You can’t redeem a Squadron gift certificate online? Unless you live locally to their store(s), if that is the case, the certificate is worthless. 

I noticed that some things in their flyer aren't listed either by name, stock #, make or makers # on the website.  Just about have given up on them.

If a hard copy gift certificate rather than a gift card with a # on it, might only be redemable via mail order.  Not real convienent, but seems like the only way if it's not an electronic deal.

It is sad how much Squadron has changed, from the go-to hobby source to pretty much irrelevant in online hobby retail. I don't think I've ordered from them in five or more years; other stores have much better prices and in-stock status. Last month I finally unsubscribed. Too many "sales" of items not in stock at higher prices that the competition. I hope they can get it turned around. 

Yeah, I used to order piles of stuff from them back in the '80s but today... well I haven't ordered anything from them in over a year.

I've seen stuff listed in their flyer as being on sale and on the first day of the sale they don't even have it in stock. I worked retail for awhile and that's not a good sign of a strong company. 

I too have had problems with Squadron. In September I ordered a repacement canopy, but after a month it had not arrived. I contacted them and after a week they said that it would arrive in three to four weeks after I contacted them. However, I did not recieve the part until late January and was thus unable to finish my GB.

Remember not long ago when they announced the flyer wold not be free any more? That didn't last long. 

One thing I've been noticing is the large discounted prices they adverstise (60-75% off as examples) but I have been unable to find these deals on the flyer. Something they advertise on sale I have compared the same item on Scale Hobbyist for maybe $5 more so not such a big sale.

Squadron had some really insane sales where decals sheets were .50 or a buck. Resin am things for a couple of bucks. A while back I picked up several 1/48 resin seats for Phantoms and Tomcats for $1 each two seat set. I haven't seen those sales for at least a couple of years.

I need given up on Squadron. Either they’re constantly out of stock on kits or too expensive. Screw’em.... I’ll go elsewhere.

 I placed 7 orders with Squadron 2014 and  only 1 more in 2017. Even with all their Holiday discount incentives those were the only orders until this past week.

I could not resist this:

Squadron Models 1/72 Haunebu II Premium Edition - SQM0002

For $31.37! 

    I also picked up 2 other items. I forced myself as these 2 were only available from Asia at that discount price).  So my total was $65.35 + 12.95 SH and then $13.95 off due to a 20% discount.

      Their Ship model selection is becoming deplorable. 

      My wish-list items never seem to come back in stock; 

                               ie: I have been waiting years for  Mr. Surfacer 1200.

      Their In-Stock stuff is less than exciting for me and they seem to be getting out of the Model ship business with less than 160 Ship kits in inventory.  Most of us have more than that in our stash. An Aircraft enthusiast may see this differently.

     I am not an avid Airplane modeler, and they are called Squadron.   

     That's my 20% of a Dime.

         Nino

Well, They still have a lot of AFV's.

      Tanks Squadron!

              Nino

mrmike

It is sad how much Squadron has changed, from the go-to hobby source to pretty much irrelevant in online hobby retail. I don't think I've ordered from them in five or more years; other stores have much better prices and in-stock status. Last month I finally unsubscribed. Too many "sales" of items not in stock at higher prices that the competition. I hope they can get it turned around. 

 

Same here. They are horrible now. I’m not sure what happened. They hardly carry any aftermarket stuff anymore. I switched to Sprue Brothers and eBay along time ago. 

Pretty much have give up on them as well. Most of the things I’d want aren’t in stock.  Come to think of I haven’t placed an order in six years now. I’d always placed a massive order when they had the Black Friday sale and get half off $500 or more. Now I might look on the website once and month and move on. Sad to see what has happened to them.

Their convoluted excuse for a  website is going to be their demise.  I had so many problems with ordering through it that I to had given up trying to get anything from Squadron. 

They have a lot of competition with much better websites, stock items, and pricing that in my opinion, is going to put them out of business.

I really miss the old paper flyers with tons of clearence items marked down to insane prices.  

What has happend?  Squadron was once a family based busines that was sold off to investors who hired professional marketing people that had seemed to have lost touch with both their base customers and with the market.

Once upon a time, Squadron was the place to order from, either by mail, phone, email and then secure internet. They had everything.

Lately, they've been left in the dust by other more versitile online retailers with better prices and faster shipping.

Great Models got done in by the nickname "Wait Models". Order something from them and weeks and months wasn't unusual. Squadron isn't far behind them.

Rob Gronovius

 

Great Models got done in by the nickname "Wait Models". Order something from them and weeks and months wasn't unusual. Squadron isn't far behind them.

 

Still waiting on paint from them I ordered ten years ago. 

Surprised by the Great Models comments,they were always my go to site,never had any issues or problems with them.I loved their search engine also.Was very disappointed when Spruebrothers bought them out.

I always thought Rollmodels was the slowest

Tojo72

Anybody remember the walk in Squadron Shop in Silver Springs MD ? That was always a stop for me.

 

Tojo, I do remember the walk in Squadron in Hazel Park, MI back in the mid 80's. My father used to love taking me to the shop and looking at the large display of built models. Great memories.

Tojo72

Surprised by the Great Models comments,they were always my go to site,never had any issues or problems with them.I loved their search engine also.Was very disappointed when Spruebrothers bought them out.

I always thought Rollmodels was the slowest

Yes, their search inventory database was amazing. Actually getting something from that inventory list was hit or miss. I did get some awesome deals from them. Cavalier zimmerit for the 1/48 scale Tamiya King Tiger was a steal.

Several times I had placed an order with them that was marginally better priced than ordering the same items from Squadron. Then only half comes in. So I reorder the missing items from Squadron and the total is more than it would have been if I had just placed the order with Squadron.

I just recently unsubscribed myself from their email list. Not worth bothering reading their flyers anymore since they never have anything in stock. Now my mailbox is less cluttered than before. Good riddance.....

I tried to order from Squadron yesterday.  Interested in four items.  Only one in the four were in stock!

As with others I used to order from Squadron constantly. But about 5-6 years ago their prices seemed to go up and customer service seemed to go down. They had a vendor bench and a hobby show back then. They had a few stacks of models. The prices were about 10% higher than their website. I asked if I could get the website price and was told if I want it for that price I had to order from their website. Really? Their representatives were kind of rude to all who asked questions.

The last time I ordered from them was back in 2013. Ordered a 1/48 FW-190 and received a 1/48 F-16. Called them up. I sent back the F-16 and waited. Two weeks later no FW-190. Called again, said they would ship it out the next day. Four days later the F-16 showed up again. Then another F-16 showed up the next day! So for a $36 FW-190 I got two Eduard $80 F-16 Fighting Falcoln kits.

I gave up and ordered the FW-190 from Scale Hobbyist. It was on sale for $22 and it arrived in 4 days. I order from Scale Hobbyist, Hobbylinc, and Sprue Bros. now. Between the 3 of them I can find what I am looking for in stock and for a good price.

Don Stauffer

I tried to order from Squadron yesterday.  Interested in four items.  Only one in the four were in stock!

 

 

I ordered from one of their “flash sales” a few weeks ago. It took a few tries to make it happen, but I did get a great score once it finally went thru. A Hobbyboss 1/35 LVTP-7 UGWS for about $20 with shipping. Every now and then things do work out with them... 

At least you gained 2 $80 Eduard F-16 kits. You got a bargain based on their stupidity and failure to understand simple comprehension and English. I guess you can’t fix stupid. You could sell it off on eBay for a profit.

back in my early model building days, early 90'so, squadron mail order was the "***"!  Sure, you had to mail your order form from the paper flyer found in finescale modeller, or the fuller catalog version if you've ordered previously, along with a check payment, and then wait "4-6 weeks for delivery", but back then, the anticipation was half the fun!

But, nowadays, I don't even bother!  I look through the monthly mailer, then trash it, and if/when I need something, or have a project in mind, I go to Amazon first (yeehaw Prime!) And megahobby.com second.  Megahobby.com has, so far, been almost as good as amazon.  I am in southeast Pa, and they are based in Jersey, and their shipping is a prime-like two day for me, and their prices don't seem that bad either.

I kinda miss those days where you could get 4 1/72 scale A-4 Skyhawks on a high schooler's budget of around 10 bucks!

Justinryan215

back in my early model building days, early 90'so, squadron mail order was the "***"!  Sure, you had to mail your order form from the paper flyer found in finescale modeller, or the fuller catalog version if you've ordered previously, along with a check payment, and then wait "4-6 weeks for delivery", but back then, the anticipation was half the fun!

 

But, nowadays, I don't even bother!  I look through the monthly mailer, then trash it, and if/when I need something, or have a project in mind, I go to Amazon first (yeehaw Prime!) And megahobby.com second.  Megahobby.com has, so far, been almost as good as amazon.  I am in southeast Pa, and they are based in Jersey, and their shipping is a prime-like two day for me, and their prices don't seem that bad either.

 

I kinda miss those days where you could get 4 1/72 scale A-4 Skyhawks on a high schooler's budget of around 10 bucks!