O'Brien Hobby experience
#251
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6890680/tm.htm
I guess my point is this: If you choose to compete head-on with an industry giant who is doing an excellent job, you'd best have a plan. Obviously, you do. I admire your entreprenurial spirit, and it takes some big brass ones to step up and order half a truckload of ONE model. No matter how good the plan is, though, you have to change a plan that is giving unsatisfactory results. It a time-consuming, tedious bore to sit down and truly analyze costs and options. You have to examine so many factors, and in the end - it's still just an educated guess.
Interestingly enough - Tower and Omni are sister companies. It appears they share everything but phone numbers and websites. Recently, the latest release of UltraSport 60 kits was getting down to the bottom of the barrel. When I ordered 3 from Omni, the quantity available went down by 3 on both websites - so they share warehouse inventory and database as well. Tower charges standard shipping, Omni is free on $100+ orders. Tower is currently offering $20 off a $149 order, Omni is $20 off $199. Tower offers discounted "Parts Express" shipping (USPS) on some small stuff (12x10 and 12x12 APC props are, but the 12x11 isn't), Omni doesn't. Sometimes Tower gives a better deal, sometimes Omni does. Both use UPS for the vast majority of shipments. Both have their websites set up so that the customer can check the status of their orders, including tracking UPS shipments with a simple click.
Tower's regular shipping (UPS Ground) $8.99
Tower's Parts Express (USPS) $3.99
Omni's under $100 order $6.99
Omni's $100+ order ships free
ServoCity.com Free for Continental US orders over $100. Under $100 is $5.95 (2-3 Day USPS)
That's your competition.
I guess my point is this: If you choose to compete head-on with an industry giant who is doing an excellent job, you'd best have a plan. Obviously, you do. I admire your entreprenurial spirit, and it takes some big brass ones to step up and order half a truckload of ONE model. No matter how good the plan is, though, you have to change a plan that is giving unsatisfactory results. It a time-consuming, tedious bore to sit down and truly analyze costs and options. You have to examine so many factors, and in the end - it's still just an educated guess.
Interestingly enough - Tower and Omni are sister companies. It appears they share everything but phone numbers and websites. Recently, the latest release of UltraSport 60 kits was getting down to the bottom of the barrel. When I ordered 3 from Omni, the quantity available went down by 3 on both websites - so they share warehouse inventory and database as well. Tower charges standard shipping, Omni is free on $100+ orders. Tower is currently offering $20 off a $149 order, Omni is $20 off $199. Tower offers discounted "Parts Express" shipping (USPS) on some small stuff (12x10 and 12x12 APC props are, but the 12x11 isn't), Omni doesn't. Sometimes Tower gives a better deal, sometimes Omni does. Both use UPS for the vast majority of shipments. Both have their websites set up so that the customer can check the status of their orders, including tracking UPS shipments with a simple click.
Tower's regular shipping (UPS Ground) $8.99
Tower's Parts Express (USPS) $3.99
Omni's under $100 order $6.99
Omni's $100+ order ships free
ServoCity.com Free for Continental US orders over $100. Under $100 is $5.95 (2-3 Day USPS)
That's your competition.
#252
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
USPS, eh? I ordered a Motor and ESC from a company in California via the internet at about 9:30 pm on Dec. 31, 2007 Yep, New Years Eve. by Jan 2, they had the order filled and shipped it via USPS Priority mail, and made it from California to Illinois by Jan. 5, 2008. Now they didn't beat Tower, who I ordered from at the same time, same day. The Tower order made it here on Jan. 3, but they're only about 100 miles from me. Funny how things from New England take over 2 weeks via the same method......
#254
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
Well I called O'Briens today and they said my order should have shipped on the 4th and they would have doug send me the tracking number tomarow.We will see.
#255
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
ORIGINAL: juvaknin
Doug,
just sent you PM.. Please.. Contact me via e-mail.. Thanks.
Doug,
just sent you PM.. Please.. Contact me via e-mail.. Thanks.
#257
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
ORIGINAL: scalenut52
Hi Yuval,
Will email you late today, wont be in the store till late.
DOUG
Hi Yuval,
Will email you late today, wont be in the store till late.
DOUG
Thanks and waiting..
#258
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
I think O'briens might be located along one of those Ley lines where some sort of gravitational anomaly is causing packages to pass through a vortex into a time warp and ending up half way around the world on somebody elses doorstep at some distant time in the future. That would explain why they're the only one having a problem.
#259
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
ORIGINAL: scalenut52
Hi Yuval,
Will email you late today, wont be in the store till late.
DOUG
Hi Yuval,
Will email you late today, wont be in the store till late.
DOUG
Please Contact me, didn't got any e-mail until now...
Thanks.
#262
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
Doug, I ordered a Tamiya 58397 1/10 Toyota Hilux High Lift 4x4 kit on December 30th but have not received it. I sent two emails earlier in the week one on Tuesday to sales@ obrienhobbies.com and one on wed to admin@ obrienhobbies.com asking if my order was shipped and received no response. I called your shop on Friday to find out about my order they said it should have shipped on the 4th if it did I should have received it by now. They said they would leave a note for you to email me the tracking number saturday but I received no email. The $352.98 deduction for my order was posted to my account on 1/3/2008 but all I got was an email saying my order was received.
#263
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
ORIGINAL: Laggard
I'm fairly certain they are still using the pony express in NH and that the horse with my package died somewhere along the route.
I'm fairly certain they are still using the pony express in NH and that the horse with my package died somewhere along the route.
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
This is getting pathetic. I'm wondering why RCU lets this type of company to post ads on the site! I know if an individual pulled the same kinda bs, they'd be kicked in a double quick hurry!
#270
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
ORIGINAL: scalenut52
Hi Yuval,
Will email you late today, wont be in the store till late.
DOUG
Hi Yuval,
Will email you late today, wont be in the store till late.
DOUG
Thanks....
#271
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
ORIGINAL: mcmike
This is getting pathetic. I'm wondering why RCU lets this type of company to post ads on the site! I know if an individual pulled the same kinda bs, they'd be kicked in a double quick hurry!
This is getting pathetic. I'm wondering why RCU lets this type of company to post ads on the site! I know if an individual pulled the same kinda bs, they'd be kicked in a double quick hurry!
#272
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
ORIGINAL: Teachu2
Be fair. Several people have had problems. Dozens, perhaps hundreds have been happy. And he pays for his ads. After all, RCU lets this thread stand - if they were favoring him, this thread would be gone!
Be fair. Several people have had problems. Dozens, perhaps hundreds have been happy. And he pays for his ads. After all, RCU lets this thread stand - if they were favoring him, this thread would be gone!
I think it's fair to make O'brien as unhappy as they have made me and since I can't be out having fun flying because I didn't get my servos, I think it's fair to have fun here.
#274
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
Well I placed my order on the 3rd and I find out about this thread on the 15th...(always the last to know). Well before I get any more concerned over what could be slow mail, I thought I would try to contact Doug at Obrien Hobbies through email and this forum to get an update on my order. Expect a PM Doug. Thanks XLX
#275
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RE: O'Brien Hobby experience
Hi Laggard,
Dont get me wrong, I can understand , escpecially after you started reading this thread, but we never screw anyone. Again, if the package does ever show, please let me know and I will send a call tag for it.
DOUG
Dont get me wrong, I can understand , escpecially after you started reading this thread, but we never screw anyone. Again, if the package does ever show, please let me know and I will send a call tag for it.
DOUG