Squadron

I've always had good service with Freetime.

I enjoyed getting the flyer in the mail.  Its was far better than all the campaign junk mail I have been getting.

I remmember the old folded over monthly flyers from thirty years ago full of discounted items that were less than a buck or two.  

EdGrune

They charge when the item ships.  

I do not think this is necessarily true.

I pre-ordered a Tamiya 1/12 Tyrrell 03 on 10/4.

When I placed the order on the 4th, I was informed that I would be invoiced for payment when the kit was in stock and ready to ship... was invoiced and paid on the 10th... kit has yet to ship as of today the 15th.

EdGrune

 

...Brandon Lowe is the new owner of Squadron.  He has bought many of the parts of the old company that were broken up in the bankruptcy.   Brandon used to own Freetime Hobby along with his dad.  Brandon thought he wanted to get out of the hobby industry and go into custom motorcycle graphics -- he quickly realized his error and got back in.  

He has been working to reassemble the parts; decals, books, detail parts, etc.  He has some big plans which if he pulls off even half will make the new company the major player it was.  He has worked to re-establish sales relationships with vendors that were bent & broken by the old Squadrons late or no payments of bills due...Yes, Brandon and his family are personal friends and I wish them  all the success in the world.   

Second that, Ed!  I was and still am a customer of Freetime, and back when Brandon made his first annoucements about Squadron, I was glad to hear it.  I wish him and his dad much success, and I think we modelers will be happy again with the brand.

Corporate big footing is never a positive senario.

Eugene Rowe

I usually discarded the Squadron flyers,but I did find this one in my Magazine stash.  

 

2008 catalog from the early Squadron 2.0 timeframe.  

Squadrons founder, Jerry Campbell, sold to Mike McMahon and some "quiet investors" (Squadron 2.0).   McMahon was a good steward and continued Campbell's vision of the company.   McMahon took an extended sick leave and when he came back the "quiet investors", Franklin Mint, had taken over. They added gack items along side of model stuff.   Payment issues bloomed during Franklins tenure ending in their bankruptcy

Tojo72

Does Squadron charge you for pre orders,or only when they ship?

 

Can confirm, they contact you when it is in stock and ready to ship, then send an invoice to pay at that time with the link to actually submit payment.  I utilized Squadron for the ICM Ghost of Kiev kit a couple months back.

They contact you when it is in stock and ready to ship, then send an invoice to pay at that time.  I utilized Squadron for the ICM Ghost of Kiev kit a couple months back.

Heh...I'm getting 2 of everything for some reason.  2 digital catalogs...2 paper catalogs.  Maybe I'll get 2 F-35s.  

And I just got an email with a digital version of their catalog. I have not received a paper copy. At least not yet.

I usually discarded the Squadron flyers,but I did find this one in my Magazine stash.  

Nice gesture and a bit unusual!

Eugene Rowe

Hopefully my copy will arrive in the mail next week!I used to order from Squadron occasionally and they even sent me a B-25 book for free as part of  some kind of customer appreciation program!

 

Hopefully my copy will arrive in the mail next week!I used to order from Squadron occasionally and they even sent me a B-25 book for free as part of  some kind of customer appreciation program!

I got my copy in the mail yesterday too!  Brought back memories when the old Sears & J.C. Penny's Christmas catalogs would arrive in the mail.  As soon as I got home from school I would tear into them and start making my Christmas "Wish List".  Not sure if I'm willing to trust the "New" Squadron with my order and money yet.  I still have bad memories of getting disappointed by the old Squadron.  I'll wait and see what customers have to say before I place an order.  I really do like having a "paper"copy of a catalog in my hands to browse through.  

tjs

missileman2000

A new catalog!  Ink on paper.  No having to click on a link for every kit and linking back.  Of course small pics and little info.  But I like being able to scan a lot of kits at a glance.  I can go to the web site for those items that really interest me.

Me too 

A new catalog!  Ink on paper.  No having to click on a link for every kit and linking back.  Of course small pics and little info.  But I like being able to scan a lot of kits at a glance.  I can go to the web site for those items that really interest me.

Eagle and Ed,thanks.

I want to pre order mine too, just hate to pay in advance.

Tojo72

Does Squadron charge you for pre orders,or only when they ship?

 

They take payment info, but they don't charge you for pre-orders.  I pre-ordered that F-35A last night (couldn't pass up the discounted price of $78.00) and their e-mail says that they will contact me to authorize payment when they have the item ready to ship.  Looked at my credit card account this morning, and there isn't even a pre-authorization on it from Squadron, so it looks like they're telling the truth.

I have bought a few things from the new Squadron so far, and I have been pretty happy with their service.  They ship things immediately and they arrive quickly.  Each day they add more and more stuff to get back to the Squadron we remember (in the days before they started faltering).  They're bringing more of the Squadron/Signal reference books back, as well as their decals, and I think I remember a newsletter from them talking about bringing back their aftermarket canopies and resin stuff

Tojo72

Does Squadron charge you for pre orders,or only when they ship?

 

Brandon Lowe is the new owner of Squadron.  He has bought many of the parts of the old company that were broken up in the bankruptcy.   Brandon used to own Freetime Hobby along with his dad.  Brandon thought he wanted to get out of the hobby industry and go into custom motorcycle graphics -- he quickly realized his error and got back in.  

He has been working to reassemble the parts; decals, books, detail parts, etc.  He has some big plans which if he pulls off even half will make the new company the major player it was.  He has worked to re-establish sales relationships with vendors that were bent & broken by the old Squadrons late or no payments of bills due.  

Why did the old company stop carrying Eduard & Tamiya?  They didn't get paid.  Why were things not in stock?  They didn't get paid.  Why were there sales of things you didn't want?  They were trying to raise fast cash.  

Yes, Brandon and his family are personal friends and I wish them  all the success in the world.  

Rob Gronovius

 

 

Tojo72

Does Squadron charge you for pre orders,or only when they ship?

 

 

 

This is actually another hobby shop that has taken over the former Squadron name. Most likely anything the former Squadron Mail Order did is not what this company does, but you never know.

Thanks,I realize that Squadron is under new management,Brandon took over some months ago,but I couldn't find their pre order policy on the site,nor do I remember how old Squadron worked,so I was trying to find out specifically how they handle pre order billing.Time of ordering or of shipping, if somebody knew or had experience with the new guy.

Tojo72

Does Squadron charge you for pre orders,or only when they ship?

I loved the old Squadron catalogs and the monthly flyers. I still have boxes of them. They are great for seeing some of the history of when kits first were released and how much they went for.

Omni Yomni

I'm surprised I got one. I guess when the original outfit folded, they passed their mailing lists down, but I haven't done any business with them in so long that I'm surprised they kept me on it.

I checked my email, and I last ordered from Squadron in June 2020. In August 2020, I got an email "We Miss You" and 20% off coupon. I think the first "Squadron is closed" posts I saw were in January 2021.

Does Squadron charge you for pre orders,or only when they ship?

keavdog

The old flier was my favorite thing in the mail.  I hope I get one!

 

I'm surprised I got one. I guess when the original outfit folded, they passed their mailing lists down, but I haven't done any business with them in so long that I'm surprised they kept me on it.

Tojo72

Does Squadron charge you for pre orders,or only when they ship?

 

No idea. I actually haven't bought anything from them in years. Last time I did was back before they started all that 'available to order' stuff, when it seemed they were always out of stock on everything. Looking thru this new flier, I don't see anything about preorders, or even anything they're taking preorders for, sorry. 

But in it I do see that Trumpeter has a new F-35C in 1/32. Art imitating life?

Does Squadron charge you for pre orders,or only when they ship?

The old flier was my favorite thing in the mail.  I hope I get one!