Model Forum / General / Models / August 2007

I care about who drives my order because Fed Ex Ground cheats the
state of Maryland out of payroll and workers compensation
contributions by calling their drivers contractors without giving them
contractor privileges.That costs me more in taxes and I have less
budget to model with when I cover for scam artist companies placing
costs on my state. Also if you pay cheap you get cheap with their
service with drivers who are second rate is as I mentioned of the type
that leaves packages in the rain without ringing the door bell. I
prefer my Osprey books without warping and mold! Sure I can pay extra
for insurance. But commons sense would help as who wants to be without
the contents of a ruined package?

If Squadron buys toys wholesale they tie up capital they do not have
it for plastic. Haven't the Squadron supporters noticed a decrease in
plastic kits offered.Give me the old black white and red flyer. I have
been in retail and wholesale. You can't be all things to all people in
terms of customer base. Now the MMD parent company has a better outlet
access and probably addresses the hobby store and high end toy store
market. I think that is fine. It is like a business having a coin
collecting division and a stamp collecting division. Some might even
collect both, but keep their operations separate.

I think tracking containers and back orders are the new reality. It
would be to Squadron's advantage to have a powerful enough computer an
the staff to use it to pinpoint back orders.

Both a friend and myself haven't seen complete orders that in over two
years! I had ten orders in a row done incorrectly one way or another.I
will only sample a couple: a favorite, which was phoned in, not
Internet was being told by a clerk that I had to keep two exact copies
of an Osprey title because they didn't do " book returns." I asked him
if it occurred to him it might be their mistake as I had no reason to
want two copies of the same book and was not in the habit of buying
for a library for example, for all my protest I received a rude
answer. Later a manager apologized and told me that answer was false
and did offer to take it back. I gave it away instead.. Last night I
was told they didn't expedite shipments Then this morning I was told
they did.

Perhaps there crowning mess up was when I foolishly placed the Gato
submarine on a small credit card account instead of using a money
order. Thinking it was at least four months away I didn't run up the
check card account. Well I did get a back order on two small KP Mig 19
jets as was charged for the Gato submarine instead. Which over drafted
the account. It also impacted my credit rating. I had to prove to the
bank by faxing the advertisement that the item I was charged for
wasn't being sold yet, not for months. It worked out. At the cost of
about eight hours of my time. Furthermore, I had to talk to Squadron
management. The basic help could see nothing wrong with paying ninety
dollars for sixteen dollars worth of airplanes. There are good people
there. Several managers have been helpful. That is why the duplicate
orders, incorrect orders, not in stock on arrival when I asked them
right on the phone about inventory, frustrate me.

By the way I  am sensitive to the criticism about why would someone
expedite something. A) I almost lost my father few weeks back and had
to put every thing on hold, and B)Last year an elevator almost tore my
right hand apart, this is my working hand from birth. It will be
operated an pinned with steel soon. So it will be all lefty until near
Christmas. I have been working in a new realm of "what amount of time
does it take to have something ready". I happen to like to support
clubs by being a builder, not just one who attends meetings. The same
job that wrecked my hand was in the evenings and I couldn't contribute
for six years! So I have a lot of expediting to do.It is a new
learning curve. My deadlines happen because I want to contribute to
clubs again and find all my old calculations from working right handed
are wrong. I wasn't trying to solicit sympathy about expediting
orders, I guess modelers have many reasons to want things overnight or
in two days. However, I thought I might be sounding elitist I would
indicate the situation is far from it. I am a beginner again.

You know I have spent at least fifteen thousand dollars through
Squadron mail order over the years. I have spent more at the various
Maryland stores. How much more of a Squadron supporter can I be when I
should at least have a bench outside around the Texas operation.

Finally I did mention I am getting more in touch with two local hobby
shops which, because, kids, young adults, veterans, you name it,
wonder in,.I am glad to be part of that support. Some good has come of
this for me. One of the stores is not as strong with models as the
other and I am trying to hint and nudge them into carrying more
plastic. I like dealing with models in a store.

Sincerely,

AC