Uemis closing?

[Scubacastor]

I don't understand why manufacturer that hedged their business (and their customers experience) on the online presence wouldn't allow online retailers to sell their products.

That's a weird practice some manufacturers have in North America. In Europe, you can buy almost anything from the same manufacturers online and benefit from the same warranties.

About the fate of UEMIS, there have been rumors of a high number of defective units. Maybe the pro here could tell us how the SDA behaved in terms of RMA compared to other brands. But I mainly see the price point as the big problem. Selling a dive computer with recreational specs over 1200 euros with few advertisement is to me a risky economical model especially in those days where people are struggling with other financial issues. About the future, the trimix update announcement was before the liquidation therefore maybe it was in development, maybe another business will go on with this in a near future.

 

[sneutralino]

For curiosity I sent an email to the contact person indicated in the last news:

Hello,
>
> I have a question regarding the bankruptcy news posted on the Uemis AG
> website: how the support for defective items still under warranty period
> is going to be handled ?
>
> With best regards,

Hello,

Is this just a general guestion or you already send your product to the uemis für the warranty?

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. This is a general question as I still have 1 year
warranty remaining.

Regards,

Because of the bankrubcy al employers stopped working. So it's nowbody there you can help your anymore. But if you have e claim against Uemis AG, you can make a request in the bankrubtcy. You have to send this (with evidence) to Konkursamt Thalwil, Gotthardstrasse 20/22, 8800 Thalwil Switzerland.

freundliche Grüsse
Anita Greminger, Notariatssekretärin mbA UP

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Or make an offer to her.....She told me to make an offer to buy it. Who here has some cash?

As for defective units, Yes, in the beginning there was about a 10% failure upon the initial startup of the computer (based on our numbers). It was battery issues. They were quickly fixed, and there were no subsequent issues that should have caused this. Higher than there should be for sure, but they took care of every single customer quickly, and made sure the problem disappeared.

 

[Chiung]

You didn't get a shirt? Give me a couple weeks. We have been out for some time, and I have inventory in the screen printing area and can't screen anything right now. We are getting some pallet racking to make a mezzanine for more storage, upon which I can clear out that room and make some more shirts

I didn't get a shirt either

On a more serious note, will you be stocking replacement wristbands soon? I might want to get one, as well as a spare faceplate cover, and if the price is right, a spare x-mitter. When I called earlier today, your rep said she'd have to order the wristbands? Thanks.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Can't get anything else to stock at this point

I have 1 LG wristband, 3 Small wristbands, 2 black face covers, and 2 of the travel chargers. Call me at the shop if you need any of them. First come first serve. She is new, and didn't know we can't order anything at this point.

 

[Kussi]

well, very sad... still today!

As istok mentioned earlier, I think the people at Uemis focused to much on technical issues. I just can imagine that there was something like a mental race between Uemis and Uwatec (former employer of Ernst Völlm) as well: who will publish the trimix update first!!! In my opinion, the product was already good when I bought it in November 2009. The only feature I am missing today and forever, is an integrated dive planner. Trimix diving is not in my focus in the near future, I do not care that much about it.
I hope somebody will buy the whole company and we will see a Galileo with some Uemis technology in the future.

btw: the screen of the Galileo is really horrible and outdated... they have to redesign it soon anyway: rebranding the SDA as it is, some changes to the algorithm that some of you get their trimix stuff and the new top selling device is already finished ;-)

 

[decidedlyodd]

Now the question is how misleading the latest trimix update was. Considering they closed 13 days after the update I find it highly unlikely that they were telling the truth about pending trimix update.

Having worked for a couple of failed businesses, I can say it's not unusual that employees who are responsible for day-to-day operations or product development to find out the business is closing shortly before the public is told.
Sent from my Mazaa using Board Express

 

[Oceanus]

I'm plenty mad at UEMIS for various reasons, but in their defense

Exchange rate issue
Early 2009 $.90 = 1 Franc
Oct 2010 $1 = 1CHF
June 2011 $1.20 = 1CHF
The US distributor was similarly more likely to be harmed than helped by this.
Same issue with Euro... dealer cost rose 30%+ due to outside forces

Lack of response
1) Cultural differences
2) Seems they had bigger problems
3) They likely can't respond now because they have been 'locked out' from company email/phones and may even be legally obligated to remain silent.

Online Sales
First, I disagree with their position. That said...
Uemis claimed the uemis.com Shop was a way to offer products where the was no dealer.
Regardless of that, it was clearly stated in their dealer contract. If you don't like the terms, don't sign the contract, and don't bitch; just honor your agreements. Breaking contracts is not progress.

Dealer shall only be entitled to sell to end customers. Dealer shall only be allowed to sell the products of Uemis in its retail shop(s). The distribution of the products of Uemis by Dealer via other distribution channels (mail order selling,
Internet, etc.) shall be not permitted.

eByers (iztoku) UEMIS Zurich SDA w/ transmitter | eBay should really set the screen to full brightness for photos

 

[Scubacastor]

As for defective units, Yes, in the beginning there was about a 10% failure upon the initial startup of the computer (based on our numbers). It was battery issues. They were quickly fixed, and there were no subsequent issues that should have caused this. Higher than there should be for sure, but they took care of every single customer quickly, and made sure the problem disappeared.

Thanks , it seems quite consistent with infos I've got from a dealer in switzerland : around 10% as well.

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Regardless of that, it was clearly stated in their dealer contract. If you don't like the terms, don't sign the contract, and don't bitch; just honor your agreements. Breaking contracts is not progress.

No bitching here at the contract verbage, EXCEPT, that when you have a Distributor that let's you sell UEMIS online (Canadian Distributor), and tells you it is OK, you can't expect anyone to know it wasn't approved by UEMIS or that the contract didn't change (cause we know that never happens ). So when they sever their relationship, how would anyone expect anything on the online sales front to be different? I don't see that as breaking a contract, I see that as following rules setup by the distributor.....as for bitching, wouldn't you bitch if you were someones number 1 dealer in the US (following distributor rules), selling 5-8 computers a week....and they made everything come to a halt? If not, your a better man than I...or maybe just a foolish one I don't see it as bitching vs. trying to show someone that there way is flawed. I am sure there are more factors than just online stores that contributed to their downfall, but they didn't make enough money is the overall key point. I stopped selling 5-8 computers a week....what do you think other online retailers saw as a slowdown in there sales? You can't tell me that isn't significant for UEMIS sales! You can't tell me that couldn't have been or shouldn't have been a reason for them to listen a little more in our talks over a year ago...I don't call it bitching.....I do call it me still being in business though!

PS- Seaduction - Aren't you the US distributor?