I have seen so many hobby shop having a product out of stock for more than a year! its not like the demand isn't seen and yet, it hasnt been re-stocked... i have wanted a certain items and i haven't found it in any other website and when i did, it was hobbyking and they don't ship to india! people do get stocks of general items like propellers or brushless motors frequently but not some of the specific items. The reason for this post is to just understand why some of the stocks like transmitters, RTF models, fpv gear, specific spares etc are so hard to restock! What is the stopping factor?
I just want to know what complication you guys face! It has been bugging me since i joined the hobby more than 2 years ago...

I too
wow  the same things were going in my ming also.
Curius for the answers.

Me too lol
From past 3 year's I'm trying to find this

Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk

Start a LHS ...and find what's in the anvil... Import is not as eas u think ...I am in forex in bank for more than 7 years ...and I dropped the idea for a LHS long back ...better prove that others are wrong by doing it yourself

some of the stuffs related to frequency that is fpv and tx rx and other wireless stuff arent allowed to be imported in india it needs a lot of documentation like wpc and all certificates so for a hobbyshop to get it in a huge stock or numbers isnt that easy and for personal orders yes some of them do order personally but there are 50% chances and less than that to reach you ,as this is been highlighted in customs offices they have been much strict now then before so basically ordering those stuff to india legally or with all documents isnt that easy
would also like to tell you all that wpc certificate from  wireless commitee of india now has stopped giving these certification at all they dont give it and as there is a ban on flying machines uav its strictly not allowed so all you can do is check the wpc allowed list of electronics and wireless stuff and order accordingly to show the customs officer that your product is in the list bt again its very hard once the customs has ur parcel in thier hands they will charge anythng from 10-40% and sometimes even more
thank you

Dear could u assure me 20% duty ?I would appoint u as my tax consultant

hello praveen sir ,
 i meant to say was 40% was the highest they can legally pose on us bt they do charge extra sometimes its 40% only na ? inshort its unpredictable and depends on the mood of the officer i knw

praveen sir, i do know how much the hobby shop people have to run around to make sure that their imports come in properly, i do not want to start a hobby shop because i feel i know how rough it must be for them, its a bisnuss for them not liesure.... they import bulk amounts and if that gets stuck its almost as good as a tree falling on your brand new un-insured car and as cyber hack says, the lisences are the major issue...

but why do hobby shops still display the product when they know it is done for?

and can someone please elaborate these licenses like WPC and ETA because it is ridiculous to find out anything about it on the govt websites...

wpc and eta licenses or certificates are nthng but a certified document that states the allowed frequency of use by general public in thier locality and the power of tx they are allowed to use as there are many government services which work on same frequency or bandwidth which shouldnt be disturbed you could have googled

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwixsOCZ953MAhWIm5QKHVcvBJYQFgghMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wpc.dot.gov.in%2Ffaq.asp&usg=AFQjCNGLE47LaXx_UWjjQqQFQamLPXzpAg&sig2=SZsxv-7curcq5swtT4Qr3w&bvm=bv.119745492,d.dGo

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwixsOCZ953MAhWIm5QKHVcvBJYQFggnMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wpc.dot.gov.in%2Frules_regulation.asp&usg=AFQjCNEsbDMxKPuCVy5oi4TYyiR-Ig4KaA&sig2=eHHYZmvY_R2xKJr_UkZRRQ&bvm=bv.119745492,d.dGo


https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwixsOCZ953MAhWIm5QKHVcvBJYQFggzMAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wpc.gov.in%2F&usg=AFQjCNEhvzOSpFJh4PIPv2GrwfCqNxWCZw&sig2=vt1GumdM0BTXhu7KznBG6A&bvm=bv.119745492,d.dGo

@rathi sir
hobbyshops before some years did gt some of the brands and models of tx and since then its been like the licenses is the issue wpc wing doesnt even allowes private import i have been to the wpc wing in borivali and all that they guided me was to fetch on internet abt the frequencies and bandwidth that is allowed and  get the stuff i did the same once bt was charged customs ,Bt incase of huge parcels or lots there are custom hassels with the other parcels hence might be the issue bt yes there is a hobbyshop which still stocks tx rx often all hobbyist can buy it from them i suppose they would also accept custom orders of specific models and brand if it is possible for them to get it RCMumbai.com  

Here is how you can find it, try to import a radio set and a fpv set. Declare the values, correct values not very low about 60% and then declare the name as toy remote control. And then import and wait for the fun to begin.

The very reason why i dropped the plan to get radio sets in QK, the hassle has been increased and its really frustrating and waste of time. Getting the same required documents is also not easy. Via agent the cost of single model ETA is around 50K.

The question here is simple. Why still show the products on the website when you know your not going to stock up on more? I like how @vibrant hobbies and @hobbysea remove their products from listing when they are out of stock and add them again when in stock.

Thank you for the observation mateen270.
When I was looking for parts (before establishing vibranthobbies) I was frustrated to see  out of stock products at the different LHS.
I decided not to repeat the same in our websites.
This has some effect on search engine ranking. But, I was ready for that.

After a while people don't care about 'search engine rankings'. I'd rather buy from a small LHS with less products marked 'out of stock'. The frustration of seeing 'out of stock' is enough to close the website. Also, the 'soon to be re-stocked' products can be assigned a separate tab.

Hope other shops follow suit.

It's not just radios and RF products. It's understandable if they are out of stock.
But, what about hardware, electronics accessories, general accessories, building parts and tools? What are the hurdles in stocking them?

In some eCommerce sites I have seen a checkbox which enables visitors to see only in-stock products. So if LHSs are concerned about search engine rankings, they can set up such an option

@satya sir, i know how frustrating that is to you... u must have lost a lot of money! is a WPC license for a person or a product?

WPC is a department, which gives license or approve a equipment fit to be used. you have to obtain ETA for any wireless device that you import.


Yes i agree to that but i have a full time job so many times it becomes very very difficult to keep updating the website. There are times when i just forget to update the product when its back in stock. And for me too search engine ranking was never important else i would have spend a lot of time to get that right.

Thats a good idea, i can setup some option like this in our next update

Technically we are not removing the out of stock products.
The e-commerce platform we use has a setting for this.
See the attached image.

Yeap Magento has that option and other e-com too might i use a custom build cms for e-comm hence it does not have that i might have to build something for that.

i think response is not that good from  buyers as expected by lhs and stocking includes huge investment and as compare to other countries india has less people into this hobby ,we have products sitting here from past 1 to 2 year just because we have got a large quantity initially.

if you want to keep hobby alive you need to support good lhs and for good lhs means who really like to do this work not just for the sake of profit but for the fun too  ,in RETURN lhs should also support there customers .

This is ugly truth that we all LHS face but then due to competition and many small sellers who just get the goods by not paying the duty and all so it costs them less and hence sell them off for less profit. 

There are many customers who would buy from a seller who are offering them stuffs for less price.

http://www.quadkopters.com/product-category/tx-and-rx/

The link to the best priced Transmitters and Receivers  

i MEAN DEALING WITH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, GETTING ALL CERTIFICATES AND STILL SELLING THE PRODUCTS AT THE RIGHT PRICE (CUTTING HUGE MARGINS) IS A BIG THING.

yea Thanks but we dont sell them any more

I know Sir,

I have been following

Quadkopters.com
kinetichobbies.com
Rcdhamaka.com
and rcbazaar.com

From a very long time......I know which things are out of stock.....
But the prices at which you people are providing at is commendable.
I wish prosperity for you people...

Dear All,
I would like to answer to the original question raised in this topic;
Some LHS have responded but, I would like to explain in my own way.

The stopping factor for further expansion in stock/operations can be explained under two major headings
1. Customs
2. Customers

In this post
I or We or us means - Vibrant Hobbies or Other LHS
You means - The modeller or Hobbyist,

Customs
TX/RX and any item transmits/receives WIFI Signal (including RTF Quads operating in 2.4GHz Wifi) needs Equipment Type Approval (ETA) and Import License from WPC.
Please go through this topic to understand what is ETA.
http://www.rcindia.org/radios-and-receivers/procedure-for-obtaining-equipment-type-approval-%28eta%29-from-wpc/
So, importing these items involves OTHER expenses and this add up to the product cost, whereas customers thinks that we are pricing it exorbitantly. Meanwhile, some other LHS may get the same in OTHER way bypassing WPC and price it less than our price. You can understand the investment and risk involved in getting these. This is the reason many LHS stays away.

My suggestion to overcome the above issue is by collective importing and cooperation between LHS.
For example, we are ready to take the lead and import 50 Nos Taranis. If two other LHS are ready to take 10 numbers each from us (of course less than the retail price) and maintain a uniform retail price we can make available these items one by one.

Customers
You are King. I am not complaining about you. Do not take it personally. This is not against any one. There are customers already supporting LHS and well behaved. We know and recognize them.
I am sharing below what I have understood from my two years business. The main objective is to seek your support to the LHS in the possible way and not for accusing any one of you.

1. Customers do not share what they want
We tried to know what you want. There are two threads created by me and one more existing thread to understand your requirements. But they are dead.
http://www.rcindia.org/wanted/wishlist-from-hobbyking-!/
Please note we have met most of the requirements in the above post and also supplied them on par with the cost of your direct purchase from HK.
Unfortunately, not even one member acknowledged that we supplied the product they wanted.
Result : We stopped buying from HK since June'15

May I request, Admin to make the above thread sticky ?

Link to other threads;
http://www.rcindia.org/rc-outlets-and-resellers/what-do-you-buy-from-hobbyking/
http://www.rcindia.org/rc-outlets-and-resellers/dear-lhs-could-you-get-these-for-me/175/

Keep sharing what you want and this is an important contribution from your side to the hobby and support the LHS. Definitely, we will work on them to get it.
Please do not expect everything you imagine is to be stocked by LHS.

2. Customers are buying other than LHS
From my understanding, most people look for LHS when they are in urgent need or the item which they can't get through customs. If they can wait for a month they prefer to get it from Chinese websites. This is mainly due to higher price at the LHS. So, even there is some demand, most orders are not coming to the LHS. However, the price difference is slowly decreasing due to the stiff price competition among LHS. If you can afford few rupees more please buy it from LHS. This will help your LHS to import in more quantity and in the long run the price will fall.
You may think that there is huge demand. But, the fact is different.

3. Customers do not share good thing about LHS
Customers don't recognize all our perfectly fulfilled and delivered shipments. When, one shipment is delayed by some lazy courier guy,   they jump on us as if we own the courier company and spread bad words forgetting all shipments delivered on time. Please note that the problem exists with all courier companies (even Fedex and Aramex) here and there because all delivery locations are not owned by the courier companies. There are agents/franchises for them to deliver and this people fails some time. Please understand that we have to live with them.
If you are satisfied with the LHS, please help them by spreading the news so that we do not need to depend upon Google.

4. Customers do not recognize our efforts;
If you remember we are the first in this business to offer COD but we are thinking of withdrawing it now;
This is because many of our COD shipments are refused by customers and we are wasting our time and money.
They just place order and before delivery they change their mind and refuse to accept the shipment. Why you are not thinking about the time taken to pack the order, two way shipping costs wasted by us.

If I have placed an order, I pay and receive the order and then send it back to the LHS at my own cost and according to the LHS's return policy.

Few communication between our customers;
Vibrant Hobbies : Sir, your COD shipment was refused when attempted delivery and returned to us. May, We know the reason ?
Customer :  I was not there. Fedex came to my house without calling me. They did not called me again.

Do you see how bureaucratic this customer is ?
If I have ordered some thing, I keep my home informed about the shipment arrival.
If we are not going to be there, I will send an email to the courier company to deliver on the stipulated time.
If they have attempted delivery when we were not there, I will call them and ask them to deliver again or go to their office and collect it from them.
----
Another customer
Vibrant Hobbies : Sir, your COD shipment was refused when attempted delivery and returned to us. May, We know the reason ?
Customer : Yes, I wanted it on the third day. But, Fedex came on the fourth day. I got it elsewhere.
----
Result : We are going to withdraw COD

The above reasons keeps on disturbing me and I am skeptical for further expansion.

I have shared my feelings and learning.  

Customs part we can take care.
But, as a Customer you have to support your LHS.

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks and Happy flying

Kumaran

Well said Kumaran ji, COD is not a good idea for LHS. And i am sure we or any LHS would get into more loss than profit.

I really appreciate the effort to  clear the skies .
I really think that manufacturing things in india could change picture.
I support lhs .

Manufacturing in India has just started but not completely.Our first make was Avionic tx I guess but not completely because its software seems to be chinese.
All the LHS should try out something new to make here in India so that we don't depend much on Chinese products.
I think that 90% products sold are not from India don't know exactly,sorry if I am wrong.
However their efforts are appreciable.

Well Said..!! Well Explained @Vibrant Hobbies

"Customs part we can take care.
But, as a Customer you have to support your LHS."



Why not the LHS provide a "Request Page itself."

Where we The customers can post what we need. The ones fulfilled can be marked completed by LHS or customers .The rest one can be marked as pending. Or CAN NOT BE COMPLETED/Fulfilled as per the conditions.

you guys are what keeps us flying! We should feel ashamed to have let your effort go to waste but the thing is not everyone knows about the effort... if u guys tell us that this and this and this is the issue then we will appreciate it and try not to spoil the hardwork but lets face it, no one wants to post about their hardwork and stuff because people just see it as a rant! A lot of info has come out of stores like yours,the many stores owned by mr satya and hobbysea.com, it is bad on our behalf to talk about the bads, i haven't had the oppertunity of buying anything from yours stores  but i have seen things i might want to keep my eye out for like the brushed ESC from rchyper and quadkopters.com for their wide fpv equipment, i have seen hobbysea's tribalde props, edf and edf motors!
i do appreciate you setting up a buisness in our hobby and taking so many risks for us! i THANK YOU LHS from the bottom of my heart. i wish every hobbist sees this and does say their bit .
I knew that india is not a good place to do import buisness and you guys are having that problem during re-stocks, i just didnt know the magnitude of it...
I want to give a huge shoutout to Mr.chintal manek because his products reached me in less that 72 hours! i was astonished by the seed of shipping or i might have gotten lucky!
@sukhpreet, dont you think you are asking a little too much? i feel a waiting list should be enough! that will help a lot of customers and LHS and the LHS can keep updating this waiting list about the product movement/ removal monthly.
one more things, how are people selling wifi routers if they are working at the 2.4 and some on the 5 ghz radio band? how is allowed to be imported

@vibrant hobbies  please don't remove the COD option. That's my most favourite one! :p

@sukpreet
The reason i asked you to make your request in the forum is that many LHS are active in the forum and some one can fulfill your requirement.

You are welcome to make a request on our website too.
Visit http://www.rchyper.com/requestnewproduct/ and make a request.

This form was existing in our system but not linked in the top links.

@mateen270
Noted. We have genuine customers ordering through COD. We are planning to create a customer group and enable COD option only to them.

Kumaran

Hi
It also needs approval.
If you see in this thread (Reply # 21,22,23), people have requested details for getting the approval for Wi-Fi CDMA modem, Routers etc.
http://www.rcindia.org/radios-and-receivers/procedure-for-obtaining-equipment-type-approval-%28eta%29-from-wpc/

Read once again my reply #26 in this thread and this line particularly;
"So, importing these items involves OTHER expenses and this add up to the product cost,"
I think you can guess what I mean OTHER expenses.

Right.......!!!! @Rathi Sir and Vibrant hobbies

There's a simple solution for this which requires all LHS to unite. Instead of one LHS ordering a large quantity of a particular product, shops can collectively order it and then divide the stock among themselves according to a pre-order agreement.

This way each shop has to invest a small fraction of the total amount and the product can be sold quickly too. Also, the customers will have multiple options for buying and can choose an LHS nearest to them.

I hope all Indian LHS can unite and form an alliance that will be beneficial for the LHS as well as us hobbyists.

INDIAN LHS ASSOCIATION (IALHSA)