Topic: Westbourne Models - 'Let the buyer Beware!' (Read 133057 times)

The Old Fart · « **Reply #250 on:** December 06, 2015, 07:30:48 am »

Has anyone any information when Westbourne will be trading and sending out back orders?

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #251 on:** December 06, 2015, 08:20:09 am »

Quote from: The Old Fart on December 06, 2015, 07:30:48 am

Has anyone any information when Westbourne will be trading and sending out back orders?

Hmmmm.... good luck with that!

PeachyPM · « **Reply #252 on:** December 06, 2015, 11:28:48 am »

Surely someone, in fact, many people who are members of MBM must have some sort of relationship with Westbourne models? They have been selling to Model Boat enthusiasts for years so must know people from the nearest clubs reasonably intimately?
So why don't they respond to all these negative comments at least with a statement or some plea for patience?
Maybe it's gone way past that and they really have gone bust and are too ashamed/scared to explain themselves.

Ps. if their website still accepts orders & payments and they are bust then they will be trading insolvent wich is against the law (obviously).

I do however scincerly hope this is one great big misunderstanding and that they do continue to trade and honour all orders placed, as this hobbie really needs local traders/specialists to survive.

inertia · « **Reply #253 on:** December 06, 2015, 12:05:00 pm »

If they are insolvent then it's passed time that someone put them out of their misery. Unfortunately it costs over a grand to petition the courts and you have to be owed over £5K; that would pretty much preclude any 'wronged' retail customers. It would really need to be a major trade creditor or the Revenue.
While I can appreciate the sentiment behind the last posting these characters are knowingly taking folks' money and not supplying the goods ordered. From the number of complaints aired on this forum alone it's clear that this has happened time and time again - any talk of a misunderstanding is naive, I'm afraid.
I have no sympathy for crooks and I won't do business with anyone whom I suspect of being one. This really is a very big "caveat emptor".
DM

Legal stuff here https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-bankrupt-someone/overview

GAZOU · « **Reply #254 on:** December 06, 2015, 12:10:16 pm »

Hello let us try of human beings

They maybe have difficulty, they have maybe a working life of lost because of internet.

They do not know how to tell it to us.

And it is not our comments which are going to help them!

Somebody can go to see them and to ask what is the problem and tell us .................

We do not become a swindler overnight.
Westbourne had good reputation.

It is not storekeepers who went(took) up a swindle with internet;

We had, here, problems with a big storekeeper who has a store and a site of sale. As Westbourne. All the designers accused it. I contacted him and I asked him what took place, he told me, I understood and I transmitted to my colleagues, since OK. he delivered very fast

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #255 on:** December 06, 2015, 12:46:20 pm »

Isn't reporting a dicey shop to the local trading standards office at the local authority a good start? Costs nothing and often gets results - particularly if they get multiple complaints.

carlmt · « **Reply #256 on:** December 06, 2015, 01:30:35 pm »

Put away the big knives chaps.

I agree that their communication about delays etc. leaves much to be desired, but step back at take a look at this from the 'outside' for a second.....

How many on here have had 'issues' with Westbourne? Now relate that to how many active members there are on this site and then relate THAT figure to how many TOTAL members there are on this site. And that is just THIS site. I am sure that Westbourne deal with far more customers than just us on here.

So, what I am saying is, the complaints on here probably make up a very small fraction of their entire business - and they (rightly or wrongly) don't feel the need to respond. I doubt that members on Mayhem alone can bring a business to its knees regardless of the complaints.

I agree that maybe some of their ways of doing business are not what we would like, but so long as it is not illegal it is up to them.

I am in no way defending them, or trying to excuse them...........just standing back a bit and trying to see it from the outside.

Netleyned · « **Reply #257 on:** December 06, 2015, 01:53:46 pm »

Have any of our members been satisfied customers in the last six months?
Doesn't look like from the replies on here.

Ned

sparkey · « **Reply #258 on:** December 06, 2015, 02:15:23 pm »

I have not ordered from this company for some years,I heard about their poor customer service a couple of years ago from a club member and fought shy of them since,I am just one customer they lost so there must quite a few more out there,their lost trade must costing them a fortune and a good reputation is easy to lose and can take forever to regain,I just hope all this can be sorted out and we can once again have confidence in this once fine retailer........Ray.

inertia · « **Reply #259 on:** December 06, 2015, 02:37:30 pm »

Quote from: carlmt on December 06, 2015, 01:30:35 pm

So, what I am saying is, the complaints on here probably make up a very small fraction of their entire business - and they (rightly or wrongly) don't feel the need to respond. I doubt that members on Mayhem alone can bring a business to its knees regardless of the complaints.
I agree that maybe some of their ways of doing business are not what we would like, but so long as it is not illegal it is up to them.

Carl
By the same argument not all of the complaints are made by Mayhem members either, and then there are those numberless others who wouldn't publicise a 'deal-gone-wrong' for fear of some smart-Alec like me shouting "We told you so!". As a retired VAT auditor and fraud investigator I can say that there comes a point where 'sloppy practice' becomes so regular that it is no longer acceptable - and ultimately not even credible. Whether or not it has actually overstepped the line and become illegal here hasn't been tested yet.
Like Ray says, no-one wants to stick the knife into a once-reputable and thriving business but the fact that this issue crops up time and again, with no apparent attempt on the trader's part to respond in any way, should ring alarm bells.
Dave M

carlmt · « **Reply #260 on:** December 06, 2015, 02:59:25 pm »

Agreed Dave, agreed..

It is because of the comments made here, over a couple of years now, that they have lost me completely as an 'online' or telephone customer. If I am in the area and need something, I will pop in and see if they can help, but I sure wont risk a non face-to-face transaction with them.

I am just sorry that it has come to this..........

Perkasaman2 · « **Reply #261 on:** December 06, 2015, 03:27:13 pm »

I am thinking that the owner or an employee of Westbourne must have visited Mayhem and read this thread by now.

Netleyned · « **Reply #262 on:** December 06, 2015, 03:35:31 pm »

The thread opener was a post from Tug Kenny, one of our Mods who had visited
the shop in October and expressed the concerns of some of our members.
They obviously know whats being said out here.

Ned

radiojoe · « **Reply #263 on:** December 06, 2015, 06:37:25 pm »

I had my problems with them five years ago and have not used them since, if they haven't got their act together in that time I doubt they ever will.

The Old Fart · « **Reply #264 on:** December 07, 2015, 07:35:08 am »

Sent them another e-mail, not expecting reply, like the last ones sent.

Failure to reply and I'll be contacting Trading Standards in Bournemouth.

http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Business/TradingStandards/AboutTradingStandards.aspx

Hate going down this route, but not left with much other choice.

GAZOU · « **Reply #265 on:** December 07, 2015, 07:42:16 am »

Do not forget that we are responsible.

We wanted of the cheap material coming on the other side of the planet.

We put our local suppliers in trouble

Here is the result

PeachyPM · « **Reply #266 on:** December 07, 2015, 08:05:22 am »

Quote from: GAZOU on December 07, 2015, 07:42:16 am

Do not forget that we are responsible.

We wanted of the cheap material coming on the other side of the planet.

We put our local suppliers in trouble

Here is the result

Speak for yourself, I always try my local model shops website first, www.croppersmodels.co.uk
If they have or can order what I want I pop in there on a Saturday morning with my boy, it's much more fun than internet buying!

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #267 on:** December 07, 2015, 08:46:31 am »

Quote from: The Old Fart on December 07, 2015, 07:35:08 am

Sent them another e-mail, not expecting reply, like the last ones sent.

Failure to reply and I'll be contacting Trading Standards in Bournemouth.

http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Business/TradingStandards/AboutTradingStandards.aspx

Hate going down this route, but not left with much other choice.

Hopefully you have already received a reply and everything is resolved but if not..........

I have no experience of any kind with Westbourne Models and so cannot comment on them specifically but this is what I would do if I found myself in a situation such as the one that you describe. The golden rule here is, I believe, evidence and to look like you mean to do something rather than just bluster & eventually go away. Draft a letter - not an email - and in it spell out the full history of your complaint including dates and send it to the registered office of the company. State that you require them to reply within say 14 days. State that you will be contacting Trading Standards unless you receive a satisfactory reply. Keep a copy. Post it to them on a signed for delivery basis so that you have evidence that they received the letter. Hopefully this will shake them into action but if not you have good evidence to support your case. If you require a 14 day reply I would allow 3 weeks before contacting Trading Standards just to make sure that there isn't a postage delay, particularly at this time of year.

inertia · « **Reply #268 on:** December 07, 2015, 09:02:46 am »

Quote from: GAZOU on December 07, 2015, 07:42:16 am

Do not forget that we are responsible.

We wanted of the cheap material coming on the other side of the planet.

We put our local suppliers in trouble

Here is the result

I agree with you, J-P, but there are additional factors at work here e.g. the demise of Graupner and Robbe, who used to supply a large proportion of WM's stock. It also has a lot to do with the people involved. Don't forget that CMB have a thriving business in the same market conditions.
As regards buying from my local shop, it's more expensive to park in town than it is to pay for small items to be delivered by post, and there's also no guarantee that they will have the item I want anyway (they don't do much in the way of marine modelling). If I'm desperate for a general modelling item like adhesive or enamel paint then I'll go to Gee Dee's, but it's maybe only once or twice a year. The old fashioned model shop is an endangered species. The modern shops employ cheap, non-specialist staff and stock what they can obtain and sell easiest - and that is Ready to Run plastic boats, aircraft and quadcopters from China.
Dave M

GAZOU · « **Reply #269 on:** December 07, 2015, 03:08:05 pm »

Hello

I have a good news for you:

You can join WESTBOURNE if you call up after 10:30 am in the morning (I arrived there)

You can join WESTBOURNE by FACEBOOK

Https: // www.facebook.com / WestbourneModelsCom/

Westbourne had a problem with his site, he has hundreds of late messages

And it is going to have a new site in January 2016

Thus have a little of patience

AlanT · « **Reply #270 on:** December 07, 2015, 04:00:10 pm »

Have bought several kits and parts from them both direct from shop and online.
Always found them helpful.
I have not yet visited their new premises but hope to next year.

Alan

The Old Fart · « **Reply #271 on:** December 08, 2015, 11:24:50 am »

Tried ringing 10:30 till 11:30,

just rings until bt answerphone kicks in.

GAZOU · « **Reply #272 on:** December 08, 2015, 11:51:47 am »

It may be necessary to call them of France

Model_Slipway · « **Reply #273 on:** December 08, 2015, 01:16:25 pm »

What is the problem if the answerphone kicks in? Leave your name and number and he will call you back provided the message is clear. Following is copied from his website:
"Sorry but the Phones have been a bit of a problem due to BT taking there time still !! And are on a redirect but should be back to normal by 15th."

After leaving a message this morning at 11am ... he's just phoned me back! He says that sometimes the number is redirected to his mobile, and sometimes it's switched to answerphone. And that BT have promised to come and sort the problems tomorrow Wednesday.

Jackie

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #274 on:** December 08, 2015, 01:46:15 pm »

Excellent!

Let hope Westbourne get themselves their act back together and we're all singing their praises by the new year!

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Author Topic: Westbourne Models - 'Let the buyer Beware!' (Read 133057 times)

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