First of all, I have good news. The Trumpeter 1/16 King Tiger has finally reached these shores!
The bad news (at least for me) is that I woke up this morning to discover that Great Models had charged my checking account without my authorization. The four hundred dollar charge was about twice what I had in my account, and I was facing the prospect of an overdraft charge, not to mention a depleted bank account until next payday. I called my bank and they said this was between me and the vendor. I called GM. They were quite nice about it and agreed to reverse the charge and put it on hold until receiving a specific authorization from me.
Have to admit, though, I’m more than a little ticked off about this, because I specifically told GM when I placed the order that I wanted a heads-up before they ran the charge for the King Tiger.
At any rate, it’s all straightened out now. I’m willing to give GM the benefit of a doubt and chalk this up to adminsitrative oversight on their part. But if anyone else is in a similar situation, I strongly recommend that you keep a close watch on your checking account in order to avoid an overdraft charge.
I’ll have the necessary funds in a few days, and I know I can look forward to having that baby in front of me by the end of the year!
I think your title is a bit strong for this thread…I have dealt with GM for many years and dropped several thousand dollars on purchases there over the years…I have had nothing but good service with them AS LONG as I communicated with them clearly about my needs and expectations.
I ALWAYS call my order in and speak to a live person. I find this helps eliminate the type of problem you had. In fact, if you request it, you can place your account ON HOLD for up to two weeks at a time, meaning if something comes in and would normally ship, it won’t until your account is taken off of HOLD or the two weeks elapses.
I’m not sure your thread provides any new insight into GM or anything else and IMO does nothing but unfairly smears GM…
Sounds more like he was just giving us a heads up of what could happen to you. I know people have ther favorite places to buy from, and have differn’t experiences as well. I have dealt with GM only once, and it is the last time for me. Not disrespecting them, i’m sure most people have a great experience with them, but they didn’t work well for me. My main place is Squadron and a cuople of others.
I think its always good to know what others experience at shops, helps others to decide and what not.
I too have had excellent service from GM over a number of years and many purchases. Earlier, when I called them and explained what happened to the customer service rep on the other end, she acted immediately to remove the charge --for which I’m grateful! I consider GM to be one of the best suppliers to the modeling community in the business, and in spite of this glitch, I’ll continue to do business with them.
Having said that, however, when one is faced with the prospect of overdraft charges and no money for the basics of life due to an administrative oversight (no matter how highly the company is held in esteem), I think the modeling community is entitled to a heads-up, should anyone else be facing a similar situation.
Fortunately, I was able to resolve this matter with a couple of phone calls. However, in the past, I wasn’t as fortunate. Several years ago, I made an online purchase from a company unrelated to modeling. This purchase led to an unauthorized charge followed by a cascade of overdraft charges. Took me over a month and several face-to-face meetings with a bank customer service rep to resolve --so maybe I’m a bit more vigilant on these matters than most people. In today’s case, if I hadn’t been watching my checking account, I would have collected a whole raft of overdraft charges.
For your information, I placed my initial order with a live person three months ago, at which time I specifically and clearly stated that I wanted a heads-up when the order came in, so I could avoid just this sort of thing!
Did I unfairly smear GM? Maybe the title of my thread was a bit overstated, but under the circumstances, if it helps one person avoid a whole lot of hassles and grief, I think it has served its purpose!
Mistakes happen, even with the most reputable companies and the best of intentions on both ends!
Never use your debit card for internet purchases!!! At least not your main checking account! It can get tied up between you and the vendor and all automatic monthly charges can cause so many overdrafts.
That was my thinking here. I’ve had my run ins with Greatmodels but it was always because of website issues and my on misunderstanding. As soon as I call they always are prompt, courteous and attentive to what my needs are. I’ve never hung up the phone with them not satisfied, the girl who answers has a great voice also so that helps…
Thread title should be “Warning about placing pre orders”.
Looks like I’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest! Yes, I’ve learned the hard way that paying by debit card can lead to problems When I placed this order, I told GM that I intended to pay by check, and that’s why I wanted to be notified. I didn’t realize they had my card number on file. However, I don’t hold it against them.
The anticipation of seeing this long-awaited kit finally got to be more than I could stand, and I decided to dip into a previously off-limits emergency account rather than wait until payday next week (just this once). I don’t have a Significant Other at the present, so there’s no one to account to.
Well, it’s almost Christmas. Time to get in the spirit. I’m going to take a vacation from computers and forums and anything else that leads to frustration, conflict and discontent.
Before you go off to your vacation from computers and forums and anything else that leads to frustration, conflict and discontent—why don’t you clean up the overstated title to your “hornets’ nest” of a thread?
fantomfixer, we get generally get one or two of these type of posts a year, where peole have a hard time with a company and then post a rant here as if the problem that they had was a consistent, reoccurring problem with the vendor–which it usually never is. We generally do discourage these type of threads, which are invariably “reactionary” posts, which are done in a huff, and always DO stir up a “hornet’s nest”.
It would be best to edit your title line as Manny suggested! [:)]
I too had an experience whereby GreatModels made an unauthorized charge against my credit card. I placed an order with them for the Hunnicutt Sherman book and four days later the charge went through, I received my book and was a happy customer.
My problem began about five weeks later when I was looking at my credit card bill online for another reason entirely, and I saw a second charge from GreatModels made a couple of weeks before (and three weeks AFTER my original order). After I inquired they said the charge was for shipping.
Fortunately I still I my printed receipt, and after looking at it saw that they had indeed originally undercharged me by $1.84, however they didn’t charge me the second time for $1.84 to which they we’re entitled but rather $9.16.
I had two issues with their behavior in my situation. First and foremost was overcharging me. Secondly, if they had a legitimate reason to make a second charge, given that they were doing it three weeks after the fact, I feel they needed to contact me and let me know what was going on before doing it.
I might still do business with them in the future, depending upon my level of desparation, but if I do so, I will watch everything with intense scrutiny. Whether by intent or incompetance, they are not overly trustworthy.
Been there, done that. I would up 640.00 in the hole from a charge that took out more than I had…got rid of all autodebits that afternoon, it was a cascade effect as the moons and stars lined up and all my bills fell due on the same day…autodebit of course!
Now I tend not to order much in the way of hobby supplies, especially since we recently got a full line LHS in town.
I had this happen to me on a laptop that I had preordered and then cancelled. Imagine my surprise a few weeks later when I got an email saying the laptop was ready to ship and my card had been charged. Called them up and they found the cancellation and reversed the charge but the damage was done. Called up the bank the next day, they looked into it and waived all fees from the overdrafts that the computer company caused. Key Bank, great customer service. [:)]
I can’t think of a single model kit in the world that is so important that I would jepordize feeding my family or paying my bills in order to get my hands on it. But, that’s just me…
OK, I am new at this whole thing I do say, but you must admit and I think it should be noted that “check floating” which is what you did gave you your end result. In the last two years, banks are doingso much regardig electronic funds that theya re now near-instant, so if you do not expect to pay right-then/right-there, it is best to go credit card, if I may respectfully suggest. However, I cannot help but note some of you are being a bit tough on the guy, it’s his money to do as he pleases, plain & simple.
As to GM, I think one thing really NOT fully understood by many, and really recently by me, is that when using the search feature, you REALLY NEED to check that little box with the blurb about “In Stock Items Only.” That takes care of it for all issues, pre-orders or no.
By chance I work in procurement of a large OEM in my sector of industry, Purchasing in much the same manner as GM, and in talking to the lady at GM that answers the phone (again and per MP, that is one grrrreat voice, well worth the call anytime!) we have chatted a few times and I understand very slightly their computer system. As each order is formally keyed, they are removed from the stock, so though your order may say in stock at that time, it is not fully confirmed as yours until the order is keyed all the way thru Customer Service, and that assumes that the stock count is fully correct (most are off by about 3%), so it may say it, but until you get the formal confirm, don’t bet the entire farm on it or start buying paints etc. for it. Same thaing for us in Industry and what I am haggling with today - does not matter how many people I make happy I only hear about the ones that I didn’t. All that said, I have placed three orders with GM usint the method above, all items have shipped UT within 3 days of placement, and all have made it to SC in 3-4 business days - YEAH GREAT MODELS!