InternetHobbies.com troubles * NEW UPDATE 3-20-2010*

I use Sprue Brothers as much as I can then Squadron. I've never had a problem with either one but there is always that chance.

New Hampshire

Well, received an email from them today....telling me my order was cancelled.

They lost a customer in me.

Brian

Did they give a reason? I know they state on their site that what they have listed there may not represent what they have in stock. And some orders may take longer if they have to come from one of their other sources.

I had some weird dealings with a company called Blue Yonder, or Wild Blue Yonder (I think) that went out of business weeks after I ordered, but actually got what I ordered after waiting way too long.

My favorite for a while was one called Phoenix Models and sadly they are gone now....

I had an issue with them also on my one and only order posted with them. In contrast,  I placed a recent order with FreeTime hobbies for some books and couple PE items. The shipment came with the books but sans PE items. I sent them an email... next day, I got a personal email from one of the owners, they found the PE items and FEDEX them to me overnight, at no extra cost of course. THAT is customer service. Errors happen; how the company deals with the costumer is what would make me order from them again.

Internet hobbies = no

FreeTime hobbies  = YES

Also had good costumer service from LuckyModel; never had an issue changing an order, always received an email response within 24 hrs.

Well, received an email from them today....telling me my order was cancelled.

They lost a customer in me.

Brian

Give them a bit more time, possibly. It took 4 or 5 days before I actually got a confirmation that the product was to be shipped. I don't think they are totally bad, just lacking a bit in the customer service department. The email can't hurt though. Or you could contact them by phone. I do have an 800# that only contacts the warehouse guy, and the other #'s listed are long distance. Not sure if that would help or not.

Uh oh, now you have me worried.  I recently ordered from them (they were the only company that had the two specific items I wanted actually listed IN STOCK in one place) and it said they were supposed to ship it in 2-3 days.  The order was placed on 3/310!  I just assumed there was something with their dealer and it took them longer to get the item out and it was in transit as we speak.  I never got a shipping confirmation, so I emailed them yesterday night, though I am giving the benefit of the doubt about the weekend, so hopefully I see a reply on Monday night when I get home and check.  I actually think it is the items I want that are cursed (a Verlinden 1/35 British WW2 stowage set and a Tamiya 1/35 Cromwell photo etch grille) since I also had Great Models do sort of the smae thing to me and I had to just cancel my order.

Argh.....

Brian

Here is another update: I received the replacement Friday, and no paperwork of any kind was included concerning the return of the other kit. I don't see myself paying freight out of my pocket to ship it back and I don't plan to do much else about it unless they contact me in the future. Is this wrong? It's not a very expensive kit (around $11) and the cost of shipping......

Here is an update: Received an e-mail confirming that my order had been shipped and is en route. The odd thing is that is shows a list of the 'items' I ordered-not just the one kit! It also shows billing information! I  seriously hope they don't duplicate my original  order and bill me for it, but for now I don't see any new charges added to my account.

I usually use Squadron, but this one had a couple of out-of-production Hasagawa kits I wanted. I still have the mis-shipped kit and when I get the one I wanted I will e-mail and ask them for a return label. The kit I got is a $10 kit and I know from working in the shipping business, an A.R.S. return label from UPS cost $18 for every one we use! Hardly worth it for them or me!

I've used Squadron.com for 23 years now and rarely a problem. I used them from Germany via snail mail (pre-internet days) by sending a check and order form through the APO system. I've used them with fax & CC number, I've used them in the early internet days via email (anyone remember Bruce Beamish's 24 hour email specials? they would cancel the sale if a post was made about it on RMS). And I've used them with the online order form.

Never had an issue with them other than the ones mentioned, a wrong item sent they told me to keep.

I placed an order with them on March 4th, it shipped on March 5th, it arrived on the 10th. Simple order of the 1/48 scale Tamiya M1025 HMMWV, Royal Models PE for the 1/48 scale Tamiya M10 and MMiR 49.

Had the same thing happen with Squadron a few years go.  Except they told me to keep the kit I hadn't ordered as payment for my trouble.

Regards,  Rick

they should have included a return label for you send the stuff back.  i haven't ordered from internet hobbies in a long time, but i never had an issue with them when i did. 

I just wanted to report that after a second e-mail, they did respond to me with a phone number and name to ask for. I phoned them, and the person I explained my problem to set the phone down, and a moment later he returned to tell me he had my kit in hand and would ship it out today (Friday). The only minus to this story is that he did ask that I return the other kit with a note showing the amount of shipping I paid and they would credit me. I am assuming this will probably mean an in house credit and I will have but something else to redeem it. I plan to wait until I get my ordered kit in hand before returning the other. Hopefully all will end well, but I shall report back when all is done.

When I was overseas several years back I tried to contact them via email due to their system not being compatible with a military APO address. I was wanting to buy several kits. I never heard from them. Telephoning them was not an option. I took my business to Squadron and Great Models, who's online order systems did work with APO. Their loss.