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Post by vintagerpm on Jul 29, 2020 11:25:05 GMT -8
Anyone having problems with Hobbyworld-USA recently? They are the US ditributer for Zero Paints
On July 2, I ordered 3 in-stock items. On July 20, with items still showing in-stock, I sent them a message asking about my unfilled order. (Web site does not say the items were shipped.) On July 25, with response or order sent, I emailed them via Paypal (first step in opening a complaint against them). Today, there is still no reply, items still say in-stock, order still not sent.
Anybody have an idea of whats going on up in New Hampshire? Is the state on total lock-down?
Mike
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Post by Joel_W on Jul 29, 2020 13:59:59 GMT -8
Mike,
I haven't dealt with Hobbyworld-USA in several years as their out of stocks just get worse and worse, and they take forever to get a restock, if ever. And yes, they're the only USA distributor for Zero paints in the USA, but his Out of Stocks are consistently horrendous, with very long, and I mean long wait times till a particular color is back in stock.
As for his currently slow shipping, it wasn't the greatest years ago, but from what you've said, it hasn't gotten any better, maybe worse.
My solution for Zero paints was either Spot Models of Spain, or Hiroboy of London. Both will ship to the USA. Honestly, I prefer Gravity paints of Spain, but that's just me.
For USA based paint companies there's MCW, Splash, and Scale Finishes.
Joel
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Post by vintagerpm on Jul 30, 2020 6:33:25 GMT -8
Joel, I ask my question because I have ordered from Hobbyworld-USA twice before with no issues. I do like both Gravity Spain and Splash, but they don't have the colors I was looking for. Ordering Zero paints from Hiroboy or SpotModel is a no-go, as the shipping costs from them to the US for flammable materials is horrendous.
Mike
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Post by Joel_W on Jul 30, 2020 7:41:40 GMT -8
Mike,
What colors are you looking for? Road racing car colors are almost all available from Gravity, or they'll make it for you. USA Nascar, street cars, dragsters, etc are all available from Splash finishes and MCW paints.
All I can tell you is that Hobbyworld-USA has been out of some colors for a year or more. From what I understand they use to share the USA with another online company and the split was the USA. Their territories were protected by Zero only allowing sales within all the various distributors territories. The West cost guy dropped the line and that left just Hobbyworld-USA for the entire country. That's when the issues started. Zero had min orders and I guess that they just couldn't afford them, but the fact was and is that out of stocks became the norm not the exception.
I gave up several years ago trying to order anything from them. Out of stocks and long shipping times for an online retailer makes no real sense.
Just like Mat from Gravity of Florida. His horrid shipping times has made him a true legend. I, like so many others had to go the PayPal route to get our money back. The last time I checked, my order was still listed as being shipped !!
Joel
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Post by vintagerpm on Aug 2, 2020 17:40:48 GMT -8
Officially opened a complaint aganst them at Paypal yesterday. Low and behold, this morning I get an email saying the items have shipped.
Mike
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Post by Joel_W on Aug 3, 2020 4:41:03 GMT -8
Mike,
At least you're getting your items. Just doesn't pay to deal with online vendors like him.
Joel
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Post by Ben_B on Aug 3, 2020 10:45:33 GMT -8
Believe it when the item actually hits the USPS tracking system. I had one vendor, thankfully no longer in business, create a shipping label to generate a “shipped” notice, but the item didn’t show up as actually in the system until over a week and multiple complaints to PayPal later. They didn’t actually get the item to USPS until then.
I’ve been happy with Splash Paint here in the US. They’re fast and can mix a color for you if they don’t have it as part of their normal stock. I really haven’t seen anything Zero or Gravity has that one can’t get from Splash.
Ben
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Post by vintagerpm on Aug 3, 2020 14:24:58 GMT -8
I’ve been happy with Splash Paint here in the US. They’re fast and can mix a color for you if they don’t have it as part of their normal stock. I really haven’t seen anything Zero or Gravity has that one can’t get from Splash. Ben I like Splash, too (and Gravity Spain), but Zero Paints were the only ones who have DHL/Deutsche Post yellow (and Hobbyworld-USA had it listed in stock). I know Splash can do custom paint, but not at the time I ordered the paint. (Supply problem of some sort.) FYI, USPS tracking says the order is in transit and will arrive tomorrow. (That's assuming they don't leave it "in-transit" for 9 days like another order of mine.) Mike |
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Post by Joel_W on Aug 4, 2020 8:06:58 GMT -8
Ben,
I'm really glad that you brought up the issue of creating a shipping label even though one's order isn't ready for shipment, or even pulled. More and more vendors seem to be going this route for a number of reasons. 1st and foremost is that you can't cancel, change, add, or delete anything from your order, which saves them time and man power. The bad is that you just don't know if all of your order is actually being shipped. Not all vendors have real time inventory, so it's becoming a crap shoot. Some companies do indeed fill your order, create a shipping label, and then have to wait for the shipping service to show up once or twice per week, as it all depends on where they're located, and the service that they contracted for.
Joel
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Post by vintagerpm on Aug 5, 2020 10:49:50 GMT -8
Stay far away from this guy. Paint finally arrived today. Not in box but soft polybag. Paint bottle crushed ruining entire contents of package. The guy is a moron. Trying to get a responce from Paypal but their not set up for a second complaint on the same dispute.
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Post by Joel_W on Aug 6, 2020 4:28:58 GMT -8
Mike,
That really sucks. Honestly, my paint orders from Gravity of Spain come in a mailer, but it's lined with bubble wrap, and each bottle of paint is completely wrapped in bubble wrap as well. Never once had an issue with that packaging. But if the package or box gets directly crushed by the USPS, all bets are off. That's why I'm now only using UPS, Fed Ex, or DHL. The only issue is that outside of Gravity paints, I've stopped ordering from any vendor outside of the USA. Spot Models shipping with UPS starts at $49 while Fed Ex starts at $29. That's just insane. And unfortunately, most of the models and AM listed on ebay are non-USA and only ship USPS, which I refuse to use these days, and it's getting worse and worse due to political issues.
joel
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Post by Ben_B on Aug 6, 2020 5:48:21 GMT -8
Sorry to hear about the damaged package. I think in this case, the shipper is probably more to blame than USPS. UPS and FedEx have also done some interesting things to my packages in the past. I agree that USPS is going to be a problem, at least for the next few months. Shipping from SpotModel has gone from a little over a week to about five weeks. I’m okay with that, since I’m only ordering stuff for future projects. I just ordered a kit from a vendor in Hong Kong and decals from a shop in France on the same day. It will be interesting to see how long everything takes to get here. The kit will probably ship via row boat.
Ben
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Post by vintagerpm on Aug 6, 2020 15:12:23 GMT -8
Sorry to hear about the damaged package. I think in this case, the shipper is probably more to blame than USPS. UPS and FedEx have also done some interesting things to my packages in the past. I agree that USPS is going to be a problem, at least for the next few months. Shipping from SpotModel has gone from a little over a week to about five weeks. I’m okay with that, since I’m only ordering stuff for future projects. I just ordered a kit from a vendor in Hong Kong and decals from a shop in France on the same day. It will be interesting to see how long everything takes to get here. The kit will probably ship via row boat. Ben Its my understanding that anything from China/Hong Kong/Japan that is coming via postak service to US will take months to arrive. If you use DHL/FedEx/UPS it is much faster. I just ordered from HLJ via DHL, so we will see. Shipping from Europe seems to be pretty good. Mere days from Spain to Texas via DHL. From UK, mail was quick into the US, but then 2 weeks to get half way across the country. Mike |
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Post by arcticwolf on Aug 6, 2020 15:34:44 GMT -8
I wouldn't trust any purchase from China/Hong Kong any more. The way relations are deteriorating I doubt it would ever arrive.
Delivery from Japan to Canada is running around 3 weeks, from TokyoHobby to me as of last week. Not much longer than before. From the USA to me is at least 3 weeks, and twice the shipping costs. No reason for it, just what USPS is charging. Needless to say, other than Indycals, I'm not buying a whole lot from the States any more.  |
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Post by vintagerpm on Aug 10, 2020 2:38:23 GMT -8
FYI, Paypal is refunding my money on the transaction.
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