Is the stuff off hobbyking.com good stuff

[wjisitt]

hi all just letting you know ive also purchased from hobbyking 2nd order and my item takes 4 weeks to arrive damaged - have tried for 3 months to get our money back no success - all i can say is DONT BUY FROM THEM THEY RIP YOU OFF

[JetPlaneFlyer]

HK customer service sucks, no question.
When you order from them it's best assume the worst case that if you are unlucky and it arrives damaged or faulty you are one your own. Factor that assumption into your buying decision. It still can make sense to buy from them because they can be MUCH cheaper and most stuff arrives ok and works when it arrives, so the chance can be worth taking.
Their customer service does sometimes come good, so if there is a problem it's worth having a try. If they do come good I look on it as an unexpected bonus. Over the years I've managed to get a replacement fuselage and a credit for a faulty ESC out of them, but it's never straightforward and you need to be persistent, and sometimes you still don't get anywhere.

[DCDetector]

Started to order the 61" P-51 mustang from HK yesterday at $165 but when I went to check out it was over $300. They wanted $195 shipping but they showed them "In Stock"

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=12166

Never mind I figured it out. You have to click on the "from a warehouse near you" at the bottom to see if it is available in the USA. Now $265 with batteries guess I get it.

[SuchIsLife]

Some of the stuff is what you'd expect for the price, but a lot is really good, comparable or sometimes even better than the name brands and a quarter the price.
The reviews are why I started shopping there, it lets you pick out the real bargains. I've usually been more than pleased.

I've ordered hundreds of things from them. I've had 2 things with issues. One cost $3 so I just threw it out, and the other a motor that was replaced for me. Easy enough, They asked for a video showing the problem and I didn't even have to return it. I thought that was pretty good really.

wjisitt, you have one post, and it is to mention hobbyking is terrible? hmm... What happened? Why wouldn't they replace a damaged item? I get the impression they have overhauled their customer service this year and most warranty claims are being sorted out for people.

[stuart]

hk is best for those who can't get shipping from usa,i use them for batteries and only had 2 packs come in poor condition.other wise i buy what i'm willing to loose if it arrives damaged.
just ordered their keychain camera for $7 +$3shipping.order before that was $108 batteries all arrived good.

i can't speak from experience......but a buddy of mine bought the copy of the 3dhs 60"ws extra which arrived with a broken canopy.he tried customer survice without getting a replacement. so on a brand new plane theres tape on the canopy. this is a shame and it really looks to be a nicely built plane.

i'v gotten their hk parkjet 4 times and all arrived in good shape.

i don't know why i bothered to add to this thread...i guess i get tied of babies crying foul when the name of the game with hk is "hit or miss,win or loose". take it with a grain of salt and if you need to,take a couple asprin and a beer or 2.....

[E-Challenged]

I admit that I have never ordered from HK/HC. From what I have read on these forums, they almost never have replacement parts for newer ARF foamies in stock. So if you lawn-dart your foam warbird, you may not get to make a second flight attempt for months. Some HK buyers just round file cheaper items that are DOA rather than trying to get replacments or refunds in a timely manner. The quality and reliability, and customer support of cheaply made asian hobby products often matches the cheap prices. There are exceptions in brushless motors, lipo packs, etc. I feel better buying what I can at local hobby shops and ordering from US hobby suppliers. Quicker gratification, avoids shipping and handling costs and many hassles.

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Originally Posted by stuart

i can't speak from experience......but a buddy of mine bought the copy of the 3dhs 60"ws extra which arrived with a broken canopy.he tried customer survice without getting a replacement. so on a brand new plane theres tape on the canopy. this is a shame and it really looks to be a nicely built plane.

3DHS dont make a 60" Extra.. maybe that's why he strugled to get spares

They do a 57" one, is that the plane he has? I've ordered from 3DHS but never had to use their customer service, from the feedback from many others though I'd be amazed if they wouldn't have sorted him out if he was persistent. Did he phone and email and maybe try RCGRoups (where there are 3DHS support staff active)?

[stuart]

ahh,need to clarify ,what i meant to say is hobbyking built a extra almost identical to 3dhs[in context to the threads question i said copy of 3dhs...]....,and hk wouldn't rplace the broken canopy.

3dhobbyshop is excellent service and the quality of there builds are the same as their reputation......very good!.

sorry about the confusion .the point of my post was only about hk and their custormer service on high end items is terrible.

what i will say regarding 3dhs is if you have $140 to buy a plane that flys great,get their aj slick 42 inchws. it's the best flyer in the hanger. so nice that after i totaled one i replaced it asap. heres a picture of the wreckage....

[rcers]

Originally Posted by stuart

3dhobbyshop is excellent service and the quality of there builds are the same as their reputation......very good!.

Have you tried them lately? Things have changed at 3DHS. Sadly

[bluzjamer]

This all comes out in the wash. Any online store be it usa or off shore that doesn't keep it's customers happy will not be around too long. If it isn't cost effective it won't last long either. HK set up a USA Whse that doesn't appear to be any cheaper than it's mother store. Shipping kills most deals and companies that can't do it cheap and effectively will lose many sales. LHS are way out of wack where I live, unless I absolutely have to have it right away, I avoid them. It's shame as they seem to be well stocked.
Being on fixed income I can't throw money away. So in order to stay flying I have to use the net. Fustrating on all the out of stock items and lack of spare simple parts for crashed planes.

[SuchIsLife]

Originally Posted by bluzjamer

... So in order to stay flying I have to use the net....

I'm with you there bluz. I fly every weekend and we all occasionally crash. I'd be grounded an awful lot if it wasn't for HK. I do own a 3DHS edge and a few great planes, but just couldn't afford to keep them running without hxt900s and NTM motors.

I just received my L-59 Super Albatros Composite 90mm EDF 1200mm from hobbyking yesterday.
I am absolutely blown away by the quality. Never mind the price, I'd be pleased if I'd paid double. The detail is immaculate and you really have to see it to appreciate it. HK has it's game on right now.

Originally Posted by bluzjamer

...Fustrating on all the out of stock items and lack of spare simple parts for crashed planes...

It is a shame, there are no spare for my albatross. However I can buy an entire spare airframe for two hundred bucks

I notice they have spare everything for all the durafly stuff they've brought out recently which is good.

[road king 97]

To many bad storys about HK and i bought from my local hobby shop for 25 years now ,with 20 percent off. I recently ordered from value hobby and they shiped it fast (2days), my order was complete and good prices as well. I live in the same state as value hobbys so if you order further away it could take longer . http://www.valuehobby.com/ joe