Well, it looks like somebody over at Code 3 either lost their sense of humor, or has just had enough. Try logging on, a message comes up saying "The Bulletin Board has been suspended indefinitely."

Sounds like more than a technical difficulty to me.

Well Steve, I will get the blame for this one.
I followed up on someones remark about the DP Ladder being released in december, but not scheduled to ship untill january.

My reply was, "Released in december, scheduled to ship in january, but some will ship in february, and the residue will become "currently unavailable" untill march 2008"(remember squad 61)

This was code 3's response,
"I am curious to know why you would leave posts indicating that 1)Code 3 delibrately delayed the release of the new Diamond Plate to 2007 and 2)why you would post that this item will not ship as announced when the shipping of all 2006 items has been 100% on time based on announced release dates.

You ask for more information yet when we give it you twist it around into negative posts. If I were members of this board I would be really disappointed in your posts because you will cause it to be shut down.

Code 3 Collectibles
Administrator.

And the Code-3 membership benefits just keep getting better and better. No newsletters, no chat board, delay after delay on the membership pieces, etc, etc. It's so refreshing nowdays to see a company who truly cares about their paying membership customers...NOT!

Pete,

I saw your post, and personally I can't find anything inflammatory about it. It's nothing compared with some of the raves (including one or two from me) that have appeared in the past.

Evidently, you just pulled on the wrong hair.

I have not been on that board in a while...did anyone post a picture of the upcoming FG Clinton FD Kenworth on their board? That would have been enough to rattle their heads into a permanent migraine!

spread the word, boycott, boycott. I am working on the picket signs as I post this. Unite against CODE 3, Boycott I say!!!!!!!!!

Pete, I dont think you had anything to do with it. I think it was just an excuse for Code 3 to close it down. That place never ceases to amaze me.

"" Re: Code 3 board goes bye-bye!

spread the word, boycott, boycott. I am working on the picket signs as I post this. Unite against CODE 3, Boycott I say!!!!!!!!! ""


Too late... I have been for a long time.

As far as them planning on shutting it down anyway, I agree completely....this way they think we will "blame" someone else for their own inability to handle hearing(reading) the truth about themselves. They(as most American companies lately) need to be reminded that at least eventually, you get as you give.(but I am sure they couldn't care less)

Hi Everyone;

First, the suspension of the board had nothing to do with any individual post. It has been a long time coming that the board has just been a place for people to tee off on other members and Code 3 with no consequence for what they say. A certain number of people think it is ok to hide behind their computer screens and either attack others or spread false information with out even checking with me to find out the real answer. In the last month I have had 6 complaints from members to pull posts down where they felt they were being attacked. This is almost the exact situation that forced the suspension of the board years ago when members where attacking each other with personal threats.

So the board will be down until we can find an alternative that allows 100% moderation.

In the meantime if you have a question email me directly at scottschellhase@code3.net.

Thanks

What a load of CRAP, if you cant afford to keep it up and running just admit it, we'll understand

SHOULD THIS BE THE CASE..........WHAT ARE ,OR DID WE PAY MEMBERSHIP FOR?????TIME TO START ASKING FOR REFUNDS?........I MEAN WHAT "WERE" SUPPOSE TO RECEIVE FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP? ALLEGEDLY FROM READING SOME POSTS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE YET TO GET THE LADDER AS PROMISED .........POSTAL NEWS LETTER IS GONE.......IS IT TIME TO AS A GROUP NOTIFY THE PROPER AUTHORITIES? THERE MAY BE A FEW ...LETS SEE OF THE TOP OF MY HEAD....U.S.POSTAL SERVICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ? FEDERAL ISSUES DUE TO CODE 3 SELLING/DEALING WITH BY INTERNET? THEY WERE THE GREATEST COMPANY.WE JUST DO NOT KNOW WHATS REALLY GOING ON, HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL TURN AROUND

Location: Mass

As a bit of a sub-note here... you DID NOT have to be a member of the "Collector's Club" to use the boards. Therefore, it was not a membership "benefit."

I wasn't really missing anything with the board. No offense to Code 3. Matter of fact, they might better off without it. People are going to buy what they want, for diffrent reasons. No one is ever going to tell me what to or not to buy. They know the competition is serious out there (or getting serious). I, for one, am losing interest in 1:64 (FDNY, Chicago and locals to my area exempt). The NMMM (accurate or not), and the laeger scales are my focus now. If anything is to blame for the board not being around, there are two: big mouths and small brains.

I found it interesting to see FUNRISE written on the invoice instead of Code 3. LQQks like that's where they are headed.....back to plastic

Location: Md.

As I said in fireengines.net forum... I don't think it had anything to do with fiscal issues, or the result of Pete(UK)'s posts. The Code 3 boards were becoming a 'ragfest' on everything and everybody. Most of the knowledgeable persons that have posted in prior years on those boards limited their postings, gone elsewhere, or have moved on in life. Personally, I won't miss it. And I am suprised that it didn't get taken off-line sooner.

Corgi had one, and had the good sense to remove it when it started to deteriorate.

actually it all started year's ago when code 3 first started.the mom&pop store's who helped them jump to the top of the fire diecast industry.they got their thank's in the form of "bend over so we can stick it in your A**".code 3 made them stop selling their stuff so that they could directly market it and push out the middle man.they made the little guy buy hundred's of piece's at a time to sell.i was told recently that athearn has done the same thing too.no wonder walther's stopped carrying athearn.

I for one am glad that Scott shut it down. I've been a board member and club member for quite a few years and frequent the boards almost everyday just to check out our "gossip".
But lately there has been new blood that appears to show up, stir the pot, get everyone wound up and leave. Some of the personal attacks go way beyond description and should never be posted on the boards.
I have found many good honest brothers on the boards and made good friends.
I also have bought, sold and traded with many stand up guys and will miss our "gossip" with them all.
Sorry that so many top notch brothers have to suffer for the acts of others.

Location: Connecticut

Anyone a clue if this is the real scott schelhase responding?

Location: The Netherlands, the behind the ***** wooden shoe and grasscountry

I think what it comes down to is that Code 3, to some extent, probably feels that as a company it's one thing to criticize models, companies, services, but to attack people on a personal level just takes things down a dangerous road. Code 3 (and you can't blame them) probably doesn't want to be associated with that. And knowing that we have other Boards at our disposal, that was probably one more reason to take it offline.

I think these Boards are a tremendous resource to the hobby. I don't believe in censorship at any level, but I also believe that if you have a personal issue with someone or a post, you should take it up with them directly and offline. It's a private matter.

The vast majority of the content on this board is done tastefully, informatively and honestly. It's why it has stood the test of time and will continue to do so. There isn't a list of rules concerning posting--and there shouldn't be. That's because 99% of the posters know the limits and the difference between right and wrong.

My 2 cents.......

NO COMMENT.

Hear, hear, John! I agree with you 100% (except for that lime business . . . I think REAL fire trucks are red . . . Oops, there I go acting like a Code 3 board member!).

Location: SE Virginia

Hello,

Its a shame and I hope not a sign of the demise of Code 3. As for Scott, try replying to a e-mail once in awhile. I have sent you a couple this year on various topics and as yet have to gain a reply. I have collected Code 3 since the start which initially was hard to do when based in the UK. The customer service over the last couple of years has left something to be desired. Its a shame.

Location: Hartlepool,Cleveland, UK

.i was told recently that athearn has done the same thing too.no wonder walther's stopped carrying athearn.

That has nothing to do with Walther's not carrying Athearn. Athearn and a few other companies were bought by Horizon, a Distributor whose policy is that, they are the sole distriibutor. Horizon had a bad reputatioon regarding the products they had before but has surprised many Hobby Shops with how they are doing business now.

The costs of running the board must have been resonably significant and given that Code 3 are moving to a leaner business model I can see why they'd get rid of the board, given its limited commercial value of late. It's going to make it fun to finalise those deals that were being done via the boards PM system however....(se seperate post)

Location: Sydney

I think it wrong and they need to put it back if not they just lost a member.And i think code3 are a bunch of cry babies.

What a surprise to recieve 25 E-mails notifying me of the closure of the C3 Board. Although its loss isn't life threatening, it does denote the condition which C3 seemingly isn't interested in admitting ... their business practices are up the preverbiale tributary, without the proper means of locomotion!

As for contacting Schellhase personally ... he(like others in the past at C3) hasn't responded to ANY communication from me in four years!!!

There won't be any flag draped coffin, no last alarm, no Taps to be played ... they weren't Family anyhow, and proved it over the years. Yet, I will still miss that Board. The constant BS, the few good discussions with thought out arguments and comprimises. The many times Members posted their models and we all got to admire their work ...

It was a place I went in sickness and health, like marriage and the firehouse, to enjoy the banter and, perhaps engage in some useful chit-chat about things firematic ... this too has passed.


To those of you whom I used to meet over there, I guess we'll haveta meet somewhere else, and hope that the innane antics of the few won't infiltrate yet another firehouse kitchen.


One-One-Oh to Brooklyn K ... Maybe they'll become REAL collectables now

Location: Hollywood, Fl

Come on Holland, How many Scott Shellhase's are out there ? What are you thinking!

I wonder if C3 is going to try and silence their critics on this forum now? Just look at the FDNY decal issue, you can't tell me they didn't have some hand in that as well. There is nowhere safe in cyberspace from their reach!

C3 is taking over our hobby! lol.

and not a moment too soon.

but when you're through sulking scotty, you can come back and pway wiff us.

p.s. guess this means we won't have to be renewing those club memberships in 2007.

NO BENEFITS = NO SALE.

Well they left up the chat

And yet when you click on to become a member,
"BE THE FIRST to get exclusive information on Code 3 Collectibles Fire & Rescue releases. The quarterly newsletter, mailed directly to your home, will keep you up to date on upcoming releases, including special features such as engine or ladder numbers and unique paint schemes. Be the first on the scene for Code 3 Collectibles information."

and further down,
"Features available to all members:

The Workshop - Preview models under development
Club only web announcements "

Just to add to the chorus, I used to check the Code 3 board every other day - for awhile, more often than that. I can count on the fingers of one hand (and have some left over) the number of times I've looked at the board this year (and I don't think I've posted there at all). Nothing particularly against Code 3, it just wasn't interesting anymore, unlike this forum. I do sort of empathize with C3's frustration over the continual bashing, but a company has to have a thick skin. Anyway, it wasn't a membership benefit, as was pointed out above, but it was an "extra" that helped build a lot of interest in C3 in earlier days. If it no longer does that, I have no problem with them shutting it down - I won't miss it anyway. For what it's worth, I've been a club member for several years and joined for only one reason - to get discounts on models. However, I'd barely break even now with the number of models I buy (2 so far this year and ordered the FL engine).

Massfirebuff.....

What FDNY decal fiasco are you talking about? I never knew of any.....fill me in....I think RoadBlockers put out a sweet set--the memorial set that had the bunting to decorate a pumper.....

Read English Pete's post again. Scott (and yes I think that message was from Scott) threatened to close the board yesterday and then surprise poof its gone. Now I have been on the end of some sharp tounges over there and some of it was a little out there but hey, ever been in a fire house kitchen.

Code 3 over-reacted and now they have a problem. How do you do 100% moderation - answer you cannot.

Anybody notice the lime truck on this site - how cool is that

Location: Arlington VA

I sent them an e-mail and this is what i got back from them.
Due to continued abuse of of the Posting guidelines set forth for our Bulletin Board we have suspended this Feature of the website indefintely.We are sorry that the actions of a few have resulted in this action.This action is Permanment until we can put a 100% moderated board in place. Thats what they sent.

They can't even afford real customer service.. How are they going to be able to afford 100% moderation? Suites me just fine, I've been getting interested in other companies anyway..

Sean

Well I was reallyy surprised when I went on tonight to the C3 Board, and it was shut down.

Location: ST. CHARLES/SUGAR GROVE, IL

This is off topic, and it might sound dumb, but is there a way to "register" my info on this site (I am new to this site)? Some of you might remember my screen name from the C3 board. Thanks for the help.

Location: ST. CHARLES/SUGAR GROVE, IL

Like Antonelli says: a 100 % moderation doesn't exist (yet)and almost any Board is crowded with people that like to start discussions or to bash, just for fun. As I wrote some time ago, this board is a happy exception. I hope it stays that way.

Location: belgium

Yes, 100% moderation does exist. Some forum applications can be set up where the moderator or administrator must approve all postings before being placed on the board.

Larry

I've always kind of thought the idea of moderating a message board was funny. If you think that the posters can't be trusted to monitor themselves, and requires your input to censor "offensive" comments, then why have it in the first place?

I hadn't been on the board in the past couple of days, but I can't imagine anything was bad enough to shut it down. The expense of maintaining it can't be that much (there are free BB packages with as many, if not more, features as C3's board). If I had to hazard a guess, the company probably wants to move away from this product line, or at least absorb C3 into the Funrise structure.

While I don't think C3 is going away, I do think that the company as a whole will be much different in a year than what we remember. No message board, no chatroom, no newsletters, no weekly "what's new", and a radical change of the club membership.

In a way, it's kind of sad. If you could get past the habitual whiners and complainers, the board was a decent place for trading pictures, sharing stories, voicing opinions, and just shooting the breeze.

Location: Des Moines, IA

Larry....

Ok, 100% exists, but hypothetically if someone does have to approve the posts--what are the guidelines that govern posting.

Sure, someone cursing or threatening another poster should be blocked, but I'm willing to bet what also will be blocked are any posts which reflect negatively on Code 3--to me, that aspect is censorship.

That's why this Board is and always will be the best (And admittedly, yours is excellent as well!). All posts are welcome and sure sometimes people push the envelope, but for the most part it's fairly benign.

Code 3 is a private company. They are allowed to 'censor' what you say with regard to their product, another board member or anyone or anything that may be construed as threatening or slanderous. Same goes for this board. Mike can take away any post that he deems threatening, unfavorable or distasteful. I understand the concept of free speech, but be fair, there is a fine line between slander and free speech, and this comes from someone who works for a newspaper.

Just my 2¢...

There always was a great deal of well deserved, very frank but decently phrased criticism of Code 3's product and customer service on those boards. Likewise, there was never a shortage of petty gripes and unreasonable complaints.

I highly doubt it was the recent actions of a few that brought it down. I think it's more because of wide spread changes at Code 3 or its parent company.
They have discovered that they can easily sell trucks that are more expensive yet more generic. Only the paint and the numbers change.

I wouldn't be surprised if we soon see mass-market blister packs of Code 3 trucks, appropriately devoid of detail and finish, hanging in Wal-Mart or Target.
Road Champs didn't have a BB or Customer service either.

Like their absence at FDIC, Code 3's decision to close the forum is disappointing but not altogether surprising. As of late, I was only visiting occasionally and hadn't posted in months. Say what you want about the quality of their products, but the quality of their forum had taken a considerable slide recently. The fault for this downturn lies not with the company but squarely with some of the contributors. Short of having a full-time playground chaperone, Code 3 did the right thing.

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

There are boards with 100% moderation. It happens in many different ways. The diecast board I moderate has many "rooms" each with a moderator. In addition there are several general moderators. If any of us see a violation we handle it immediately. The other way is posts are screened before the post goes up to the public viewing. Neither of these would be very efficient for Code 3 to run.

I really can't believe Code 3 let the board go on as long as they did. I think their original intention was good. It was to provide a place to talk about models and get some ideas and feedback. However it quickly became a bash board. To say a company needs to be thick skinned is one thing. But for Code 3 to accept everything that has been thrown at them is another. In fact even when Scott Schellhase comes here and gives an explanation, many either dismiss it or mock him. Tell me how many of you would sit back and take that?

Like Dick, I left the board a while ago. I would pop back in every now and then only to leave before going through the active topics. I just found it annoying to be on there. Etiquette and manners seems to be absent. Logic and reason were often left out of many discussions. And no matter how nice of a product Code 3 made, the end result was to find the smallest fault. I also found it tiresome to hear argument or discussions on how to run a company from people who have little or no business or manufacturing background. Perhaps it was different in recent times but I doubt it was.

The truth is Code 3/Funrise makes some of the best diecast models out there. I believe they will continue to do so. Are they perfect? NO. Are they good? Darn straight. I wish them continues success. If someone decides that the decision to close a message board is reason enough to no longer collect the models, so be it. But to b!+(h, moan and berate just seems excessive. (Chuck excluded).

Off the soap box.
Jeff

Here's a saying for you all to ponder: the internet is a global village and it combines all the worst features of globalisation with all the worst features of a village. For the record, I am not sure this is a problem with Code 3, or a problem with our hobby, it is a problem with the way people feel free to behave in the most outrageous ways when they are online "in public" and yet huddled behind their 'personal' computer. Lets all say a prayer for the person who is going to be made the moderator - maybe a pay hike comes with that...

Obviously people have different ways of expressing themselves, even more difficult in type. I agree that code 3 makes some of the BEST diecast models around, the problem is that everything else they do SUCKS!!!! They don't "Have" to give any type of explantation, but when they do they only address the easier to answer, dodging the so called bullet. That creates a more hostile ( for lack of better word) environment. Lets be realistic, what goes on at the C3 forum is just a small part of what we deal with in life everyday. I guess if to many idiots start driving on the highways, we should have them closed down And for the record, Scott has earned any respect from me yet!!!

Juan,

Why does Scott need your respect? Or better yet why do you feel he has to earn your respect. His job is to sell fire truck models (among other things). His job is not to answer every email sent to him. His job is not to be at the beck and call of every collector out there. Or to answer for the umpteenth time "Will xxx be changed before production?” .

I have found Scott over my time dealing with Code 3 to be fair and forthright. I haven't always liked what I heard but I knew it was his position. I also have probably dealt with Code 3 longer than most on this board.

Jeff

Jeff,

I am the president and owner of my own business. I to have to sell products. If I don't have the respect of my customers then my business will not prosper. Yeah it might get by, but who wants to just get by? I dont expect Scott himself to answer every question himself, but he should designate someone that can. Cutting communication with your customer base is the worst thing you can do, IMHO. Obvioulsy they want repeat customers. So as far as the respect thing goes, I dont respect the way things are being handled, not by Scott who is the VP or Arnie the President. Someone needs to appoint a PIO .I don't expect them to make everyone happy, you can't. But the effort is lacking, IMHO.
If I don't email my customers back or return their phone calls, they won't be customers for long. Then they will spread the word that they can't get service and its down hill from there.

OK, rant over.

Its no surprise that the C3BB went bye bye, only 1 or 2 of you have touched on close to the possible reason.

Apart from the unrealistic expectation's of people that have no idea think about this, you are joe blow coming to look at joining the code 3 club and bye some product, a model some 100's of times smaller than the real thing, highly detailed and well priced, you log onto the bulletin board to get some feed back about what you may want and all you get is what was there.

There was very little information on that board at the best of times, just gripes and moaning, would scare any new customer away.

And for all the people out there saying oh its easy to run and moderate a board'go start one dosnt cost much at all , and then sit back and watch your creation become an out of control animal! in the end you will shoot that also.

...I just don't understand the resentment and personal offense that so many have seemingly taken or felt. Maybe I'm an anomaly, but my feelings for Code 3 have always started and ended with the quality of the models. Everything else has been sauce on the goose, but I'd trade toll-free numbers, member newsletters, or discussion boards any day for better models. (Relative term there, as the models are pretty much the tops in the 1:64 business. And better means different things to different people.) Now if you want a rant, let me get started on the Super Pumper System inaccuracies.

Location: Raleigh, NC

WHAT A SHAME ,ANOTHER NAIL IN THE CODE 3 CASKET

Location: BUFFALO NY

I asked if this looked a real scott schelhase message, as everybody can act like him, and it is the first time in years he turns up so fast and responded on this board.. And i thought there was a dot in his emailadress between name and surname

I will sent you some grass, smoke it and perhaps you see the difference between fake and real too

Location: The Netherlands, the behind the ***** wooden shoe and grasscountry

Hey Hans, I dont care if it was him or not, just send me some grass man!!!!

Better send some to Scott, he in all probabilities needs it more than anyone here.

Sure there were a couple of threads that were unsavoury to say the least(last week if memory serves correctly) but both were taken off the board by CODE 3. Now they close the board and use the excuse they did seems a bit hollow to say the least. It is not the first time there has been a lack of ethics by Code 3. The bottom line to all of this fiasco is they have a right to do with what they wish with their own board. They also have a right to honour the promises they make when collectors subscribe to their club.

Yes, Mike you are right when you say that it is the quality of their models that is the most important and I concur wholeheartedly....then we also have a problem with this area, predominantly because there is absolutely no logic to the fact that one model is absolutely spectacular and the next is just not up to the standard that we all know they can and do release.
How many collectors are buying less Code 3 now than they used to....Code 3 are also releasing less models of sufficient quality for collectors to buy. I would say they need to get back to quality models and up the ante on those same models....

you guys are all missing the upside to the board closing- NO COUG and don't give him this website address.

TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO late he already has it

I, for one, am dissappointed to see the boards go away. It was yet another place online to see pics of apparatus and to converse with others who share the same interests as I do. I've met many great people through those boards over the years.

I do know where the boards went, they went to the same place as customer service went. I placed my last order on 9/1/06. Since I had one of those stupid gift certificates (even though they have a serial number, they can only be redeemed by mail), I sent it, along with a check for the rest. For 12 days, there was NO indication on their website that my order existed. Contacting their customer service rep proved futile. The check was posted to their bank on 9/8/06 and their website showed that the item was shipped on 9/13/06. My orders are shipped USPS, so there was no tracking number, no other info. By 9/26/06, it had not yet arrived, so I once again contacted customer service, but all I got was a flimsy answer about postal shipping taking from 2-6 weeks. The item arrived on 9/28/06. The shipping stamp on the box was dated 9/25/06. It only took three days to get to me, not fifteen like their website indicates. Lying to your customers is NOT the key to success! Like I said, that was my last order from Code 3.

Location: Georgia

Ummmm, "shipping" includes more than just the time in the postal service. The time in the warehouse is usually included and as you said in your post C3 states that "shipping" takes 2 to 6 weeks.

Just out of curiosity, How many of you actually emailed Scott Schellhase expressing some concerns?? or is it even worth wasting the time??

I did. But I told him I didn't think they should put the board back up. Between here and another board there is no reason to. They should just concentrate on making the rigs, and monitor here if they really need ideas.

Location: Indianapolis

So there are more than enough ways to regulate this without requiring censorship or moderating necessarilly. There are MANY boards or websites online today that require you to be logged in from 1 specific IP address or email account. They could very easilly do that. It might take some tweaking, but something you could definitely do. If someone wants to be an ass, you simply revoke his or her access - not anyone else's.

Also a note again about Customer service as there was a post about it. If Code 3 really cared about the customer, they would not have gotten rid of the customer service reps. I have sent over 10 emails on very customer service questions and never received a response - from questions about specific pieces being in stock, to order problems, billing problems..what have you. I am surprised they are still going to be at past time hobbies. Maybe next year they will cut that as well...remains to be seen. I think the only piece that I will buy this year, will be the diamond plate when it is announced. Or have I heard that it was supposed to be released in November/December, but now it will not ship until January?? Again - just goes to show the lack of leadership - this piece has been in the works for over 6 months, and the biggest time for diecast sales is Christmas. Just like their screw up last year with breaking the string of christmas pieces (again for no reason) they are going to miss out on many sales from people who would have purchased that piece for christmas gifts. Who really wants to get a gift of that magnitude that will not even ship until after christmas?

I don't know negative Nancy, I try to appreciate any gift, especially one of that magnitude, so what if it doesn't ship until after Christmas.

Location: Indianapolis

I don't think the Ladder will ship till Feb 07 as a safe speculation. I don't have the $$$$ to buy it now anyway.

Location: CA

Expect a nastygram from S.S. over that Feb. shipping comment

OOooooooooops I let the cat out of the Bag

Location: CA