What are the better places to buy kits on the internet. Any retailers that anyone has had really bad experiences with? Really good experiences?

I am trying to pick a preffered online distributor for affiliate links and would like your input.

Thanks,
Jim

My personal favorite is Greatmodels.com, good service and easy checkout with quick delivery. Other ones I like are Squadon.com and VLS: modelmecca.com.

I havn't had any experience with Gretamodels, but as one of the guys who rders for the hobby store I work at, I havn't had any trouble with Squadron and VLS. MMD is the whole sale side of the house for Squadron Mail order and its actually a few mile away from our shop here in Dallas/Ft. Worth. There are are few times when both are out of stuff but they are stll pretty good. I recommend those two.

I am a tried and true Squadron fan, but have to add Model Expo to the mix. They were giving away kits every so often.

There are some smaller shops that have done good business with like Hometown Hobbies (great place for Jordi Rubio metal barrels), and several others.

How about "Internet Hobbies"? It's a Yahoo store. Has anyone ever bought anything with them?

Jim

I have not used them because of the fact that rec.models.scale has had numerous warnings about them:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22Internet+hobbies%22&btnG=Google+Search&meta=group%3Drec.models.scale

It'a one thing to try the little guys who are just starting out or use online sales to supplement their brick and mortar shops (helps keep them open for the local modelers), but with the availability of such a diverse offering of online venders, it seems foolhardy to send money to places that people have had frequent problems with.

Rob,
Good point. I was kind of afraid of that. Unfortunately for me I have only found (2) retailers that have some kind of Internet affiliate program; Internet Hobbies and eHobbies. eHobbies use to be better than they are today. I wish that Squadron or GreatModels had something, I guess I should write them about it.

For the record an affiliate program is where they pay you a small percentage for reffering customers to the store (if they buy something).

Jim

eHobbies main problem is that they charge MSRP for everything. Just about any other online retailer beats their price as well as most local stores. They also tend to just carry the biggies, Tamiya, Revell-Monogram, etc.

Hello. 1st post having just joined Armorama.

My personal favorite site and have gone there several times after my local mom&pop hobby store went under leaving me with nobody local, is Michigan Discount Models. Web site is www.discountmodels.com. The owner has just about everything under the sun and is very courteous and quick. He uses USPS to ship, but from Michigan to Maine I received my last box in two days.

Lucas Freeman
Brunswick, Maine

Hello
I´ve been buying some stuff from Military Models (from Canada) and I really satisfied with their services, and they have a mail list that informs you about every sales and new products. Unffortunatelly I don´t have it address right now (I´m not in home) but I´ll tell you later, I think it´s worth a try!
Cheers!

Hi the correct name is Military Hobbies and the address is:
Military Hobbies HTH

Back in the "old days" i used Squadron mail order. In the last year I have odered from Squadron 5 times. 4 times online and the last time by mail. Each time I had either a missing item or a wrong item. Each time they corrected the order. Just seems like a poor track record. But, living in the outback as I do, I'm sure I'll continue to order from them.

Strange, I order from them monthly and haven't had a mess up yet or an out of stock item. Usually order online, but last time was via phone.

I've been using Squadron for over 20 years, and they do a great job. I have also purchased from Great Models and Internet Hobbies more resently. Both are very good too.

Hello Gents!
I have found that the best site for mail-order is www.Hannants.co.uk for nearly all your needs!

Oh and do you lot know where i can get any kits from the german company Elitemodell !!!!!!!!!
No one in the Uk seems to stock them!

Marek

Whoa, a good question Marek. Hmmm, after looking in sveral places...nothing, their site is in German so not much help there...but...after reading a message in the Missing Links forum (most was about the lack of English) one reply mentioned emailing them. Accordingly someone there speaks English. I would suggest you email them (just quess with the links on the left side of page) and ask away. They're sure to know where you can get them.
Hope this helps a little. Sorry I don't know more.
I will do more homework...

Oooops, here is their email address:

[email protected]

Beware of buying kits and decals from Germany. When I was stationed there, certain markings were painted out on the decal sheets. (the crooked cross as well as the death's head and SS markings). I mean they actually open the package and put a blotch of black ink on the markings on the decal sheet, instructions and outside packaging. Of course this warning is only for WWII German armor builders

Man, I had the hardest time getting markings for DAK vehicles. :-

I keep forgetting to add this very valuable source to the list: eBay.com.

For those of you who are not familiar with eBay, it is an online auction site for just about anything under the sun. Models are listed under Toys & Hobbies and have a dozen or so subcategories (Military: Armor, Air, Land, Sea, Figures, etc.)

Great place to see what a kit is really going for and for grabbing some great deals. Don't get caught in a bidding war or you may end up paying too much. It's also good for looking for kits that are OOP or HTF.

http://listings.ebay.com/aw/listings/list/category1188/index.html

Here you go! I fired off an email to them yesterday (Elitemodell) I asked where I can get their models, and here is their reply:

You can buy directly from us, or if you prefer a dealer in USA there are some:
The Red Lancers, R & J, Baseline Models to name some. The models are probably a
bit more expensive from them, but then you can avoid the rather high postage
of 26,84?. Payment with visa or mastercard wouldbe quickest with us. Hoping to
hear from you soon, I remain.

A little garbled but understandable. here are 2 sites of the 3 places he said.:

http://www.redlancers.com

http://www.rjproducts.com

Shipping question. Are the shipping cost pretty much the same at most places, say from squadren and great models? I like Great models prices but don't know if they make up for it in shipping which a ton of online stores do. If someone has ordered from any of those or any other place, let me know how hard they hit you for shipping please

The two I use most often are Squadron and Great Models. Shipping is not bad for either company:
Squadron: under $20 is $4.75
$20-49.99 is $5.25
$50-99.99 is $6.25
over $100 is free

Great Models: under $20 is $4.95
$20-200 is $6.25
over $200 is free

Squadron's shipping rates are better and the service quicker. Great Model "looks" for the items elsewhere then ships once completed. Great Model's prices are slightly better (i.e. $5.75 compared to $5.96, nothing spectacular)

Another ditto Kencelot - we must think alike!

I rely on greatmodels.com. I have a VLS Master's Group membership, but in the last three years the value of that has steadily gone down for me. Where GM.com gets me probably 95% of the items I order within two weeks, 95% of the time VLS is backordering these items.

internethobbies.com is pretty good too, they just don't get new releases as fast as greatmodels.com. In a pinch apchobbies.com is good too, but are hit-and-miss on the new releases. Whenever I've ordered from either source of the last couple of years the merchandise arrives quickly and safely.

Hate to admit it, but I have had some success shopping on ebay.com and yahoo auctions too.

Jim
http://www.guntruck.com

In this forum 2 months late...
Has anybody ordered anything from bearair.com ? They have the Paasche H I want, and was wondering if anyone's ordered from them and know how thier service is. Thanks.

YodaMan
Can't think of quote... anticipating Episode II trailer, 2 hours 15 minutes away...

Hi all.

First post here!

I have had great service from GreatModels, Squadron, R&J Designs, all of which have been mentioned here. But if you want some serious bang for the buck, try the HobbyHQ in Australia!! The US dollar does well, shipping is cheap, fast, and prices are great!!

The URL is: www.hobbyhq.com.au

www.afvhobbies.com is good for accessories out of New Zealand.
Again, your US dollar goes a LONG way there!

Cheers
Andy