Hobby Town S@@ks!!

[FLYBOY7]

i got my first taste of a bad policy in the RC industry today...
i bought the last millenium charger that my local hobby town had in stock....

the first time i hooked it up i noticed that the display was crooked, and i could not read the entire display.... YIPES, but no big deal i thought, i'll just wait a week or so, hopeing that they will get another one in stock, then go back and exchange it for a new one.. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

well i go back in today to do the exchange, and i left all freak'n P.O.ed.... they said no return or exchanges on electronic merchandise... i plugged it in to show them the problem, and they noticed it first thing, you cant see half of the top row of letters, or the last 2 to the right..... but still NO EXCHANGES OR REFUNDS on electronics merchandise!!! ***?? the thing was defective when i got it, and they won't make it right!! i'm sure (well sorta sure.. LOL) that if i send it back to Novak directly that they will fix it.. but i really don't want to be out of a charger for 2-4 weeks while they fix something that should have never gotten past quality control..... and even if it got past QC then hobbytown should have given me an exchange no questions asked..... i popped the big bucks for a decent charger and feel ripped off as hell.....

this policy is HORRIBLE.... i get stuck with a defective product!!! (an expensive one at that)

To be continued... i have a lot of phone calls to make tomorrow... hehehhehe http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

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~~FLYBOY7~~
RC10-B2
Losi Junior T

"you can never have enough fun, friends, or Horsepower!"

[This message has been edited by SteveP (edited 07-28-2000).]

[Nicks $700.00 Pede]

I have never bought at Hobby Town but i agree they should take things like that back. I stick with Tower Hobbies Nick http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/tongue.gif http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/frown.gif http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/mad.gif http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/confused.gif

[This message has been edited by Nicks $700.00 Pede (edited 07-27-2000).]

[NitroDrew]

Ultimate has the same policy, but they will demonstrate it works properly in front of you before you leave the store. This way at least you know it worked at the store. If Hobby Town won't make sure it works BEFORE you leave the store, they should allow returns! What dirtbags! I won't be going there!

[Andrew the man]

TOWER HOBBIES all the way ever time i oder from them they have anything and everything i need for my stampede or bandit(especially bandit almost no one carries part for those old buggies)


you got ripped on that deal. that is why i order my **** because it always comes in good quality and if it doesnt when you send it back it is not like they will ignore you

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lifes a ***** first your born and go through one,then 1 causes your death

[This message has been edited by SteveP (edited 07-28-2000).]

[Dragmaster]

well my hobby town did one better, they had a TC Track and promoted it well 40 50 racers each weekend, well two weeks before the next race i spent 400.00 in there on batteries and told the owner why i was buying them for my TC and was looking forward to recing. Next thing you know a week latter he closed the track cuz it was too much work, well it must havent been too much to take our money and keep us buying TC stuff, now theres lots of TC drivers with no place to race. Note nearly all these guys bought there stuff here. me im not worried as im sponcered and can race oval and off road i just wanted to race TC who i feel bad for is all the guys i preached to about support your local hobby shop only to be burned. Its a sad state of affair when the LHS wont support those they ask to support them

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[Conman]

Kudos to that.

[FLYBOY7]

Hobby Town Part 2.

dropped by the shop today to talk to the store manager.. he then went on to tell me that "We have signs all over the place that say all sales are final on electronics!!"... to that i replied "but i bought this item on the good faith that it would not be faulty right out of the box".... the store manager was rude and an ***, and made it seem like it was my fault that i had bought a defective charger...

so i get get home and call corporate headquarters.... i called after business hours, so all i could do was leave a message....

To be continued..... LOL

by the way... the moral of the story is this.... DO NOT BUY an R/c electonic piece of equipment until they hook it up in the store and prove to you that it works properly... (of course they probably wouldnt do that because that would make the item used and unsellable.. go figure... )

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~~FLYBOY7~~
RC10-B2
Losi Junior T

"you can never have enough fun, friends, or Horsepower!"

[This message has been edited by SteveP (edited 07-28-2000).]

[consumer 1]

Your experience is not unique. Every Hobbyshop that I have ever been in for the last 15 years does business that way. And the reason is, warranty issues are handled by the manufactuer. Most shops will show you that the unit works unless it is shrinkwraped. I dont own a store or work in one. I know it doesnt sound fair but this is the way business is done everywhere.

[FLYBOY7]

and you know what consumer1??? that policy only -->assumes<-- that every customer got a good product, then tries to return it blown up.... assuming only makes an *** of both u and me.....

perhaps they should handle each return on a case by case basis..... ??? perhaps they should honestly care about something they know NOTHING about right now... Customer Service..... i am in retail electronics as well (car audio).. and we would NEVER tell a customer that "oh well, you got screwed"..... we actually care about keeping our customers, not ******* them off so that they walk down the street and buy everything from someone else...

sorry... just venting again.... LOL

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~~FLYBOY7~~
RC10-B2
Losi Junior T

"you can never have enough fun, friends, or Horsepower!"

[This message has been edited by SteveP (edited 07-28-2000).]

[chucksolo]

This is exactly why I do most of my shopping online with a credit card. If something doesn't work, I simply return it and call my credit company to cancel the transaction. You are right too, I have had a lot of negative experiences at Hobby Town in particular. Hobby People is a little better, I have had not trouble returning something there if it didn't work.

[Andrew the man]

hey how does one get sponsered

[SteveP]

Guys - I appreciate everyone's strong viewpoints, but if anyone else uses special characters to get around the filters, this thread will be closed and those who attempt to use any more questionable language will lose their privileges on this board. I don't think I'm asking a lot - just keep it clean.

[Dragmaster]

Through a lot of hard work and a little luck

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[Grant Tokumi]

Hobbytown seems to be individual franchises. If that is the case, I wonder if you can write to some Hobbytown main headquarters and inform them that their store in wherevers is giving Hobbytown a bad reputation. That might give your case the attention that you are looking for.



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Grant Tokumi
R/C Archive
http://www.rcarchive.com

[FLYBOY7]

yo desmet.....

yes it was the one on manchester... it is the only one in st louis that i know of.... they have so much cool stuff there.... but i will not spend another cent in that store.... so now i have to drive all over to get all the parts i need....

and i love checkered flag hobby's.... sorry to hear you had a problem with them.... every time i go to checkered flag i seem to get a different employee.... some are really super knowledgeable, and some aren't.... but even the ones who dont know rc cars in depth are always honest with me, and tell me when to come back for a much better answer to my questions... and every single worker i have been in contact with there has just been awesome as far as customer service, and doing 100% as much as they could possibly do to help me out, and gave me quick service.... they don't stock all that much.... but i have had excellent service there so far....

schaffers seems to have airplane or on-road only guys working there... so they can't help me much as i only do off-road.... plus their prices are high.....

and i was at mark twain for the first time last weekend... they were so dern busy it was nuts!!! they are WAY overstocked on T-Maxx's (is there such thing?? LOL).... they looked big into Traxxas, because i didnt hardly see any losi or a.e. kits at all on the shelves......



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~~FLYBOY7~~
RC10-B2
Losi Junior T

"you can never have enough fun, friends, or Horsepower!"

[DeSmet Spartan]

Where is this Hobby Town located? Is it the one on Manchester in the shopping center with the Sports Authority, Petsmart, and Walmart? I have had trouble with Checkered Flag and Mark Twain. I stopped going to both of them because of the sales people. I don't have to be aggravated and given incorrect advice by them. I've got Tower and the internet. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

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St. Louis RAMS
Super Bowl Champions

[TC3B3L3T3]

if i were you i would go to larrys performance rc's in sterling heights michigan. they have every part i ever needed exept for a few and i dont even have to bring in a reciept, if you say you bought it there, no more questions asked.

[Sparky]

Hey Guys
I've had a good experience with my Hobbytown in Columbus Ohio. Since I deal with them almost exclusively they dont question me. If you think any store of this kind is going to give a sometime customer the same treatment as a regular your living an illusion. Give a store a chance to develope a relationship with you and TRUST. When I ask a question if they are sure they tell me and the reverse is true. Tower has great products and prices and a good retail opperation that deals with Great Plains should honor Towers prices, and if you are a regular you will that kind of pricing any way.

Moral of this story is not all Hobbytowns .... , maybe its you may be its not. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/wink.gif

[FLYBOY7]

maybe it's me??? oh sparky, please lay off the drugs bro....

since when does a paying customer have to EARN the right for good service?? since when do you have to hang out everyday to get the lowest prices?? since when do you have to kiss somebodys rear end to get waited on??

sparky, please, do us all a favor and NEVER work in retail ok??? there are enough people like you out there already, and PAYING customers are sic of it...



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~~FLYBOY7~~
RC10-B2
Losi Junior T

"you can never have enough fun, friends, or Horsepower!"

[DeSmet Spartan]

Where I come from, the store has to earn the respect of the customer, not the other way around.

[hpiguy]

Here Here guys.

The store should kiss my butt. Not the other way around.

I will NEVER shop in a store where I have to work more than the employees to get served or treated well.

Who do they think they are? http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/frown.gif

[chucksolo]

The bottom line is, you are spending your hard earned cash in their store. They rely on us, the customer,for their livlihood. I get better service at Wal-Mart than I ever have at my local Hobby Town. The store where you spend our money should bend over backward to keep that money coming in and keeping customers happy. As soon as the new Hobby People opens up near my house (this Saturday) I will never go to Hobby Town again.

[AERacerP2K]

I don't know what the deal is with HobbyTown it seems like everytime I go there they don't have what I'm looking for, and what happened to the "customers always right." And Flyboy is right as rain.

[oldtimeRCer]

Flyboy i have worked in retail for sometime and i'm now working at a LHS not hobbytown by the way and it is not the hobby shop that causes this but the manufacture it is THIER policy that they handle all warrenties. and will not allow the hobbyshop to deal with the customers they way they shoulde be allowed to. so if you want to Bit*h to someone about these policies call the people that made the product and yell at them.

[YoBro87]

DeSmet- I go to checkered flag for all my hobby needs, and they always put the customer first. I don't know who you had a problem with, but i have never had a problem there. If you want to talk to someone who you can trust there, talk to Dino. (i think he also owns the place) One time when my brother wanted to return something, cuz it wouldn't work on his truck and they had a no return policy on it cuz it was a trade in(they don't do those anymore)they still took it.

[DeSmet Spartan]

No, it wasn't Dino. He's cool and has helped me many times. He even adviced me own what cars that I should look at getting at didn't try to sell me anything. It was the fat guy. I think he is also one of the owners. He seems to me like one of those guys who thinks he knows everything and never listens to anyone. I was in there just after the chicago hobby show. Him and Dino were behind the counter talking about what they had seen. They were talking about nitro trucks and I mentioned something about the HPI Nitro MT. He looked at me like I was making it up and turned his head. How could he not know about it, there was a Prototype at the show and rcca had already talking about. I guess he drove up there and nobody would let him in because he is such a loser. Another time, right after I got my RS4 Pro I brought it up there to et the motor soldered and he said he wouldn't do it because I didn't buy it there. I offered to pay for it and he still said no, even though about a year earlier I brought my MT in there and Dino soldered it for a $5 service fee. Too bad all the hobby shops are not filled with Dinos instead of ignorant fat guys.

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St. Louis RAMS
Super Bowl Champions

[hpiguy]

You bought an RS4 Pro but do not have any soldering skills? Why buy such a technical kit when you obviously don't have the skills to use it properly?

How do you expect to get the most out of a pro level kit if you can't even solder on motors?

You can buy a soldering iron from Hobbico for 5 bucks and do it yourself.

Save your money.

Also, the guy might have been ignorant to your needs but there was no reason to address him as "The fat guy". Maybe it was that kind of attitude that got him to ignore you. If some guy who can't even solder had the cahones to call me fat I'd ignore him too. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

At least "The fat guy" is able to solder on his own car.

"Those who live in glass houses...."

[YoBro87]

Hmmmm... I'm not really sure who u are talkin bout, but next time i go there, i'll try not to talk to him.

[FLYBOY7]

yo hpi guy....

don't go freak'n on someone who doesnt solder... that shows very low class...

yo Desmet... eme anytime and i will hook up with ya at the track for any soldering you might need done.... (free of course.. LOL) ... i even have an extra soldering iron that i will give ya.. and show ya how to use it, if you dont know already...

yo freak who posted 4 times in a row above... i dont have to say how much i hate that return policy.... but please read my thread "Novak RULES!!"... it will explain a lot to you....

yo R/C electronics industry as a hole.... you need to get with the program..... you need to idiot proof your all your electronics (install fuses, and PROTECTION circuitry...)... so that a normal customer CAN NOT blow up an ESC or charger so dern easy.... it wouldnt be rocket science to idiot proof these items... it would just take a bit of R and D.....

after doing that develope a new return and RA system with your distributors and factory direct dealers.... your dealers MUST have faith that when they send in a defective product, that you will send them a BRAND NEW SELLABLE product in return..... that way the hobby shop can keep their customers happy, and keep them buying your products....

wanna sell more products?? take better care of your -->dealers and customers<-- ... Period.

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~~FLYBOY7~~
RC10-B2
Losi Junior T

"you can never have enough fun, friends, or Horsepower!"

[hpiguy]

Look I would have left the guy who couldn't solder alone, but he was the one insulting people's looks, so he had it coming.

Low class?

The guy who insults another's weight is the low class one. I just called him on it.

So what you are saying is it's OK for this kid to insult others on their looks, but he should not be able to take any flak for his shortcomings? Get real.

Don't scold me like a five year old. This kid had it coming.

[FLYBOY7]

oopsss i forgot to say... that there is only one fat guy that works there.... so for lack of a name, i can see why he plainly just said "that one fat guy"...... if there was only one black guy that worked there, would you have problem with him just saying "that one black guy".... or if only one skinny guy worked there would you offence "that one skinny guy"?????????????

you're a little touch on the weight thing arent ya?? chill bro chill......

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~~FLYBOY7~~
RC10-B2
Losi Junior T

"you can never have enough fun, friends, or Horsepower!"

[Nicks $700.00 Pede]

flyboy whats ur email?? u have msn instant messanger??? Nick http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

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http://lw8fd.law8.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/saferd?_lang=&hm___tg=http%3a%2f%2f216%2e33%2e240%2e250%2fcgi%2d bin%2fgetmsg%2fView%2ejpg&hm___qs=disk%3d216%2e33%2e240%2e57_d715%26login%3d nickmac14%26f%3d33792%26curmbox%3dACTIVE%26_lang%3 d%26msg%3dMSG965410313%2e4%26start%3d457784%26len% 3d28513%26mimepart%3d3

[FLYBOY7]

mx_slacker@yahoo.com


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~~FLYBOY7~~
RC10-B2
Losi Junior T
And Proud Novak Owner!

[DeSmet Spartan]

The reason I didn't know how to solder was because I had had anly be in rc for about 6 months. Now I can solder by myself with no problems. I will be more politically correct- the large man with a slight weight problem. Sorry, but when you drive about 40 miles accross the entire city and wasted about 2 hours of a perfect Saturday to have some ignorant jurk tell you he can't solder something when there is like 2 people in the store and you offer to pay for it, I feel that it is alright to call him the fat guy.

Maybe he just big boned.

[Lead Man]

This thread is hilarious........But, what's even funnier is how I can relate to the topic........In a small sense anyway.

My LHS (If you wanna call it that) supports electric and air-o-planes. Leaving nitro in the dirt.....I have to go 70 miles (literally) to.......Hobby Town......To get something I need, if they have it.....And imagine driving the 1½ to find out they don't or to return something they won't take back. ! And, this is w/ a hobby shop right down the road.......That's a real bummer....lmao

[YoBro87]

[QUOTE]Sorry, but when you drive about 40 miles accross the entire city

WOW, man i feel sorry for u. I live like right next to Checkered Flag. At the most I live a mile away

[BobHastings]

Fair warning folks: Lose the personal insults.
This is supposed to be happy time, right?

Thanx