Small Scale Military Headquarters

Well i seem to be on a roll these days. I've just stumbled across a decent r/c kit of a Lancaster bomber. Kit measures out to be almost exactly 1/18 and is pretty decent. The nacelles are a bit simplified and there will be a good couple of months work required to put it together but it comes with all parts need, clear canopies/turrets and a decal sheet.

My dilemma is this: the seller is in Britain (Ray of Priory Models). I got his email address from a thread on an RCGroups forum. I have been conversing with Ray and he seems ok but the only method of payment he will accept is a money order. No Paypal or credit card options.

The kit will cost about $200, so it's a fair sum to send overseas and hope whoever receives it sends the item i ordered. If he doesn't i will have little recourse to recover my money.

It has happened to me twice, in the past two years, that items i ordered
from Britain failed to arrive, as it turned out, because they were never
shipped. Fortunately in both of those cases i had paid by credit card and
was able to recover my funds, with some effort.

If this item fails to arrive and i have paid with a money order, i will not be able to recover my money.

So, what should i do? I'd really like to get this Lanc kit but i'd really, really hate to lose $200.

Advice?

Here's the link to the RCGroups threat btw, in case anyone wants to check the Lancaster kit out:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214114

seems a little odd that a retailer would only accept money orders.
Unfortunately a money order is basically cash and outside of "bad press" you'll have no recourse.
I suppose you could delicately ask for some customer referalls to check this guys reliability but again, no gaurantees.
Also check BBB online for any complaints although I'm not sure how they work on international companies.
As with all things gotta weigh risk versus return.

Well Aferg,

I am guessing then he`s NOT an official buisness,wants cash then there`s no charges at all & moreso no book keeping,though that`s a guess there.

As for not taking Paypal or credit cards,some of the small type hobby buisness`s are indeed like that I`m afraid,cash or cash only.

My suggestion would be someone You know & trust in the UK,Paypal them the cash & they could Send the cash SPECIAL DELIVERY (Next day postal service Insured to £250,which when converted is Well above what`s needed here). Thus he gets the cash,He lets you know & he posts it. Thus IF something goes astray there`s the Special Delivery recourse your UK friend could persue.
Would I be right in assuming Shipping of the plane though WOULD be insured? Giving you full protection in that respect?
I hasten to add I`m not pushing myself forward here,as said someone you KNOW would be more suited to help you out.

Failing that send the cash Insured & signiture required??

Ja
Steel Bonnet

good suggestions SB.....unfortunately i know no one in the UK, otherwise that is what i would do (hey Ski, you moving back there any time soon? ).

The shipping insurance won't really help me, as it is whether or not it gets shipped in the first place that is my concern...heh.

I may have to just take a leap of faith...

That would look nice hanging next to my... uh,... your B-24.

My wife participates in an international online community. I know she has some online friends who live in the UK.

She is going to ask around and see if she can find out anything.

What about an American Express money order? Or maybe one of our English board members involved.

Aferg,

Isn't DomiUK in the United Kingdom? You might ask him if he is close to this guys
place of business.

Mark

Aferg,

possibly the best advice I could give would be, do you trust the other people in that Forum? Two of them on the first page (Bomberguy and lowpass) say they have bought the kit and it arrived okay, so you should be safe - at least, as safe as you can be buying something off the 'Net.

I Googled for Priory Models and that came up with over 10 pages of links - I only followed the most obviously aircraft model-related ones (Priory Clinic, supermodels - 'ware Google!) - the couple I checked seemed to indicate that he's genuine and your Lanc should turn up...

Hope this helps...

Jeff.

"Hastur? Hastur? Is there a Hastur in the house? Oh bugg..AARRGGHH"

yes at this point i'm feeling fairly confident. I'm going to go ahead and order. It's a company still in business and a few people on the RCGroups forum have vouched for him.

I figure if it doesn't show i'll get some of my ex-military friends on the board to hunt him down and.....well, you know.

aferg didnt you buy a Uboat last year from England?

no, it was an S-boat but the deal fell thru because the shipping company quoted the wrong price to me and it was too expensive.

On that dea i was going to be able to pay with Paypal...

Next time suggest Half money order and half COD. Throw a little extra in for the cost of the COD.

i just found out that the same company that does the Lanc is now working on a 6 foot span B-17 (so virtually 1/18). Looks like there will be an alternative choice to the EAM B-17 kit which is a LOT of work. The Priory one should be pretty much finished, except for small details and should be reasonable price wise too.

So, one way or another we'll eventually get a B-17 i figure..

hay let me know how things went.

a b17 that sound great.....

what was the cost of the kit...and shipping and handlying....

with shipping it's about $200US