tailskid

My Feedback: (34)

They had better 'do something' to keep up with the times! Exactly WHAT that is, I don't have a clue!!!!!!

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

I'll tell you one thing that Hobby Lobby does that really has my attention. They weekly crash sale that they run. They email you with an item, the sale price, and the quantity that will be sold. The sale starts at 8 am CST and when they are all gone the sale is over. They have some really good prices and they "stunt" works because I to look at other things in the email they send as well as looking at their site. Tower needs to become more flexible with their "sale" items and do some new things to catch peoples attention. I've been flying for about 10 years now and Tower Talk as been the same for almost that entire time. It's been probably 4-5 years since I've really even looked at a Tower Talk when I get it. IMHO Tower is becoming like IBM was in the computer world. IBM got stale but didn't worry about because they were "the big guys". Well, that attitude caught up with them and they aren't on top anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I still like and shop with Tower. Their customer service is always top notch and is usually a pleasant experience. But I don't always go to them right of the bat anymore. I shop around to see what kind of deals I can get. Since Tower's sales catalog doesn't get my attention anymore others that do catch me eye get the business. Just plain ole American Commercialism at work. Tower, pay attention, it's time to start doing something new and fresh!!!!!

That's my 2¢ worth

Ken

SigMan

My Feedback: (21)

been shopping TOWER for years, IMHO they beat them ALL, they just dont have the big names like McConville, Que Que, and the rest of those guys to support, to help keep prices low. Horizon is top notch company, Hobby lobby is just plain overpriced, and i could go on and on...save a buck or 2 and get great stuff at TOWER Hobbies !

OLDNRINKLED

My Feedback: (5)

WHY DOESNT ANYONE HAVE THE BALLS TO PUT THE B BACK IN ARF ?

Whistling Death

Because it resides in front of alls.

Mike Bogh

My Feedback: (14)

Quote of the year!!!!

Well said, thanks for the laugh...

NJ Georgee

My Feedback: (3)

RC Ken ,I agree with you about Tower.The thing that I dont like is when they say an item is on sale,they nickle and dime you with the price.Its allways a Biggggggg sale then you see they save you a dollar or mabey 10 if you spend a hundred.I would rather save 25 to 30 on a hundred dollar item. The outher thing I dont like is there quick experations on coupons.Some times I need an item and then I remember seeing a coupon well it was good for two weeks a month ago...lol I realy liked there huge assortment on building products.But now its realy getting down to the flying wire. I dont see why they just dont keep less in stock ,but keep every thing.That was the one thing that impressed me about them.Bad enough as old small co owners who make this stuff are kicking off and ending their line like Williams Bros.But by big co ending their line of products ,it probably is like closing them down too ,Im surprised since Dubro has a selection of 5-6-7 inch ww1 wheels they dont make them right down the scale 3 2 1/4 to replace williams wheels.Anouther thing is the low amount of dummy engines offered.Dare hobbies has a nice selection though with both halfs included.
Im dissabled and I m always dreaming of making some money by making some sort of a hobby part and selling them. There's alot of 1/2 A and 1/12 stuff that could be made and sold like cocpits or seats. landing gear. highly detailed engines V8 or v 10s. Just cant find much for detail for small planes.My self I make my own parts or use car kits for some things. to make a realistic seat takes alot of patience which im short on due to pain .Thats why I wish those things were out there to buy.Like now im making a 40 size scratch built and thanks to my gransons lago car I think I have the perfect seat. I also would like to sell my built planes.They are small and need a 24 x 24 box,but os my luck has it they only sell 13.00 heavy T.V. boxes in that size. so to pack up a plane that small would cost me close to 25 bucks or more with shipping. so It doesnt pay for me to put them on ebay or RCU. They have great detail and about 75 dollars into themthen to ask for the time spent I would need to sell them for like 200.00 to make 100.00 for months of time.which I would love ,but who would would buy it?

RCFlyer

I have found some items with few choices.

What I don't like about Tower is the way they ship their products.[:@]

I ordered the Triton Charger from them using RCUs $15 Tower discount.
When I received the charger it was shipped in a bubble envelope
from Reno, Nev.. I did get it fast.

I complained about the way my orders were shipped to sales and coustumer support, but they told
me nothing can be done about it. If the items get damaged send it back.

Clarence

F.Imbriaco

My Feedback: (56)

I , for one , have begun the process of weaning myself from the grip of Tower Hobbies. I began doing business with them in the early nineties and have spent an amount approaching or exceeding six figures with them - so , I consider myself to be a 5 Star Customer , but they don't see it that way. Here's why I gotta move on and make like they don't exist :
1. They've become deceitful with shipping. I recently placed a small order which fell beneath their $150 free shipping threshhold. I asked and paid for priority mail shipping which , by definition from the USPS ,is 2-3 days - guaranteed in the continental US. The item shipped 4 days after it was placed , which means I'll now wait 7-10 days. Forget using their Parts Express - that goes out Parcel Post which takes 14-20 days .An OS160 that I own experienced a premature bearing failure (i.e. -RUST- Despite running dry , after -run oil, and proper storage. )The damage was to the piston and ring . The engine new was $250 , the ring /piston from Tower - $80 . That doesn't include the cost of the bearings , so I'm at 1/3 the cost of the engine. OS is manufactured in Japan as most of us know and prices for parts over there are much more reasonable . Yes, there are tariffs , shipping costs , Dollar / Yen adjustments , BUT Tower /Hobbico INFLATES the cost of engine parts because they are the sole importer & distributor. The same business practice applies for Futaba Radios & Servos .
3. I haven't purchased an ARF in a long while , but think Tower's product pipeline with resect to R/C glow -powered is STALE ! They have resorted to bringing out new ARFs that are based on STALE KITS . Horizon has fresh designs that keep on coming out month after month.

I think Tower is following the Sam Walton business model-and I'm ready to start a new Thread!

F.Imbriaco

My Feedback: (56)

I , for one , have begun the process of weaning myself from the grip of Tower Hobbies. I began doing business with them in the early nineties and have spent an amount approaching or exceeding six figures with them - so , I consider myself to be a 5 Star Customer , but they don't see it that way. Here's why I gotta move on and make like they don't exist :
1. They've become deceitful with shipping. I recently placed a small order which fell beneath their $150 free shipping threshhold. I asked and paid for priority mail shipping which , by definition from the USPS ,is 2-3 days - guaranteed in the continental US. The item shipped 4 days after it was placed , which means I'll now wait 7-10 days. Forget using their Parts Express - that goes out Parcel Post which takes 14-20 days .An OS160 that I own experienced a premature bearing failure (i.e. -RUST- Despite running dry , after -run oil, and proper storage. )The damage was to the piston and ring . The engine new was $250 , the ring /piston from Tower - $80 . That doesn't include the cost of the bearings , so I'm at 1/3 the cost of the engine. OS is manufactured in Japan as most of us know and prices for parts over there are much more reasonable . Yes, there are tariffs , shipping costs , Dollar / Yen adjustments , BUT Tower /Hobbico INFLATES the cost of engine parts because they are the sole importer & distributor. The same business practice applies for Futaba Radios & Servos .
3. I haven't purchased an ARF in a long while , but think Tower's product pipeline with resect to R/C glow -powered is STALE ! They have resorted to bringing out new ARFs that are based on STALE KITS . Horizon has fresh designs that keep on coming out month after month.

I think Tower is following the Sam Walton business model-and I'm ready to start a new Thread!

NJ Georgee

My Feedback: (3)

RC flyer you got that right,My first experience with Tower's shipping was a disaster.The driver of fed X said he left the carton out side my mobile home.And I dont have to tell the rest.somebody got started into the hobby for free or shot up for free.It was probably the same guy who robed me of 500.00 dollars in CD's from my car. with my CD's he went around the park selling the albume.But I never did hear of him selling hobby stuff. well he got 3 years in jail eventuly,he had a 1 year sentence after robbing everyone stuff in there yards here,comes out and started doing it again including cash from someones trailer.But then he got braising and hit a closed store on Bway.He got caught and now should be about done with his 3 years.Thank god they made this guy and his family move out of the trailer park. But what a way to start a relation with my first online store. He stole 400.00 dollars from us in hobby stuff.I asked Tower why they would ever send something so valuble with out a sig required.They were very nice about it though and replaced my order.But now I always feel badly about what happened.I realy like Tower the best.
I ordered from Hobby Lobby and twice I had to send things back,wrong stuff ect. Thats more agravating than anything.It almost seemed to be on purpose.I still have a bag full of arrow servos that work like crap from there.But they do carry alot of stuff Tower does'nt.I like there super fabric and scale gauges.Infact Im trying to get some if they stock back up on them. Do you know if 21st century fabric is as good as super fabric.The super fabric colors are awsome and ease of covering is great too.I want to try 21st but I hate taking gambles anymore.I have alot of supplys that I didnt like left over and im looking like a warehouse.
While were here can you tell me horizons web adress and any outhers,I saw something earlier in this tread a store called PRS?