More Experiences
I am not surprised that I am suddenly receiving much more feedback and support from others who have encountered the same problems and horrible service from Hobby Tron. To tell you the truth, I am a little disappointed… Disappointed that I was unable to reach and help other consumers like yourselves BEFORE they considered buying from this horrible online company. In any case, I hope your situation turns out better than mine.
Here’s a story I received today (1/14/2009):
So I buy a couple airsoft M16′s to use as movie props from Hobbytron. All fine and good. I receive the package and get some other completely ridiculous alien zapper looking things. I figure, no problem, how hard should it be to fix this?
Here’s what ensues
1) I go to their customer service site and see that they offer Livehelp (although it’s been offline at every point of the day I’ve checked since then)
2) I decide to shoot them an email and figure out what’s up. They have a form setup for emailing, with a COMPLETELY UNUSABLE textbox. After you fill in the personal information and hit ‘next step’ to describe your problem. The box fills in with ‘please call us at xxx phone number’ and doesnt let you add anything else.
3) I wait until the next day and call during the day. Ok, now I’ll get somewhere. I talk to the lady for 3 or 4 minutes to which she directs me to their ‘policies’ page with a curious little ‘order fullfilment policy’. It explains that they reserve the right to send items of equivelent function to fullfill the order if what I request is not available. I tell the lady does that mean they can send me a gatorade when I buy coke. She gets confused. She tells me to go through the website because she is not allowed to deal with any actual account stuff as she’s some outsourced nonsense. Atleast I get an email address out of her.
4) I send an email. They respond two days later literally with an RMA number. No information as to whats going on, what will be refunded or the obvious fact that I’m gonna have to comp the shipping charges. Furious, I instantly hit the reply button. Wait…it’s greyed out. How peculiar, they’ve managed to send me an email with no ‘from’ adress.
I think if they put as much effort into selling what they sell instead of devising clever ways to avoid their customers, they wouldn’t have customers making site’s like this.
I don’t have a clue what any of the complaints are about. I’m working at a naval base, controlling wildlife which often flees into the water. I wrecked 3 Baleanoptera musculus boats (2 under water and one coughing smoke). I ordered a case of 4 Ed Hardy boats and canceled the order after reading what was posted here. Thankfully, they had already sent out the order just an hour earlier. I’m back working at 100% with a GREAT boat that goes like a bat-otta-hell and doesn’t take on water (once the various gaps in the boat were plugged with putty).
Before I explain my issues,let me tell you about myself. I am a power seller on eBay. I have shipped and sold over 6,000 items. I have a 99% rating with ebay. I couldn’t find the gun on line so Googled the item I wanted. Hobby Tron showed up for this air soft gun I wanted. I purchased 3 guns. One was there best seller, the M4 3181 AEG Electric Airsoft Rifle, M203 Spring Grenade Launcher part number WA-A10-CH3181 , Two Stocks, FPS-300, Extra Magazine. Also the AEG Electric M16 Assault Rifle FPS-200 Scope Tactical Light Laser Airsoft Gun with Free Shipping. And the GunBC-CH3081I
I’m telling you of course to get this feedback im leaving a higher rating on google. So people who complain, please post what you purchased from them.
We all have been taken from this shitty company. They are fast to send your broken items, but are very slow to fix a problems.
My son used all his savings to buy a remote control car from Hobbytron, and when it came it didn’t work at all. So we sent it back because it was not on the list of manufacturers for which you have to send it back to the manufacturer (which itself is a scandal, that you can’t even send some defective merchandise back to Hobbytron.) So I sent it back and was out the outrageous shipping fee of $15, only to find out that the best I could get was a store credit and not a refund to my credit card. I think these jokers make their money by selling bad merchandise and just taking a cut of the huge outrageous shipping fee.
I purchased a airsoft tank from Hobbytron in december 2008. It had several peices broke off when we received it. The outside box was in good condition so there was no damage from the shipping company. We put it back in the box and sent it back. They received it on Jan 13, and I had not heard anything from them. I called and emailed repeatedly and had no response what so ever. I finally got through via email on April 20, 2009 and they appologized and said I had a $75 credit. I wanted it credited to my credit card, but they say they can’t do that because the item was opened. They say I should have known it was broken before I opened it. The box was see through, but I couldn’t tell until I opened it that it was broken. I tried to use the online email info and I only got automated responses that it would take so many days for a credit. I called and left messages to call me back and never received a call. I called 5 times today and finally was able to talk to a manager. He told me that their “policy” was that they would not refund my money if the item was opened. He said I should have known by looking!! I told him I was contacting my credit card company and he said he would win that arguement and also take away my $75 credit. the manager also told me that he calls that number 5 times a day and never has any problems getting though. Company is awful to deal with. It is very hard to get through to talk to a person and they do not answer their emails. Stay away from this company
just got ripped off with trying to buy an airsoft gun. $75.35 charge on my card and 9 days later. No gun. No email replies or noone answers their phone. HUGE RIPOFF COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!
same thing here. just bought a rc dump truck and another rc item. could not get any response from their website as to where my order was. finally got through to the Nicole email listed on this site.
order was delivered, but part of it was broke, it still worked, but there was a huge crack in the cab of the dump truck. and they will not accept it back.
talk about one sorry company.
Ordered an airsoft rifle for my son and after 11 days never received any word or order confirmation. They charged my CC right out of the shoot and when I checked order status online, it kept telling me that orders take 3-4 days to process. I sent two emails and received responses both times indicating order would ship “tomorrow.” Tomorrow never came and I finally reached live person (Brenda). Brenda told me it was backordered and then said it would ship “today.” Then spoke with Nicole who told me order had not shipped, changed her tune, said it had shipped and then could not provide tracking number. I told them to cancel order and they said they could not cancel because it already shipped. Never did – never received tracking number from UPS and contacted my CC company, which in turn issued a credit and put transaction under investigation.
This company is a total rip-off, don’t order or conduct any business with these folks!
Scam 101!
Hobbytron just keeps their reputation alive: Hobbytron shipped an order _after_ I had cancelled it. The charge remains on my Visa card though I have refused to accept the package from UPS.
NO ONE answers the phone at Hobbytron, and no literate person returns emails.
Hopefully, Visa’s fraud department can get my money back.
Here’s some more information. Hobbytron.com is merged with World Trading 23, Inc., CEO is KEVORK KOUYOUMJIAN. See the article about this ‘high flying’ business at Web Wholesaler magazine (http://www.webwholesalermagazine.com/archive/2008/0812_feature.htm).
There is no California business registration for Hobbytron.com. Apparently this is strictly a d/b/a, but Kev is honcho at both, and is listed as having both addresses.
What a toad.
I love the Internet:
Here’s more information on Mr. Kouyoumjian, including what appears to be his home address and telephone number.
http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/government/packets/DRB1_103008/1-PDR-2008-059-A.pdf
I ordered an airsoft gun off hobbytron and it came in almost perfect condition but with a few scratches on it. Ill prob order from them again
I bought two airsoft guns from Hobbytron.com in April 2009. One jammed within the first five minutes. I applied for an RMA and they denied it. Here’s what they said, “once an item has been played with we will not be able to cover it.”
So a defective item is “covered” if it is never used, but how can one know it is defective until you actually use it? – at which point, it is no longer “covered.” A policy Joseph Heller would be proud of. I wish I’d read about their disgusting ways before I ordered.
This company is run by thieves and I can’t believe they are allowed to stay in business. Any lawyers out there who could initiate a class action suit? Please?
yeah i didnt even know anything about how bad hobbytrons service was until i read all this bad comments on them. which kinda blows because i just sent in a 400 dollar order in 5 days ago and i hope they dont fuck me over because i have about 4 guns and a whole lot of other shit with it to. If there is a whole entire website dedicated to how bad this website is im kind of nervous now.
bought an airsoft mask and some bbs from them two weeks ago. I waited 2 weeks for the stuff to come, and then emailed to cancel my order. they just sent me a reply that told me to call in, which i got 3 days later. i called in and no one was avalible, twice. I still havnt gotten a human reply from them yet, or what i ordered.
i just bought guns for my 3 kids and they were either scrached or broken!! i call but got no reply and when they answerd they said “soory, but once its opened, you cant return it” and hung up on me. Dont eeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrr
buy from this company that sells peices of shit! what a waste of $250!
and their shipping cost is way too much!
I ordered 2 rc helicopters an rc car, boat and a bb gun, they said it would arrive in 3-5 business days, its been over 2 weeks and hasn’t even shipped and when I e-mail them they say that it sometimes takes 1 or 2 days to process, its been 16! so I googled it and found sites like this, this cannot continue, would someone please round up info from everyone ripped off and get a lawyer and file suit!
The “manager” is a hateful, ugly person. Everyone I’ve talked to at that place could care less about the customers! I had an awful experience with them. I ordered a remote control boat for my son’s 3 year birthday. It took 10 days for the order to even get shipped….well they said it shipped today but I don’t really trust that because they said that a couple of days ago & now are giving an excuse that another item I ordered with the boat was at another warehouse and that’s why it was delayed even more. I asked to speak to someone else who was over the “manager” but she said she doesn’t answer to anyone else.
My son’s birthday is tomorrow. I will not have his gift for him. This company really sucks. And even with me begging for them to try to send it sooner, they basicly said too bad too sad.
I know all your pain, I was about to buy over $300 in airsoft guns for Christmas presents, then I wanted to check if they were for legit… I was very disappointed, BUMS I was ticked not being able to get my guns for cheap, and Glad that I didn’t buy any of the Guns from them. I was putting in my credit card number and almost hit checkout… But then stopped and thought about it…. Hobbytron you ruined my Christmas!!!!! Guns are not that cheap, but I have to give it to you, your prices are Excellent, You have all cheap products, because you just send people dismantled JUNK!
My girlfriend ordered a f-150 remote control truck from Hobbytron.com and it came in completely destroyed. The funny thing is, the box has no damage at all, so the damage did not occur during shipping this is how they sent it out of their warehouse. I figure no problem, i will just call customer service and talk to them. Between my girlfriend and i, we must have called 25 times and left messages, trying to receive a phone call back to explain the issue. Finally, i got through to them. Both the customer service agaent and her manager stated that they are not responsible for shipping. I explained to them how it is a $25 shipping charge and it wasn’t the shipping’s fault, it was their warehouse and sent them pictures as proof. No matter what i tried, they would not send me a return shipping label and are forcing me to pay another $25 and ship it back. If they send another truck, what if it’s damaged again? They sent me a broken remote control truck and now are just saying,”Not our problem.” The shipping box is perfectly fine so it was sent out of warehouse like this. I am a manager of a warehouse and deal with shipping and receiving all day long, this is the worst customer service and company i have ever dealt with.
I also had a terrible experience with Hobbytron. The manager Nicole was the B word as soon as she answered the phone. My son’s airsoft gun broke. I called them 6 weeks later and was told to fill out the RMA. I never heard back and when I tried to call during Christmas, no one would pick up the phone. I called today and the B word person I spoke with immediately told me that my warranty was only good for 30 days and it was on the ordering information. She apologized in this robotic way…and had no kindness or business ethics and I did, I did it…I said F you to her because of her whole unhelpful demeanor. So, Hobbytron? I wouldnt dream of ever buying anything from them ever..I hope the word gets out.
I too am having a ridiculously hard time getting any response back from Hobbytron concerning a totally shiteous experience I’ve had with them. I ordered a giant B-29 replica bomber for my son’s birthday gift and imagine, it came without necessary parts for it’s operation and just simply does not fly. It’s also of incredibly awful workmanship.
Nevertheless, I ran across this tidbit today at the Consumerist:
By law, any website that collects data from its users is required to post a privacy policy, and all privacy policies are required to display a physical address to send mail to. You can also then use that address in databases to track down other contact information associated with it, like a live phone number.
Looks like Hobbytron is violating that well as well, as their privacy policy is just a couple sentences long and mentions nothing of an actual address.
Has anyone had any remedy by contacting their Attorney General?
Ordered August 5, 2010. Was on back order for 1 and half months and when i received there crappy product it was all broken and to top it off it wasnt even the product i ordered or even close to it. You cannot contact them- emailed 10 times, 1 fax and 1 letter. Left 2 phone messages to be called back and never received a call from them nor can you get past the constant busy signal.Finally called Credit card company to issue a dispute. They still advertise the model I wanted on their web site- don’t know why they couldn’t send that to me. Very very disappointed with this merchant.” As you can see, I should have done more research on this company before I bought anything. Now that I am doing it, here’s what I found just by reviewing their Policies: HobbyTron.com guarantees that you will get a new working product(s) or you can return the product(s) for repair or replacement. Color, frequency, and packaging may vary. Occasionally items run out or are discontinued from a specific manufacturer. We reserve the right to send items of equivalent function in order to fill your order in a timely manner. WOW, if they don’t have the item, they ship you something else! Isn’t that great. So in theory, if you order a $200 airplane from them, they could replace that with a folded paper airplane instead because it has the equivalent function? They both fly right? In some cases, such as during the rush before Christmas, we reserve the right to upgrade your order to an item(s) that is completely different but that is lots of fun – hand picked by our experts to get you a fun gift in a timely manner. If you are unhappy with the exchanged or upgraded item, you can return it unopened per the usual policies. OH OH, completely different but lots of fun? WTH does that mean? What do they consider upgrading? I ordered a $80 gun, they shipped me a $30 equivalent. DO NOT BUY FROM HOBBYTRON.COM PLEASE EVERYONE LISTEN TO ME ITS NOT WORTH IT!! EVERYONE PLEASE GO TO http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm and https://econsumer.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ FILE A COMPLAINT THEY WILL HELP YOU TRUST ME EVERYONE DO THIS!!! OUR CHILDREN DO NOT DESERVE THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICE THIS COMPANY HAS TO OFFER!