WARNING: Tower is using Fedex Smartpost now

[Rekreant]

If you buy the wrong part, its your fault. Not the hobby shop. If you give thwm a part number and they bring you a different part number, why would you buy it?

Research before you buy.

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You misunderstand. The average person doesnt do research on what part they need, they go in to the shop and either show them what broke, or tell them what it is they want to do. When I went in and told them I wanted to convert my slash 2wd to 32p without a gear cover, two separate times they gave me a spur that doesnt fit. Also when I went in to get a nice quality steering servo for rock crawling, they sold me a 75$ racing water proof savox servo. After that I stopped trusting them for any information, and every single time since then I go in asking for said part I did research on and "theyve never heard of it, we dont carry it". I point out that not only does the online store say they have it at THAT store, but its also currently in stock. Every time it ends up being there too.

Either way the whole research before you buy its your fault etc etc etc argument is just bad business. You can say that about hobby stores, but if I did the same thing at a home depot they will give me my money back and actually find the proper part for it. People need to stop giving hobby shops a pass for this BS just because its a small business. Smaller businesses should be MORE ON POINT than big corporations if they are to provide any sort of tangible value.

On the topic of research, you do realize the internet and hobby store websites are full of incorrect information right? Look up servos on different vendors and a lot of them have different numbers or absolutely dont list them anyway.

 

[Rekreant]

$15 from CA to PA is pretty average for a small vendor. Plus, UPS and FedEx also up-charge to deliver to residential addresses. I'm also willing to bet that the "published" rate (retail) and the "negotiated" rate (cost) are identical in this case. When packages are under 2 pounds, those rates typically are the same.

Unless you are a powerhouse like Amazon, shipping is a big cost. Those that offer "free" shipping have that cost sunk somewhere else. Eating shipping with no offset is a good way to go broke.

I agree, RPP does charge too much for shipping when they charge, I have another thread comment about that very fact. But if you take advantage of the free shipping when you can its still just as fast.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I did say that I called them didnt? Of course I let them know they wouldnt be getting any more business from me if this is how they intend to ship in the future, ESPECIALLY not even offering other methods.

I didn't say that you didn't. I was just making it as a general statement.

 

[Rekreant]

I didn't say that you didn't. I was just making it as a general statement.

You made a good point though, we DO need to actively let them know we disapprove if they are every to correct their misstep. The lady on the phone told me it was all coming from the corporate higher ups and made it sound like they either didnt care, or there was no way for lower level workers to even communicate their concerns. Buyouts are a rats nest of an issue.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

You made a good point though, we DO need to actively let them know we disapprove if they are every to correct their misstep. The lady on the phone told me it was all coming from the corporate higher ups and made it sound like they either didnt care, or there was no way for lower level workers to even communicate their concerns. Buyouts are a rats nest of an issue.

Catch 22. If Tower wasn't bought out that woman and many others wouldn't have jobs because it would have closed.

 

[skinnyj]

I agree, RPP does charge too much for shipping when they charge, I have another thread comment about that very fact. But if you take advantage of the free shipping when you can its still just as fast.

What I'm trying to say is that it isn't RPP. They are likely charging what UPS/FedEx charges them (RPP). Using Jato's example of $15 from CA to PA, I would say there was zero markup on the shipping costs by RPP. You can't sell something for less than what you pay for it and make money. The difference is that, at $100, your order hits their profit point where they can "eat" the shipping.

 

[skinnyj]

You misunderstand. The average person doesnt do research on what part they need, they go in to the shop and either show them what broke, or tell them what it is they want to do. When I went in and told them I wanted to convert my slash 2wd to 32p without a gear cover, two separate times they gave me a spur that doesnt fit. Also when I went in to get a nice quality steering servo for rock crawling, they sold me a 75$ racing water proof savox servo. After that I stopped trusting them for any information, and every single time since then I go in asking for said part I did research on and "theyve never heard of it, we dont carry it". I point out that not only does the online store say they have it at THAT store, but its also currently in stock. Every time it ends up being there too.

Either way the whole research before you buy its your fault etc etc etc argument is just bad business. You can say that about hobby stores, but if I did the same thing at a home depot they will give me my money back and actually find the proper part for it. People need to stop giving hobby shops a pass for this BS just because its a small business. Smaller businesses should be MORE ON POINT than big corporations if they are to provide any sort of tangible value.

On the topic of research, you do realize the internet and hobby store websites are full of incorrect information right? Look up servos on different vendors and a lot of them have different numbers or absolutely dont list them anyway.

I try to support my local, but all they know how to sell for surface stuff is Traxxas. Ask them about planes and that's a different story.

 

[Rekreant]

I try to support my local, but all they know how to sell for surface stuff is Traxxas. Ask them about planes and that's a different story.

Yeah. The store I go to is likely 80% Traxxas stuff, but they have a good sized wall and a half full of Axial and crawler stuff too. The other one is actually a lawnmower store that has traxxas parts. That one was weird lol.

 

[svt923]

The other one is actually a lawnmower store that has traxxas parts. That one was weird lol.

I have one of those lawnmower/hobby shops around me too, didn't think there was more than one in the country.

It was really strange that even though they are like 75% mower parts, they were the first place to have the TRX4 available when it was released.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

What I'm trying to say is that it isn't RPP. They are likely charging what UPS/FedEx charges them (RPP). Using Jato's example of $15 from CA to PA, I would say there was zero markup on the shipping costs by RPP. You can't sell something for less than what you pay for it and make money. The difference is that, at $100, your order hits their profit point where they can "eat" the shipping.

I refer back to my Priority box comment. Are they $15 these days?

 

[Rekreant]

i refer back to my priority box comment. Are they $15 these days?

7.50$

 

[Rekreant]

I just returned a super shafty shaft in a bubblewrap package through the USPS for 5$. shipped yesterday and arriving Saturday. I think its up to 1.5lbs on that small one too. There really isnt any excuse.

 

[svt923]

I refer back to my Priority box comment. Are they $15 these days?

I haven't shipped anything in a while but a quick look on the USPS site says a large flat rate box is $17 and a medium is about $13.

 

[Rekreant]

I haven't shipped anything in a while but a quick look on the USPS site says a large flat rate box is $17 and a medium is about $13.

flat rate small box is 7.20, not 7.50 like I said earlier.

 

[skinnyj]

Note, I said it looked average for UPS/FedEx. I stated elsewhere that USPS is the way to go for light packages across country. If RPP is charging $15 for an $8 service that everyone knows is $8, then, yes, that is moronic.

However, I don't use USPS regularly because they are not as reliable as UPS or FedEX. My UPS guy drops off and picks up at the same time everyday. Our mailman can show up anywhere from 10am to 5pm. If I ship something and UPS gives me a transit time of 2 days, 99.9% of the time, it's 2 days. I can't say that for USPS.

 

[Rekreant]

Note, I said it looked average for UPS/FedEx. I stated elsewhere that USPS is the way to go for light packages across country. If RPP is charging $15 for an $8 service that everyone knows is $8, then, yes, that is moronic.

However, I don't use USPS regularly because they are not as reliable as UPS or FedEX. My UPS guy drops off and picks up at the same time everyday. Our mailman can show up anywhere from 10am to 5pm. If I ship something and UPS gives me a transit time of 2 days, 99.9% of the time, it's 2 days. I can't say that for USPS.

Interesting. I order about 30-50 packages a month, and at least 95% of them end up being delivered by the post office. I think its cause Im in the middle of nowhere and there is a major hub an hr away. That said, the post office is NEVER late for me. Fedex is terrible, and UPS is never late but always arrives late in the day.

 

[Rekreant]

I live in a town with a population of 5k, so that may be a factor for sure.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

I tried to get pricing earlier on in a quick search on USPS's site and it said they were all $0.00.

Doubt tires will fit in a small box after double checking dimensions. So maybe they don't markup shipping. Either way, RPP's shipping price is 100% more than the eBay seller in question and around 5 times more than AMain's.

 

[Rekreant]

When I ordered my Injora rims they came in one of those big Amazon bubble bags. 2 shipping of course.

 

[skinnyj]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the lawnmower shop that sells TRX4 parts...