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 postI or We or us means - Vibrant Hobbies or Other LHS
You means - The modeller or Hobbyist,
CustomsTX/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.
CustomersYou 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 wantWe 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'15May 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 LHSFrom 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 LHSCustomers 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.
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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.
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Result : We are going to withdraw CODThe 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