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[Pat-K]

Hi Guys


Wondering who you guys use to get your supplies and bits from, generally the order time and delivery times of those I have used in the UK are nearly as bad as those Chinese people that advertise on the internet !!


The only model shop near me is and hours drive away and unless its something like a battery they say Oh we will order it for you and let you know when its in - conversely they do give pretty good advise.


I just wonder what this country is coming to I expect to go into a shop pay my money and be handed the goods not have to wait well over a week for them to be sent out and then usually by the cheapest method which at the quickest is another 48 hours and get charged through the nose for it.


Is it me that is being unreasonable to expect good service and good customer service - all I get when I complain is the it is the couriers fault - should they not be in stock when you visit the shop if they are advertising a product, I feel like naming and shaming but at this time I guess its wise not too.


Even Amazon are quoting long delivery times on some of the products now.


I would be interested in hearing your views.




Rant Over






Pat

[Pat-K]

Oh for an example I orders some bits from a site online on Saturday - OK I don't expect it to be looked at till Monday not a huge order but over £60's worth. Monday evening I receive an email with a Royal Mail tracking number on it, good I thought I will have this is a couple of day maybe I have found someone reliable.


Its now Wednesday when I put the tracking number into the Royal Mail website it says there is no such tracking number.


Another example is a ordered a charging cable from a shop that is about an hours drive away - they said oh yes we have them in stock we will send you one out tonight - again 6 days for it to arrive.

[Big Ada]

We cant have it both ways. Either have Model Shops or,  Buy cheap from the Internet. You cant ask the Internet Shops how to do this or that.


Len.

[roycv]

Joining a club is a win-win situation!
Roy

[kinmel]

Colwyn Bay MBC is opening it's own "shop" for members.
The club is purchasing a wide range of stock that will be available to purchase at the lakeside and and members will only pay the cost price.

From abroad we can buy in a pack of 5 servos for the price of one bought in the U.K. and for small items we can buy boxes of 100 for the price of 1unit bought locally, blade fuses are an example.
We have started with the range of spares that members need if they suffer a failure while sailing - ESC, motors, servos, props etc.   The intention is to add everything extra that you need to build a kit at home, so you can purchase all the extras your model will need at one place without waiting. Small items - washers, fuses, small screws and bolts that come in boxes of 100 will be handed out free.

Our initial investment is about £200 and that will increase as the scheme develops to include additional items, especially club owned tools such as a soldering station with free consumables

Not only will members save money, but we hope that by standardising then in time most users will be able to help others carry out repairs and setting up.
It is an experiment and is designed to operate at a small loss in the hope that entry into this hobby will become easier for new members while providing tangible benefits for our existing members.

[SailorGreg]

Sorry to hear of your problems.  I have had one or two disappointing experiences from on line ordering, but on the other hand there are many good, reliable and informed suppliers available.  I have had excellent service (price and delivery) from (in no particular order!) -
Component Shop
Cornwall Model Boats
Howes Models
Model Fixings
Model Boat Bits
Easy Composites
Prop Shop 


and others for little bits and pieces.  I now have no model shop less than an hour's drive and, frankly, I can get everything I need from the online suppliers.  I agree that the death of the local model shop is sad but, other than a friendly face and the occasional coffee, it is difficult to pinpoint the benefits they give over online shops.  Shame, but there it is.

Greg

[mrzippy]

I can vouch for Leeds Model Shop and Component Shop for good service and great turnaround,
on occasion next day delivery from a late afternoon phone call !
just a shame delivery costs are so high.
Paul.

[destroyer42]

Hi All,
Leeds model shop and component shop , excellent service also I use Amazon Prime next day delivery, sometimes the same day.


Regards
Destroyer42

[Mike S]

Just like to endorse SailorGreg's list of suppliers, I too have always had excellent service from them.




Cheers,


Mike

[Dave_S.]

I live about 30 minutes drive (usually less) from Howes, and pop in there fairly often to pick up bits and pieces, and sometimes complete kits. I've been a customer of theirs for about 60 years now!
I used to enjoy visiting model shops in other part of the country when travelling for work or holidays, but now there are very few left - so I know how lucky I am to have Howes nearby.

[Neil]

I don't think an hours drive is excessive if you are wanting something that you find waiting up to a week to receive via post annoying.
Take yourself for a leasurely drive and enjoy the personal touch.

[Sonar]

Colwyn Bay MBC is opening it's own "shop" for members.
The club is purchasing a wide range of stock that will be available to purchase at the lakeside and and members will only pay the cost price.

From abroad we can buy in a pack of 5 servos for the price of one bought in the U.K. and for small items we can buy boxes of 100 for the price of 1unit bought locally, blade fuses are an example.
We have started with the range of spares that members need if they suffer a failure while sailing - ESC, motors, servos, props etc.   The intention is to add everything extra that you need to build a kit at home, so you can purchase all the extras your model will need at one place without waiting. Small items - washers, fuses, small screws and bolts that come in boxes of 100 will be handed out free.

Our initial investment is about £200 and that will increase as the scheme develops to include additional items, especially club owned tools such as a soldering station with free consumables

Not only will members save money, but we hope that by standardising then in time most users will be able to help others carry out repairs and setting up.
It is an experiment and is designed to operate at a small loss in the hope that entry into this hobby will become easier for new members while providing tangible benefits for our existing members.

The best thing I have heard about this year . Considering the year is near on over …

[unbuiltnautilus]

With model shops closing at an alarming rate (including some big ones) it is indeed a case of use it or loose it. You may pay a bit more for a genuine item as opposed to a cheap knock off which will go pop as soon as you look at it sideways, but thems the breaks.
I do include those decent online stores listed previously, use them too.
Postage is a whole other topic, Royal Mail/Parcelforce usually operate a pretty bullet proof service, but when it goes wrong, boy does it go wrong! Parcelforce use Google Maps to find your location, if you don't show up on Google, you will need to offer increased address references. Royal Mail, at least for the smaller parcels, are served by the regular posties who usually know their routes well.

[Colin Bishop]

Many of the remaining model shops do depend on internet sales as there is insufficient local footfall to sustain them. They deserve our support as do the UK based internet small suppliers who depend upon the net for their business. Again, they deserve support. Cornwall Model Boats, Mtronics and Component Shop come to mind but there are several others. These are all reputable suppliers and offer an excellent after sales service.

Of course, some of their products do come from China but if there is a problem then you are dealing with someone in the UK who has reputation to maintain and will invariably give you a good deal.

I have occasionally bought from China but only as a very last resort when there was no UK supplier. Sometime it was OK, sometimes not.

Colin

[Sonar]

I buy my blades like Stanley blades and scalpel blades .
Always ordered in the morning and been delivered the next day. Unless it’s a weekend




https://www.bladesandknivesdirect.co.uk/

[kinmel]

I, like many members here, have been buying abroad from the likes of HobbyKing for at least 10 years and always had excellent service and their products are beyond reproach.

I doubt that many of the Radios, motors, ESCs, servos, connectors etc sold by UK suppliers are manufactured in Europe, never mind in the U.K.    Certainly a lot of "British" products are built using foriegn components.

AliExpress and Temu etc provide free delivery, often within 5 to 8 days.   Free, "no questions asked" returns to a UK Agent with refunds issued as soon as that Agent processes them.
We do buy things in the U.K., but not because we think all their stock is made locally.
With over 70  members sailing, building and buying, we soon learn which particular item is poor quality aand which is exceptional value.    Just because an item is 5 times dearer, it doesn't guarantee it is 5 times better, or 5 times more reliable.

[roycv]

Hi Kinmel with a market of 70 active modellers in the club you have a small business and buying in bulk is key to members getting a good deal. 
Good luck and wish you all well.
Roy

[Colin Bishop]

Well if you prefer supporting the Chinese economy to the UK then that is just another symptom of the decline in British manufacturing I guess. Still. if it's cheaper, that is all that matters(!)

Colin

[NickelBelter]

Of course, some of their products do come from China

Most brands have their products made in China now.  You can't avoid it.  Spektrum, Hitec, Futaba... all made in China.  The question is do you buy the Western brand made-in-China servo, or the Chinese brand made-in-China servo, and what do you get for your extra money?  Better QC supposedly. 

[Fastfaz]

  Hi Kimmel,
        What a great idea to have your own shop and very convenient for the members to have this facility. We at Southport have Steve from Scale Hobbies during the summer months attending our open days with his van which is good but in the winter have to rely on mail order. I hope it continues to work for you all, well done.
            Regards, Pete. 

[kinmel]

Well if you prefer supporting the Chinese economy to the UK then that is just another symptom of the decline in British manufacturing I guess. Still. if it's cheaper, that is all that matters(!)

Colin

But it not only about cheaper, it is only about "best value" based entirely on our own experiences.     Back in the day I bought new Fords, my  "straight from the factory " 1975 Cortina was delivered and when we checked under the mats, we found water en every section - complete with rust.   The speedometer did not work, the brakes pulled to the left. The dealer explained it away as minor teething problems, everyone expects this sort of thing.   I have never bought a British made car since, I am on my tenth Mazda.
If it costs 5 times more to buy in the U.K., the I expect it to perform 5 times better too.     They rarely do.

   

[Dave_S.]

[…] The question is do you buy the Western brand made-in-China servo, or the Chinese brand made-in-China servo, and what do you get for your extra money?  Better QC supposedly.

I think the only difference is the sticker on the servo, and the box (if any) it comes in.

[Akira]

One of my pet peeves is going to a shop for an item and being told that it would have to be ordered. Then, when it comes in, I pay the straight retail price of the item. I could do that on-line and usually get much prompter service.
I buy on-line and am happy tp pay the vender their price, especially if they are the manufacturer.Cornwall ModelsThe Prop ShopGeorge SitekThe Component Shop
Just a short list of my favorite vendors and, funny thing, NONE are in the USA!

[NickelBelter]

I think the only difference is the sticker on the servo, and the box (if any) it comes in.

I just bought my first Amazon servo as my LHS is not fully restocked after burning to the ground last year, so we'll see... I sure hope you're right!

[dodgy geezer]

Well if you prefer supporting the Chinese economy to the UK then that is just another symptom of the decline in British manufacturing I guess. Still. if it's cheaper, that is all that matters(!)

Colin

Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis....