Where can I buy undamaged new kits

[louie]

I have a question about online model buying. I mainly buy car and truck kits online and have been having a problem lately with damaged kits. They arrive with no damage to the shipping box but damage to the kits inside of the shipping box that leads me to believe that they where sent damaged to begin with. I have contacted a couple of well known online companies to not really complain but to ask them please do not send me anymore Squished kits and I have had the same answer each time "we never mail out damaged kits. Any and all damaged kits go to our scratch and dent section " and I'm like yeah ok. I guess what I'm trying to say is where can I find a large selection of current model kits with a good reputation for sending you "new" model kits and what do others do when they receive kits that are damaged.

Thanks. 

 

Edited February 22, 2022 by louie

[TransAmMike]

I think the first question is where are you getting the damaged kits from online?     And if you don't mind telling me, where is Cohasset?

[Jim B]

I've had good luck with Scalehobbyist: Scalehobbyist.com: Model airplanes, ships, military vehicles and modeling supplies, and i know other people have had good luck with Model Roundup (but I haven't used them myself): www.modelroundup.com

[louie]

I'm in Massachusetts, a little south of Boston. I didn't mention any names because I don't want to bash any company, not who I am. I m just looking for any places that people have had good luck with. 

[Rob Hall]

I've had no issues w/ mail order with Model Roundup, Hobbylinc, Tower Hobbies, Megahobby, Burbank's House of Hobbies as far as US companies.  From Asia, had good luck with Hobby Link Japan, Hobby Search, Hobby Easy.   The most issues I've had with mashed or squished boxes are with Revell of Germany kits, likely because the boxes are so bad to begin with (soft one piece flat style boxes). 

[iamsuperdan]

I must be lucky. I've never had a damaged kit arrive.

HLJ in Japan, Hobbylinc, Model Roundup in the US, USCP in Ukraine, A&N in Latvia, a couple of vendors in the UK. All packaged very, very well.

 

[louie]

2 hours ago, Jim B said:

I've had good luck with Scalehobbyist: Scalehobbyist.com: Model airplanes, ships, military vehicles and modeling supplies, and i know other people have had good luck with Model Roundup (but I haven't used them myself): www.modelroundup.com

Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions. 

[Erik Smith]

Deans Hobby Stop, Burbank House of Hobby, Plaza Japan, Hobby Search, Model Round Up, Spotlight Hobby, Mega Hobby…
 

Never had a kit show up in an undamaged box that was damaged inside. Had a few damaged outside, fine inside. 
 

I had one shipment from Japan that was totaled - all three kits completely smashed and box burst open. Plaza Japan gave me full credit for items and shipping and I reordered with zero issues. 

Edited February 22, 2022 by Erik Smith

[Jim B]

50 minutes ago, louie said:

Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions. 

Have you tried Spare time Shop in Marlborough: The SPARE TIME SHOP - Models, Hobbies, Games, Rockets, Trains, R/C, Slot Cars, Magazines, Books, Pre-built

Edited February 22, 2022 by Jim B

[keyser]

Fred Sterns has a lot of recent stuff, not always latest but minty, reasonable, and great service. In Buffalo. Mail order/phone orders. Has older stuff and builders too. 

[1972coronet]

Another vote for Burbank's House of Hobbies (outstanding service from a small, independently-owned & operated store) and Model Roundup (excellent service from them as well).

I'd purchased a 1/25 scale C.O.E. Kenworth (can't recall which one) from Roundup , and it arrived within a week, and in thoughtful packing; no damage.

I'd purchased the 1/25 scale 'Car Hauler' from Burbank's , and it arrived within the week (four days, seem to recall). Likewise, thoughtful packing and no damage.

Perhaps you could place a call to Dillon since you're in that area of Boston?

 

[peteski]

Jeff, you mention that the shipping box shows no visible damage, but kits inside are damaged?  In what way are they damaged?  IS the kits box visible crushed, or the kit box itself is intact, but some plastic inside is damaged?

If the kit's box is not visibly damaged or crushed, sometimes manufacturers have problems when the plastic parts are being stuffed in the boxes at the factory.  Things like bent A-pillars can occur.  Or sometimes the kit bodies are deformed because they aren't allowed to cooled down enough when they are removed from the mold, causing the plastic to distort.

[Rusty92]

6 hours ago, Jim B said:

I've had good luck with Scalehobbyist: Scalehobbyist.com: Model airplanes, ships, military vehicles and modeling supplies, and i know other people have had good luck with Model Roundup (but I haven't used them myself): www.modelroundup.com

I have also had great luck with scalehobbyist. They are my favorite place to order from! They’ve received many a dollar from me!

[louie]

1 hour ago, peteski said:

Jeff, you mention that the shipping box shows no visible damage, but kits inside are damaged?  In what way are they damaged?  IS the kits box visible crushed, or the kit box itself is intact, but some plastic inside is damaged?

If the kit's box is not visibly damaged or crushed, sometimes manufacturers have problems when the plastic parts are being stuffed in the boxes at the factory.  Things like bent A-pillars can occur.  Or sometimes the kit bodies are deformed because they aren't allowed to cooled down enough when they are removed from the mold, causing the plastic to distort.

I want to thank everyone who has responded to me, I do appreciate it very much. I have Google searched for model kit sites and I can't believe how much did NOT show up on many searches that I have done in the past compared to how many places that are being mentioned here, most of these places being mentioned I have never heard of and am looking forward to trying them, again Thank you everyone. I want to answer your question peteski. Yes, never any visible damage to the box that the kits are shipped in but for example my most recent order came from one of the companies that is listed in one of the threads above, 9 kits ordered 6 of the 9 with damage to the boxes themselves, 4 of the kits are to me extremely squished, I have not opened any yet because I was so disappointed again I just walked away shaking my head, I am going to open some of the kits tomorrow morning. Here's my thing, I like to buy doubles and build one and display the other one up on a shelf in my model room and I don't think anyone wants to put a smashed box on display even if you're the only one who's ever going to see it or not. Also I have a very hard time paying the prices for kits today and receive junk weather the kit is damaged inside or not. Peteski, Thank you for your excellent input on this as I appreciate it. 

Louie.

[BlackSheep214]

It all depends on how your online store is packaging your model kits. If there’s no padding (packing peanuts, plastic bubble wraps, etc...), there’s your issue. Cheap thin cardboard shipping boxes don’t help matters either. Any shortcuts in packing your model is pure laziness on the seller himself.

 

I've never had issues with Scalehobbyist, Hobbylinc, Plaza Japan (you may wait awhile before it shows up at your doorstep), and others.

[SfanGoch]

3 hours ago, keyser said:

Fred Sterns has a lot of recent stuff, not always latest but minty, reasonable, and great service. In Buffalo. Mail order/phone orders. Has older stuff and builders too. 

Fred stopped using UPS because of numerous complaints about the packages being delivered completely smashed, including the kits. This is what UPS delivered to me:

It looked like it was used as a soccer ball at the terminal. Both kits were severely damaged and were missing numerous parts which fell out of the holes in the shipping box.

 

[peteski]

It seems in Jeff's case the shipping box is not damaged, but the kit boxes inside are.  I have ordered plenty of kits through mail and I don't ever recall any of the kit boxes being damaged (if the shipping carton is undamaged).   That's just not right if one buys factory-fresh new models.  I would take photos of those damaged boxes and contact the company you bought the kits from.

I have received damaged kit boxes from eBay auctions, but the fact that the boxes are dented, etc. is clearly stated in the auction listings, I know they will not be pristine.

[deuces wild]

That^^^^^reminds me of the Ace Ventura Pet Detective movie opening scene.....

[BlackSheep214]

30 minutes ago, SfanGoch said:

Fred stopped using UPS because of numerous complaints about the packages being delivered completely smashed, including the kits. This is what UPS delivered to me:

It looked like it was used as a soccer ball at the terminal. Both kits were severely damaged and were missing numerous parts which fell out of the holes in the shipping box.

 

Typical cheap USPS cardboard box. They’re never were that great.  Were there any packing materials inside? Foam, bubble wrap, packing peanuts?

[1972coronet]

With shortages being what they are --real or imagined-- I'm sure that a handful of sellers (individuals, online stores, etc.) are rushing to send-out product A.S.A.P. --- this doesn't bode well for anyone. Personally, I'd rather wait a month or two for an online purchase should the seller/store et al. need more time to go-through their shipments, work orders, etc., etc., and package the item/items properly.

I've been lucky I suppose -- most of my orders are via USPS, with maybe one or two from UPS -- as I've never received a boogered item (boxes, by default, are subject to scuffs and rips-- but are not supposed to look like they were used for hocky practise).

FedEx, in my experiences, is a goombah operation... absolute testa grossas with zero concern nor pride.  

[slusher]

I have had a few kit with a little damage to the model box few times. Some are because the shrink rap deformed them, Revell old boxes. I have seen kits at Hobby Lobby with bad boxes. If I have a kit I want a perfect box I drop a not to modelroundup, I plan on keeping the box. They send me a perfect box… I like Burbank house of hobbies also but I don’t buy much anymore. Just once in a while..

[Oldcarfan27]

If the shipping box is perfectly pristine, with no dents or crush marks, then I'd have to assume the inside boxes weren't packed securely and didn't have enough  (or any) packing around them and the boxes shifted around in transit and got damaged.

That would be the fault of the seller, for not packing the contents correctly before shipping. If their attitude is "We didn't send them out to you damaged - too bad." and they're not willing to make the order right, then I would not be ordering from them again and I would let them know that.

A seller can't stay in business with a reputation of lazy order fulfillment and bad customer service. 

I've sent out many boxes to others on this forum and I've never had a complaint about the packaging. I've always made sure the shipping box is strong enough for it's contents and that there is enough cushion for the bouncing and jolting the package is going to receive to get to it's destination. That's my responsibility for the recipient. After that, it's up to the shipper to have the responsibility not to drive OVER the box on its way there.

Edited February 23, 2022 by Oldcarfan27

[SfanGoch]

8 hours ago, BlackSheep214 said:

Typical cheap USPS cardboard box. They’re never were that great.  Were there any packing materials inside? Foam, bubble wrap, packing peanuts?

Fred Sterns always properly packs the items he sends to customers. This was sent via UPS, not USPS. You probably can't see it in the photo; but,  the box itself was waterlogged, which was why it looked the way it did.

It was bouncing around in the UPS system for ten days before I finally received it. Ten days to get from Buffalo to Brooklyn and UPS didn't know where in the system it was at any time until it arrived at its service center in Queens and was on the delivery truck.

Edited February 23, 2022 by SfanGoch

[ewetwo]

You also have to remember that the USPS delivers packages for UPS and and Amazon. UPS and Amazon will drop off packages to the local USPS office and they take it from there. My post master photographs any package left by UPS and Amazon to show it was received damaged. USPS will no longer except packages from Fed X because of this reason. Just so you know. 

[SfanGoch]

In my case, it was delivered by UPS. The deskman in my building called me as soon as the UPS deliveries were left in the lobby. He didn't think I'd like what the package looked like. Understatement of the year. BTW, this occurred three years ago. I posted about it in a thread about repairing the damage to the Desoto.