Where is all the stock???

[Mike656]

For the larger purchases I definitely check prices home and abroad, then ring around to see if the UK shops will price match. Spares are another story. It's a pain when you can't order everything from a single shop and end up buying from a couple of shops to support the local economy. When that happens, it's sometimes a lot cheaper to shop in the EU. Always got hit for import duties and handling from US or Japan, but you factor that in and often still saves on costs but a longer wait.
Think the big three may be tied in to the local UK distributor, so they may have their hands tied when sourcing models and spares? If Ripmax is out of stock, will they be able to resupply when their stock is sold?

[philipjdall]

Phil the big question is, why should we support our retailers it they're not supporting us it's a two way street or it's supposed to be

For me there are two reasons. One, it's winter and I'm not all that fussed to freeze my b*lls off in a freezing field (before you say it - last weekend was an exception!) so I've not really been in a huge rush. Two, as much as they aren't supporting us by providing stock I'd still like to do what I can to help them stay in business.

I don't know about you but I think it would be a pity if any of our big suppliers had to shut up shop.

[waveydavey]

I think everyone thinks the same Phil and bar a few I would say everyone would prefer to buy in the UK, I would. But if the bits/models aren't there in order to carry on you have to source elsewhere, a catch 22 situation where there are no winners.

[ChrisB]

Hopefully used prices will rally because of this,i have got $hitloads of stuff stacked up waiting to put up for sale when i get round to it

[scallybert]

Post-Brexit (as in actual Brexit), we may need our local UK dealers a lot more; as buying from the EU may be harder (though, who knows..?).

Right now, though, some of them [UK vendors] seem to struggle to actually add any value; when EU vendors can deliver, from stock, reasonably painlessly.

[scallybert]

There's a certain comparison with local hobby shops; who don't (IMO) seem to serve much of a purpose.

[madgooner99]

Loads of Heli flyers I know are spending there cash on Fpv racing quads. Not many guys buying new Heli's that were last year

[Crashalotjoe]

I'm wondering if it is a supply problem. I've noticed a couple of times that when stock finally arrives it doesn't seem to last long so people are obviously buying the stuff, the vendors just aren't holding sufficient stock. Whether that is economics or supply levels I'm not sure. Whatever, the market seems to be there. Hot products like the Brain 2, Hobbywing V4 ESC's, Castle ESC's etc. never seem to stay in stock long and there's a long wait for them to come back into stock.

The slightly annoying thing is I can find vendors in Europe who carry the stock, similarly priced and can deliver in a couple of days.

It does seem to be a recent development as I wasn't having these problems even 3 or 4 months ago. I've had to go to Europe to buy blades, ESC's, motors and servos recently - a bit depressing really (and, whilst in rant mode: why can't you buy KST servos over here?).

[bigpops]

If no one is stocking KST servos over here, then it's probably because they don't think it's worth doing.

That could be that they either don't think there's a market for them, or that there isn't enough money to be made at the price they'd have to sell them at to get sales.

I must admit, it's a couple of years since I promised to a set of their full sized brushless ones in a 600 or 700 build. The problem is, I've never got around to doing another build the last couple of years as the cash simply isn't there. If they're good enough for Kan Poonoi, they're good enough for me.

[Crashalotjoe]

Yeah, for the price, they are excellent (usually). There is a UK place that deals with KST, but mainly for planks. I'm sure you're right, the heli market is too small. I might buy a few to test the market.

[Grumpy]

Hyperflight do KST servos, but not the heli specific models, plus the price they sell them at makes them little in any cheaper than the 'big brand name' stuff... IMHO best cut out the middle man and order them direct from China, I get mine from Gartt via Aliexpress.

[George J]

It's got nothing to do with Brexit or the weak £, it's just a very tough market to trade in right now and with no doubt high minimum order costs from Mikado etc its no surprise the likes of Fast Lad are not keeping stock on the shelves right now.

Its just very easy to blame Brexit or the weak £ etc when in actual fact it's just plain old simple times are hard at the moment. On top of that FPV has taken a lot of people away from helis.

I usually spend a fortune each year on the hobby and due to various personal reasons have not spent as much over the last year and I know quite a few of the friends I fly with have been in a similar situations hobby wise so I think overall people are just not spending so much money on helis right now.

However, I'm already getting right back into it by ordering 16 gallons of nitro today!

[bigpops]

However, I'm already getting right back into it by ordering 16 gallons of nitro today!

If you buy 40 gallons from Fast Lad, you get a free cardboard stand. Go on. It's only just over a grand.

[George J]

If you buy 40 gallons from Fast Lad, you get a free cardboard stand. Go on. It's only just over a grand.

Got to love a cardboard stand.......but not that much!

[milly0812]

I put the question to fastlads on Facebook this morning and they replied very quickly as follows.