Alternatives to Hobbyking?

[Irish Steve]

Hi Folks,

This is close to a rant, but there's a serious side to it as well.

Are there any other sources of the Hobbyking hardware that so many of us are using?

Reason I ask is that I am about to deploy the nuclear option on an order and put in a Paypal claim on HK, due to an order I placed being returned to HK by a courier rip off outfit called SCS Express. I have "declined" to pay their demand for VAT, as it's NOT a legal and valid invoice, and the VAT will not be paid to the Irish Authorities, among other issues.

So, that's probably going to mean I'm black listed by HK, and won't be able to get Turnigy hardware from there any more, which I'm not happy about, but I can't risk prosecution here in Ireland if I get a VAT audit,

So, how do we get round the very real problem that too much of the hardware we are using is single source at present?

[jhsa]

I find it a very strange situation..
I only pay VAT here if the order is stopped by the customs and is above a certain amount (postage included)..

Did you speak with HK about it?

João

[Irish Steve]

I have tried to get responses from HK, and the courier company, and in the HK forum, and from HK New York, but the response has been deafening silence.

The issue is that they are using this courier outfit for some deliveries due to crazy restrictions on some items being shipped, the issue with this order is that to add to the weight for value, I put some threadlock in, and that is now deemed an unacceptable product (Like adhesives, and apparently silicon fuel tube), and all such orders now are sent via SCS Express, who are charging VAT at point of entry on every order they handle.

The problem with that is that they are NOT supposed to charge UK VAT on an order that is being imported into Ireland, the VAT should be paid to an Irish registered company on import into Ireland, and it's then legal and valid.

My worry is that there's no alternative source of supply for things like the 9XR Pro, and the modules that are used in it, and I have a considerable investment in that family of hardware, so if I can't get more in the future, I have to look at what my alternatives are.

[jhsa]

Very strange.. if they don't answer emails try the live chat then, if you didn't already..

João

[jhsa]

Apparently it is not a new issue
RCG 2012

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1684131


João

[Irish Steve]

I know, and it's worrying that the only supplier of most of the hardware we use is sailing very close to the wind. It would be nice to have an alternative that comes from somewhere other than Hobbyking.

[jhsa]

I agree.. but for example turnigy is a hobbyking brand so I doubt we would find it somewhere else at a competitive price.

João

[Irish Steve]

Indeed. Ended up spending most of the morning trying to get my HK order out of the hands of SCS, at last, having deployed the nuclear option of a Paypal dispute, I seem to have got their attention, so hopefully, I will have the TX modules that I'm waiting for before too much longer.

Time will tell, and with the Paypal clock ticking, HK will at least know that this one is not going to go away.

Cheers

[nigelsheffield]

Good for you,
in the past they got away with no vat as most packages got through with them declaring lower prices for items posted.
Now they are under scrtutiny and so playing by the rules.
This means that I not only have to pay vat but also an extra handling fee by the courier company of £7 minimum often £14 or even more, this makes ordering from HK international not worthwhile and UK warehouse stock is limited.
On top of that giant shark has just given up so options for cheap good RC parts just got a bit less.

I don't mind the vat but the fees charged by the courier are not right.
If HK would allow the vat to be declared on All orders and somehow allowed us to pay it rather then just hoping that they won't get stopped then the courier would not be able to charge the extra fees. I asked them about this but they just said it was up the individual to to sort out and pay customs duties....

[jhsa]

They will lose many clients with answers like that one.. Not that they care of course. What are a few thousand anyway?

João

[MikeB]

Graham who worked for GiantCod originally, before working at GiantShark has set up by himself, see:
http://rclife.co.uk/.

Worth spreading the word and supporting him.

Clearly early days yet, and he has no forum, but he has responded to some post on http://www.modelflying.co.uk/forums/pos ... =1#PostTop.

Mike.

[jhsa]

If you live in the UK I'm sure it is the best option..

João

[Irish Steve]

Clearly Hobbyking are having some issues with their European courier, SCS, as it's reached the point where the only way to resolve the issue with my order was for HK to issue store credit for the illegal VAT charge. They want me to also take it up with the UK VAT authorities, it will be interesting to see how this eventually works out.