Armortek

Dear members, just want to ask if out there are any members or customers who have open and paid orders from Mike? Since FOA took over its business there was a little hope and some kind of promisses to fill Mikes open orders. Since today I only got empty promisses and hold backs for some reason. Does anyone made similar experience. I think its impotant if FOA is reliable and trustworthy for future business, or better to keep the hands off. I hope it will be not a next kind like Steel Dragons.
Martin

Martin

I have a very small order outstanding for two British Larkspur antenna bases.
Loic quite understandably said he was giving priority to starting production of German items. I last heard from him in February, when he said someone else wanted the same items and he was looking at the moulds. He's always been quick to answer emails but I've not yet received any parts. I wait in expectation. I'll be the first to sing the praises of FOA if and when they do arrive.

Best regards

Stephen

I am waiting for those antenna bases,too!!
Martin

Hi Martin

Like you, and Stephen, I am awaiting an old order from Loic at FOA. Other forum members have posted that their (German) orders have been materialising so I continue to have faith and have been reluctant to hassle Loic too often.

Having said that, I did email him for an update in February and was told that the antenna bases are the last remaining issue. Everything else I ordered is there and ready to ship.

Once the moulds have been located, possibly like looking for a needle in a haystack, I'm confident that our orders will arrive.

Martin, I know this is frustrating but Loic made a commitment to Mikes old customers and I believe he will be true to his word. We just need to be patient a while longer.....

regards

Kevin

Hi Martin an all,

I also had one paid for but on hold order from Mike and Loic promissed me in mid October 2014 he would send it as soon as he had every item for my order.
After some mailing back and forward he in February informed me he had the last one on my list, the Panther engine deck hinges, and that he now would ship.
I got my items 2 weeks ago safe and unharmed, thanks again Loic, and it was well worth waiting as the item quality is of the same high level that Mike spoiled us with.

I know and understand FOA have their hands full with other stuff then Mikes last orders but I am certain all will be delivered even if it might take some time. From what I understand it is the IR equipment in general that most people are waiting for.
Hope everything turn out well in the end for everyone of you.

Kind regards
Kent

Seems that I am almost the only one who is still waiting w/o hope. May be FOA did fill some smaller orders. Just an example: I still -- and I know at least one more Person -- waiting also for the paid IR scope and got told there are parts still in production. But!! FOA shows a stock of two units in their online shop!! Also i do not get anymore reply on my mails. As a result FOA is not trustworthy and I highly recommend to keep the fingers off this shop. I know this is not the right place to post such matters but want to warn members of possible loss of money and fraud.
Of course I will update iff!! something will turn into a satisfying result.
Martin

I placed an order with FOA a few weeks ago, the parts were in stock at the time,admittedly it wasn't a large order, but an order all the same.
They were quick to take the money out of my bank but I still have not received my order.
When I eventually received a reply from Loix as to where my order had got to he sent me a tracking number which was of no use to me as when I tried to trace the package with the number supplied it came up as not recognised.
Despite trying to contact FOA I have not had a reply at all from them. Luckily I paid by Paypal and I am now trying to claim my money back through the resolution centre.
I for one will definately not be ordering any further parts from FOA if this is how they treat their customers...

Hi Stephen I eard the same Story with the tracking numbers from another side , too. On Claim with PayPal, that should work if it is not too old. I think it has to be done within 60 days after payment. Check out their Terms policy.
I highly recommend "fingers off FOA"
Martin

Steve,
I'm not really sure I understand your actions: Your ordered on April 1st, your order was shipped to the UK on April 3rd, and on April 17th, you made a Paypal claim you never got your order? I respectfully disagree with such actions. Your order will arrive. I do not trust the Postal Service either, but ultimately, order usually make it to their destinations. 3 weeks is NOT unusual for 1st Class mail. 1st Class tracking do NOT show outside the US, because the USPS has no control over other countries' postal regulations.

So I hope Paypal will see through this... and you will be happy with your product

Martin,
The IR Scope and Bins are a real nasty mess because Mike Stannard did NOT complete the Scopes before his untimely passing, but he collected the money of a lot of people. FOA is trying hard to fix this issue as a gesture to the community. I don't want to be nasty, but fraud is when someone collects money and never delivers. FOA never collected YOUR money... but FOA wants to deliver. 70% of the pre-ordered IR scopes have been shipped. Yours is not yet - actually, I don't even have a paper invoice of your order so I will have to research that in Mike's old Mac. Please be patient. The good news: FOA completed the IR scope at its own expense (there are still a handle and two brackets that should be detailed in brass, and an electrical box on the back plate that the customer can scratchbuild).

I'm attaching a picture sent from a customer in Switzerland who first completed his IR Scope on his Armortek schmalltrum that we posted on our FB page

[quote="Loic (6thScaleIcons)"]Steve,
I'm not really sure I understand your actions: Your ordered on April 1st, your order was shipped to the UK on April 3rd, and on April 17th, you made a Paypal claim you never got your order? I respectfully disagree with such actions. Your order will arrive. I do not trust the Postal Service either, but ultimately, order usually make it to their destinations. 3 weeks is NOT unusual for 1st Class mail. 1st Class tracking do NOT show outside the US, because the USPS has no control over other countries' postal regulations.

So I hope Paypal will see through this... and you will be happy with your product.


Loic. I do not want to get into an argument over this or particularly air it on an open forum but your dates are wrong. I opened a Paypal dispute on the 20/04/15, not on the 17/04/15 as you claim and I only opened the dispute as:-

a) you did not reply to my emails
b) you seem to have a very Cavalier attitude towards your customers. Perhaps a little more thought and communication might help when it comes to customer services.

I hope that my order does eventually arrive but may I make a suggestion for the future especially when you openly say that "I do not trust the Postal Service either" My suggestion being that when sending items abroad at least put an international tracking number on the item so as the customer can track the package from start to finish. A US tracking number is of no use whatsoever to anyone ordering parts from outside the US.

I do hope FOA does manage to fulfil all of the back log of orders and I wish you well for the future.

Steve

I do agree absolutely with Steve a litte better communication would help a lot and avoids bad feelings and impressions.
Martin

Steve,

I only respond on open forum when people post openly on forums. Using open forums to discuss issues, whether justified or not, damages the reputation of all involved.

I did not respond from the 17th to the 20th because i was traveling to Boston to run the Marathon, as I posted to our customer's Newsletter and FB page. FOA is a small operation.

Tracking: please note that USPS 1st class or Priority mail offers limited information on their tracking, as soon as it leaves the US. If you look at your tracking#, it will say that no tracking is offered to this package going to the United Kingdom. First, it's an indication that your package is ACTUALLY going to the UK! But it will just show when it's delivered next. The issue is that several countries' post offices and customs are involved, and USPS has no control over it.

The other option is FedEx and UPS, but the cost would have been over 100% of your product cost.

Please note that you chose 1st Class Mail to optimize your shipping cost.

As I mentioned earlier, this package will arrive
Thank you for your business

I said in an earlier post that I'd sing the praises of FOA if my Larkspur antenna bases arrived. They haven't - yet - but in view of the direction in which the previous posts were heading, I thought I should contribute my rather more positive view.

Realising that Loic had to prioritise the German stuff on which the business is based, I've not pestered him recently. I last heard in February that he had not yet been able to find Mike's moulds. When I saw this thread last week, I emailed him for an update. I got a quick answer and he came back again today to say he and his assistant had just found the moulds, commenting that patience is rewarded.

I really will sing their praises when a package arrives but for now, I'd like to say that I have had a positive experience in dealing with FOA so far. After all, as I understand the situation, they're fulfilling Mike's outstanding orders as goodwill towards their customer community.

Regards.

Stephen