I made my order for a Giles 20 days ago so I'm glad to see I'm not alone. I am just going to wait patiently as I expect a big company like Estes, that seems to own cox, will not leave their customers twisting in the wind. I figure they are going out of business but the price is great. If I wanted fast service, with a higher price, I'd order from Tower. Hope this all works out for everyone. It is frustrating, as when you order something you want it NOW. Maybe there is an axiom like"good prices mean slow service."

I don't anticipate Estes going out of business anytime soon, and they still own Cox. Estes rocket kits are still on the shelves and seem to be selling. They are very inexpensive to build and launch, and I'm sure that's what people will buy for their kids in a troubled economy. My bet is that they'll wait on Cox, then bring back their products at a later date when the economy improves and they find a new contractor for their manufacturing operations.

NorfolkSouthern

It has been 18 days for me since first placing the order. I made a few orders previous to the sale and they all arrived at the door within 10 days. I figured with the sale I would have to wait a while longer so I really wasn't worried about getting what I ordered.

The word I got was the Cox was backlogged over December, especially with their clearance pricing. And for that reason, I would certainly expect a delay in orders. One thing that troubles me, is that Cox was emphasizing problems with customer demand for their items at a price they can sell them for. The little guy doesn't stand much of a chance in this market. I just hope they have enough money to go into dormancy for a while, then spring back when the big companies start going bust.

NorfolkSouthern

I got an email yesterday confirming my order so it looks like something is going to happen. They are definitely thinking about it.

Today I looked on their website and under tracking it said "labels, cod tags". I take that to mean they are waiting on labels. You can log into their site and click on tracking and you will see where the order is at. I do have faith it is coming eventually.

I didn't sign in with a password to their site so it won't let me get to tracking. Thanks maybe it will be here this week. The charged my credit card and in the instructions it says they won't charge the credit card until it is shipped. I think they ship by UPS

Cox models has to be the hardest place in the world to buy from. They don't answer emails, when you call to place an order it says "we are busy assisting other customers, please call back during regular business hours" The don't even have a system where they tell you that the next available operator will be with you shortly. Ordered a product on 12/26/08 still don't have it. My credit card has been charged. You try to get tracking information and all it says under status is, "Box Labels/COD/Tags. Don't know what that means. Good luck to others that have ordered from them.

Hey Gorish, my order status says the same thing. I thought it would ship the day after the order status changed because that is how it always was before. It's been a week now so I am starting to wonder.

Hope they ship both of our orders soon.

I have a grandson that is getting upset. Spent his money and not sure he will get anything for it. He told me, "Grandpa we should have ordered from someplace else". He has his Mag 52 4 stroke and nothing to put it on.

He should have it before the snow flies next fall.[:@]

Folks on RCG are reporting that their orders are showing up.

I guess I'm a little different. I place the order, and then don't worry about it. I'll read the threads, but only to keep aware of others' experiences. If things go wrong, I'll call my CC company and get them straightened out. I doubt I'll have to do that. I've got some HS-55s waiting for when my Christen Eagle shows up.

I started putting together my Cox Giles this weekend. The covering took a little work to get tight, but not more than any other ARF. It's a really nicely dine color scheme. I have the wing joined, and should get to working on the tail feathers tomorrow. So far I'm impressed with the construction and weight. I expected it to be slightly on the piggy side, as it's listed at 5.5lbs. My fuse/wing together weight 1lb, 10oz. My Magnum .52 comes in at 1lb with the muffler. I anticipate being a bit over 4lbs total, which should fly well.

I'm having a particularly hard time resisting the deals this winter. World Models is blowing out some of their older designs, and I picked up a Fun World 3D for $112.99 shipped. Not bad for a well-reviewed 70.5" plane. Now I just have to find enough servos and a small gasser for it. I'm never going to get caught up... I have two kits that I really should finish for this summer, two more "in progress", two others waiting to be started, and a host of small electrics that need to be built. I'm starting to think that my hobby is buying, rather than flying.

MikeL
You don't have a grandson that calls you EVERY day and wants to know if his plane is here. I gave him a set of skis so he could fly it at the farm. I know I buy more than I flythat must be part of the adicition.

I do remember being in 6th grade, back in the mid-1980s. I ordered my first "real" RC car from Sheldon's Hobbies in California. Back then, shipping was 6-8 weeks. Every day on my way home from school I would wonder if it would show up. Took a long time. Finally one night (it was in the winter, so it might have been 5pm) the UPS truck shows up. UPS trucks were rare back then, at least in the suburbs.

Not that there's any real lesson from that, just that I know what it's like to be young and anxious.

I'd just settle for being young

At 33, I'd settle for feeling a bit younger, too. Who am I to complain, eh?

33 !!! you young wipper-snapper. I think I was 33 once don't remember how many decades ago or eons. Just make me younger I am already anxious.

Seems like only yesterday but now I'm twice that

Dang!! you is aging fast

Like an old model. After a while it is just patch patch patch. Fuel soaked balsa, spread out wheels, and a few wrinkles in the covering. Lots of memories though

MikeL,
That is funny about aquiring all of your birds this winter. I feel the same way, I picked up a twister 36 to put my .52 FS on, while I waited for the Giles, I am also about to pick up a Simple Stick EP from HP, if they have any mid-week. I want to put BL and a lipo on that, and also electrify the Giles sometime early this summer when I am caught up on everything else. Oh yeah, I bought a 4* 40 as a "Project plane" in November that I have 1/2 way covered. Crazy! I have 3 planes that I have flown and the potential for another 4 that I won't fly until maybe April.

I too rememebr ordering a JC Penny catalog Baja Bandit RC Truck when I was probably also in 6th grade (1990) and waiting for what seemed like months, same thing. I nearly peed my pants when it finally came. patience is such a virtue, it is too bad this hobby can rob you of it (that's my theory).

Glad to hear about the weight of the Giles, it sounds like it will convert pretty easily to BL.
Curtis

I'm just an incredibly slow builder. I have a really hard time motivating myself to build. I'm usually good for one ARF a year. One of my kits in progress has been in progress since 2000, and I can't be more than ten hours away from finishing it. I've played hookie from work this afternoon to work on the Giles, and have gotten a bit done. I get motivated so rarely that I have to build when the moment strikes!

Stay with it Mike. I also lack motivation, it usually peaks when the temps are moderate, the winds are low and days are long! I have one coming (maybe??). If it does come in at 4 pounds or close, this thing will be great! Give us the flight report when it's together if you would. Thanks, MikeB

Fedex dropped off my Christen Eagle early this morning. Nice looking little plane!

So the moral to this thread is "Patience"?