I can't believe it.

[ewetwo]

I went to my local Hobby Lobby today to see if any of the new kits were in. I got chatting with a nice young woman who's in charge of the department that the models, paints and other model building things are locate. During our discussion. She told me about the problem they have of people coming in. Open the kits. And stealing parts. Sad that the model building community has people who would do this and tarnish the reputation of a majority of honest model hobby buyers. Just my thought.

[Belugawrx]

I can believe it David..

...There are thieves among us ...

Everywhere,..unfortunately...

 

[Jantrix]

Not a new problem. When big box stores carried models, finding an open and incomplete model was pretty common. 

[cobraman]

I have seen that happen in the larger stores that stocked models 50 years ago. I remember buying a kit only to find the chrome and tires gone. Boxes were not always wrapped back then. After that I looked when I bought. I returned it and got another one but I think the manager thought perhaps I took it home and removed those parts. I did not.

[Ace-Garageguy]

And not terribly uncommon to open a kit bought off eBay as "complete", only to find it's been obviously cherry-picked. Not exactly common, but it's happened to me several times.

[styromaniac]

11 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

And not terribly uncommon to open a kit bought off eBay as "complete", only to find it's been obviously cherry-picked. Not exactly common, but it's happened to me several times.

So Bill....were you able to get satisfaction with those "complete" eBay buys...or was it "buyer beware."

[Ace-Garageguy]

46 minutes ago, styromaniac said:

So Bill....were you able to get satisfaction with those "complete" eBay buys...or was it "buyer beware."

Most times, the sellers seemed willing to make a partial refund, at least, so I let it go as honest mistakes, got a little money back, everybody was happy.

The couple of times the sellers got surly, PayPal and eBay's conflict resolution process worked in my favor. So far, I haven't lost a cent on eBay deals.

I think most of the folks on eBay are pretty decent. I recently bought a "new" Fujimi kit, and before the seller even shipped it, he'd voluntarily refunded my payment after he discovered it had in fact been started. I ended up buying it anyway, and appreciate that kind of up-front honesty.

There are, of course, the gouge artists, and those who hide behind "looks complete, I'm not an expert, haven't inventoried, no refunds" too. So it definitely is "buyer beware".

Edited October 11, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[ewetwo]

37 minutes ago, styromaniac said:

So Bill....were you able to get satisfaction with those "complete" eBay buys...or was it "buyer beware."

Yes Bill. Did eBay stand behind you?  I had an incident with a purchase from eBay. Bought an item from a seller I had purchased from before. The item arrived damaged even though the box was un- damaged. I put in a complaint with Paypal and they got all my money back.  Still sad though.

[mikemodeler]

Not surprised, I have experienced that in the past and it stinks. I have also done trades with others here and have received incomplete kits and their response has ranged from nothing to them sending another kit. I understand if you have an open kit for trading, but at least check it out before offering it up.

Did the Hobby Lobby lady say what they did with the open kits missing parts? Maybe you could cut a deal with her to buy them at a reduced price?

[Mike999]

I'm surprised anyone would open kits and steal parts, here in the age of constant video surveillance.  I know that HL, like most stores, does not allow merchandise in the bathrooms.  So it seems pretty brazen to open a kit right there in the store.  And risk going to jail for what, a chrome tree & decal sheet?  Good grief.

My favorite cable channel, Investigation Discovery, has a show called "See No Evil."  It covers crimes solved with video footage.  Sometimes the cops have to piece the story together from 10 or 12 cameras mounted at different stores, gas stations, parking lots etc.  But it's amazing how many times they break a case, starting with nothing but the video footage.  And the crimes would often go unsolved without that footage. 

[Tom Geiger]

and that's what killed the manufacturers parts hot lines.  

When Revell came out with the '66 Chevelle wagon with only a custom hood, it was amazing how many people claimed the stock hood was missing from their '66 El Camino kit.   And the folks who would claim parts from different trees that made up an assembly were missing!   And both the wheels off the chrome tree and the tires were missing from a sealed kit?  Oh My!

[THarrison351]

Over the years here in Wichita, I've seen several instances of kits opened and missing decals or miscellaneous parts. Oddly, a couple of months ago i found two completely empty kit boxes on the shelf. That was pretty bold. 

[espo]

This has been a problem for years, and I think this is one of the reasons the manufactures started shrink wrapping kits. I remember when they only had a small strip of tape on each side of the kit boxes on the shelf. Any time I found one of these that had been broken into I would verify with the cashier that everything was in there before I would buy the kit. You don't think of these things when you're not the type of person who would do that. 

[TomZ]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The couple of times the sellers got surly, PayPal and eBay's conflict resolution process worked in my favor. So far, I haven't lost a cent on eBay deals.

If the seller says that the kit is complete, then under eBay's rules the seller is obligated to refund the purchase price and to pay for the return shipping, regardless of their return policy. And eBay no longer allows restocking charges. More often than not the seller will refund your money and just tell you to keep it. I've had them refund the shipping charge as well. But, like you, I often want to keep it for parts or whatever and make a fair offer, and so far it has always been accepted. If the description doesn't say it's complete, then I'll do a very careful examination of the pics before I'll buy.

It can be a hoot. The other day I saw a "complete 1/8-scale Harley Davidson" for sale. The pics showed a partial 1/12 dirt bike, another 1/12 frame, some junk parts and sprues, and a single 1/8 Harley sprue that did not match the box pic. It sold!

 

[1972coronet]

I've got factory-sealed kit with "short-shots" on some of the trees ; most recent was the Monogram '55 F-100 . I shot an email to Revell-Monogram and told them about this (the grill was not on its tree at all -- not even a "short-shot" !) and I sent them a digi photo via my cell phone as *evidence* . I even offered to pay for the missing grille ; however , the photos were evidence enough , and R-M made good on the manufacturing error .

I've even purchased kits off of eBay with full knowledge that some parts were damaged ( mainly , scuffed 'glass' ) . In one instance (1969 Dart GTS) , I emailed R-M and told them up front : " I'm not seeking free parts ; I want to purchase the clear parts' tree from your organisation . Again , not looking for a 'freebie' . "   Apparently because I offered --and indeed asserted-- to pay for the parts , R-M sent the clear parts tree from the 1968 Dart GTS / Hemi at no charge !  Same for the 1969 Nova --- I bought the (phantom) COPO 427 , which has the flat (non-SS) hood . I'm replicating an L-78 / L-89 Super Sport and I needed the correct bonnet . Again , I told them up front that I'm going to purchase the desired parts ( bonnet and simulated vents ) ; and again , I received largesse from R-M !

But , I digress ...

Lots of low-level thieves around . It's amazing to me the amount of dishonesty and entitlement ! And , no , it's not a generational thing ---- a former "friend" of mine used to open kits , take parts out , purchase an unopened kit of the same model , then return the purchased kit with "missing" parts . He'd get a replacement !that used to irritate me to no end --- that level of entitlement and dishonesty . 

[martinfan5]

I can believe it,  and its very sad , but the truth is, a large portion of the builders that partake in the automotive part of the hobby are known to be cheap, probably some of the cheapest people on the planet , so the fact that they would stoop to this behavior really is not shocking.

 

Edited October 12, 2018 by martinfan5

[Joe Handley]

I can believe it, some people are just scum and it knows no societal divides, got a real eye opening working the service desk at a Toy's "R" Us in a wealthy area when it came to people demanding refunds, lying to your face, insisting that their credit card getting declined wasn't their fault, ect.

 

[disabled modeler]

12 hours ago, cobraman said:

I have seen that happen in the larger stores that stocked models 50 years ago. I remember buying a kit only to find the chrome and tires gone. Boxes were not always wrapped back then. After that I looked when I bought. I returned it and got another one but I think the manager thought perhaps I took it home and removed those parts. I did not.

its sad but true there will always be the black sheep that will do things like that...in every field.    I think that must be why my Revell Mercedes Benz Unimog snow plow truck kit was sealed but still found it was missing the tires and wheels to the kit.  They wont take kits back that have been opened so Im stuck till I can find replacements for it.

[TarheelRick]

11 hours ago, mikemodeler said:

Did the Hobby Lobby lady say what they did with the open kits missing parts? Maybe you could cut a deal with her to buy them at a reduced price?

Quite often they will reprice them and put them on the "Clearance" shelf.  I picked up a Revell T-bucket w/trailer for $7.49 at the local H/L, it was only missing the T-bucket - very nice parts kit for little money.  Although not very common at Hobby Lobby I find this quite often at our local Michael's and A C Moore.  At those stores when I find  an opened kit I will take a glance at it and make the store manager an offer.  I have picked up a complete Revell '69 Charger for 60% off, but I also got what looked like only missing tires '70 Chevelle for 50% off and when I got it home it was also missing the chrome tree and the major engine pieces.  Pilferage has been a problem for many years, that is one of the mitigating factors that caused Rose's stores to stop carrying models and I will wager it also had some input as to Wal-Mart's decision.

[Spruslayer]

Shoplifters are sorted into two classes,the pros that make a living doing this and the amateurs.

The pros do it best.I worked at a national chain store for ten yeas and heres a sample of what i witnessed,how the pro dose it,they knew that no one in the store can lay a hand or touch any accused shoplifter and how many times did some of the pros cuss me or flip me of after i did what the company suggested which was to offer the thief to pay for their merch,then their was the family that shoplifts together goes to jail together.Yes Mommy and daddys with preteens in tow showing the youngsters the ropes of steeling.Then the armatures which seemed to be mostly teens  just out for a thrill,like when a flock of young girls take  the new cloths into a dressing room and urinate and defecate all over the cloths and the dressing room,good time baby!

 

[slusher]

From time to time I see a kit with the front of the box ripped open where someone had stole something. It is not worth it for a fine or jail time but I will not buy a kit without shrink wrap. I do wish the thieves would stay out of the model section..

[espo]

10 hours ago, martinfan5 said:

I can believe it,  and its very sad , but the truth is, a large portion of the builders that partake in the automotive part of the hobby are known to be cheap, probably some of the cheapest people on the planet , so the fact that they would stoop to this behavior really is not shocking.

 

There is a fine line between being cheap and being thrifty. I know many here and elsewhere that are thrifty, but I don't think anyone here is cheap enough to steal .  

[ewetwo]

More common than I ever thought. The girl told me that certain customers know what day the new shipment comes in and while she's trying to put stuff on the shelves. These customers go through the big shipping box throwing stuff on the floor.  Reminds me of the time I bought a toaster from the thrift store. It was sealed so I figured it new as whoever re-taped it did a fantastic match to the original tape. Upon getting home I opened it only to find it wasn't a new toaster, but a used one that was filthy. I went back for a refund and they said they would only give me store credit and that I should have checked before I bought it. I told them I was raised to never open a seal anything in a store.  But I will now.

Oh, and the girl at Hobby Lobby said they are having cameras filming the model car section installed. But I told her that wouldn't stop them from taking a kit into another isle. She said true. 

Edited October 12, 2018 by ewetwo

[Deathgoblin]

My wife and I have both worked retail and, while this may sound pessimistic, people will steal ANYTHING.  My wife used to own a video game shop and she had a Sega CDX connected to a TV she used for testing games.  This system was basically a Sega Genesis and Sega CD all in one small unit.  A customer quickly grabbed the unit and dropped it into her purse and left.  Didn't take the cables/power supply...  And while I was working for RS we had a big display where you could try different speakers/car stereos to see what they sounded like.  Some of the units didn't have the face plates to bolt into, so we chained them down and connected them.  Someone patiently unchained one of the stereos and walked out while we were working with someone else.  It's amazing sometimes.

[OneTrickPony]

I had a friend who worked at Hobby Lobby. He got me about a dozen kits that they were throwing out because someone had opened them. Several were complete but three low rider kits were missing the wire wheels and tiny tires.