[ Post a Response | The SteelNavy.Com Message Board ]
Posted by Ralph Wood on June 17, 2026, 16:54:31, in reply to "Re: My Black Cat 1/700 Bertholf came yesterday"
The first thing I will say is that--before the order was even paid for--I was contacted by a representative of the company with useful info about my order. This was an actual person, and a point of contact with the company, and my order specifically. When I hit "reply," all the details of my order are automatically included. And he has responded promptly twice now. That is personalized service, and that is rare and to be treasured these days. They are in contact, and very responsive!
On the theory that "it never hurts to ask," I just this afternoon had my second contact with him. I noted the item had not yet shipped, so I explained my misgivings to him, and asked if he could get the shipping company changed. They are 12 hours ahead of me. His reply came at 16:55 my time. That's before 5 AM his time! All you will get from me at that hour is snoring! His response is important. He stated they have used Dealer Send for their US orders since September, 2025, and have only ever had ONE lost item complaint, and NO damaged item complaints. He apologized for bad tracking links, and provided a working one. They then do not have cause to change the shipper to their view, and I would agree. He told me shipments to the US typically come in two weeks.
I will add that NOTHING bad has happened to this point. I have just read "bad stuff" on the internet. The final result has not happened. No conclusion can/should be drawn other than that I still feel legitmate cause for some concern. Whether or not that concern is justified is not yet evident. "All parties are innocent until proven guilty." So far, Hobbyeasy has actually been good to deal with.
More will follow as the situation unfolds. I hope very much to report all went fine. 
Previous Message
Yeah, that's "struggling" along. At least you can now see some movement.
I am not currently thrilled with Hobbyeasy on my Dream Model Flight III. I paid them promptly upon their request, and within 24 hours of ordering, at which time they indicated it was "ready to go." They then sat on it a week. I wrote to them about that, and they replied not to worry, it was going out "today." It went out "my" today, their tomorrow. Then, I got a tracking number, and 3 links to track it with. Hong Kong post had no record of it. Second link was broken. Third link had no place to enter a tracking number. I used a "universal" tracking site I have had great results from. That found it with an obscure outfit called Dealer Send. Looking them up, all they do is prepare items for overseas shipment. They handed it off to an outfit called Cirro. Apparently, all they will do is (eventually) get it out of Hong Kong, then hand it off to an outfit called GOFO. They are listed as the last-mile carrier in the US. Looking them up, their reputation is one of the worst carriers in the US!!
Yipes! Lots of "wheels turning," and time ticking just to get it here, then it will be given to a service with a terrible reputation. As I wrote at the outset, Hobbyeasy is not impressing me any at this point. It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, but even if it gets here okay, I am not gung-ho about placing more orders with them.
Wishing us both luck! Previous Message
Hi Ralph, the latest USPS tracking just showed it is in AZ now. Hopefully it will arrive soon. I am also waiting for Kranken to send my order (shown on 3D printing schedule 5/3/26). Previous Message
Hmmm. Mine "processed through" Jamaica (NY) on the 12th, then left Queens, NY on the 13th in the early AM, then "in transit." However, it was only going to Shrewsbury, MA, so it arrived there late on the 13th. I used to work in the Shrewsbury CMP&DC. It's the last stop before my local post office.
I suspect (but don't know for certain) yours processed through, and left Jamaica, but not to Queens. It's most likely on a truck heading for the West coast, with the next scan when it goes through intake at wherever it arrives. 12th to 16th...4 days across the country on a truck is "about right." You should get another scan "soon." If nothing further in about the next 24 hours, then I might begin to be uneasy. Best I can tell you. Please keep me posted.
USPS ships much more stuff by ground these days; a money-saving measure. When I was in, most packages went by air across the country, and three or four day delivery was considered "the norm." Those days are gone. They truck most stuff except express now. Previous Message
Hi Ralph, thank you so much for the information. Mine stuck in Jamaica since 6/12. No further USPS tracking detail after that. Previous Message
Wow! Thank you, Ben! Amazingly detailed hull. Two wafers full of detailed parts, decals, full instructions, some brass rod antenae, and a PE fret. And all so well and neatly packaged. Incredible kit! I look forward to working on this.
Got here in only a week. Ordered June 8th, arrived the 15th. "Funky" tracking. A couple days after I got the message it had shipped, the tracking said plainly that it had left the origin country. Subsequently, though, that message no longer appeared, and I got messages that it was being processed, and was on its way to me. I concluded it probably still was in France after all. So, I was pleasantly surprised to go collect my mail yesterday and find the package in it.
If you want this subject, this is THE kit of it, and you won't go wrong getting it. And, Ben stands behind it. His communication was excellent through the process.
Highly, highly recommended!
Responses