Hobbyking

[Dai Fledermaus]

There are a few things I wanted to order from Hobbyking. I was no hurry for them, but I've checked on their prices several times since the beginning of December, using my iPad and mobile.

Initially, they offered me a 10% discount, as a new customer, with a discount code. Later that discount became 5%, then, last week, no discount at all.

Today, I used my wife's mobile and up popped the 10% discount again, presumably because their web site didn't recognize her mobile. This time, however, I made a note of the discount code, tried again with my iPad - just to prove a point. No discount until I used the code I saved, at which point the price dropped by £8.00.

It would be interesting to know if this works if you are an existing customer.

[Paul Marsh]

If you delete your cookies, or log in on another computer, the discount will come up again. Every time you log in, cookies are stored within your browser, so for the first time, no search before, and the 10% discount came up, 2nd search, and the cookies were flagged as such and reduced to 5%, and so on.

[Gary Murphy 1]

Slightly off track, I am no whizz on the PC but order a fair bit online BUT HK website is crap,to me its not very easy to use,by the time its taken to find the item I have got fed up and never ordered,Curry`s/pc world is another PITA

[Don Fry]

I like HobbyKing stuff.

About three years ago, they had a clunky website. But it worked. You had to be careful, that when ordering in one warehouse, a stock issue in you chosen warehouse, you didn't stray into another warehouse.

Then they changed it. And got rid of the chained menu. And invented search chains which have no reality basis. Total and utter mess.

Dont bother too much now. Too much trouble.

[Chris Walby]

What drives me nuts is the auto refresh function which is okay if you have a fast device/speedy connection, but so frustrating I give up more often than not. Too clever for its own good.

And don't get me on import duty, if you miss one item that's not from EU/UK warehouses

[Don Fry]

Is the auto refresh function that revolving thing with drones and other things that refuses to display the search results you asked for. I always assumed it's their server can't be bothered, too slow to answer. The rest of the universe speaks to me, and I'm still on half a copper wire.

[stu knowles]

I find that the HK site will load into MS Edge but if I search, I get the endless 'going around while I think about it thing'

If I switch to Google Chrome as a browser, the site works fine...…. except they don't have much stock

[Tony Harrison 2]

Posted by Paul Marsh on 23/12/2019 18:38:24:

If you delete your cookies, or log in on another computer, the discount will come up again. Every time you log in, cookies are stored within your browser, so for the first time, no search before, and the 10% discount came up, 2nd search, and the cookies were flagged as such and reduced to 5%, and so on.

I find it works the other way around, on certain retail websites: the cookies note your visit, you don't buy, return later - and the price is reduced a bit, to encourage you to buy this time... Seems to be like this on travel (rail, air, car hire etc) websites.

Easiest way to avoid cookie (and other) recognition is to use a VPN and change locations; the Opera browser very usefully includes a VPN, and it's free.

rgds Tony

[Richard Acland]

Hobbyking original website was fine. Then they updated it and it has been awful ever since. also am I the only one to notice that their stock levels are very poor. They used to have a great range of engines, both glow and petrol. Their covering film is always out of stock. Generally very disappointing.

[Brian Hammond]

I agree,earlier this year the boss said they were going to improve it but it gets worse and very little stock, a great shame , come back Giant Cod!

[Brian Hammond]

I agree,earlier this year the boss said they were going to improve it but it gets worse and very little stock, a great shame , come back Giant Cod!

[KiwiKid]

I have posted this before, but for those that have not seen it - some words from HK.

[Brian Hammond]

Just had an email from HK telling me they are improving the website and improving the stock levels,if only!!!

[Gary Murphy 1]

Didn't Giant Cod come back under a new name? it came back as "shark" or something then changed again, "RC" something?

[cymaz]

Giant Cod’s Website and sales was brilliant when they started near Truro. As you say they were bought out, changed name and moved away.

It’s now RCLife

Edited By cymaz on 25/12/2019 14:20:05

[Don Fry]

Posted by Brian Hammond on 25/12/2019 10:39:07:

Just had an email from HK telling me they are improving the website and improving the stock levels,if only!!!

I got one. I sent a reply via Marlon. Marlon seems a nice lad. He has forwarded it.

[Jesus Cardin]

Ian Hand from Hobby King says "We are living in a mad world right now....." A mad world they greatly helped to create, he forgot to mention.

They may be improving the website and trying their best for recovering the stock levels but, be sure, Hobby King will never be again what they used to be: they have altered so much the model market at the same time that flying restrictions make our hobby so little attractive that margins now are not interesting even for Hobby King!

At this moment, most probably, they are studying on reducing costs and looking for the product lines from which they get higher benefits: all other ranges we will to say "Good Bye!"

[Erfolg]

Jesus, I expect your perspective of what has happened and how HK are responding is valid.

Yet the response you suggest, seems sensible to me. Business has to make a profit to be viable and continue to have a future. If we cannot provide that profit for what ever reason, sensibly, any business will decide not to trade.

[Jesus Cardin]

Thanks Erfolg!

By the way, I am also a Do 335 lover and aside following your threads here I own all Monogram books on the plane and the Model Airplane News (USA) glow engine plans with the idea of building it someday.

Best Regards

[Cuban8]

Markets never remain static for very long and our hobby has undergone both positive and not so positive upheavals during the last twenty years. Hobbyking were in the right place at the right time when they first got going as practical electric flight was becoming a reality but still expensive. HK offered reasonable quality electric flight equipment at a fraction of the cost of model shop prices and we all (most of us anyway) filled our boots and spent freely with them.

I was spending a couple of hundred quid a year with them in the beginning and I know for sure that several of my club mates spent much, much more. New electric models and conversions would appear on the club field in droves on a weekly basis and people would want to buy in to the deals. Hobbyking made a killing. No way could it last, that sort of growth bubble in what is actually quite a specialised and limited market compared to other sports was always going to burst. Fatigue sets in for the consumer - how many new 'throw together' models do you want? Experiment with drones - get bored.........experiment with helis - get bored......try small foamy models and big foamy models and get bored again. Where to then, except to enjoy the hobby in a much less consumer orientated manner perhaps? I understand that something similar is happening in the wider tech field - just how often do you really need to change your smartphone?

I've seen it within my own clubs, the mass hysteria of cheap models has subsided, spending has been much reduced for many people and this has been also driven by an increasing lack of availability and quite large price rises that tend to turn people off. We all love a bargain. Don't misunderstand me - our hobby is not an expensive one and a lot of fun can still be had for not much money compared to other hobbies and sports. Hobbyking must be able to see this and their bottom line will be telling its own story. Their disastrous web site rehash almost killed them stone dead a while back, and as has been noted by others, the shopping experience with them is not a particularly entertaining one now. HK can blame the surrounding world for much of their woes, but they've shot themselves in the foot quite effectively as well. Can they maintain such a large global organisation with warehouses all over the place and duplicating effort? I doubt it and expect them to contract substantially over the coming few years.

[Jesus Cardin]

Cuban8, excellent explanation which I totally agree.

Best Regards

[Erfolg]

I am sure that we all agree with Cuban. Many of us older modelers have a touch of nostalgia as to how things were. Some dream and believe that much of the substance of those times will return. In my opinion this will not happen in the way that is wished for. Many of the IC mass market manufacturers have already gone, the Super Tigres, Thunder Tiger, Webra and so on. Many more will follow.

There is some hope in that we are now entering the era of home laser cutting, 3D printing. Although some of the once common hardware may not be easily sourced in present formats. requiring some amendments as to how things will be done. As for ARTF, a market will remain, although the materials and size will be revealed with time.

I cannot but notice that the RCM&E is increasingly concentrating on the more expensive end of the market. The circa £500 airframe, with similarly priced petrol engines. There are a surprising number of this type in our club, although they remain the minority. Many a good few years old now, others have seen the bin bag. However you look at it, the margins may be very good, although the numbers sold are probably small. I do not see this end of the market saving the hobby or even being the bedrock of readers interest in the mags. More aspirational as the Lamborghini, Bugatti and Rolls Royce tend to be. Many given the opportunity and where with all to join the group, think on reflection, it is like burning a pile of fivers in the garden, no thank you.

Given the small number of modelers in the UK, it is a little surprising that there is a UK, HK warehouse, whilst we remain in the EU. Once out of the EU, it will be a question is the HK operation viable. It could well be that the threat is greater to the Perkins and Ripmaxs of this world (the UK).

If it were not for the very high post office postal charges, the UK could be well placed to pick up a lot of non UK online business, given its close location to mainland Europe. Perhaps another carrier could be the answer.

As Cuban reminds us, markets constant evolve, the changes difficult to predict, with anything like clarity. Even when we are correct, reality is always subtley or significantly different to our present vision. Right now, many Economists are suggesting that the UK will see more growth in the next 1-10 years than remaining in the EU. Only yesterday we were being told the opposite. These are people who are supposed to be know what they are talking about. I think one of these groups is correct.

I just hope that HK makes a good transition to reflect the times.

[KiwiKid]

For what it is worth, here's another recent missive from HK - time will tell.

[cymaz]

 

 

Only 2 items in the glow engine section at HK

Edited By cymaz on 28/12/2019 19:13:25

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

It's a very odd website these days but try entering OS in the search box and see what comes up...who knows what else might lurk in the murky depths of the site, inaccessible by normal searches...

Edited By Martin Harris on 28/12/2019 21:19:25