Hello All,

I have a concern regarding an overcharge on the shipping from Giant Scale Planes. According to the Web Site, it is the company policy not to post the shipping charges until the box is packaged. This is according to GSP is to provide the absolute minimum shipping cost to costumers. They provided UPS and DHL websites so costumers can check on the appropriate rates. Anyhow, I ordered an ARF last week and according to UPS rate (3-7 days GROUND) at 12lbs, the cost is at 9.79. Today, I looked at my credit card online and noted that I was charged 38.74 for shipping! I called and inquired about the charge and I was informed that I must add the "handling charge" in addition to the rate listed on UPS site. When I inquired about the details, I was told that the UPS rate is 18.74 PLUS 10.00 for materials and handling from GSP. That would come to about 29.00 USD. However, at this rate, I was still overcharged 9.74 ! I was then advised by a service rep that I would be credited back the overcharge (9.74) in next few days. I advised to the rep. that if there is a "handling and material" charge , it MUST be listed on the GSP Web so customers like me won't deal with the sticker shock. In my opinion, a 30.00 UPS Ground appears high to me. Perhaps someone can correct me on this.
I have dealt with GSP when I inquire about buying the plane and the service was very professional. I however, believe that there are hidden charges that should be listed in the open.

I have a friend who flown 0-1 in Vietnam and I plan to paint my craft in his colors. Will let you guys see the results. Thanks .

do you know the exact dimesions of the package? is it oversize?

I ordered a replacement cowl for my GSP Hellcat a while back and was charged $18 for shipping even though the sales rep told me the shipping charge would be under $9.

I need to get into the shiping bussines.

I think it's UPS cheating you.

You know where GSP gets the ARF kits from? China. I am sure they calculated it so that the freight from China to their US warehouse would be covered for.

If you need a CMP kit that GSP carries, look into Chief Aircraft. If they don't carry it, wait around for a hobby show and buy it at the show. And don't let them charge you tax either. I bought a Zero 120 ARF from their stand @ Toledo show, and they try to charge me sales tax [X(]

Sean , are they the same kits ? I was looking at a Spitfire but I have heard nothing but bad things about GSP servace and owner .So I just ignore the sale ads in the mags

You can order from CMPro in China via HK. GSP planes are mainly planes from CMPro. Try this site --> http://www.cmpairplane.com/ Its not all that cheap to ship one or two from HK. Just ask them if you want, they will reply fast.

I ordered a 120 Zero from GSP. About 35$ for over night DHL. I thought it would ship UPS ground at much lower cost. I was not happy about the shipping.

From what's been written, it sounds like you were right to be concerned.
It is against my policy to order products from companies that will not provide me with a total, including ALL shipping charges. I've actually backed out of several online purchases, and looked elsewhere, because the vendor would not give me a total before asking me to enter my credit card number. Guess I won't be ordering from GSP anytime soon.
They should have a pretty good idea how much each item weighs, and an estimate of how much extra weight the packaging will add. In this age of computers, it should be pretty easy to build a system to add up the weights of each item plus packaging and provide a reasonably close shipping cost. If the estimate is a bit under, GSP pays the difference. If it's a bit over, GSP makes a bit extra on the sale. Seems this would be better than the surprises people are getting. I wonder if they are reading this thread?

The Zero I have heard a lot of good things about. But it's just CMP quality improvement; it has nothing to do with GSP, who is just a middleman profit maker.

Dear Chuck,

I really hope that GSP reads your thread and make changes to their Web so customers like me won't be "sticker" shocked. When I first read their policy, I thought that they should be commended for putting out an effort to save customers money as many, if not all retailers make their "extra" sale by adding the "handling charges". How many times on TV you see an ad for a "free" item then realized that the "Shipping and HANDLING" charges cover or exceeds the actual cost of that item. My initial impression of GSP turn sour when I was charged 38.74 for a relatively small box. GSP, please update your Web so it won't be decieving to others like myself. Thanks.

Many times the UPS listed weight is not accurate on the tracking site. I recently received a motorcycle stand that weighed 35 pounds and cost me $44 to have shipped. The tracking site said the package weight was 11 pounds.

UPS goes more by dimensions than weight. They also give very large discounts to volume shippers, so they will discount the weight, but not the size on oversize packages - this is why you will see an oversize box that weighs 20+ pounds only billed for 10 pounds.

Shipping is not cheap. I sent a 12x14x65" box UPS recently - it cost me $31 so I don't think GSP is far off.

The freight charge from China is built into the model price.

DP

I hope so too. since we're talking about them, I thought it was only fair that we talk TO them also. I emailed the URL to this discussion so they could read and, if they choose, participate.

Buy your planes at your local Hobby Shop. That way you avoid shiping charges.

Hello all,

Thank you very much for adding your input into this thread. At first, I was worried that my post was inappropriate in the ARF columm, but I feel that my thread would have the best chance of being read and responded this way. Nowadays with so much competition out there at LHS levels and Internet wordwide, the companies that have best customer service/honest sale etiquette will earn my business forever. I have been into RC planes for over 30 years and dealt with hundreds of mail order bussinesses. My hope is that GSP and other companies should see this thread as a constructive input from me and others and act on this to improve their customers relations.

I stick with my hobby shop, if I buy a plane we always check it before I leave and if there is a problem we get it resolved right there. If something is broke or cracked he calls the supplier and the problem is resolved.

Is always good to have a Hobby Shop in the middle.


later

GSP is suckering everyone. Don't look past the point that Dai Phan's plane was not the first plane they have ever shipped!

I just ordered a steel rack for my wifes 4-Runner from Con-Ferr. It's oversized and heavy but he gave me shipping costs to the penny before I placed my order. This isn't rocket science. GSP's is just trying to screw every last cent out of us[sm=thumbdown.gif]

All that is needed is a search of RCU for a ton of info on how GSP has been sticking it to customers for years. It's beyond me how they can stay in business.

I feel for you guys buying from GSP and getting ripped, but I'm not surprised at all. Irwin Siner has a very bad reputation in the heli community, and this same person owns GSP. Take your chances...

you can get the same exact plane from egrandbuy.com and raidentech.com
and they have all the spare parts, and shipping is a lot less then gsp plus prices are a LOT cheaper also....

When I had a problem with my Mosquito kit..I notified Giant Scale Planes of the problem..ie BALSA MAIN SPARS....along with some pictures....To date I have not heard anything from GSP.

I notified Jet-Hobbies, of the same problem...I received an e-mail in about 3 days, they seemed to be concerned . Note: I bought the kit from Jet-Hobbies..They sent me a replacement kit, all I had to pay was the shipping $30.00, I think.

Jet-Hobbies will tell you how much the shipping will be up front. When I first bought the first Mosquito...they had a special and shipped it free. They are very nice people to do business with,
very courtesy, and seem to backup what they sell. www.jet.hobbies.com

[8D]

Guys , if any of you are in consumer goods you know that you will soon know most of the rates for UPS .There a great company(UPS) and they hide nothing . Its a joke to think that GSP dose not know UPS charges for there planes at the time of order . Order a giant plane from Tower hobbies like the P51 , your shipping charging will show up in about 5.6 seconds as you total your order .This is the 20th century , shipping is the most basic variable in on-line ordering and very simple to calculate . Some catalogs even state exceptions to areas like Alaska , Canada ect . They all know there cost as soon as you plug in the numbers .
Its exactly why I wont buy from GSP , I just keep hearing about the problems and the unethical behavior and there ignorance at the hobby shows .

I think that GSP should get their act together as well.
I ordered an Omei Glider from them for $79.00 as a
"Special offer to RCU members" ended up at $107 with "shipping and handling"
Talk about a burn! I understand that their shipping as well as every businesses shipping costs
have come up. But I think they are making S&H a profit center, not a service.
They will not get any more of my money

Charged me $19 shipping for $29.95 heli canopy, ripp off