if you are a beginner or returning to the hobby after years of being away (like me) - do yourself a favor - if the person(s) you are doing business with are rude, have no time for beginners or give you half assed answers to your questions - DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM. hang up the phone, or walk out and do business somewhere else. there are hundreds of places out there to purchase product from. I am starting a list of people or companies that fit in this mold - first on the list: NESAIL.COM He could hardly be bothered with my questions...and rather than answer them or put me on the right track, he gives nothin but attitude> he gets the RUDE DUDE award. anybody else out there qualify for this prestiges award?

Nose-n

http://www.justengines.unseen.org/ complete waist of time, i emailed them a few times looking for help finding the right product, coudlnt be arsed to even answer my emails. Sooooo B*****S to them

Don't really see the point in this thread. Keep in mind that many businesses don't cater to new pilots, and hence they don't have the desire to take on a newbies questions. Just becasue a company rather not cater to new pilots doesn't mean they are a bad company. Likewise, just becasue a company caters to new pilots doesn't mean they have anything to offer experiecned pilots.

For example, my company (computer networking/consulting) caters to businesses only. Occasionally we will get home user calls for all sorts of stuff we don't want to deal with becuase it is not in our core business. We have absolutely no business desire to help these people, even if most of the time we know the answer, so we politely send them on their way to businesses that cater to home users. Maybe some see this as rude... so be it, but it is not intended to be rude.

I'm not saying there are businesses that shouldn't be avoided, just that a list of good businesses is probably more useful that a list of bad businesses. And as far as newbie advice on what to buy, RCU is probably as good as it gets because the members typically don't have secondary adgendas, such as trying to get you to buy the model sitting on the shelf. Don't kid yourself... Stores ALWAYS have an incentive to push what they have in stock that offers the highest margin... this sometimes means you will get bad advice from a store (both LSH and online.)

Maybe a better thread would be a listing of companies that go out of their way to help new pilots AND offer sound advice.

I'll start. Not exactly newbie, but if you are new to giant scale, Carden Aircraft goes above the rest to ensure your first giant scale plane will be a success. They can be found at

www.carden-aircraft.com

I've also had a good "first timer" giant scale experience with Desert Aircraft. Very helpful folk.

www.desertaircraft.com

I had an experience that I didn't really like with a balsa company last month, even purchased $100 worth of wood from their competitor. They sent me a coupon for quite a savings after I called the boss and explained why they didn't get my order. I will give them another try next time.

If you don't like the service, explain it to the boss. If the guy giving you the attitude is the boss, go somewhere else.

Its a small world, they won't last long if they don't take care of the customers.

"There is only one boss: the customer. And he/she can fire everybody in the company, from the chairman on down, simply by spending his/her money somewhere else."

This is a sign the boss hung up where I work and it is the truth. Without customers there is no business

I agree that being helpfull to any customer should be a line of thought for any manager/boss, regardless of being a beginner or not. I guess that most of the times we are mistreated, we deal with the sales guys that don't give a S....t about begineers, specially if we come up with more questions than $$$$. These sales guys don't care about building a long term customer but just the % they get on the present sale.
I would even suggest here, to be created within RCUniverse, some "RC customer rates" about rc business, which could give us some reference about other guys esperience and avoid bad business, just like "better business bureau" entity does.
If nobody complains and put pressure on it, no better treatment!

Nilo

I'm an electrical contractor that has been in business for 32 years,so I guess I.m caught in the middle of this thread. I have people call or come by the office or job to ask tons of questions using a lot of time then tell me they are going to shop around or buy the material at a local discount store since I've educated them,also they want me to match someones going out of business price,or they want me to do something that's against code to save money,I have found the customer is always right is a quick way to go out of business,over the years I've come to the conclusion that I can't make all customers happy so I try to cater to the customers that really are good customers. So there is always two sides to every story.

I was once also a company owner and I agree that everything has two faces.
I agree there on every business there are bad customers.
But giving a little attention at least to have an idea of what customer we are dealing with, doens't banckrupt any company.

Nilo

MANNERS COST NOTHING !!!!![8D]

thank you all for your input...some real good points. what i hoped to accomplish with this post was awareness for both the newbie and the seasoned flier. be aware: one thing is for sure...without newbies (new customers) your business will end at some point. with new clients/customers/newbies it will go on, their your lifeline. as for catering - ok so you don't deal with newbies or end-users - kindly tell the customer that or refer them to someone that does work well with newbies - it takes as much energy to refer someone as it does to be rude....frog summed it up - manners cost nothing.....nesail.com was absent that day in school when they taught them...

beware of rude dudes

nose-n

In response to dragonheart I would like to say that I have used Just Engines on several occasions and all have been entirely satisfactory. In this ever evolving world of the internet, all it takes sometimes is a telephone call!

Had to laugh when I read this thread, I got in this Hobby 3 months ago. I live in the middle of Kansas & it's 30 miles to the nearest RC Hobby Shop. I stopped in to buy a plane (Radio & everything else needed to get started) one day & Mom & Pop we're WAY to busy doing nothing to even answer a question. They did have trainer kits (RTF) in the shop, but must not have wanted to sell one of them. They were Rude & nasty. I'm not some kid just killing time, I'm 49 years young, have had my own business for the last 20 years, & I do know how a customer SHOULD be treated. Told them I was new to the Sport & wanted a place to buy all my supplies at. Figured the way they acted they had all the business they needed, so I drove 90 miles south & found a shop that acted like they really wanted to help someone new to flying. Since then, I have bought 5 ARF plane kits, engines & flight packs from the Nice Guys, plus 2 radios & LOTS of misc equipment. All this in the last 3 months!!! And I have told lots of people what a bunch of jerks the first shop is full of & how great the second shop is. Just found out in the last month that the guy in the first shop is one of the Big Shots of IMAA. One thing is for sure, I'll NEVER buy anything from their shop.

have done several deals with Just engines.. including a custom made tuned pipe, and have had a positive experienci withthem , as have many other people here on RCU.

stevejeanne - you are the person i wrote this Beware post for....your exactly like me - 3 months into the hobby i have dropped nearly $2000....with one shop and 2 internet companies. there are a couple companies, nesail.com being one, that never saw a nickel....the only thing i can conclude is that they are millionaires and don't need the business...happy flyin

nose-n

I think we've all had bad experiences with companies. Other people have good experiences with the same companies. I don't see the point of publicly bashing a company unless they actually cheated a person somehow. I decide for myself who to do business with and don't usually let other people's opinions affect that unless there is an overwhelming number of bad reports.

This thread has a very good point to make. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO EACH OTHER TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON PRODUCT AND SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO DON"T DESERVE OUR BUSINESS! It is a strength in numbers kind of thing. When the word gets out that there is a collective force of model equipment consumers[US GUYS] who keep each other informed, then the end result can be nothing other than good for all of us. I applaud any of my RCU BROTHERS who take the time to make me aware of a business to either BOYCOTT or just shy away from. The old hobby store owners in my area are passing the torch onto people who don't have the same love, interest or know how, and the quality and availability of modeling supplies is beginning to suffer. The shops are ARF RETAIL OUTLETS, not hobby stores as much any more. The mail order suppliers that I deal with are 99% excellent to deal with over the phone, but if I ever get dealt with unfairly,rudely, or cheated, I consider it MY DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to you guys to let you know about it!

HI STEVEJEANNE! I APPLAUDE YOU! A lot of people would have just stuck their tails between their legs, and rewarded those shop keepers with a quick sale, just so they could get home with a plane sooner. YOU STUCK TO YOUR GUNS! Unfortunately there are enough wormy little people walking around to keep a substandard shop like this afloat if their prices are good, and the next store is 90 miles away!

HI TERRELLFLYER! You make several good points, and I suspect that the originator of this thread could be guilty of some of the points you brought up. What set me off was the prevailing attitude that threads like this aren't relevant to post, and that is ludicrous! One of the main benefits of being in this RCU FRATERNITY is to save each other time, money, and head aches, and I applaud anybody who takes the time to do that for me.

I agree. All I'm saying is that because one guy gets service he thinks is poor isn't going to stop me. I'll find out for myself. If it's a case where a lot of people are saying the same thing then it counts more. But I don't know that this guy wasn't rude to them or was impatient or what. Not knowing the source of the complaint nor the people that are being complained about doesn't make this information useful unless I just want to take one person's word for it which isn't exactly fair. For all I know he has a grudge against them for an entirely other reason.

Point being what I said already - I can decide for myself who to do business with. Now if the company screwed him in some way then that's a different thing. His complaint is that he perceives they were rude to him. Maybe they were and maybe they weren't. Maybe he just got them on a bad day. Who knows? All I know for sure from reading his post is that he's not happy with the service he received. My experience may be different.

Note that he only has 3 posts as well. So would it be fair that so far his only reason for coming to RCU is to bash a company? What's the point of that?

CAFEENMAN< You're right that his input doesn't carry much weight around here yet, and there could be more to this story than what we are getting. But there seems to be an overall level of apathy in our country about consumer related issues. It takes EFFORT that needs to be encouraged by all of us to act as watch dogs for one another. The first thing I ask people who tell me about their bad experiences is what they did to follow up on it? Whether it be a lazy lawyer, sloppy roofer, phantom charges on a hospital bill, etc. A lot of people I ask shrug their shoulders and say'"WHAT's the use?" Did you ever do any business with old JOE CLAUSE of KK? I used to have to bite my tongue with that cranky old guy[:@], but he sure could deliver the goods!

CombatPigg - There is a hobby shop right down the road from where I live. It was owned by a guy and his wife. He was into cars and always building his own car on the counter when customers came in. He'd answer your questions if you asked, but otherwise wasn't interested. First thing that happened first time I walked in the store, his wife was sitting by the front. I said, "Hi" and she just scowled at me like she hated me. Turns out she treats everyone like that. I went back once for an emergency part, but never went back again. It's now under different ownership and I haven't had reason to go back, but I hear it's a much more pleasant environment now. Still mostly cars though.

I agree with everything in your last post. We have the power to boycott. This thread just struck me bad because of how it was done. But if a person doesn't like a company then I agree they shouldn't do business with them.

Like I said previously, there should be a way to start putting all complains together to create a business record here in RCUniverse, organized by business name, whatever.
I also think that this should be something serious to avoid someone posting a bad record because didn't like the owner's face or because wants to create a bad record for its competitor. There should be some kind of control, maybe use the existing "better business bureau" service incorporated into RCUniverse webpage => www.bbb.com
I have already used the bbb service and seems very reliable and indicated to this matter.

Nilo

Pat's hobbies in oak lawn Illinois. Went to the counter and explained that I needed a size 46 engine. I got "If you dont see it we dont have it" in a very rude tone of voice. I have never returned and advice all to stay away. Oh and PAT'S... I've since spent thousands of dollars at hobby store that compete with you!

I agree with all that is being said,if I get a hobby shop or supplier that leaves a bad taste in my mouth after a couple of tries then if I can get the service I expect some where else then I'm moving my business else where,but there are also times when a customer or supplier is having a off day,I try to give both parties a couple off tries before I make a decision to stay with there service or move on. Many years ago[15?]I visited a new hobby shop to me,at the time I found the owners attitude a little rough,the second time I visited his store the same attitude,I brought it to his attention and today I still do business with him,he was under a lot of stress and he changed his attitude,might work in other cases,might not. I know in my business I try to meet the customers demand if possible,but there is times it just doesn't happen.

HI NILO! There is a danger of rival business interests making false claims about each other. Our "market research" dept. does need a way to billboard complaints so they don't just float off into cyberspace. A company with a 99% rating is still pissing off one person out of 100, which is still below my standards. So you can see that a rating system would have to extend a couple decimal points to the right before it carried any real weight. RCU probably doesn't want to p.o. any potential advertisers, so an RC CONSUMER AWARENESS WEBSITE would have to be set up, and where would the money come from to support that? Since you live so close I don't mind putting in a plug here for a great hobby shop in EVERETT. TIMs' HOBBIES on BROADWAY sells right at TOWER prices, and is the last of the good old fashioned stores that still caters to the scratch builders.