Major Amtren Flexwriter II problems

[Gene Warman]

Amtren is gone. Their phone is now disconnected. Before that is was set to ring busy 24/7.

We have two of their units. They are still in possession of one system we returned three months ago for service. The other has failed.

For a time their attorney was helpful. He will now no longer assist customers.

The question is how we should all band together and proceed to seek return of our property. More important we need to find a qualified service facility willing to handle what will be a major amount of ongoing work.

For a skillful technician, this is a potential grteat business opportunity.

I hope other unfortunate customers will post their thoughts.

[Kent Rich]

I actually went to Discmakers. They were able to repair my printer section. Of course, I bought a 3 year bumper to bumper warranty with the unit, of which I”m in the first six months of it. Discmakers wouldn’t honor that, but instead of a $2,300 paperweight, for $350 I have a publisher unit that I can use; for now. My email address is kentrich@graniteriverstudios.com. I would love to keep in touch with other burned individuals.

[Todd Hudson]

I talked to Amtren 3 months ago about ordering a new pick arm. They were going to call me back with the price and I never heard from them and now I have left many messages. Disc Makers wants around 295.00 for a bench fee and an additional 150.00 for a box since I don’t have the original box that it came in. I am now just hunting for units to get parts from so I can keep mine going. Do you know of anyone wanting to sell their Amtren or Discmaker Flex Writer or Elite Series Duplicators?

Thanks,

Todd Hudson
Visioneering Media

[Dean Rogers]

I have two of their units and have been a customer since 2005.
What is the unit “doing”?
Are you saving the print file as a .prn?

Drop me a note and I’ll try to help you in any way I can.

FTR: I have filed with the BBB and the Alabama Attorney General against Amtren. I returned a printer-under warranty- to be fixed over 2.5 months ago. Since then, I have gotten 2 emails from them saying the printer would ship that week.
The first was the second week of June, the other was last week.
If I didn’t have 2 of their units here, I’d be out of business. Right now, if the other one goes TU, I’m screwed.

[John Staple]

I am having issues too…

The unit is in good cosmetic condition, it boots up fine, all the lights turn on.

When I run the diagnostics it will give me a “Top Sensor Error”, however after I have the pin on the top side of the sensor stuck down with a tiny bit of masking tape, the diagnostics give the top sensor a pass.

The rest of the diagnostics will run fine, the printer will open, and the arm pivots back to the blank cd’s to pick one up and it will stall. It then gives me a float sensor failure.

And that is as far as I can go…

[Dean Rogers]

I talked with Kirk back in August.
He had some story about trying to sell the company and “black out period” blah, blah, blah.
He promised to return a printer to me the next week.

Another 2.5 months have gone by and nothing. He had a person manning the help desk but, that is gone now. He’s changed his email address so that bounces. His Click to Call is disabled. The last time I was able to get through on it, the message said the mailbox was full.

I have filled with the Alabama Attorney General, (like that will go somewhere fast) and the BBB, (fat lots of good that does too).

My next option is to file with the local police for theft. He has my property and refuses to return it to me. Since it’s over 500.00 they may take it.

Small Claims court is useless. Even if you win, you have to collect-the court does nothing for you. Class action will do little but drain our accounts.

I have his address and home phone number. I might take a ride to Montgomery and knock on the door. It’s only an hour from me.

[Marlon Kelly]

i have a flexwriter micro and printer. that has giving me nothing but problems for ages. i have gotten ahold of people at amtren a few times and they promised to replace it for me. months and months go buy with no contact. 2k plus paperweight for now. there must be somthing that can be done about these crooks

[Rob Osborn]

I have 2 Amtren units and like them however I am having problems and need them fixed and Kirk is a liar and does not live up to his word.

I sent a printer in last August for my SE-4 and haven’t been able to hear a word since.

I am making a trip to Montgomery next week and intend to try and see the liar face-to-face…and get my printer. If anyone knows where Kirk lives send the address to me and I will give him your regards.

What a same, a very good unit and unreliable service and a liar for a President of the company.

[Dean Rogers]

His last listing home address is
8319 March Pointe Dr.
Montgomery AL 36117.
His home phone number was, 334-396-0018.

I returned a printer last June to him for warranty repair.
I have not seen it since.
I’ve filed complaint with the BBB and the Alabama Attorney General.
The BBB is now spamming me to become a registered member and is just a reporting agency.
The Alabama AG office has the complaint but lacks any power to issue a Cease and Desist Order against him. They are worthless as well.

I’ve called, written, and done just about anything I can to get a resolution to this situation. I’ve contacted my local police department and they refuse to pursue Theft by Conversion charges because it’s across State lines.
Engaging a lawyer will only sink money into this hole and Kirk knows this. He knows that people are after him and he continues to sell his product only to never support it.
Let me know when you might be going on a tour and I might be able to join you. I live about an hour or so from the shop where he used to operate.

[Dean Rogers]

Well, Kirk’s home phone is disconnected or changed to an unlisted number.
I’ve tracked down his wife and have sent an email to her work account. I’ll let you guys know what, (if anything) comes from this.

Kirk built a great business that could’ve taken the market in this type of equipment. My feeling is, he let his marginal success go to his head and he got sued by one of his former employees. That led him down a path that has him in the situation that he faces today.

He’s tried to sell the company but, that has fallen through, I know, twice.