DO NOT BUY from HobbyKing!
#53
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My one simple rule for buying from Hobbyking is never spend more for an item than you're willing to lose.
Oh, and I think you'll find HK CA and epoxy are made by Bob Smith Industries (BSI).
Oh, and I think you'll find HK CA and epoxy are made by Bob Smith Industries (BSI).
Last edited by Tarasdad; 09-19-2013 at 06:41 PM.
#55
I would never buy a gasser, nor a expensive kit from them. Same reason I would not buy an expensive kit from Nitroplanes (if you ever need a part.... forget it!)
It appears that many folks live in la-la land or in a bubble. This is the real world here, and you have to know what you do when you deal with companies abroad. Now, if you need a smiling face, an 24/7 customer service (and in some instances we do), there are other choices. Jeezz! I am not willing to pay 3 times more for some items just to have customer service I do not need. Period.
This is a free country and we have choices. Choose wisely:-)
Gerry
#57
My Feedback: (21)
Customer Service is a rare thing these days. When I was coming up we went out of our way to assist folks and many times at our own cost not expecting anything in return but maybe a smile or kind word. I went into Lowes the other day and bought some OSB sheeting. I asked the lady if she could get someone to help me load my trailer. They all basically ran and SHE was the ONLY one that helped me! Even a stranger offered to help!
I told the lady I could get it, but she insisted and helped me load the OSB. What a pathetic time we live in now where folks are so against doing anything for anyone. How can this be good for our children and the future (another topic entirely) As it goes with RC as well. It often just depends on who you talk to whether you will get help or not.
I try to support local hobby shops and in this area the service is a couple of them is poor. I waited 45 minutes in one hobby shop and finally walked out and ordered some stuff online. You can hardly even buy customer service any longer.
I told the lady I could get it, but she insisted and helped me load the OSB. What a pathetic time we live in now where folks are so against doing anything for anyone. How can this be good for our children and the future (another topic entirely) As it goes with RC as well. It often just depends on who you talk to whether you will get help or not.
I try to support local hobby shops and in this area the service is a couple of them is poor. I waited 45 minutes in one hobby shop and finally walked out and ordered some stuff online. You can hardly even buy customer service any longer.
#58
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I defend people and businesses that have been good to me. I consider Hobby King one of the top three suppliers of my hobby addiction in the world. The other two are Tower and Horizon. All three are excellent. Hobby People, Value Hobby, Hobby Partz, Hobby Lobby, AMain, and several others have also been great. I have never had knowledgeable service or fair prices from a local hobby shop, ever, in 42 years in radio control. Regarding Hobby King... 110 orders as of today. Two minor issues, fixed in a hurry following their protocol for service. Over 20 orange receivers flying, never a glitch. I do use satellites with the receivers. Over 60 Turnigy batteries. Excellent long life using throttle management, mostly in EDF jets. Never a dud. Servo extensions, battery monitors, velcro, connectors, electric retracts of all sizes, wheels, small fasteners, CA and Epoxy glue,Turnigy ESCs, Turnigy motors of all sizes, 450 helicopters, etc, etc.... all excellent products. Three other guys I fly with regularly have had the same experience. If you want to deal with them, try using priority mail from the USA warehouse for a shipping choice and expect Hong Kong shipping to take 2-3 weeks if you use the least expensive method. Both run about $10 for an order, about the same as Tower and Horizon in my experience. Of course stuff from Asia costs a more if your goods weigh a lot. I expect that. And for the guys who don't like them for whatever reason, of course you shouldn't buy from them. And for the doubters, no, I don't work for them, they don't send me free stuff, blah, blah, blah. I wish they did, however.
#59
My Feedback: (2)
I bought a 7C Futaba radio from tower hobbies did a short range radio check took off in a PILOT Rc YAK 54 100 ft out rolled to right and crashed,okay I took it like a man , ordered another yak from pilot Rc this time I asked my son a crack Rc pilot to do a flight check on my new plane he asked me if i had done a radio check and checked everything out I said yes he took off and 100 ft out same thing happen rolled to rright and crashed again both of this planes cost me 435.00 each at my door send radio to Futaba for a check their repair shop said the antennas were not hooked up inside radio ???? And is my fault for not doing a long range radio check i know that 90 % of you guys WILL say RIGHT IT WAS YOUR FAULT Go figure !! I BUT TO ALL US GUYS THAT BUY FROM HOBBYKING EVEN THE HIGH DOLLAR BRANDS COME out the box bad sometimes LESSON LEARNED THE COSTLY WAY NOW I DO 200 yard radio check on all new models!!................bub8....
#60
My Feedback: (2)
Anyone spending a dime on an unknown product or source needs to do some checking prior to buying anything from anywhere on line. That's just a fact these days. You skip that step, and you deserve no sympathy!
Bub8, you already know you skipped an important step in checking out your plane prior to flying it. From the tone of your note though, I'm wondering if you know why that's done? It's not just the potential for some function of the radio to be bad, it's the installation! There's so much going on in these things anymore they can be quite complicated, and as good as even the best radio available has become, there's the potential for RF generated 'gremlins' to exist! Do spend some time checking the plane out, especially with the engine running prior to flying it. Doesn't cost a dime to be cautious.... and I'm sure you don't need reminding what it can cost if you aren't?
Bub8, you already know you skipped an important step in checking out your plane prior to flying it. From the tone of your note though, I'm wondering if you know why that's done? It's not just the potential for some function of the radio to be bad, it's the installation! There's so much going on in these things anymore they can be quite complicated, and as good as even the best radio available has become, there's the potential for RF generated 'gremlins' to exist! Do spend some time checking the plane out, especially with the engine running prior to flying it. Doesn't cost a dime to be cautious.... and I'm sure you don't need reminding what it can cost if you aren't?
#61
My Feedback: (21)
Anyone spending a dime on an unknown product or source needs to do some checking prior to buying anything from anywhere on line. That's just a fact these days. You skip that step, and you deserve no sympathy!
Bub8, you already know you skipped an important step in checking out your plane prior to flying it. From the tone of your note though, I'm wondering if you know why that's done? It's not just the potential for some function of the radio to be bad, it's the installation! There's so much going on in these things anymore they can be quite complicated, and as good as even the best radio available has become, there's the potential for RF generated 'gremlins' to exist! Do spend some time checking the plane out, especially with the engine running prior to flying it. Doesn't cost a dime to be cautious.... and I'm sure you don't need reminding what it can cost if you aren't?
Bub8, you already know you skipped an important step in checking out your plane prior to flying it. From the tone of your note though, I'm wondering if you know why that's done? It's not just the potential for some function of the radio to be bad, it's the installation! There's so much going on in these things anymore they can be quite complicated, and as good as even the best radio available has become, there's the potential for RF generated 'gremlins' to exist! Do spend some time checking the plane out, especially with the engine running prior to flying it. Doesn't cost a dime to be cautious.... and I'm sure you don't need reminding what it can cost if you aren't?
#62
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HK doesn't have a telephone contact #. Reason is, they don't speak English and the number of complaints and warranty calls they would get would blow up their phones.
Last edited by tlandon; 09-30-2013 at 07:04 AM.
#64
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even the likes of Futuba ans spectrum are getting more cost effective!
#65
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[h=3]This Business is not BBB Accredited[/h][h=1]Hobby King U S A LLC[/h](800) 607-5803View Additional Phone Numbers10011 Bridgeport Way SW Ste 1500, Pmb 312, Lakewood, WA 98499-2332http://www.hobbyking.com
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[h=4]BBB Accreditation[/h]Hobby King U S A LLC is not BBB Accredited.
Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.
To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.
[h=4]Reason for Rating[/h]BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.
Factors that lowered Hobby King U S A LLC's rating include:
[h=4]Customer Complaints SummaryRead complaint details[/h]
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[h=4]BBB Accreditation[/h]Hobby King U S A LLC is not BBB Accredited.
Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.
To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.
[h=4]Reason for Rating[/h]BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.
Factors that lowered Hobby King U S A LLC's rating include:
- 59 complaints filed against business
- Failure to respond to 4 complaints filed against business.
- One complaint filed against business that was not resolved.
- BBB does not have sufficient information to determine how long this business has been operating.
- BBB does not have sufficient background information on this business. BBB made two or more requests for background information from the business. BBB has not received a response from this business and/or has not been able to verify information received from this business.
- BBB does not have sufficient information to determine size of business. BBB evaluation of business is based on rating formula's smallest size classification.
[h=4]Customer Complaints SummaryRead complaint details[/h]
#67
My Feedback: (3)
This Business is not BBB Accredited
Hobby King U S A LLC
(800) 607-5803View Additional Phone Numbers10011 Bridgeport Way SW Ste 1500, Pmb 312, Lakewood, WA 98499-2332http://www.hobbyking.com
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Print this page
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BBB Business Reviews may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.
BBB Accreditation
Hobby King U S A LLC is not BBB Accredited.
Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.
To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.
Reason for Rating
BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.
Factors that lowered Hobby King U S A LLC's rating include:
Customer Complaints SummaryRead complaint details
Hobby King U S A LLC
(800) 607-5803View Additional Phone Numbers10011 Bridgeport Way SW Ste 1500, Pmb 312, Lakewood, WA 98499-2332http://www.hobbyking.com
F
On a scale of A+ to F Reason for RatingBBB Ratings System Overview
SharePrint
XPrint Options
Print this page
Print all review pages
BBB Business Reviews may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.
BBB Accreditation
Hobby King U S A LLC is not BBB Accredited.
Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.
To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.
Reason for Rating
BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.
Factors that lowered Hobby King U S A LLC's rating include:
- 59 complaints filed against business
- Failure to respond to 4 complaints filed against business.
- One complaint filed against business that was not resolved.
- BBB does not have sufficient information to determine how long this business has been operating.
- BBB does not have sufficient background information on this business. BBB made two or more requests for background information from the business. BBB has not received a response from this business and/or has not been able to verify information received from this business.
- BBB does not have sufficient information to determine size of business. BBB evaluation of business is based on rating formula's smallest size classification.
Customer Complaints SummaryRead complaint details
Get real your dealing with an off shore company that sometimes takes months to get something delivered and your upset with 6 days. Get a grip get in line like everyone else and wait your turn or file a charge back through your credit card. Most companies have at best one person doing returns if you’re lucky. It’s obviously more profitable to put all the effort on filling orders.
How much did you order any way?
Reading your post you obviously know how to check out a company before ordering. What happened forget to check or did you place your order willing to take a chance?
#68
#70
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Yes please boycott HK so my 137th order will get shipped that much quicker
What's wrong. You mean even when they have something in stock it still takes one week or more before they ship it? Only in the Socialist Republic of Mexifornia would this be acceptable.
What's wrong. You mean even when they have something in stock it still takes one week or more before they ship it? Only in the Socialist Republic of Mexifornia would this be acceptable.
#74
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Hk is not the best thing to happen.second their batteries are no better than anyone else.the fact is only a few lipo factories exist .so chances are most name brand batteries come the same place, thirdly the customer service leaves alot to be desired.
Sure you b
Can buy wherever I get it.but the foam crap and cheap electronics suck. E njoy hobby king the worst buying experience I ever had.cheap throw away junk for the masses.the wally
World of cheap rc yuk!
Sure you b
Can buy wherever I get it.but the foam crap and cheap electronics suck. E njoy hobby king the worst buying experience I ever had.cheap throw away junk for the masses.the wally
World of cheap rc yuk!
#75
I just tried them, a couple weeks, everything came. Haven't tested everything but seems ok. No one else carries my favourite AP motors. I tried Bidproducts once and it was 2 months, which I was aware of and ok with. Lots of cheap connectors, switches. Hobbypartz was fine too. If I break a 10-6 prop I will go to my LHS though. I'll bet there isn't a 7-5" prop though. Cloud dancer, you are lucky you can go to Graves hobby shop and get everything, I go there whenever I am around. Most shops aren't that big.
Last edited by aspeed; 10-05-2013 at 06:46 AM.