With some of the recent on-line model shop service failures I’ve seen come across these posts, I thought I’d post something positve.
While builidng the AM P-39Q I ran across an issue with the stencil numbers not matching the decal numbers in the instruction book. After contacting AM via e-mail, I received a personal response (not an automatically generated one) the next day from Mr. Thomas Myers stating he’d look into it and get back with me. The following day I received a PDF of the decal reference page with updated stencil numbers matching those on the decal sheet.
Service is alive and well at Accurate Miniatures. They ackowldged the issue, corrected the issue, and stayed in communication with the Customer; All within 3 days.
I’m not sure about all of you, but I’ve always had good experience with both their kits and the rare cases I needed to contact them.
I’ve never had a service issue like that with them, but I have on several occassions just emailed inquiring about future releases, status of products, etc., and I’ve always received a nice response that fully answered my questions.
My only beef with AM is I wish they had MORE KITS! [;)] I’d love to see a Spitfire Mk. IX that was as nicely done as their P-51A series. Same with P-40’s- love to see a new tooling of the F/L, B and K that had AM quality to them.
I agree with you completely on the caliber of Acc Min customer service. I have had similar experiences with them, including support for the old (early 90’s) kits. I will buy any kit they produce without hesitation!
You can tell alot about the company just by their packaging. I was very impressed with the first AM kit I ever purchased, finding the false bottom in the box for protecting the more fragile pieces. (clear parts and decals)! I’ve never had a problem with any of their kits but I’m glad to hear if I do they will take care of it.
If nothing else, I applaud AM for their choice of subject matter. Who else would give us a truly gem-like Vindicator kit? Hats off to that kind of trailblazing spirit.
I’m hoping this nice little sharing with Eduard will result in new and exciting kits. I know Eduard has a Bf110 coming out, which I’m drooling over. I’d like to see what AM is working on…
Yeah, gotta agree with all of the above…Accurate Miniatures is a class act.
Their kits are expensive, but worth every penny. Everything about those kits shouts “quality”…I just wish other manufacturers were as dilligent and careful about “perceived customer value” with their releases as AM is.
A few years back AM changed management, I’m not sure if this meant they were having financial troubles or not. My concern is that is they have a very high level of “perceived value”, yet are having financial issues, it might mean that the marketplace still defines value as “low price” over “Customer Service”…
I bought two of their Avengers last week at my LHS, one had some vinyl canopy masks and the other didn’t. I contacted AM via email about it, and got a very nice, prompt response from Bonnie Busser there. She asked for my addy, and said she would put another set in the mail for me. So far, I am VERY impressed. [:D]
Yeah, I’ve had similar experiences- I had a B-25C/D kit tha was missing quite a few parts (I boughtit already started), and they offeredto give me a complete kit for under half the regular price! My mom saidI couldn’t, thought, which as you can guess, made me MAD!!! But, I didmanageto get some spares, and now myC/D is a-B from the Doolittle raid.
I am a huge AM fan! The company has spoiled me in releasing practically every variant of my favorite aircraft- the SBD…and there are a few others classic examples of excellent Pacific aircraft kits. I wish they’d attempt a Devastator- that would please me to no end!