Re: Tower Hobbies service slipping?


"desmobob" <desmobob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:COAZf.4303$i41.1700@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Though I started this thread with a question about Tower's service, I
don't mean to say it isn't excellent... just slightly less excellent than
it used to be.

Recent experiences remind me just how good Tower really is:

Last month, I ordered a Li-Poly battery from MaxAmps after reading
positive comments on that outfit in some electric flight forum posts on RC
Groups. I paid for Priority Mail two-day shipping. The day after I
placed the web order, I got a confirmation e-mail with a "tracking"
number, which was really just a number that showed the USPS had been
notified that a package WOULD BE mailed.

Further checking of the number on the USPS site in later days never showed
the package had actually been accepted for mailing. I contacted MaxAmps
asking if the package had indeed been shipped and got a
not-very-customer-friendly reply with no response to my question. Same
with the second inquiry. After two weeks, they agreed to send a
replacement. The replacement was a bad battery... it set off the alerts on
my Thunder Power balancer.

I sent it back for exchange with delivery confirmation. They received the
battery on March 30th. No communication from them. I e-mailed them April
5th to ask the status of my replacement, since they had my returned
battery for a week. I was told the message was being forwarded to the
shipping department so they could give me the tracking number of the
package. Well, I haven't heard from them. Great service... I won't be
dealing with MaxAmps again!

During the same time period, I placed an order with Northeast Sailplane
Products for an E-Flite P-47, Li-Poly pack and a receiver. I got an order
confirmation reply the next day. After a week had passed, I still hadn't
received a shipping notification. They gladly accept web orders, but all
customer service inquiries have to be done by phone on their regular toll
number, so I called them long distance during business hours on my "dime."
I got a recording that said they were heading to Toledo for the show and
would be back later. Great... it's been two weeks since I placed the
order and it hasn't even been shipped yet.

I wish Tower had a greater stock of electric flight supplies.

Good flying,
desmobob


I'm neither defending nor deprecating the hobby outfit you dealt with, but I
will slam the USPS tracking system. It flat does not work. Hasn't yet,
regardless of who shipped me goods.

Nor are the UPS tracking numbers that Office Depot gives you valid. Everyone
I've shipped to using that service complains that the tracking numbers are
invalid, yet all of the items shipped show up within a few days of shipping.

Ed, NM2K


.

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