Model Shops (again) The Good and the Bad

[Delta Whiskey]

I just had to jot down a good and bad experience I had recently when trying to make sure parts were in stock before I travelled over to my nearest shops because I could just not wait for online stuff to come thru!

First the bad.......Addlestone Model Shop, Addlestone, Surrey. Checked the website, not really sure I found what I wanted and I also wanted to ask for some recommendations, but we all know about those sites that show stock online, but do not have it actually ready for you.....so I thought I would ring first before popping over....big mistake....got a grumpy agitated bloke on the line, (who I think is the owner from speaking in store on a previous occasion, but don't quote me on that) anyway...he just did not want my call, and even said "we are a model shop we have most things!" and even said we have a sign outside the shop, when I asked what time are you open to! So I politely told him good bye from this customer permanently!

Now the good ....... Brentford model shop in Brentford of course!....rung up asking the same questions I wanted to ask as above, and could not have gotten a more friendly person willing to answer my questions and give advice.......went straight over and got my bits and pieces along with a friendly chat.

So will advise my fellow club members to stay clear too of Addlestone Models, as before I also mentioned somewhere on here, about the £5.50 extra Addlestone Models also put on a gallon on Bekra fuel, than other local stores do, above the current MT (July 09) price of £20.35 (Mick Charles Models in Ewell) for 16% fuel hiking up to a unbelievable £25.85!

[ken anderson.]

the good-gladstons model shop,bedford street ,north shields..........

 

  ken anderson...........

[BB]

Have used the Brentford ms online.  Got excellent advice over the phone 1st followed by a fast delivery service.

 

[Bert]

I've used Addlestone Models many times - I shall be going there this afternoon on my way home from work.

 

I have had nothing but good service from them - they have ordered specialised items for me on several occasions and taken the trouble to phone me when they came in.

 

Maybe the OP caught them on a bad day - we all have those don't we?

 

Bert

[Ross Clarkson]

Howes Model shop in Kidlington. Poor stock and very poor customer services.

 

Not able to find a good one yet as i dont know of any others in my area!! Any suggestions near Brize Norton would be welcome?

 

 

[Allan Jordan]

Hi DW, I am surprised that you have had a problem with Addlestone Models... I have always found them most helpful... as has been suggested by  another forumite you may have been the victim of  " a bad day " Not much of a reason though is it !  I agree with you as regards the shop in Ewell, they seem to have someone making up the prices as they go along.

[Delta Whiskey]

Just to clarify Allan, Mick Charles in Ewell seems to be a great place to buy from, thye seem friendly and have what I've asked for so far in stock, or will find something similar. I went in with a damage tank the other day, they pulled out a box from under the counter, and we found the nearest equivilent, and they are £5.50 cheaper on a gallon of Bekra 16% fuel than Addlestone models !!!

 

Thats why I will not be giving Addlestone any more of my cash, who know what else they are over charging for......oh and for the bad service I got, even if it was someone's bad day, in business they should leave their bad feelings at home, and not with the customer.

 

Brentford & Mick Charles now for me and occasionally West London Models too, in my area.

[michael birks]

Just had a really bad experience with Elite Models, i thought i would give them a try as they were advertising in RCM&E ,i ordered an os32sxh online and paid for next day delivey,nothing arrived a few days later so gave them a ring "it should be in within the next day or two sorry about that" no problems i thought,a week later i phoned only to be given same response it will be in shortly a day or two,ok waited another week same response eventually phoned on the friday again to be told it may be in next week,bearing in mind they still had it advertised on their website 2 minutes to put out of stock surely,i phoned once again and just asked for a refund.......still waiting!!!,it looks like trading standards will have to be involded to get my money back the bank and so on,i paid in good faith and since have been informed they should not be advertising goods they dont have and secondly they should not have deducted my debit card,but you live and learn never again.

[Tim Mackey]

I shouldnt rush off to T/S just yet Michael.

Phone the shop again, and ask to speak to the manager.

Explain politely what has happened, and give him / her a chance to put things right.

[michael birks]

Hi Timbo, yes each time i rang i made a point of been really polite thanking them for their time etc, i did get passed over to the manager and i explained that i couldnt wait any longer bearing in mind it had been nearly a month,it does state on their website that if the items are not in stock a full refund would be given,i took time off to wait in i wasnt even informed that it was out of stock so i waited in the next 3 days,i have phoned on numerous occasions but really not sure if this is right having to consantly chase them up,i was basically told that it was all Ripmax's fault,cannot understand it reall,but for the record i made a point of been polite and understanding, even thanking them for their help etc,having read up more info in the terms and conditions it looks like another 30 day wait before a refund is given making it a 7week transaction in total.

[michael birks]

on saying the above i doubt it's a true reflection of the shop,they are probably a really good shop, just  an isolated one off incident, that rarely occurs

Edited By michael birks on 08/02/2010 11:11:38

[Tim Mackey]

Seems like you have done the right thing then Michael, and I can only wish you the best in getting a resolution .

[Klippy]

Just had an experience, back in December I ordered a Funcub Power set from Galaxy Models. As is usual I added precise posting and delivery instructions to the order. About a week later I asked for the tracking number, to be told 'Our Post room says Royal Mail doesn't do 'to be signed for''. Excuse me? After careful reading of their confirmation e-mail, I realised that my instructions hadn't been followed, and hell would freeze over before the package arrived. Since I had paid with Paypal I invoked the complaints procedure and in February received my money back. All good, I've got my money back and Galaxy are down one Power set.

At the same time I received my money back, I received an invoice from Galaxy for another power set, yea right, I'm going that route again aren't I? So just ignored it. Imagine my surprise when yesterday I receive from the Post Office a Power set, posted in February! Only took 2 months to get here! Included in the package was a little note admitting that the original package had been incorrectly addressed! Naturally I paid Galaxy for it immediately.

Full marks Galaxy for trying to make things right. I wonder how many people in this Kleptocracy would have made payment!

Zero marks for communication, why just stuff a note in the packing? An e-mail would have been nice!

[birdy]

Good service: Giant Cod -I have never had a single problem.

EM Models in Tunbridge Wells - They have always given me exactly what I want at what I consider a reasonable price, and have given good advice. They even, when buying a covering iron a few years ago, recommended that I didn't buy what they had in stock, since they thought that one with accurate temperature control etc, rather than a cheap and chearful one, would be more than I needed. The only problem with them is their insistence of using upmarket brands like flightpower lipos at times.

BRC hobbies - I once returned a faulty v-tail mixer to them, but forgot to put in a return address, so, a month later, having completely forgotten about it, I received a working one with a note explaining how they had had to look through their records to find my address - top marks. I'm sure most place wouldn't have bothered and kept the cost of postage and a new mixer.

 

OK service: Sussex model centre - they said one colour scheme of a model was in stock on the web site when it wasn't, but to be fair they did politely call me and ask if they should should wait for new stock or send they other colour, and then they sent me one incorrect item, which they corrected, but was annoying all the same.

[Alan Cantwell]

for cracking service, crossgates models, leeds, and for the most polite service in the UK, webbys, in frodsham,

[john haz]

elite - the same happened to me when i ordered a stock item foamie. Only a week of running around the houses trying to get answers & a refund, but enough to put them on my blacklist.

 

I'm an impatient type & when I pay for 1st class recorded, I assume the supplier will have the decency to send it within a day or two !

 

G'cod - excellent prices, excellent service, stock levels shown honestly on the site (ime), returns procedure doesn't seem too great but with the prices as they are, I can live with the odd dead duck.

 

HK - buy loads from them, always good.

 

Overlander - ordered my hunter during the evening, it arrived in 36 hours (they can't possibly do better than that).

 

KLMS - close to me, as are Inwoods. Both seem to hold decent stock at decent prices. KL can be a bit "off" sometimes, but I guess that's when they are overloaded with work.