Allan Bowker
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Everything posted by Allan Bowker
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Has anyone used AliExpress ?
Allan Bowker replied to Allan Bowker's topic in R/C Retailers / Distributors / Manufacturers
Thanks for the feedback Chris, good to know you have had a positive experience. I think delivery to the UK will be around the same time of 20-30 days. I signed up for an account a few weeks back and was logged in when I made my order. I couldn't see any PayPal option at checkout though and despite clicking on 'more payment methods', PayPal was not listed for me. A search on their help page also states that they do not accept PayPal as a payment option (perhaps it's a UK thing?). Edited By Allan Bowker on 20/01/2016 19:13:46 -
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Has anyone used AliExpress ?
Allan Bowker replied to Allan Bowker's topic in R/C Retailers / Distributors / Manufacturers
AliExpress is the consumer focussed arm of the global B2B giant Alibaba.com The site is organised similar to eBay where different sellers list their items for sale, each having a feedback profile. PayPal doesn't seem to be accepted, so credit card (not debit) would be my personal recommendation (for enhanced insurance). I'm making an order, so will report back on my findings. -
Has anyone used AliExpress ? They seem very similar to BangGood and when comparing the same FPV video transmitter/reveiver bundle, they are £40 cheaper than HobbyKing. Just like BangGood, they offer free P&P, so there are more potential savings to be had. I'm not expecting sterling customer service, however are they worth a go?
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I've been using BangGood.com for a few months now and have been very pleased. Delivery from their Hong Kong warehouse is roughly 3 weeks. I've come around to accepting that when buying from China, it's a gamble if you get good customer service or not when things go wrong. At least if you pay by PayPal or Credit Card, you do have some additional insurance cover.
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E-flite UMX: Which is your favourite?
Allan Bowker replied to Dom (Essential RC)'s topic in The Video Channel
For me the original E-Flite UMX Extra 300 3D is still my indoor favourite, despite it being easily prone to damage (not so keen on the newer version with AS3X) -
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Which kind of models can be flown at your site?
Allan Bowker replied to Beth Ashby Moderator's topic in Model Flying Polls
Sorry, haven't been able to vote as there isn't an option that seems applicable to me. I would have gone for the 'anything' option but jets or models over a typical 50cc size would not be suitable or sensible for our patch. -
I read the same tip in the discussion thread for the vouchers Simon and I thought it would work for me too. Unfortunately when you click through to buy points (login > orders > click on points > buy points), you cannot add a HobbyKing discount code at the checkout, only a PayPal code. Unless there is a different method to buy points? One post said to order items on 'back order', then cancel the order so that the payment will be credited to your points. Not sure if this would work or not. Edited By Allan Bowker on 05/01/2016 12:31:54
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Whilst I think that gift ceritficate vouchers are a great item on the HobbyKing website, you have to be aware of some limitations if buying/receiving more than one. Currently they are only available in $50 units (circa £33 at todays rate). As stated on their site, if you buy more than one gift voucher per transaction, they will be grouped into a single code. So for example 4x vouchers = $200 and 1 code emailed to you within 24 hours. Once received, you can then contact HobbyKing via their online chat to request that they split the 4 vouchers into separate codes (but only if you are the original purchaser). If family or friends might gift you a number of codes to you in the future, please be aware of the following limitations. You can only use one single code at checkout, multiple codes cannot currently be accepted. Once codes have been split, HobbyKing will not merge multiple codes back into a single code. I recently fell fowl to these limitations during Christmas when I received 3 codes, which means that I will need to make 3 orders, all with their own postage costs (vouchers do not cover postage). Despite a negative customer experience, it was still nice to receive the vouchers
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Have a great time Ken, don't forget to post up some photo's.
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Happy Christmas to everyone on the Forum. May all your presents have wings (or rotors!) Many happy landings for 2016
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Glad to read that you are happy with your purchase Masher Having read the many reviews for General Hobby on RC Groups Forum, I have come to the following conclusions: General hobby have a good choice of models for sale at great prices. They are good at box shifting. If the sale, delivery and contents are right, then all is good. Communication from them is not the best and very poor by telephone. You have a 50/50 chance of a positive outcome. If you do have any issue with your purchase, good luck. Hopefully your credit card company will have already insured you against this.
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PayPal have just given me my money back (excluding return postage and import duties), so I'm about £30 down. So after nearly 3 months, I'm back to square one Not a positive experience for me with this supplier.
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RCMC Online
Allan Bowker replied to Frank Skilbeck's topic in R/C Retailers / Distributors / Manufacturers
Thanks for the update Frank -
No problem Robert I couldn't agree more on the poor design and documentation though, my son fell fowl to this design oversight very early on. Thankfully he noticed the poor flight performance and hot tail motor quickly, so no damage done. I have to forgive Horizon Hobby, however as their customer service is usually very good and I guess this is just down to their high product output. 'Must try harder' will appear on their report card for this
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I have only ever received good service from TJD Models, I would use them again. Some model shops are not as net savvy as others and technical hiccups do occur to the best of them. I always find that a phone call can rectify issues quicker than by email.
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Robert, if you look at the tail rotor closely, the sufaces have a slightly different finish on each side. It's not easy to spot but MaxG's helpful link above contains this useful picture:
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The way I remember which way round it goes is that there is a smooth side to the 3 blade prop and that side faces outwards away from the motor. Getting it the wrong way round can make the brushless motor on the tail rotor run very hot too!
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Can't say I can personally recommend them, you have been lucky Masher. My customer experience has not been a good one and has been ongoing for 11 weeks! Summary of $115 cowl and canopy order: 27/08/2015 - Order placed online and payment made via PayPal 02/09/2015 - Notified via email that a shipping label had been created (but not shipped). 24/09/2015 - Chased my order via website form and telephone answer machine (number of website), no reply received so called a different number found on my PayPal receipt. Man on phone said it was despatched on 21st (dubious claim as no tracking info update). 01/10/2015 - Filed a PayPal dispute for refund as tracking info still not updated and no delivery. 06/10/2015 - Email received from General Hobby informing me that my items had now been despatched. New tracking info received via email also. 12/10/2015 - Import VAT paid to HMRC via Parcel Force (£19.25) 14/10/2015 - Package received. Wrong items, damaged and cowl was the wrong colour also! 14/10/2015 - Request sent to General Hobby to replace or refund via PayPal To add insult to injury the canopy is cracked in 3 places, which they have tried to fix before despatch with cyano! Obviously this then misted over, which they then tried to sand off (or use wire wool) which left scratch marks. In another area they have tried to repaint, badly!. So bad is the damage and cowboy repairs, it was noticed before the canopy came out of the box. I was expecting trouble with this order as reviews of General Hobby on other forums are mostly poor but I gave them a chance. I'm glad at least that Masher got what he wanted with no hassle. So now I wait for the suppliers response before escalation to PayPal for a possible refund.
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7000 posts! Wow! Congratulations Ken. I heard somebody say that you "were past it now"? LOL Always good to read your posts, makes the place feel like home.
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New caption competition!
Allan Bowker replied to Beth Ashby Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
I thought it was a caption competion, so I posted a line. The request for 'verse' went over my head, until others burst into rhyme. Realising my mistake, I am back once again, ready at the keyboard, much to public disdain. Will I get a chance at winning a hat? Who knows, only Beth (I'll send her a KitKat). So what do we know of this man and his Chicken? Not much really, only rhymes, that only now sicken. Is this a 'Swap Meat'? I deftly enquired, "You're not first" he said "of these jokes I am tired." How about an onion, he said said unto me. Sorry mate I said, they are not rated by RCM&E.
