Beware of Hobby Circle

[Anonymous]

Just for the information of anyone thinking of ordering from Hobby Circle in
Brooklyn, NY.

BEWARE!!!!!

I ordered an N-scale GHQ Front-End Loader from their online catalog several
months ago. What I got in the mail was not the item I ordered (I received a
road-grader kit - Hobby Circle had listed the kit number on their web-site as a
Front-End Loader, but the kit number was actually for a road-grader). I called
them and I was instructed to return the item and they would replace it or refund
my payment.

I have the proof of delivery of the returned item, the receipt for the payment I
made as well as the cost for returning the item.

I've made five telephone calls to them (along with numerous e-mails), each
time speaking with a "customer service agent" who appears to have trouble
with the language and who has given me several different answers: They have
been having e-mail problems, they lost their order information, they never
received the returned item (an absolute lie), they have computer problems,
etc., etc. All I am wanting is my $26 back and so far I am getting no place.
Hobby Circle even once insisted I call them back on Memorial Day afternoon
to discuss the problem. I called at the appointed hour and nobody answered.

I have gone as far as to report the problem to the New York BBB and I am not
going to give up.

So if anyone is considering buying from these crooks, I'd think again if I were
you.

[Anonymous]

Report it to the BBB in that area. This particular Business has popped up on MR's forums time and time again. I say write off the $26 dollars and continue your search elsewhere.

An extreme example of finding help is to actually travel there and see them in person. It is very difficult to get away from a face to face request for the actual kit in question with all the appropriate paperwork.

[mikebonellisr]

I would also e-mail them again and inform them that you posted a complaint about them here, where xx thousands of future customers will view it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tip! I haven't done business with them and sure ain't gonna start now! I suggest when you post these things, be absolutely sure you are in the right and do not use derogatory comments. Just state the facts. If they decide to litigate, at least you have the truth on your side. However, in the worst case scenerio, you could end up having to defend yourself, a costly proposition, even if you are right!!

[Anonymous]

I am amazed that with negative threads about this dealer popping up every month or so on various forums that they get ANY business - must be from all newbees!

I would let your STATE consumer protection authorities know about this dealer - enough complaints and they may be banned from doing business in your state - THAT should get their attention !!!

Also let MR and any other magazine that advertises them know about them, too !!!

[Anonymous]

I posted a negitive comment about this firm a few weeks back. Unfortunately our new
members are not aware of this problem until they get burnt.

[Anonymous]

I purchased a Santa Fe doodlebug in the Warbonnet paint scheme and they sent one in the Mastauch (sp) paint job. I returned it just like they said and had delivery confirmation. After six weeks of no answered e-mails, and talking to someone that didn't understand English and coulndn't talk to me, I notified eBay and still nothing has been done. I decided $37.00 plus postage was not worth getting riled up about but I do lambast them every chance I get so someone else doesn't get rookeydooed.

REMEMBER SANTA FE ALL THE WAY

[randybc2003]

You said "what you got in the mail". If you DID use the Postal Service, either for money order, mail to w/ check and order, mail from with (incorrect) order, or mailed it back, complain to the UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. That is taking off the gloves.
[soapbox]

[Anonymous]

I think it's a mob front, personally!
The owners have no idea what they're doing, they speak little/no english, and their prices are either suspiciously low or dangerously inflated. They have routinely sent me the wrong kit, with no response from them after my inquiries, and continue to treat the customer with disrespect.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianiu

I think it's a mob front, personally!

Maybe like money laundering but with skids of cash.

[AntonioFP45]

This a good example of when a Topic should be re-posted or repeated for the benefit of Newbies or new Forum members.

I really appreciated the warnings about this business as there was another thread on this business a few months back.

A few months back on EBay I saw a NEW Atlas HO SCL U-36C on bid. I got excited as the highest bid shown was only $27 on this normally $90+ priced locomotive.

Then when I clicked on the sellers info I saw "HOBBY CIRCLE". As always I clicked on the Customer Feedback category. It displayed a number of negative feedback posts along with positive posts. Immedietely I said to myself "Forget it!". Didn't want to take a chance on the "Hassle Potential". I prefer to pay a little extra and get one from my very reliable LHS, Happy Hobo Trains.

Thanks to this info, I let a very good friend of mine know about this company's customer complaints as recently he was about to bid on an item. IMHO when there are too many negative feedbacks on an Ebay seller and a bidder wins, he or she is playing russian roulette with hard earned money!

Why are they still in business. My opinion: Simple! New York City is in the northeast corridor which is a HUGE metropoliton area. There's enough new customers up there to keep them going for years as well as customers that have had no problems with them. So this may be why they could continue giving "less than good, ethical" service.

I grew up in NYC and unfortunately the "Hussle & Bustle" attitude is prevalent in NOT ALL BUT MANY businesses.

I.E: ("Yeah! What can I do for ya?!!"......"Well, what do you want?"....."Don't waste my time!".........."Well, where's your receipt?!..."Here you go!"...... "Next!"......."What's wrong?!"........O.K Yeah, it's a different color, but it's just as good!"........"Look, that's all I can do!" ..........."Hey, that's the best I can do!"......"Come back next week, we got a sale!"....."Look, I'm sorry but I got other customers to take care of!"............"If you don't leave I'm gonna call security!")

I'm not saying Hobby Circle is like this, but I do wonder!

Hobby Circle: You have potential, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!

[lupo]

some more oil on the fire:
I used to deal with them through yahoo shopping, but that link is dead now,
that should say enough.

Reading all these post I feel very awfully lucky I got everything I ordered, allthough on one occasion they had only half the items I wanted.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

This a good example of when a Topic should be re-posted or repeated for the benefit of Newbies or new Forum members.

I really appreciated the warnings about this business as there was another thread on this business a few months back.

A few months back on EBay I saw a NEW Atlas HO SCL U-36C on bid. I got excited as the highest bid shown was only $27 on this normally $90+ priced locomotive.

Then when I clicked on the sellers info I saw "HOBBY CIRCLE". As always I clicked on the Customer Feedback category. It displayed a number of negative feedback posts along with positive posts. Immedietely I said to myself "Forget it!". Didn't want to take a chance on the "Hassle Potential". I prefer to pay a little extra and get one from my very reliable LHS, Happy Hobo Trains.

Thanks to this info, I let a very good friend of mine know about this company's customer complaints as recently he was about to bid on an item. IMHO when there are too many negative feedbacks on an Ebay seller and a bidder wins, he or she is playing russian roulette with hard earned money!

Why are they still in business. My opinion: Simple! New York City is in the northeast corridor which is a HUGE metropoliton area. There's enough new customers up there to keep them going for years as well as customers that have had no problems with them. So this may be why they could continue giving "less than good, ethical" service.

I grew up in NYC and unfortunately the "Hussle & Bustle" attitude is prevalent in NOT ALL BUT MANY businesses.

I.E: ("Yeah! What can I do for ya?!!"......"Well, what do you want?"....."Don't waste my time!".........."Well, where's your receipt?!..."Here you go!"...... "Next!"......."What's wrong?!"........O.K Yeah, it's a different color, but it's just as good!"........"Look, that's all I can do!" ..........."Hey, that's the best I can do!"......"Come back next week, we got a sale!"....."Look, I'm sorry but I got other customers to take care of!"............"If you don't leave I'm gonna call security!")

I'm not saying Hobby Circle is like this, but I do wonder!

Hobby Circle: You have potential, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!

AntonioFP45
You have a good point and buyers should be aware of dealers that have poor track records when it relates to customer service.

I too have purchased directly from Hobby Circle in the past, but stopped about a year ago because I found them a little unfriendly to me if they do not have the item. Part of my order was never shipped because they did not really have the advertised engines for that price, but would not admit to it after two months. They still were listing that engine on their advertisement, but could not send it. I send a message to cancel it and cancelled any future orders with Jim also. I think that is his name.

Some of the low priced come on advertisement places are hard to deal with, but not all are that way. They tend to want to pu***he items that are on sale and in stock and if you have a problem, it is your problem.

I would never tell someone not to buy from Hobby Circle, just be aware of the lack of good customer service. That comment might be saying something.

Could it be that when you buy from Hobby Circle, you go in circles with their customer service.

I would be interested in knowing if others out there have ordered from Hobby Circle and believe they are friendly. It could be they ship the right orders normally and just don't handle problems with orders well.

[lupo]

bangert1,
I had the same problem with advertised engines I wanted but they had no stock,
I mailed "jim " he replied " look at walthers ", so I checked for my next orders the walthers stock, mailed him for a quote and placed the order, it was shipped in 2 days and complete.

I did not read any friendlyness in a 3 word reply, that was btw the most elaborate reply I got, two other mails were replied with just 1 ( misspelled ) word

[Junctionfan]

I'll tell my club about this tomarrow. In the mean time, try Pacific Western Rails. They are located in Surrey B.C but our club's VP is a representative of them and I can assure you that they won't chissle you.

I haven't ordered anything yet because I spent all my money at Fostoria but when you order something, it usually doesn't take long since they UPS everything as soon as they get the money.

[jrbernier]

I ordered a pair of locomotives about 2 years ago from Hobby Circle. They got it right(and charged my credit card right away!) - took another 3 weeks for the order to arrive. It took 3 days from the time it shipped until I had it. I did not like the 'charge the card & ship weeks later' attitude - they no longer get my business.

Jim Bernier

[RMax1]

I looked at these people for a long time. They have the lowest prices on the net. Then I looked some more and the more I looked they resembled the photo dealers in the back of the camera magazines. Bad News. There are some good dealers and the are some you really want to stay away from. In this day and age to me ease of purchase is a big deal. The less time I spend hassling with the purchase and the more modeling the better it is. I have enough hassles to deal with.

RMax

[NHRRJET]

I too had a problem with Hobby Circle. I ordered an Atlas ACL SD35. The model arrived damaged. I went thru a 3 week ordeal to finally get a refund! B-E-W-A-R-E!!!!

[railman]

this post definetely needs to be kept alive...a warning light to newcomers and old hands alike.