Problem with internet hobbies?

Have them put a trace on it or provide a tracking number. I've bought a couple of things from  them and they were a bit flakey. One, they held because they miscalculated shipping. Their email went to my junk box and I almost missed it. Another I had to call them several times. They all eventually arrived.

I think that 1) there are only a couple of guys running this and 2) they were struggling to stay afloat. I haven't looked at their stuff lately, though.

I almost placed an order through them around after Christmastime. Ended up ordering from Hobbylinc instead due to better price.

As Geezer already mentioned, ask for a tracking number. They should have at least sent you an email with a tracking number of your order.

I had a similar issue with 1001modelkits.com and waited 2 weeks. Finally, I had enough and demanded a refund. Sure enough they sent a refund and credited it back to my credit card. Never ordered from them again.

They haven't sent me a tracking number yet! I'm thinking about after next thursday I'm going to ask for a refund. The sad thing is i live 2 hours form them.

Ive read some story about  them not refunding the money!

If they refused, you can dispute your case with your credit card company.

I tried ordering from them while on deployment several years back, but their website was not compatible with a GI's APO address. I sent several emails to them trying to see if they could handle this another way. No response ever. I figured that they did not want my money so I took my business elsewhere.

Considering it's run by 2 guys, I can't imagine how much stress they're under to try fulfill hundreds, if not thousands of orders. Weren't they at one point of threatening to shut down because they weren't generating enough cash flow?

Yeah, I remember hearing something like that. I just know that there are other sites that offer far better service. They get my money.

I ordered several ship kits from them a couple years ago.  After few weeks' delay, I called and they said they were waiting on receiving one of the kits.

When the order finally arrived, the kit they said they were waiting for was not included.  I wasn't charged for it--but thought the whole episode kind of strange.

These days I pretty much stick to Hannants, Squadron, Sprue Brothers, FreeTime and Tower Hobbies.  Never had problems with any of them.

Hope you can get this sorted out.

    This is one of the reasons why I prefer to go to an "old fasioned" "brick and mortar" store make my purchases.  You pay your money and you walk out with what you wanted.  You're not "stuck" waiting for days on end for a confirmation e-mail to show up, and then weeks on end waiting for what you ordered to show up.

    You walk in, pick out what you want, walk up to the cashier, give them either your cash or your credit card pay for it and you're done.  No waiting, no wondering if you've been ripped off.  Nice neat, clean, and simple.

I've had trouble too.  I ordered from them out of pity because they sent out an email to their customers saying they were going out of business.

After I got my order, I noticed a second charge on my credit card.  I sent them a polite email asking them what it was for.  They replied, "Extra shipping."  That's it, just two words.  Nothing else.  No "Dear sir", "sorry for the confusion", no "thank you"... just two words.

Apparently they can't give a firm price for shipping until they actually ship.  Then they don't notify you of the extra charge; it's just a nice surprise.  When you place the order, the fine print does mention that it's estimated shipping and there might be an extra charge.

I have only ever purchased items from one company that can't tell what shipping will be, but I expect that since it's over seas, but they do tell you the total before shipping and charging your credit card.

I also asked, their "excellent" customer service, if they were going out of business, and they replied "no."  So, I guess they lied in that email they sent to their customers.

I'll never order from them again, and told them that.  They didn't seem to worried about it in their reply.

Sounds like a good reason to make their email come true, and let them go out of business for real, by not shopping there any more. While I understand shipping has gotten more complicated since the move to dim weight pricing, that's all the more reason to be as upfront as possible. Sprue Brothers has stopped working with FedEx altogether.

Yeah, I got an email from them of the news.

The only reason I bought from them was  to help a small business in  Pa. I'm  really starting to regret it the second reason was they had what I wanted. I'm NOT going to buy form them a again!

That's understandable.

Don't forget the bad weather unless their out here on the west coast.

It's unfortunate that some online businesses are like that. And the modelers that live way out in rural areas, where a trip to local hobby shop isn't a viable option (it might be a three- or four-hour trip to get to one), seem to get the brunt of this "run around". It's nice to be able to go to a "brick & mortar" store, but sometimes you have no choice but to buy your modeling stuff on-line, and the "shady" online businesses are just waiting for those customers. An unfortunate fact of life........

DD,

    Sadly, it is not just some online businesses it is also some individuals.  I've read plenty of horror stories where people have made purchases on eBay, paid extra for insurance.  Only to be told after the fact, that the seller was "self-insuring."  And all they were doing was taking the buyers money and putting it in their pocket NOT actually buying any insurance.  Saying "Don't worry, if anything happens, I'll replace the itme."

    I'm sorry, but if you ask me that is fraud.  If you advertise insurance, then one shouild purchase insurance at the time of shipping.  Not saying, "Oh, I 'self-insured' your package."

Unfortunately, they do not have "live" inventory. What you see on the website may not be available. Often you have to wait until they get it from their supplier.

My experience a few years ago was not good. I ordered a kit, and when my shipment arrived, it was the wrong kit! I phoned them, and was transferred to someone who seemed to be annoyed that he had to answer the phone. He said he would send me the correct kit and I would need to return the other. I figured he would send a return label, but when the shipment arrived, no label. I still have the mis-shipped kit!

Google Internet Hobbies reviews and you'll find a plethora of complaints about their poor service. They also have an F rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Frankly, there is simply no reason to shop there, when there are plenty of other places with better websites, real time inventories, and at least pretending to care about you and wanting your business. If Internet Hobbies can't be bothered to make any effort, there are places that will, and they can end up out of business. Like they deserve.

The only "great deals" they offer is 10% off. Big whoop! Finally, I had enough of their "10% off sale announcements" and unsubscribed from their their email list.

Thanks for the heads up here gents. Yet another reason to appreciate the forums is getting valuable info on good and bad internet sites. In all my years of ordering online I had yet to try Internet Hobbies and thanks to the input here I will not bother.

Your e-mail could be a copy of my current experience right down to two "unfulfilled" orders where money was taken but no product shipped. I have sent another e-mail requesting status, if I do not hear quickly, I will contact credit card company and file a claim to reverse the payment. I used AMEX and they are great about protecting purchases. I wish I had checked them out before I ordered.

Thanks to all for sharing your experience. Squadron and Sprue Brothers were my go to for years, I tried something new and learned the hard way.

*Sigh*... a 3 year old thread revived........

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

*Sigh*... a 3 year old thread revived........

 

Since this thread was revived I might as well throw this in. I recently ordered the ROG 1/32 P-51D from IH. He was the only one that had it for $24 and $9 shipping. I too got concerned after placing the order and not hearing anything after 4 days. I was able to speak on the phone to the owner who was enroute to the distributor to pick up the last of the ROG orders. I received my model 3 days later, VERY well packed too.

The gentleman on the phone was very polite and informative about the current Revell Company sale. It's probably a second job to him and may fall behind on shipping things out but in all a pleasent experience.

do not order from internet hobbies they are the worst. Poor service with rude and horrible communication. they do not stock items that they say they have

Yes,waited 5 months for an order before i filed a complaint with paypal and finally got them to wake up.

Zombie thread that lurches along.

Perhaps if the search engine here worked properly, folks could find this thread on here before they get bent over...