Chris Channon Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Hi all, what brilliant service, In may my wife bought me a Sig cub, a proper builders kit, last week i took it to work to start the build to find that the plans were missing, everything else ok, just the plans missing. I called SMC and explained that i had just opened the box as i build at work and the plan was missing, "No probs" says the guy on the 'phone, sorry, we will send you one out as soon as we get it" . Plan arrived yesterday, no questions no hassle just as it should be, well done and thank you Sussex Models. Regards Chris C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cantwell Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 i am more intrigued by the i build at work bit, what sort of a job have you got? hope its not lonely and boring, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Channon Posted August 26, 2012 Author Share Posted August 26, 2012 hehehe, Hi Alan, no not lonely or boring, i work as a propulsion engineer for the MoD, my own workshop, when i get a spare hour lunchtimes, etc, i build. Regards Chris C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greybeard Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 It's always good to hear of decent service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Powell 2 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 That's why they got the 'best online model supplier' award last year. And if you live in the area they are your LMS too. But I think most of their business is online. I'm about 45 miles away, not too far. I discovered it had a 'real' shop when my wife's son was in a nearby cat show. Well, not exactly.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty C Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 I use SMC all the time along with slough rc and the two of them are top notch. rusty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Bri Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Tried both of them to try and get them to send me complete outfit ,plane, tx kit and full works to France, and you would have thought I wanted the earth, couldn't get either interested. Strange how they could turn down good business. Got good service from Inwood models though. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Powell 2 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 If you fly in France most UK 2.4 sets are illegal as their band is slightly different. Multiplex sets , wherever you buy them, have a 'France' setting you can select. Don't know if others do. Ripmax have some 'Euro' Futaba sets, but you have to buy that verson, as it is not user selectable. Edited By Mark Powell 2 on 26/08/2012 19:44:55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Bri Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Was buying a Spektrum which is perfectly legal in France, most members of our club fly 2.4ghz Spektrum have a 'France' setting. Contrary to popular belief 35MHz is also legal if you watch which frequency. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Garnell Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Hi I ordered all my start up kit DX8 etc from SMC. Received a phone call in Germany to say all was in stock and to confirm my details and everything arrived in 3 days. Excellent service. Should have shouted sooner. Well done to the staff at SMC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Powell 2 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Didn't know Spektrum had it soo. The Futaba sets are not selectable, you have to buy a different one. Multiplex and Spektrum use the same 'bought in' chip set, and Mpx sets use the same modulation as Spektrums DMSX so I imagine thats why they both have it. But they are not directly compatible, probably for 'business' reasons. Edited By Mark Powell 2 on 26/08/2012 20:14:02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Posted by Mark Powell 2 on 26/08/2012 19:09:27: That's why they got the 'best online model supplier' award last year. And if you live in the area they are your LMS too. But I think most of their business is online. Sadly, while the shop is large and well stocked with a wide range of small parts on racks, well laid out, that are useful to see before purchase, the SHOP experience (measured from at least twenty visits over six years ) is that you will wait and wait while staff (lots of them) deal on the phone, then be pretty brusquely treated like you are a nuisance, even just buying what is in your hand, let alone if you have to ASK for help.. Great online they might be, but many there really do need a "how to deal with someone face to face" course................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Posted by Mark Powell 2 on 26/08/2012 20:06:16: The Futaba sets are not selectable, you have to buy a different one. I think you will find that is not generically true. Futaba sets have an internal PCB mounted switch (marked S203 on a 6EX) with "General" and "France" settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prop Nut Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Dave Bran quote: 'Sadly, while the shop is large and well stocked with a wide range of small parts on racks, well laid out, that are useful to see before purchase, the SHOP experience (measured from at least twenty visits over six years ) is that you will wait and wait while staff (lots of them) deal on the phone, then be pretty brusquely treated like you are a nuisance, even just buying what is in your hand, let alone if you have to ASK for help. Great online they might be, but many there really do need a "how to deal with someone face to face" course...' My nearest LMS is exactly the same. Shop customers are a nuisance, and they make it obvious you are. That's why I feel no loyalty to the UK retail trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Been to SMC only a couple of times as I live 60 odd miles away. Each time I had to wait a bit to be served, as staff were busy with phone and shop customers. However,when my turn came they were polite and helpful. Very well stocked shop, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trots Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I use SMC online nearly all the time , great service, order one day and it's on the door mat within two days! My local (30 odd miles) model shops are much as described by others in that you invariably have to wait some time to be served. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Powell 2 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I once worked in the 'service' industry. A real human being is more important to me that a ringing plastic telephone. When I became more 'important' and interviewed people in 'my' office I turned the phone off. I'm a bit scratchy about it, as in "Are you with them or with us?" Maybe because my wife is a mobile phone obsessive. SMC bad? Try my local doctors surgery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinBrian Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Posted by Mark Powell 2 on 26/08/2012 20:06:16: Didn't know Spektrum had it soo. The Futaba sets are not selectable, you have to buy a different one. Multiplex and Spektrum use the same 'bought in' chip set, and Mpx sets use the same modulation as Spektrums DMSX so I imagine thats why they both have it. But they are not directly compatible, probably for 'business' reasons. Edited By Mark Powell 2 on 26/08/2012 20:14:02 MPX and Spectrum do not use the same modulation, some JR sets use Spectrum DSM2 protocol but MPX are not compatible with Spectrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbycat Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Used Sussex Models for quite a few online transactions. I've always had a good service, even when I had to send something back. Not used them as a walk in shop as I'm too far away!!\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alwyn Gee Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Likewise, too far for over the counter shopping but cannot fault their on line business. Come on SMC, lets have an Edinburgh branch. Only joking, the prices would go up and I get most things next day anyway. Alwyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Powell 2 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Modulation and compatibilty are different things. They probably implement if differently (coding, looking for 'best ' channels to start, different bind codes etc.) They use the same 'bought in' chip set, (not specifically designed for r/c, they are general purpose) and the modulation looks identical on a scope - I saw someones here for the Spektrum and tried them both myself. But the 'bought in' chipset only applies for the transmitter, the receivers are probably different. This is Multiplex an DMSX. DMS2 is different again. Futabas Fasst is very similar, so we are told. Their S-FHSS is not Edited By Mark Powell 2 on 27/08/2012 09:41:58 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I can remember ringing up SMC when I was 15 (quite a long time ago) as a keen but naieve newby to ask what fuel glow engines ran on (I assumed 4 star petrol). They were very pleasant and talked me through the whole engine starting process. I subsequently bought an OS35FP, HiBoy and Futaba Challenger from them. And later a starter motor. Happy days I bet my neighbours were very happy when I finally got that engine working... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Powell 2 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I don't use them much, I usually design/build my own so I can use anywhere, but when I have, I find them excellent. Most important of all, when they advertise something on their website, they have got it. Many others have not. Occasionally some of SMC's stuff says 'out of stock', but not much, so if I want something online, it is now the first place I look. Pound or two more or less, who cares? Happy with them. May well use them more. I find HobbyStores good too. It is part of Ripmax, but go into a shop and they have other stuff as well. There is one close to me (Southampton). Ripmax, though a personal visit to HobbyStores shop will also get you stuff they have not got and don't normally keep. Business sense, they get my money when others say "haven'y got it, can't get it". So happy with them too. Other than for 'specialised' stuff I now don't bother with any others. Don't need to. And I can be hard to please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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