Mad enough to SPIT!!! (1 Viewer)

[Digger]

I had a bad experience, well 2 bad experiences, in the past month with products from a company called ScaleCraft. They advertize museum quality mahogany aircraft and they usually run in the $150-$200++ range. Within the last month I ordered 2 of their aircraft (on seperate ocassions), an A-37B dragonfly (20" wingspan) and a B-36 Peacemaker (29" wingspan).

First I received the A-37 and when I opened the box several of the drop tanks and bombs were broken off and laying in the bottom. At first I thought shipping, but the box was in mint condition with absolutely no signs of mishandling and there were no signs of them being glued on anywhere under the wing. Still could have been from shipping I guess but doubtful.

When the B-36 came today and as I was taking it from the box 5 of the 6 engine intake inserts fell out of the cowlings and into the box. Then as I was attaching the props I noticed one pre-drilled hole was egg-shaped from being drilled twice and the prop just kept falling out. Another pre-drilled hole was drilled at an angle creating the prop to lean forward. Then when I went to put the model on the included stand I noticed the stand didn't even match-up with the drilled holes, wasn't even close.

I emailed the company, not to get anything or send them back (since I had already repaired them) but just to let them know since it happened both times. let me just say the reply I received was not friendly. They said they would never send anything out like that and wanted an explanation why I thought it was their fault. Pretty much just called me a liar. I explained that the B-36 problems could not have happened in shipment and were obvious manufacturing defects. And since then the emails replies have went completely silent. Based on my experiences, I think I am done buying from them. At $150 ea. I don't think I should have to repair and/or re-fit them everytime I open the box.

Thanks for allowing me to vent my frustration.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

My advise, have your CC company charge back your account and ship them back. When they email asking you you returned them, don't answer

 

[Currahee Chris]

Wow man, tough break. That has got to be the worst example of toy soldier company out there. Sorry to hear for the frustration.

CC

 

[Harrytheheid]

Wow man, tough break. That has got to be the worst example of toy soldier company out there. Sorry to hear for the frustration.

CC

Chris,
While I sometimes have certain "issues" here on this forum (hmmm ), I have to be upfront here and state quite catagorically that in my experience we miniature figurine enthusiasts receive top-notch service from TF. I have experienced a couple of problems with incorrect figures/missing figures when using TF. On both occasions these problems were addressed straight away by TF - even though it wasn't their fault. This proves two things;

a) the TF aftersales service is second to none
b) they really care about their customers

Result = Return Business from The Heid

If there is any improvement I can think of, it would be that I wish TF would offer items from more manufacturers. Of course it's a business they're running and if they were to do this then there's the usual problems of extra inventory gathering dust, and so on. Still........

Cheers
H

 

[Digger]

I have been checking with other suppliers and one thing became apparently clear. A lot depends on how the item is packaged whether or not it survives a trip across the country. The dealers I checked today all use form fitted foam that encases the model tightly just like the soldiers we get from K&C, Britains, etc.. They have testimonials where boxes came mangled but the models remained unharmed.

Scalecraft on the other hand shoves all sizes of torn pieces of foam around the model, not form fitted by any means and the model actually moves around when shaked. That explains why the models came in pieces when the boxes remained in mint condition.

Pretty much proves that a company that doesn't really care how careful their product is protected could care less how satisfied their customers are.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I have pretty much always had excellent service from just about every toy soldier dealer/manufacturer I have ever dealt with. Any problems were always dealt with promptly, politely and professionally. I can only commend such wonderful dealers as our hosts, the Nevilles of K&C, UK, George Guerrerro of Minutemen, Bill Sager, Pam Brunton, Tony Ciccarello of the Toy Soldier Gallery, Tim Tyler of Troops of Time, Craig "Bubba" McClean of the Old Toy Soldier home, and, among manufacturers, the entire K&C and Figarti teams.

If anybody had ever acted towards me in an unprofessional manner (such as breaking their word about an item or price, calling me while clearly drunk [slurring their words], or acting rudely over the phone), I would cut them off dead, and never deal with them again.

 

[jazzeum]

I've purchased mahogany aircraft from a couple of collectors, King and Country and Motion Models and never had a problem. I believe there are a lot reputable dealers on ebay so you might want to look there in the future.

 

[OzDigger]

You guys should switch to 1/72 scale diecast aircraft. They take up less space, have amazing detail and are packaged better than that wooden stuff

 

[arnhem44mad]

I had a bad experience, well 2 bad experiences, in the past month with products from a company called ScaleCraft. They advertize museum quality mahogany aircraft and they usually run in the $150-$200++ range. Within the last month I ordered 2 of their aircraft (on seperate ocassions), an A-37B dragonfly (20" wingspan) and a B-36 Peacemaker (29" wingspan).

First I received the A-37 and when I opened the box several of the drop tanks and bombs were broken off and laying in the bottom. At first I thought shipping, but the box was in mint condition with absolutely no signs of mishandling and there were no signs of them being glued on anywhere under the wing. Still could have been from shipping I guess but doubtful.

When the B-36 came today and as I was taking it from the box 5 of the 6 engine intake inserts fell out of the cowlings and into the box. Then as I was attaching the props I noticed one pre-drilled hole was egg-shaped from being drilled twice and the prop just kept falling out. Another pre-drilled hole was drilled at an angle creating the prop to lean forward. Then when I went to put the model on the included stand I noticed the stand didn't even match-up with the drilled holes, wasn't even close.

I emailed the company, not to get anything or send them back (since I had already repaired them) but just to let them know since it happened both times. let me just say the reply I received was not friendly. They said they would never send anything out like that and wanted an explanation why I thought it was their fault. Pretty much just called me a liar. I explained that the B-36 problems could not have happened in shipment and were obvious manufacturing defects. And since then the emails replies have went completely silent. Based on my experiences, I think I am done buying from them. At $150 ea. I don't think I should have to repair and/or re-fit them everytime I open the box.

Thanks for allowing me to vent my frustration.

Unlukky man

Listen, I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy, who runs a hit man service

 

[Wraith]

Unlukky man

Listen, I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy, who runs a hit man service

The Neville Brothers - Spennymoors' answer to the East End?

Digger, sorry to hear about your misfortune and the p*ss poor customer service. Thanks for the warning.