BEWARE OF ULTIMATE HOBBIES
06-09-2005, 03:49 PM
#1
BEWARE OF ULTIMATE HOBBIES
I would caution anyone thinking about ordering from Ultimate Hobbies. There customer service really sucks.
On 5/31/05 I ordered a Tamiya 415MS off their website, which said they had them in stock. I have the "thank you" order confirmation in hand. After not getting it for 9 days, and it not showing up on my credit card (thank god) and no contact from Ultimate, I called and got their automated phone routing system, to shipping, where it seems that there is no one there to answer the phone (always got message "please leave a message") Left message, got no call back. Called and ignored automation, finally got a live person who also couldn't get "shipping dept" to answer their phone, and who said they would leave a message on his desk, "he must be out to lunch" Still no call back, got frustrated and called again and asked for manager.
Now told by Cliff that they can't find one, was either lost or stolen, don't have anymore. They never bothered to contact me (no phone message, nada)(they claim they tried to call me, but no message left for me at home or work (both locations with answering machines if needed.) All Cliff can say is "we didn't charge your credit card". Darn right you better not have. Problem is, I passed up another opportunity to get a 415 MS elsewhere because I had a confirmed order receipt in my hand, but now that's gone.
This is very sucky customer service. Unless they can clean up their act, avoid this place for ordering. I've been in the old store before, wow what a place with lots of stuff, wish I could live next to such a selection, but this kind of crappy service doesn't deserve further orders.
On 5/31/05 I ordered a Tamiya 415MS off their website, which said they had them in stock. I have the "thank you" order confirmation in hand. After not getting it for 9 days, and it not showing up on my credit card (thank god) and no contact from Ultimate, I called and got their automated phone routing system, to shipping, where it seems that there is no one there to answer the phone (always got message "please leave a message") Left message, got no call back. Called and ignored automation, finally got a live person who also couldn't get "shipping dept" to answer their phone, and who said they would leave a message on his desk, "he must be out to lunch" Still no call back, got frustrated and called again and asked for manager.
Now told by Cliff that they can't find one, was either lost or stolen, don't have anymore. They never bothered to contact me (no phone message, nada)(they claim they tried to call me, but no message left for me at home or work (both locations with answering machines if needed.) All Cliff can say is "we didn't charge your credit card". Darn right you better not have. Problem is, I passed up another opportunity to get a 415 MS elsewhere because I had a confirmed order receipt in my hand, but now that's gone.
This is very sucky customer service. Unless they can clean up their act, avoid this place for ordering. I've been in the old store before, wow what a place with lots of stuff, wish I could live next to such a selection, but this kind of crappy service doesn't deserve further orders.
06-09-2005, 03:59 PM
#2
Tech Fanatic
iTrader: (19)
Well, I can not say that is ggod business, it isn't. However they just moved to a new store and have been running around all crazy like. So yes that is some crap just try to understand how hard it was for them to prep a new store and move all the stuff they have.
06-09-2005, 04:06 PM
#3
I have purched from Ultimate many times and have never experienced anything less than steller service. If I had to guess I would venture to say that the order cancelation by them either got bounced by your spam filter or the party resposibly for sending it forgot to send it out. If I had to guess I would say that their oversite is exception and not the rule, rember we are all human and eventualy we will all drop the ball.
Mark
Mark
06-09-2005, 04:23 PM
#5
Good to see that I'm not a raving maniac, that others have had my same experience.
I know very well that they moved recently. But that's still no excuse for no return phone calls, no one answering the shipping phone on repeated tries, and worst of all, not contacting me immediately to say they got a problem. If they had called me the day after the order, said sorry, we goofed, don't have it, that is one thing. To keep me hanging 10 days until I finally have to call them repeatedly, making me lose out on another opportunity to get one - that's why I'm angry. It was not a spam filter problem - Cliff said they don't use email notification (I asked). (Weird, having an internet selling operation, yet not using email).
Contrast this with a place like Speedtech - they have good customer service - never had a chance to visit them when I was in CA, but I will next time. Ordering with them is a breeze, modern website, prompt shipping, good communication. Steve Wang's operation puts Ultimate to shame.
Next time I'm in CA I was planning on stopping in to Ultimate. Must be a nice new shop, I'll never know, I don't plan on stopping in anymore.
I know very well that they moved recently. But that's still no excuse for no return phone calls, no one answering the shipping phone on repeated tries, and worst of all, not contacting me immediately to say they got a problem. If they had called me the day after the order, said sorry, we goofed, don't have it, that is one thing. To keep me hanging 10 days until I finally have to call them repeatedly, making me lose out on another opportunity to get one - that's why I'm angry. It was not a spam filter problem - Cliff said they don't use email notification (I asked). (Weird, having an internet selling operation, yet not using email).
Contrast this with a place like Speedtech - they have good customer service - never had a chance to visit them when I was in CA, but I will next time. Ordering with them is a breeze, modern website, prompt shipping, good communication. Steve Wang's operation puts Ultimate to shame.
Next time I'm in CA I was planning on stopping in to Ultimate. Must be a nice new shop, I'll never know, I don't plan on stopping in anymore.
06-09-2005, 04:45 PM
#7
Originally Posted by minidriver
Good to see that I'm not a raving maniac, that others have had my same experience.
06-09-2005, 04:49 PM
#9
Originally Posted by MarkA
No, you should stop in – just to see that they’ll ignore you and be just as rude in person…
If you go during the week, you're better off. At the old store, evenings and weekends were like visiting a bazaar in Turkey or something.
06-09-2005, 04:51 PM
#10
Originally Posted by Turbo Joe
Now that's funny...I don't care who you are...LOL...so true...
If you go during the week, you're better off. At the old store, evenings and weekends were like visiting a bazaar in Turkey or something.
If you go during the week, you're better off. At the old store, evenings and weekends were like visiting a bazaar in Turkey or something.
06-09-2005, 04:56 PM
#11
I tend to agree that they are probably having problems because of a move to a new location. They might even have new inexperienced staff. You gotta look at the bigger picture. Yes, you had an unhappy experience, but how many angry customers do they get? Look at it on the brightside, they didn't charge your card.
Another site I'm on, alot of the regulars are from SoCal and swear by UltimateHobbies - for their prices, selection customer service and knowledge. They'll even drive more than an hour just to get to it.
Another site I'm on, alot of the regulars are from SoCal and swear by UltimateHobbies - for their prices, selection customer service and knowledge. They'll even drive more than an hour just to get to it.
06-09-2005, 05:11 PM
#12
Tech Rookie
I belive that ultimate is outstanding. Yes, they do take a while to get to you but most of the time there with another customer you cant exspect them to drop everything to help someone else, its just like the real world you have to wait your turn. Besides most outher large hobby shops are like that. On a busy day there is only 1 employe to every5-10 people but, as far as the internet thing goes it sucks that it happened but, you sould give them a little slack at this time do to there moving and that even still the majority of the product is still being catologed i say in about 2 weeks to a month thell be back up to what they where at the old shop.
06-09-2005, 05:12 PM
#13
The Ultimate Hobby!!????
Boy, can I ever get into this conversation. I have had good and bad experiences with U.H. They were a local HS long before getting involved in the internet system. I think they just saw an oppertunity to gain some revenue by going internet.
Where as Steve has been a mail order internet store right from the start and has this system down pat!!!
Anybody can tell you if you go to The Ultimate Hopbby store it can be a madhouse of people and salesman.They change personell like I change underwear. Don't get me wrong,in defense of them they are changing locations and I'm not surprised that stuff just turned up missing while in route to the new store. Poo poo happens.
I've talked to the owners of the store and they seem friendly enough and are more than willing to help you, but it can get real busy in there,but this is not an excuse for bad service. They should compensate you for their screw up and smile and say sorry and hope to continue to do business with you but I seriously doubt they will ever do that but then again stranger things have happened! In closing!
I have been in their new store and it is a lot bigger and roomy so hopefully they can be a little more organized when customers out number the salesmen 10 to 1.
Just my 2$
Where as Steve has been a mail order internet store right from the start and has this system down pat!!!
Anybody can tell you if you go to The Ultimate Hopbby store it can be a madhouse of people and salesman.They change personell like I change underwear. Don't get me wrong,in defense of them they are changing locations and I'm not surprised that stuff just turned up missing while in route to the new store. Poo poo happens.
I've talked to the owners of the store and they seem friendly enough and are more than willing to help you, but it can get real busy in there,but this is not an excuse for bad service. They should compensate you for their screw up and smile and say sorry and hope to continue to do business with you but I seriously doubt they will ever do that but then again stranger things have happened! In closing!
I have been in their new store and it is a lot bigger and roomy so hopefully they can be a little more organized when customers out number the salesmen 10 to 1.
Just my 2$
06-09-2005, 06:02 PM
#15
I agree with Maxepower. Steve from Speedtechrc has great pricing on kits, and his new site is top notch, I especially like the live inventory status on parts. Ultimate Hobbies is good if you live local, and can stop on by. Chris, and Gary both know there stuff, and Gary is a pretty fast offroad elec driver.
