4 recently crashed after an engine malfunction (as per the NTSB report) after takeoff at Merritt Island, I know because I was there! The test pilot thankfully was ok and if it wasn't for the strong design of the Clamar Floats that pilot would have suffered serious injuries or worse! As the impact with the water from 200' was very high indeed.

# Clamar Floats - Like Rans, I found the whole experience with them quite rewarding unlike Mead and Comp Air and is truly unprofessional and totally unacceptable Mead and or Jerry used their names in the content they did. They have many customers who without asking would praise the why they have been treated and the way their product was made!

When you read all the above, try and find the connections and come to your own conclusion, because frankly we are not talking about products BUT treatment or should I say "lack of customer service". On one hand you have people trying to sell a product clearly not made, or you have others miss-using your hard earned money to their advantage and border lines on fraud!

I flew that C4 just prior the crash (like 10mins earlier) and it preformed fine, sure it could have done with a turbine no doubt, but after being ripped off by Comp Air and Mead Floats, there wasn't any spare funds to support this, it flew safely and would have been fine had it not been for the engine malfunction on the day. I was so glad the floats were installed, they saved the pilots life there is no doubt about it!

Regards Grant

Currently I have debt collectors chasing Phil Mead, this saga isn't over unfortunately

Mr Mead,

I have seen the floats that Mr Farrow is having installed on his CompAir C4 and in my opion it is the unsafest install I have ever seen. They are the Clamar floats and they are obviously to small for the plane. It looks like they have had to extend the floats and now the CB (center of buoyancy) is way to aft. This will produce a very dangerous nose down effect when performing a water taxi.

The aircraft is also very under powered for the floats and I doubt it will perform well....if at all. I think you made a wise move by not getting involved any further.

I'm glad I have gone with your floats for my Aircam and I'm impressed with both the weight savings you have and the install so far. I will be the first to give a favorable testimonial on the new Mead 2200A.

Thanks
Mr. Roberts

Hey Phil, I warned you about this guy. He's a nut job to put it bluntly.

I've spoken to a lot of people in the industry about his previous distributorship's with Rans and CompAir, he had them both pulled for professional misconduct, lack of product knowledge and mis-representation. Trust me, you're better of without him.

Good luck!

Jerry

A close friend of mine living in Floridahad a set of 1430 amphibious floats on order with Mead Floats. He just sold his plane, had an offer he couldn't refuse.

Mead Floats gave him back 100% of his deposit without any problem.

I don't know anything about the first report but that sounds like good business to me.