Hi Friends,
Last night while going through www.wattflyer.com website I came across a banner ad offering Li-Po 20C batterypacks at amazing prices.The name of the website is www.HOBBYKING.com. I clicked on the hot link provided and a website opened but it is named www.HOBBYCITY.com. A lot of products were listed and the range of choice available is astounding. Some brand names are well known and respected while many are not so well known. They are offering literally everything one would need from electric trainers to gaint scale planes and Helis as ARFs/RTFs but not what I really want .BALSA KITS. Well everything else one would need are available and their stocks are impressive covering both well known and not so well known brands. Prices too are reasonable to incredible at least for me. So I placed a sample order for one RHINO brand 1050mAh ,20C,3S 11.1 volt Li-Po battery for approx US$12-00 and including AirMail shipping it cost me about US $18-00.
 What I am really apprehensive about is beside being a Hongkong based company, the banner ad was named HOBBYKING.com while in the opened website it was named HOBBYCITY.com. Also they are offering falsification of invoices in a scale of 10% - 100% which in my opinion no self respecting company would do. All this is confusing me. Have any of you flyers ever did business with this company and what is your experiences when buying from companies like these. Your advise would be greatly appreciated. Because this shop has many items I wish to purchase and are priced decently.
thanking you and with regards
---Rao

HobbyCity and HobbyKing are basically the same company and are world famous for their agressive pricing!!  They offer stuff at prices that are unmatched anywhere else.  Imagine getting a giant scale plane servo for just $33 compared to $114 elsewhere (PowerHD 9150MG vs Hitec 7955)!!  And their range of motors are also great.  But be prepared for a bit of sub standard quality.  Sometimes you might not get exactly what you order (like colour schemes on a model)!! But overall they are very good value for money. 

And also check out http://www.aircraft-world.com if you like branded stuff at pretty reasonable prices.  They have the 3rd generation Hyperion CX lipos which can be charged at 5C and they give you 4 times more cycles than the traditional Lipos.  Discharge rate is continous 25C and 35C bursts.  The prices are also very inexpensive.  Best part is shipping is $2.40.  I have ordered about 4 times from them.  All have reached me in 4 to 5 days flat safely.  These people are based in Japan and are authorized Hyperion dealers.

Now a 1000 mAh Lipo can be charged at 5A rates hence minimizing the charging times 5 fold!! So instead of a 40 min charging period, you can charge your pack in 8 mins flat!! Amazing!

- Chan

Thank you very much for your advise Chan.
BTW what do you do friend. I myself always visiting RC forums and surfing them from 8-00PM to 5-00Am.almost everyday. And you are the only one who is also online in these websites almost all day everyday.
--GNV

I am working with Satyam Computers.  So mostly online during office hours.  And I leave my system online at night.  So I would appear to be online.  I also check from home in the night!!

- Chan

oh how are things in Satyam after the Tech Mahindra Take over. BTW I see that you have an ElectroStreak in your Hangar. I also have an Electrostreak which I am Currently flying with Kyosho magnetic mayhem motor. I like this one very much for its sleek looks and don't want to spoil its looks by using an outrunner motor fitted to the firewall outside. Can you suggest a good inrunner brushless motor and a folding prop for 11.1 Volt 3S1P Li-Po set up.

-GNV

Even I thought of looking for a good inrunner.  Now I have it retired without a motor.  The reason why I did not mind the looks was becuase it came totally crushed in shipping.  Repaired the whole thing and this was my first aileron plane!!

Regarding the inrunner, I think Mr. Sai should be able to suggest a setup as I have absolutely no experience with Inrunners.

Satyam's doing fine now.  And as long as i get my salary, I dont have any problems.

- Chan

I have ordered a few times from HobbyCity/HobbyKing recently.  They take a little while to ship, and long while if the item is on backorder (they do make it clear that it takes 30 days to do backorders).  The actual shipping time is quite good, it is the actual time it takes for them to process the item for shipment that takes longer.

Otherwise they are fine (so far).

Thanks for your feedback Anwar.I had placed a sample order and since Hong Kong is not too far away and the in stock order is a pretty small one (3S Li-Po batterypack) and since it is being sent by Air Mail I am expecting to get it in a week or so.

are they selling for real at hobbycity.com i can never imagine getting into this hobby at this cheap price. a 2.4ghz 4ch tx & rx at just 30$... please let us know if u receive those batteries in good condition as soon as u get them...

tried one of the cheap 2.4 radios did not work well  the settings are on the laptop and software problems did not allow proper settings at all , the other issue is you have to use only special receivers of the manufacture . for cheap radios best is old type

Dear Akash,
If I were you I wouldn't even think of buying a 2.4 GHz 4 Ch Tx and Rx for $30-00.There would be a catch somewhere about the deal and you would realize that only after you received it and tried to operate it for the 1st time. Certain deals how much great they might look are impossible to realize in reality.

Dear Rao,
           Thank u very much for the advice.

to chan


what was your average invoice value ? was it less then 30 us$ or ?

thanks

sahil

to chan

i was thinking of ordering couple of lipo's,GWS motors n adapters ? all under 50us$ ?

what was your average time between your orders ?

thanks

sahil

Hey Sahil,

My invoice value was always under $30.. And they dont stock GWS stuff.. They have mostly Hyperion and Scorpion..

- Chan

thanks ,no they do sell GWS stuff

see this link (there is a  going on now)

http://www.aircraft-world.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?search=yes

oops.. sorry my mistake.. didnt know that they stock GWS (your link didnt work though  )!! Go ahead and place your order.. A friend of mine got Lipos.. They were also shipped through parcel post and reached in 5 days... I dont think you would have any problems... and one more mistake on my part.. I had placed a $30 + order... My Hyperion VPP setup worked out more than $70 and it reached safely.. The other packs were mostly props..

- Chan

Hello People,
I just went through the www.aircraft-world.com and I like few of the stuff at very reasonable price and that too with shipping charges of ~$3...as previous post r saying that the goods will arrive within 4-5 days, could somebody pls tell me that upto what amount i can order through parcel post and still wont be charged for custom duty?

Hi,
Upto $50 and that too it should be for personnel use and a gift declaration will be better.

Regards...............Alex

hi guys

i have placed an order for 47.9 usd, let's see how long it will take, since the store will be closed from 3-6th this month, i'm expecting my order to be dispatched on 7 may 2009 + 6 day = 13 or 14 maxi.

to rao

has your package arrived?

sahil

Hi Sahilkit,
My package has not yet arrived.
--Rao

HobbyCity packages take longer to reach.  It even takes 3 to 4 weeks sometimes.

- Chan

oh okay, i hope my stuff arrives 

update, just got mail that my package has been dispatched today

yeah i received my package yesterday @ 3.10 PM, stuff arrived on time as predicted  some pictures