Topic: Build the Bismarck - a "Hachett" job? (Read 211017 times)

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #105 on:** June 01, 2007, 10:39:46 AM »

Well I've just had another long and torturous conversation with http://www.hachettepartworks.co.uk/ call centre in South Africa (?)
They are saying they are the "agents" for Hachett Part Works and cannot supply the magazines the same timing as the shops!
They say the shops (news agents etc.) receive the magazines before they do and the agents "seem to get the left overs" in my opinion.
I'm currently on issue 4, as below, but despite 2 phone calls to "Hachette" over the last month my next issues 5,6,7 & 8 have only been "allocated" 3 days ago?!?!?

I then asked 'how they propose for me to catch up?'
They said 'there is no way they can catch up with the shops.'
I said, 'OK, why don't you send me the current & future issues now and you can sort out the back issues as they become available?'
They said, 'No, they can't do that as they are "not on a par with the shops."
I said, ‘so there is no way I can catch up!’
…….”No.”

Make you own judgment........ :-\

anmo · « **Reply #106 on:** June 01, 2007, 10:49:29 AM »

This is all starting to sound like something that your friendly local Trading Standards could be persuaded to take an interest in.

Daryl · « **Reply #107 on:** June 01, 2007, 12:06:54 PM »

I had a similar conversation with them this morning, they claim to have sent issues 5,6 and 7 sent out on wednesday, and I still keep getting letters saying my bank detail are wrong even thougth they take the correct amount out. Also they keep verifiying that my bank details are correct on their system and when the paymants are made which correspond with my bank.

Hattchetts customer services are a total shambles.

Daryl

Daryl · « **Reply #108 on:** June 01, 2007, 12:21:13 PM »

One thing I have noticed during my numerious 'phone calls to them, it sounds like the same person answering the 'phones, at times I have to wait around 5 minutes before they answer.

Daryl

dougal99 · « **Reply #109 on:** June 01, 2007, 04:30:57 PM »

I bet the call centre is an 0870 number... They are probably making more money from the calls than from the mag.

Cynical moi?

Doug

Daryl · « **Reply #110 on:** June 01, 2007, 04:42:52 PM »

It is an 0870 number that's why I ring from work!!!

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #111 on:** June 04, 2007, 09:33:27 AM »

Quote from: Mayhem - Forum Admin on June 01, 2007, 10:39:46 AM

Well I've just had another long and torturous conversation with http://www.hachettepartworks.co.uk/ call centre in South Africa (?)
They are saying they are the "agents" for Hachett Part Works and cannot supply the magazines the same timing as the shops!
They say the shops (news agents etc.) receive the magazines before they do and the agents "seem to get the left overs" in my opinion.
I'm currently on issue 4, as below, but despite 2 phone calls to "Hachette" over the last month my next issues 5,6,7 & 8 have only been "allocated" 3 days ago?!?!?

I then asked 'how they propose for me to catch up?'
They said 'there is no way they can catch up with the shops.'
I said, 'OK, why don't you send me the current & future issues now and you can sort out the back issues as they become available?'
They said, 'No, they can't do that as they are "not on a par with the shops."
I said, ‘so there is no way I can catch up!’
…….”No.”

Make you own judgment........ :-\

Partwork companies all operate on the same principal, to get as many people as possible to buy into a series, how this happens is that a series magazine goes on sale in a newsagent, any unsold left overs are then sent back to Hachette or in this case Jacklin's it handling company, then usually 3-4 weeks later subscribers are then sent these unsold mags.

You will never be at the same issue number as a retail customer and always behind by at least 4 mags, this way it also gives the partwork company a second bite of the cherry so to speak, any shortfall in mags is then made up from a top-up order to the manufacture and hence yet further delays >:(

My advice is simple, DO NOT subscribe to any partwork as if there are any problems in supply it is always the subscribers that bear the brunt of it, also the quickest route to complete a series is via the newsagent and NOT via subscription as subscribers generally run at least 6-8 weeks behind newsagents

Subscription is frought with disappointment & frustration, out of stock excuses, delay's, damage by the posty etc etc, also the reason why they offer so called free gifts (which are usually poor quality items) is to tempt you to subscribe.

I only subscribed once a long time ago and vowed I would never do it again, I'am currently at issue 15 of the Bismarck and it has never missed a beat via my newsagent, better still my model will be complete way before subscribers models are

Why dont you get your local newsagent to get the mag for you from the issue you want onwards, then kick your subscription into touch, cos if you dont you might loose the will to live on hearing the constant excuses from these foreign call centres who cant understand your problem let alone the cost of the call

Daryl · « **Reply #112 on:** June 04, 2007, 10:35:42 AM »

I agree newsagents are the best way to go but... I have subscribed before to part works without the shambles Jacklin/Hatchette are making of this one. My local newsagent won't order it as I would be the only one and to make it worth thier while they want at least 5 people to place a order with them. the next nearest one is quite a drive away which makes it a tad inconvienient. driving into town is costly in time, (traffic jams), parking charges £1.40 per hour and convienience. Thats why I subscribe, I don't mind waiting.

Having said that now I'm going to ring up somewhere foriegn to find out where my latest parts are, ( on the works 'phone!).

Daryl

Daryl · « **Reply #113 on:** June 04, 2007, 10:43:31 AM »

Am I right in thinking that the call centre 0870 920 1133 is in South Africa, i ahd a different person on the 'phone to the normal lady. He said parts 7,8,9,10 & 11 were sent out yesterday, when I asked is that possible to send parts out via Royal Mail on a Sunday he said yes I should get them today or tommorrow. Last week they said they were supposed to be sent out on wednesday.

Good job juniour and I are patient.

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #114 on:** June 04, 2007, 10:57:32 AM »

Yeah its a shame for those who have difficulties with newsagents

Hachette's office number in the UK is 0207 7493900 the person you want is Isabelle Couderc
or email isabelle.couderc@hachettepartworks.co.uk

They will try and filter the call to put you back to Jacklin's in South Africa, be firm and specific as who you want to speak with, hope it helps

Daryl · « **Reply #115 on:** June 04, 2007, 12:35:50 PM »

Excellent thanks for the number and contact name.

Many thanks
Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #116 on:** June 04, 2007, 02:31:14 PM »

No probs and hope the info gets some action for you

Daryl · « **Reply #117 on:** June 05, 2007, 01:10:24 PM »

Latest fiasco, they didn't put enough postage on the parcel, so tonight or first thing in the morning I have to go to the post office depot and cough up £1.24.

I rang Isabelle and she is going to sort out why they didn't put enough postage on and why I keep getting letters saying my card dtails are wrong when they arn't and the correct amount is taken out of my account.

Now I am awaiting someone to call me back, I won't hold my breath.

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #118 on:** June 05, 2007, 01:45:57 PM »

They are taking the P now, well at least you cant get much higher to file a complaint, makes you wonder with all these mishaps how Jacklins are still in business ???

Daryl · « **Reply #119 on:** June 05, 2007, 02:21:33 PM »

Is Jacklin anything to do with the ex-golfer Tony?

I agree what a shambles, I wait to see what they make a mess of next, Isabelle did say she would get one of the managers at the call centre to see what has gone wrong and they should have shorted everything out without me ringing the top brass. The impression I got was that Jacklins have made a mess of this part work.

On a seperate note I wonder if DeAgostini is in trouble as they have cancelled several of their partworks so I am told half way through their run. I got this from someone who was collecting their clocks.

Down below · « **Reply #120 on:** June 05, 2007, 05:44:23 PM »

Jacklin's is a South African based fulfilment company who have a warehouse in the northeast of the UK to serve the UK though as you know its call centre is in Sth Africa, there seem to be three fulfilment houses that the UK partwork companies spread there product across, Jacklin's, Spark Response & Database, the latter two both have UK based call centres so I suppose the language barrier is not a problem for these.

As for Deag being in trouble....I doubt it, they operate in 33 countries and are the largest of all the partwork companies.
You will find that they all test product all year long, usually for 4-6 issues in a localised area to get the feel of how well something might do as a future national, I should imagine not everything makes the grade as partwork companies operate on massive figures to ensure viability.
I read some stuff about Del Prado (who did the Cutty Sark series) recently in the press, it said they were in financial trouble in the UK, hence probably why you dont see much of there stuff around at the moment.

Hachette did a clock series, though I cant say I have heard of one thru deag, sure your mate does not mean Hachette?

Its a risky business is partworks/publishing and a minefield of getting numbers right ::)

Daryl · « **Reply #121 on:** June 05, 2007, 09:54:16 PM »

probibly is Hatchette, he started collecting minature clocks and the series abruptly stopped half way through the expected run. I seem to remember one, can't be more than one partwork on clocks. I suppose he got them mixed up.

He did mention another partwork that stopped halfway through recently but I forgot which one he said. Age I suppose??????

Didn't get time to sort out the P. O. with my misisng parts, I'll try to do that tomorrow work permitting.

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #122 on:** June 06, 2007, 08:17:58 AM »

Yeah miniature clocks was defo one of Hachette's, I suppose partworks is partwroks and as deag are the largest it is the first name that comes into mind especially when a senior moment kicks in....I know the feeling

A good place to look is on deags web site in there title listing, if you carefully scroll down the list you will see some titles not seen on TV or in the shops which I would hazard a guess are most likely local tests, though even then some titles do not even appear on the list at all like the Hood which was recently killed off at issue 4......probably becuse too many were already tied into the Bismarck and its expensive to have two partworks on the go at the same time.

Another good site to check out is deag's italian web site where most of there build-up starts off, see the product list down the left-hand column, loks like they dont have many plans for much boat stuff other than a yacht

www.deamodellab.it/frontend/index.asp

Daryl · « **Reply #123 on:** June 06, 2007, 09:35:59 AM »

Good Site, I see what you mean a distinct lack of boats. Years ago I built the Delprado Bounty, made a bit of a mess of the planking but not a bad job. I have their cutty sark which I will attempt one day. One thing i have noticed is the Delprado instructions are a bit vauge at times and I get the impression they are a bad translation into english. On the other hand so far with the few issues Ihave had the Hattechte instructions seem quite clear.

I'll see today what the P.O. has to say when I hopefully go and get my latest bits. can't help feeling this series is going to be a bit of a shambles for a while until both paties, Jacklin in particular get the hang of it! I have collected partworks before and this has been the worst start I have yet seen.

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #124 on:** June 06, 2007, 12:51:51 PM »

Hopefully you are in the minority but somehow if its subscribers I suspect not.

All the hassle generated will only result repeat business being carefully considered by many, there are lots out there that take an interest in such builds which have never bought into a partwork, after having read the fallout postings all around the net its likley they never will.
One thing for sure is if enough repeat business falls off and they cant attract enough new customers then partworks as an industry in the UK looks bleak, though it seems in Italy, Spain & France where all the partwork HO's are they seem to be a way of life.

All I can say is I'am at issue 15 and all so far is well but a very long way to go, it never misses a beat via the newsagent, no hassle with invoices & payment, no damaged parts, no late deliveries and not behind with the intended build though right now am sick of planking and ton's more yet to come!

Daryl · « **Reply #125 on:** June 06, 2007, 01:52:38 PM »

I agree, I wonder what the circulation figures are? and how many people are having problems? I read with interest the two web site buildthebismarck .com and .co.uk. It seems the problems are rife with disatisfaction with the call centre high on the list.

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #126 on:** June 06, 2007, 04:29:51 PM »

I reckon something like 10 thou initially start off such a series as i know for fact that partwork co's work in many thousands not hundreds, if only 4 thou see such a series thru to its end thats 2,800,000 for a boat & mag that might have cost them a combined price of around £100 each unlike the £700 they are asking, they must have some massive overheads, either that or someone is getting richer by the day!

As for complaints, well the net is full of em on partwork co's and I recall they even appear on watchdog, having said that people still continue to buy into them so there must be some very happy customers out there or do they constantly rely on new blood cos you can only skin a cat once!

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #127 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:36:36 PM »

Well my latest instalments have turned up today, 5, 6 and........ 8 !?! >:(

Daryl · « **Reply #128 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:55:24 PM »

Mine turned up too. 7,8,9,10 &11.

Reading some of the posts on buildthebismarck.co.uk some of the people there seem not to have built a kit before. Lots of strange posts in very bad english with weird ideas. I know we all have to start somewhere but alot of people don't seem to read the instructions before glueing things together. On there is a list of faults found in Germany which is months ahead of us, they are on something like part 38 odd. There is a rush to order the r/c bits from a couple of German suppliers. Jumping the gun??

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #129 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:55:57 PM »

Thats absolute rubbish service, in my view subscribers should take priority as they are just that >:(

If it was me I would be giving Hachette hell, at this rate the so called 140 week series is gonna take you 150 weeks + to complete and no doubt there will more delays along the way as your only at issue 8 out of 140 and even then you have one missing >:(

You could well be looking at a build taking well over 3yrs, wonder how long the real Bismarck took to build?

Just to pee you off even more, yesterday I picked up issue 15 via the newsagent

......more flippin planks!

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #130 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:58:51 PM »

Quote from: Daryl on June 07, 2007, 12:55:24 PM

Mine turned up too. 7,8,9,10 &11.

Daryl

OK Daryl, who do you know ?!?!
Martin

Daryl · « **Reply #131 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:00:46 PM »

Eh???

Daryl

Daryl · « **Reply #132 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:02:32 PM »

Ordered: 16 November 1935
Laid down: 1 July 1936
Launched: 14 February 1939
Commissioned: 24 August 1940

Daryl

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #133 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:03:22 PM »

How come I only got parts 5,6 & 8 when you got parts 8,9, 10 AND 11 when they told me these were not available?!?!?!?

Daryl · « **Reply #134 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:19:55 PM »

Ordered: 16 November 1935
Laid down: 1 July 1936
Launched: 14 February 1939
Commissioned: 24 August 1940

At this rate the 12in to the foot scale was quicker.

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #135 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:22:02 PM »

Quote from: Daryl on June 07, 2007, 12:55:24 PM

Mine turned up too. 7,8,9,10 &11.

Reading some of the posts on buildthebismarck.co.uk some of the people there seem not to have built a kit before. Lots of strange posts in very bad english with weird ideas. I know we all have to start somewhere but alot of people don't seem to read the instructions before glueing things together. On there is a list of faults found in Germany which is months ahead of us, they are on something like part 38 odd. There is a rush to order the r/c bits from a couple of German suppliers. Jumping the gun??

Daryl

Could not agree more, seems a bit daft to me in that questions are being asked that the build advice in the mag tells you about, seems like some people simply dont read the mag build info, and are worrying about things way down the line that will become evident along the way.
Okay the mag is not as descript as it could be but some seem to be assembling by pictures alone or how they think the build should go, then when it goes pearshaped they will be the first to slate the project ::)

One big criticism of the mag is that there is still no mention of the need of waterprof glue if you wish to build the RC version, that to me is irresponsble of Hachette as am sure there will be quite a few ships spring apart in the water, who will be to blame then ???

Yeah I have seen the German RC stuff being offered, I must admit one guy seems to have the experience & knowledge of boats and offering a complete pacage, (wonder if he will still be around when some struggle with the installation of this equipment), but for a novice to go down a route of mixers three motors and all it involves might overwhelm many, it sounds great in principle but maybe some should simply stick with what is being offered to avoid future heartache.

One thing I dont think many have considered is that anyone who deviates from the intended build will have no comeback on Hachette if there model sinks or as a result of the mods things then dont fit as they will be viewed as having modified the model and Hachette will simply walk away :'(

Down below · « **Reply #136 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:24:06 PM »

Quote from: Mayhem - Forum Admin on June 07, 2007, 01:03:22 PM

How come I only got parts 5,6 & 8 when you got parts 8,9, 10 AND 11 when they told me these were not available?!?!?!?

Its what they do best martin.....lie thru there back teeth >:(

Or maybe they did not have enough shop returns to send what you needed

Down below · « **Reply #137 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:30:02 PM »

Quote from: Daryl on June 07, 2007, 01:19:55 PM

Ordered: 16 November 1935
Laid down: 1 July 1936
Launched: 14 February 1939
Commissioned: 24 August 1940

At this rate the 12in to the foot scale was quicker.

Daryl

Says it all

Daryl · « **Reply #138 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:31:11 PM »

Good point, the buildthebismarck forums (.co.uk and.com) posts have been popping up for the last week with people saying they have got there parts including the elusive 7. Is it me or did they say in the first part that we woudl get 4 parts per month? so far issue 1 I got from Smiths, three weeks later I got 2&3, one month later I got 4, 5& 6 and now SIX weeks later I got parts 7 to 11. interesting to see how long I have to wait untilt he next batch turns up. Whatever numbers they are.

Martin have you rang Hattechtte with the UK number you might get somewhere withthem as reading between the lines they have had quite a few 'calls complaining about Jacklins lack of help.

Also if you look on buildthebismarck.co.uk ther is a list of known faults found in Germany, these might be worth bearing in mind to see if they had sorted them out in the UK realease. Thereis a lot of other so called faults listed on that web site most of them are spurious with people not reading the instructions properly.

Keep us informed with how you are getting on. So far junior who is building this on has said the instructions are very good to follow, some of the frame are a very tight fit and one or two are a bit sloppy.But all together it is going together well and he is very pleased with it. Just for the record he's 14 and this is his 4th r/c boat he is doing and he has been modelling since he was 10. I've been doing this for over 30yrs off and on

Daryl

Daryl

Down below · « **Reply #139 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:38:13 PM »

Its good he has an experienced guiding hand as its easy to get carried away with a wish list as a novice (which many building the Bismarck are) such as rotating turrets etc like some are doing.

Hopefully the supply problems will be sorted soon as only goes to it spoil the anticiaption of the build.

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Author Topic: Build the Bismarck - a "Hachett" job? (Read 211017 times)

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