I like AEA rifles. There is something to the Quality of some rifles though or you wouldn't have the complaints. I just went through two pages of PCP threads and Umarex had one complaint, AEA 1.5, and FX 2. I know a man who has been disappointed with the 2 FX rifles he has puchased this year. One a Panthera and a Wildcat compact. He sold both for a loss. I ordered a BSA rifle a few years ago it is the only rifle I considered sending back with a leak and bad pressure guage. But then I shot it and the accuracy was outstanding. So I fixed it and still have it years later. So my point is all manufactures have defects built into their process. Motorola realised this and designed a defective parts system called 6 Sigma.
China is a world leader in manufacturing now. I worked for a company that was a top vendor for John Deere. We had about 200 CNC Mills that did nothing but finsh castings for Johne Deere's intakes, manafolds and engine blocks for their big equipment. Guess where the castings came from? China.
Worked for an air operated pump company that is considered American made. They made pumps for uses in explosive environments and Nuclear. We finished all our castings in house with our CNC department. Again the castings come from China. I doubt anyone here has not supported purchase from China they just don't know it. Back to AEA.
Many American compaies send QA and Engineering to China to observe and measure their process in audits and sometimes with someone who may work there as a Rep for the company doing buisness. I taiked with some of these auditors and they explained something to me I didn't realize. Some companies are linked with many mon and pop shops that have their own manufacturing methods. Take Norinco for example. They are a group of shops that manufacture parts like springs to some who build whole guns. All fall under the banner Norinco, some better than others at supplying parts. I think that is what is going on with AEA right now they are weeding out the dud suppliers (think springs, poppets). If not they should be.
Im not a fan of China at all but I do appreciate the cheaper prices. AEA's in the used market many times sell for half the price they did new. I purchased my first new then bought my last two off members here who wanted to move on both cheap.
I find not being able to get help for AEA a bit of a stretch. You have Bin Tak, Pellet Shop, Fox Air Power, and Utah Air. Hardly two man shops. I had buisness with all mentioned and received texts after hours helping me on issues before.
