I'm with Pat. While I've never used the vendors in question, I've seen so many threads across multiple model forums going back years and years yet folks still order from them. It makes one wonder.

Of course, a thread like this will reappear in July and again next February.

sorry to hear that Rod, my last purchase from them was a year or so ago and it was ok, I had a couple of orders with no problems (I even found the rare cyber hobby 6400), but after reading your post I will refrain from buying, although Im searching for Academy Zelda and only find it there.

Contact the Pennsylvania Attorney General Office and file a formal consumer complaint. I have used them several times in disputes and in each and every case, the dispute has been ruled in my favor. They're tough, come down like a ton of bricks and are easy and helpful to work with.

The PA AG Office is one part of state government that works very, very well and sometimes even the mere threat of going to them has prompted the other party to cave.

Good luck!

100% agree! people - we live in the awesome age of the "information superhighway"! PLEASE search threads regarding vendors and buyer beware! Good luck with the complaint process, let's get these scumbags run out of town on a rail. But, as you say, in three months we'll see one of the following:
a) I ordered from Internet Hobbies and never heard back
b) I ordered from Tankrats(tankscam) and never heard back
c) I ordered from Cromwell (crimewell) and never heard back
d) I ordered from Ken Meyers/Mobelwagen and never heard back

people - we can only help you so much!

This is kinda werid...I've placed orders through them a couple times in the past 3-4 years (most recently this past summer) and never had an issue, Always got a tracking # with in a week of placing and order and got the items pretty quick since I'm located over in New Jersey.

Not say I haven't had problems with other places (I'm looking at you Lucky Models and your infamous its in stock till you buy it), but I guess things do happen, maybe they are going out of business or something thus why they haven't gotten back with you, which is lame into itself...

HI ,I have had the same problem with them ,but for more money,is there any body out there who has had the same problem ,

Never had a problem with them, also never saw this post before, so now you've got me a little concerned for the next one.
I do think the shipping is overdone, I recently received an item from them shipped USPS and it was more then double what it should have been.
I know this because I use USPS exclusively for The Scenic Factory. There is usually up to a couple dollars over to accommodate the box and other shipping supplies but not near what they charged me.(But I needed that damn schwimmagon!)

So I see this post was last touched a couple years ago, however just thought i'd add my two cents. I have recently placed an order with internethobbies, after almost two weeks called and asked for an update or tracking info and it didn't ship for another week. when it was shipped I have received an email saying everything i ordered was shipped. Received the package 5 days short of a month to find that a) the main thing I had ordered was out of stock and B) the figures I had ordered were out of stock and replaced with the old Tamiya US tank crew.... cause those are just as good as Dragons or Mini Arts... Called them up to inquire on my missing items and getting refunded for the crew I never would have ordered in the first place... which I am pretty sure I payed the price of the Dragon tank crew. Said what I was sent vs what I was missing according to the email, was told I was sent the email stating said items were not available, never did however, and they could not tell me when they would get them. I then asked to cancel the order for the figures as I was sick of waiting and was told good luck finding them else where and they hung up on me like I was the jerk. My question is how has anyone gone about getting their refunds, and with what success rate?

Paul

If they aren't forthcoming with a refund, it would depend on how you paid, and how long ago payment was made.

I ordered on eBay from Sunlight Model Store, in China. Got immediate emails for received payment (PayPal), and email for item sent. So far 5 weeks and no delivery. It was only a $20 order, but it's the principle.

Yeah, wish I would have read this back in July.

JoeP is minus $80

Never had a problem with them.

I've been buying the majority of my kits from Hobby Easy for more than a decade with zero problems. They're fast, efficient and to date have never screwed up or lost an order. Considering that I live way down in South Africa, that's quite an achievement.

Buyer beware indeed. I stopped using this vendor for the same reason along with the fact they don't quite live up to their claims of X pct off their listings. Stick with Sprue Bro or Free Time. Both very good vendors

Yeah, Sprue operates as an "in stock" vendor. I have more confidence in that.

I assumed that there would be a delay in delivery, due to the virus, but after 3 weeks, when I emailed for a status report, he said "we're closed for the weekend, it probably shipped". Their website says they're working 7 days. Just BS.

And in the exact opposite vein, Scale Hobbyist refunded S&H on one order and combined into one shipment two orders that were placed over the weekend.

Just wanted to give a shout out to Sprue Brothers, ordered today...and shipped 3 hours later....Great Job.

I have also had several good experiences with KitLinx.....if you have not checked them out yet they have a great inventory, and good prices....shipping can be a little expensive sometimes though.

I also like HobbyLinc...they also have great prices, and very good shipping...however they seem to be out of stock a lot.

Happy Modeling,
Eric

Scalehobbiest is deffinitly my go to for big orders. I also check Sprue Brothers Deal of the Day every morning!

I use Asian Suppliers, Hobby Easy, Lucky Model, Hobby Link and some Polish and UK suppliers as well. I avoid U.S. suppliers except perhaps Dragon Models Online USA (who use consolidated shipping to keep rates low) as their shipping rates are far far higher than Asia or Europe despite being just across the border from Canada. USPS pricing is out to lunch on international shipping.

I also had a very negative experience with Internet Hobbies a few months ago and can only say “avoid at all costs”. I ordered a pricey 1/32 kit and two small accessory items just to make the postage worthwhile. I got the two accessories but they shipped me a 1/48 kit (completely different stock no.) that retails at 1/2 of what I paid. I tried for weeks by email and phone and finally was able to get a return shipping label and shipped the kit back. The owner said “we couldn’t get the one you ordered, so figured you wouldn’t mind the other one”.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
He said he’d “take good care of me” and process my refund. Foolishly, I placed an order for two paint sets. My refund didn’t appear until I had to threaten a chargeback and since my subsequent order never arrived, I wanted that cancelled as well. Was promised that the order had been misplaced. That’s “taking good care” of a customer?
Their supposed discounts for items they claim to have i. stock, but clearly do not are not worth the risk and aggravation.
If you have a problem, contact thePennsylvania Office of Attorney General Consumer Protection Division. Their BBB reviews demonstrate that they have been a problem for a long time and haven’t gotten better.
https://www.bbb.org/us/pa/mayfield/profile/wholesale-hobby-supplies/internet-hobbies-0241-235973355/customer-reviews

I never had a problem with Internet Hobbies. I never placed large orders though. I have started using JefV's, and Andy's. They are both excellent companies.

I placed an order in March of this year. After numerous emails, I finally got the kits in August.

Wow, this thread is almost 10 years old. Internet Hobbies is still in business?! They should have gone down the toilet long time ago!

For US vendors, I use lots-of-models.com occasionally. I only use Dragon Models Online USA, Spruebrothers and Squadron when they have huge discounts (around Black Friday, Christmas and after-holiday sale seasons). Those are my recommendations, and I am cheap.

I have ordered from HobbyLinc, Hobby Link Japan and Sprue Brothers just fine. I am a very satisfied customer of all three.

Sadly, I no longer look at Squadron and I've had to pester Lucky Model for kits I ordered at the end of July. They finally managed to ship it yesterday. Of course, Lucky Model has to contend with China-US feud, Covid-19, and whatever is happening between Hong Kong and China.

Update, 9yrs later.

Beware still applies!

These guys are still around and they appear to be operating in the same manner. Foul language in communications and I'm now waiting for my refund. They have a few days before it should post, but then it's off to the CC Co.

These guys are like a teenager's zit, they just won't go away!