Is It Me Or Has Squadron's Service Gotten Worse?

[Iron Mike]

I swear, every time I order from them, it takes longer and longer for product to arrive from Squadron. I call in an order, give them the money, then the order heads "to the warehouse". Several days pass, no e-mail confirmation that order has shipped, order on hold, nothing! I call them and get the standard response of "It's in the warehouse". Just how big IS this warehouse anyway and Where The H*E*Double Toothpicks is it from the damned office? I don't buy a lot from them, but that is going to change, believe me! :vmad :vmad :vmad

 

[Iron Mike]

Guess I should mention that the order was placed October 3.

 

[jknaus]

Sprue Brothers

 

[Iron Mike]

Funny you should say that, James. I just told Chris a bit ago that if Sprue Brothers, our LHS or the Hobbytown in Augusta don't have it, I don't need it! Where is that blowing a raspberry emoticon?? I need one for Squadron!

 

[Old Dog]

I do all my ordering on line and Squadron has not gotten a lot of my business since I started dealing with Sprue Brothers. Typically I get an email the following day and a shipping notice two or three days later with a minimum turn of 7 days to time of receipt. I get about the same from Great Models even though they are farther away. I recently got an order from Hobby Link Japan in one week from notice of shipment which considering the distance I thought was outstanding. Sprue Brothers on the other hand usually ships the same or next day and I have it in three day max so they get the bulk of my business !

 

[Iron Mike]

I've always had great service with Sprue Brothers, but the recent Squadron sale flyer sucked me in. :idonno

 

[moon puppy]

Funny you should say that, James. I just told Chris a bit ago that if Sprue Brothers, our LHS or the Hobbytown in Augusta don't have it, I don't need it! Where is that blowing a raspberry emoticon?? I need one for Squadron!

Email Dave to have in on hand next week and cancel the Squadron order!

 

[Leopard2]

I hardly ever buy from Squadron. SB is my first choice. Squadron only if they have something that I want really cheap and SB doesnt have it. Other than that I buy most my models at shows and try to win them in raffles. It is cheaper that way

Joe

 

[Iron Mike]

I'm going to check on it in the AM and WILL cancel it if shipment is not on it's way here.

 

[phantom II]

Well , they are certainly a dark mystery that I can find an answer for . I can't think of any modeling business that has done mail order as long as they have.

When the new owner took over, I was told it would get better ( By them ) . I suppose maybe it has in some ways but in many I feel they have gone backwards.
I sincerely though that they would be a part of the 20th century...but wait, this is after all the 21st century. How can it be that you can order from them 24/7 but yet can't ever find out what the status is on the order . By email telephone or smoke signal ? ? ?

No where else have I ever ordered anything without feedback. Even Lucky model as far as they are communicate with their customers :S

Frankly Squadron Shop , it's time to step up your game. The previous owner was a lot more customer oriented.

Guess this is a real compliment to Sprue Brothers and their consistent andexcellent service. Christian B)

 

[iambrb]

Well, I think I may know the reason. I know this because of my career in Supply Chain/Procurement (a big title that really meas "it's all your fault"). If the corporate headquarters/call center is within say, 10-15 miles of separate Distribution Center (DC), then you shoud get your answer within 1 day, and shipping notification within another 1-2 days, depedning on volume, with actual shipping pickup by UPS or Fed Ex taking place that evening. In short, it should be on it's way within 2 days, maybe three at worst. If, OTOH, it is taking days, the reason is that they are not holding the stock, they are allowing an importer/middleman to hold this stock, and it is drop-shipped from an alternate location. This is very advantageous dollars-wise to Squadron, but it easily adds another 1-2 days to the order confirm, and another day to the ship notification, so we are at about 4-5 days to ship from a DC after order is placed. Contracturally, all paperwork will appear to be from Squadron, but it was actually from another source entirely. I may be wrong, but I bet I am right, because this is about 75% of my day...welcome to the new reality of how goods get to your door!

 

[Iron Mike]

Well, well, well, guess what was on the doorstep when I got home tonight? :huh: Should have bitched sooner! :laugh:

 

[jknaus]

I should have done that with Lucky Models. my order is still being processed. Course its only been 10 days. :vmad

 

[kryptosdaddy]

Well, well, well, guess what was on the doorstep when I got home tonight? :huh: Should have bitched sooner! :laugh:

Thats what you get for waiting! lol

Model Linc in GA takes a week, although i live in SC, the NEXT state!

Sprue is fast! 2-3 days, I love them. :kiss:

I ordered from Squadron a good bit in the early to mid 90's maybe spent a hundred bucks, no matter what I ordered everything took nearly 4-6 weeks! but this was in the days of true mail order, the internet and paypal have spoiled us worse than a cute puppy.

 

[Iron Mike]

I should have done that with Lucky Models. my order is still being processed. Course its only been 10 days. :vmad

There's no excuse for that order going on that long, James. Lucky Model did that to me on my second order from them, had to open a request, finally got them off the schnide. Makes me very angry when companies take your money and then sit on it for days, with Paypal, it's not like they don't have the cash right away. BTW, Lucky is charging a 4% surcharge for the use of Paypal. WTF? :vmad

 

[kryptosdaddy]

Thats because paypal charges them- selling on ebay blows because of paypal, but it sure helps with buying.

 

[Iron Mike]

I realize Paypal charges them, but Lucky is the only mail order I deal with that has a surcharge. All credit card companies charge retailers for using cards, but when did you ever see the cost shown in the store?? Bad business on Lucky's part IMHO.

 

[iambrb]

I should have done that with Lucky Models. my order is still being processed. Course its only been 10 days. :vmad

There's no excuse for that order going on that long, James. Lucky Model did that to me on my second order from them, had to open a request, finally got them off the schnide. Makes me very angry when companies take your money and then sit on it for days, with Paypal, it's not like they don't have the cash right away. BTW, Lucky is charging a 4% surcharge for the use of Paypal. WTF? :vmad

While I agree with all that, Lucky Model is doing what I described above, except it is coming from China or overseas. OK if you want to wait that long. Back when I was more active here and they were called GROUP BUILDS (I like the new name better, FWIW), I ordered a 1/48 Skdfz german halftrack from a "US" company listed as Indiana, and they stated 1-014 days, and I was OK with that. On day 14, a package from China showed up, model inside.................................

PS Mike, yeah....you should have bitched sooner! :woohoo:

 

[Iron Mike]

You must have missed the "in process" part of that, Bruce. If the product is in stock, it shouldn't take 10 days to process the order that is paid for. I ordered from them the same day James did, mine shipped on 10/4, hasn't arrived yet, but they said 7-14 days. I NEVER order anything from Lucky that is not in stock. :hmmm