Great (?) Models in Utah USA

[PR19_Kit]

Back at the start of February I ordered two Kopro Convair XFY-1 Pogos and a Valom XFV-1 Salmon from the Great Models Webstore http://www.greatmodels.com/

Since then I've been waiting...................and waiting.............................and waiting..................and waiting.

There was no indication that either of the models was NOT in stock at the time I placed my order, and they didn't let me know that was the case until I emailed them asking what was happening. Actually they didn't tell me then either, and it took a second email before I got a reply stating they were waiting for the Valom kit to arrive. Since then I've emailed them three times and each time I've been told 'Your order will be shipped on 'such and such a date'.

Needless to say it wasn't.

In my last email I asked to be told when the order was actually shipped, and needless to say THAT didn't happen either, as this morning the two Pogos arrived but the XFV-1 didn't. So I've just emailed them and cancelled the Valom kit, I could have bought one at Cosford some weeks ago, and Lonewulf have them in stock right now.

This store doesn't EVER tell you the true state of affairs and I'll never do business with them again. All I have to do now is STOP them sending the darn newsletter......... 

[PR19_Kit]

I just don't believe this.......... 

This bunch of neer-do-wells at Great Models sent me an email on the 16th October saying I owed them abput $6.50. As I'd already sent the payment for the two Pogos at the time I ordered them (in FEBRUARY) I emailed them right back asking why. TODAY I get a reply from them saying the original mailing costs were a '...computer estimate' and the $6.50 is the amount the real shipment cost over and above the estimate! Of course I kept all the packaging to check this statement since April, didn't I? No, of COURSE I didn't as the process isn't mentioned anywhere on their web site!

I think this is a scam and I intend to ignore them, after all they can hardly claim I'm slow in paying, they take MONTHS to reply to any communications.

Is this a normal way of doing business in the US?

[philp]

Great Models is a local (for me) group.  Lots of stuff in forums about poor service and lots about great service.  They used to have a store front here that you could shop at.  Didn't put the prices on the kits as they filled the mail order from the shelves if it wasn't in back.  I do know the owner, Loic, and might still have a working email for him.  Will check and see what I can find.

[PR19_Kit]

That's good of you Phil, thanks a lot.

Perhaps moving up the communications tree might help, rather than me talking to the person who's heavily involved in the first place.

[philp]

PM sent.