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Public service announcement: Absolutely do not buy Iwata products from http://www.airbrush.com/

My Iwata CM-SB developed a fluid nozzle issue on Wednesday. Desperate to get one replaced in time for a huge commission, I called all over the country and ended up buying a replacement .18mm fluid nozzle from Bear. I paid $28.88 and $58.15 for the overnight shipping.

The new nozzle immediately sheared off. Like, effortless, Im not new to airbrushing and take extra special care with any fluid nozzle. I called them and Steve at airbrush.com agreed to send a new one but not for overnight. I asked him "Are you sure this is an iwata nozzle, because it sheered extremely easily." He said "Its made in the same factory as iwata."

So I called Iwata in Oregon (They have always had amazing customer service) and as soon as I said "Bear air" the lady gasped and said "Oh no!". Apparently they are notorious for selling non legit products. If its not in a black/yellow holographic blister, then its not iwata. They are fixing my airbrush/nozzle/threads for free, because Iwata is awesome. But stay the hell away from airbrush.com.
I was encouraged to warn whoever I could on blogs, they pass off products that are not genuine. Now I am out the use of my $400 airbrush because the folks at airbrush.com feel the need to rip people off.

A lot of you guys know me...Im the charity army painting dude. I'm generally a nice guy and am trying to do some good positive stuff in the world with my painting, and now I have to wait over a week to get my airbrush back from Iwata repaired and ready to go. Im not complaining over a trivial thing,
this isnt cool.

>:[

Bloody hell that sucks :/

buyers beware man

good luck

To add, my wife finally got a hold of them: At first Steve claimed that he WAS honest about it not being a genuine part (Despite us asking for the specific Iwata item number) and after a literal shouting match, claimed he would "agree to disagree" and refund the entire cost as well as the shipping.

He literally claimed to have stated it was not an iwata product and had recordings of the conversation...not cool dudes.

 Zach wrote:
To add, my wife finally got a hold of them: At first Steve claimed that he WAS honest about it not being a genuine part (Despite us asking for the specific Iwata item number) and after a literal shouting match, claimed he would "agree to disagree" and refund the entire cost as well as the shipping.

He literally claimed to have stated it was not an iwata product and had recordings of the conversation...not cool dudes.

I just looked at where airbrush.com is from, and it's Massachusetts. If he actually has said recordings, and didn't tell you about it until now, that's illegal wiretapping as Mass is a two-party-consent state. Hopefully you already got your refund. But if not, call him out to produce the recording.

Thank you for bringing attention to them in this light.

Just had a quick look on the website myself out of curiosity, and I have to say, unless they've changed the name of the product I'm assuming you bought (it's a Micron .18 fluid nozzle at $28.88), it says 'This is a BearAir Quality part for your Iwata.'

Even when you go onto Airbrush Parts -> Iwata, across the top of the next page it says 'These are BearAir aftermarket parts for your IWATA. We have sold these parts for 5 years and you can't tell the difference but you can save BIG money!'

Obviously don't know what conversation you've had with the company, but it seems to be fairly clear on the website that these are not Iwata parts.


Unless this description has been added onto the website since your dealings with them, it seems a little harsh to completely bash the company for this doesn't it?

^ Youd be 100% correct that it was on me, except when I called to emergency order the fluid nozzle I asked if it was an iwata part, and was told yes. Not 'just as good', but literally made in the same factory as iwata. I didnt order online, I called multiple airbrush retailers looking for whoever could overnight me the part I needed before I was recommended giving bearair a call. I didnt use their website to make the order. And it the part sheered off immediately, there was no manhandling on my part, it was a piece of garbage that couldnt even be lightly tightened.

To then be called a liar by Steve when I called was the tipping point. He has called us back to let us know he was having trouble refunding it to our card, that was yesterday. No contact today so far, no refund yet.

 Zach wrote:
^ Youd be 100% correct that it was on me, except when I called to emergency order the fluid nozzle I asked if it was an iwata part, and was told yes. Not 'just as good', but literally made in the same factory as iwata. I didnt order online, I called multiple airbrush retailers looking for whoever could overnight me the part I needed before I was recommended giving bearair a call. I didnt use their website to make the order. And it the part sheered off immediately, there was no manhandling on my part, it was a piece of garbage that couldnt even be lightly tightened.

To then be called a liar by Steve when I called was the tipping point. He has called us back to let us know he was having trouble refunding it to our card, that was yesterday. No contact today so far, no refund yet.

Fair do's if you spoke with them man, yeah that's really shady!
Hope things work out.

^ yea, its not a cool scene. I want my business to be known as the nice, charity driven commission scene, not one full of vitriol. But this was down right shady, at best.

So let me turn this around on a positive note: Iwata handled it amazingly. I talked to them on Friday and shipped it priority mail. It arrived in Oregon on Monday (Im stationed in Maryland) and they repaired it for free and overnighted it to my house, it was at my home by noon today. That is absolutely amazing customer service.

Thanks for the warning Zach, as a new Airbrush user this just saved me a good amount of money!

I'll be looking elsewhere

Is... is your avatar a Baphomet painting a Mad Cat from Battletech?

I love you so much if it is!