New Limited Run HO Scale Kit from Fos - Oyster Hill

[bandofan]

I'm writing this to gauge other modelers past experience when they've ordered from Fos Scale Models. I've purchased a number of kits from FOS over the years with no issues, including some of their bigger kits, but my experience in ordering the new Oyster Hill kit has been terrible.

I ordered the Oyster Hill kit on November 4th, so my order was an early one. On December 31st, I received two emails from FOS. The first was a note showing that the order was in pending status. The second was a notice showing that the kit had shipped and included a link to my order information. The link in the email was a dead link. On January 7th, I still had not received my kit, so I called and sent an email to FOS. I received an email back saying that there was a problem at the post office but that the kit was on its way. It's now January 13th and I still have not received my kit, even though it was supposed to have been shipped by January 7th, at the latest. I called FOS and emailed them yesterday. I explained that I still want the kit and that I chose this kit over the big Bar Mills kit this year, which is now sold out. I've received no response.

In addition, I logged into the FOS website and looked up my order for this kit. The status of my order is now back to "pending", so it doesn't look like my kit was ever shipped. I checked the FOS Facebook page, and it shows that all of these kits were supposed to have been shipped by this week.

I'm disappointed and ticked that I spent my big kit money this year and have nothing to show for it.

Mark

[NEMMRRC]

I don't speak for Fos. But, I've not had a bad experience with my Fos purchases. I hope Fos will provide a responds to your query.

I ordered my kit and have received it already. It was one week from my notice of shipment to the delivery of my kit. When I received my kit I sent an email to Fos and I received a response a little over a day later.

I surmise Doug is quite busy getting the kits sorted out. Hang in there and welcome to the forum.

Jaime

[BrianM]

Mark,


Interesting!  It would appear that there has indeed been a problem at the Post Office.  This is the current status of my order:

[nextceo]

Mark,

   I wouldn't sweat it. I've ordered literally $1000s of kits from Doug and they are always slow to arrive. I too ordered the Oyster Hill kit within the 1st 1/2 hour Doug launched the kit...I bought it on my cell phone in the car on a way to an appointment...and I still haven't even received an email saying he's thinking about sending my kit out. I know we've all come accustom to getting fantastic customer service in todays world but unfortunately Doug is a one man operation so it's going to be slow...  I also ordered the Bar Mills big kit at about the same time that I ordered the Oyster Hill Kit and I got that Bar Mills kit in the mail about a month ago...but it doesn't nearly look as neat as Doug's kit. You made the right choice...just hang in there...

Alan

[Janbouli]

Haven't had an email yet , how far is Doug down the list.

[NEMMRRC]

I need to issue a public apology to Mark (bandofan).


I was not very helpful to Mark in the post he made at rr-line regarding this very topic. I was actually snarky in my remarks to Mark.


I'd post the apology over at rr-line but that thread has been closed by the moderators at rr-line.


I was wrong and hope Mark accepts my apology.


I do hope Mark had been able to reach Doug at Fos to resolve his predicament.


Jaime

[BrianM]

My Oyster Hill kit finally arrived today.


Long wait but looks to be a very nice kit and I'm pleased I bought it.

[nextceo]

Brian,

   Did you get an email ahead of time saying your kit was shipped? I haven't heard a peep from Doug in 30 days...and still waiting on my kit. According to his Facebook post, all kits were suppose to ship by the end of this week.

Alan

[MASIGMON]

Today I received both kits that I had ordered from Doug.  They were shipped to me on 12/31/14,.
I was at that time given a tracking # from the post office.  I went to the post office web site entered the tracking # & I asked the post office to e-mail me shipping updates.  They started sending me up dates right away & within a week the kits wre here.  Please do not blaim Doug.  He just shipped them out & it is up to the post office to deliver them.  Anyone having trouble getting their kits should sign up for shipment updates.
The kits look great.  Once again Doug has done great joob

Mike Sigmon
Jacksonville, FL

[Mike Engler]

bandofan should probably just chill- it sounds like kits are showing up every day, and it appears that the USPS is taking its time in some cases. Surprise, surprise!  I hope that the impatient but noisy few are the first ones to jump in with build threads when they get their kits. Or maybe they are in a hurry to get on eBay?

[madharry]

I cannot agree with the last commentator.....

Having built Red Hook Wharf and Execution Rocks on both forums I am both patient and certainly not noisy.

In my trade - internet tour operator - if I take an order with payment for an airline ticket I have to issue the ticket immediately.

My wife ordered the kit on 4 November - order #6452 - and paid $359 including shipping to the UK. The money was charged to her card straight away. The kit was intended as a Christmas present for me. In the event my wife "bought" some smaller FOS kits from me that I had exchanged for a OOP RSM kit with another forum member, in order to give me a Christmas present.

My birthday is next week and as the FOS Oyster Hill is still pending, she is now doing a similar exercise and "buying" off me the SRM Tucker & Cook kit which I ordered on 31 December which arrived today.

My wife has become very frustrated over the whole process and while I love the FOS kits it may well be that she decides to place her Christmas/Birthday present order elsewhere in future against my best wishes.

FOS kits are great but I think Doug should take a leaf out of Bob VG's book and build up demand for the kit with a teaser before taking orders which then could be filled immediately without in my case certainly a 3 month delay!

Mike   

[NEMMRRC]

Howdy.

When I purchased Oyster Hill I paid with PayPal. That causes an immediate withdrawal of funds from PayPal account or charge to credit card.

Those that paid directly with credit card, was your card charged on order or was your card charged on shipment?

I'm just curious that way.

Jaime

[madharry]

Charged on order.

Mike

[NEMMRRC]

Charged on order.

Mike

Thanks.

I am beginning to "feel the pain" of those waiting on their kit(s).

I don't know what else to say other than I hope resolution comes quickly.

Jaime

[NEMMRRC]

I'm drawn like a moth to a flame by this stuff.

I received a notice from PayPal with a USPS tracking number when my Oyster Hill shipped. I've attached below a screen capture of my shipment's history. Perhaps those still waiting on the kit can compare their shipment's history to mine for reference.

Jaime