Climbout No Longer The Distributer Of CY Products!!!!!!

[Jamin_00]

I have heard of unauthorised transactions somewhere?? cant remember where or by who but I kinda dismissed it but now you say it makes me kinda believe it.

If this is the case then it is fraud, pure and simple!!!




One thing I noticed when Concepts were around was that FL were 99% of the time over the RRP.

But the one thing you can not take away from them is their website with live stock and the amount of stock. Most and me inc want to only go to one place to buy your bits and they are always (well, ATM anyway ) gonna win there.

[Sticky Stick]

I have heard of unauthorised transactions somewhere?? cant remember where or by who but I kinda dismissed it but now you say it makes me kinda believe it.

If this is the case then it is fraud, pure and simple!!!




One thing I noticed when Concepts were around was that FL were 99% of the time over the RRP.

But the one thing you can not take away from them is their website with live stock and the amount of stock. Most and me inc want to only go to one place to buy your bits and they are always (well, ATM anyway ) gonna win there.

Totally agree with you on the website.

That is one of the reasons why FL get alot of business. Very easy to check stock and order.

If the other big heli shops got their websites sorted out like FL I would bet my Rave ENV they would get more business! I may be wrong but I think alot of the shops don't know how important it is for peopleto come home from a day at work/flying and check stock online amd simply order and forget about it.

Thats where alot of sales are made.

[ChrisB]

I have always found FL to be pretty competitive on prices I normally check a couple of places at least before any order,FL have been the most consistent shop for helis I have ever dealt with,also their website is the best,their service is the best and you can guarantee you wont get a phone call an hour later saying actually something's not in stock unlike another big shop I have used.

[Goto]

Buying Logo spares I've found there is usually only a small difference between FL and the other UK stockists (it was good to see Midland join the Mikado brigade recently), but in other areas I have found FL to be consistently more pricey (sometimes waay more).

As a business, catering to an enthusiast market, they have however got it well sussed. The website is - as others have noted - informative and reliable. The processing of orders is generally accurate and quick. And they seem to have invested in stock, so what we need is mostly available when we need it. We pay for that privelige, but that's always been the case in all things.

Other retailers online need to put the same level of effort into getting a website that works as well as the FL one, then we will have a better choice and cmpetition may bring some price regulation to the market.

As far as retailers also trading in distribution, it's always been the case. Ripmax, Revolution Models (manufacturers also) and Midland (Robbe, Align etc) and others. I can't speak for others but FL do seem to enforce tight price control on the retailing of products they distribute (Edge blades being an example).

Interestingly, Experience RC (i believe the American arm of FL) are generally much better pricewise...

As for the way Climbout parted company with CYE, that seems like a common way of business with these small manufacturers. A friend of mine was responsible for the introduction of the MSComposite brand into the UK, taking on distribution, investing time promoting and building a retail network, holding stock and so on. I bumped into him outside of Martin Briggs Models in Ledbury one cold Saturday afternoon as he went in to show Martin the (then) new MS Hornet micro heli and he was talking enthusiastically about this exciting new machine and the opportunities it would bring in increasing the MSComp business in the UK.

A couple of weeks later he woke up to find a large UK model distributor had whipped the entire MS franchise out from under him, leaving him holding substantial stocks. Small manufacturing companies will almost always shift their business to where they believe they wll make the most money and marketshare, often in a quite mercenary way.

Mark

[Jamin_00]

It is a much bigger market in the US with many many established giants already in the market they would need to be very competitive or be crushed instantly. Credit where credit is due to them in the US for sure as starting any business in the US cant be easy.

[PsiLo]

Yep, the US market is a tough one with some major players already so prices have to be keener. I must say that I am using FL less and less where I can. Their prices have creeped up more and more over the last year (I wonder how much margin increase they use to finance experience RC?). As I am back to being mainly align helis most of my business is going to either my LHS or Align-trex.co.uk as the service they provide is first class and their stock range is always increasing.

[Rctintin]

Ive been using Inwoods more and more now due to their prices. Look at this for an example...

Inwood Models : FUTABA GY750 3 AXIS GYRO & 6203SB S-BUS RX COMBO (Preorder) [RAR1FBL] - £284.99

Futaba CGY750 Flybarless Unit & R6203SB Receiver Combo P-R6203

And before anyone says they are out of stock, this is because no one that I am aware of has the 3ch S-Bus receivers in stock yet. They should be here any day soon, but my point is look at the price difference.

[Stuart]

I have to say that whilst some may not be too happy about the change. I have used just about every supplier in the UK and if your looking for two guys that revolutionised the way the rc modelling (heli) community atleast in terms of the shopping experience via marketing, cracking website, and social marketing and media etc etc. There success has been down not just to there store and working ethics, but also equally to I suspect a fair size of the heli fraternity's desire for a quick and fast service - shopping by convience its in stock, you press buy and it turns up.

Every flyers dream I suspect - so for me yes Climbout have done a fantastic job and FL are not the only store that have distribution rights and in my view we the flyers put FL where they are today. Its up to us the flyers to vote with our hard earned cash, but for me when we didn't have an outrage supplier FL was there and they've been at most if not all big events and support a team of pilots.

I don't fly CY products, not because of any issues, just simply that I prefer other brands but I do believe that FLD will support all the brands they represent, just a much as any other distributor will and to me price isn't always key - great customer service and good communication are much more important.

[J-S-Q]

If the other big heli shops got their websites sorted out like FL I would bet my Rave ENV they would get more business! I may be wrong but I think alot of the shops don't know how important it is for people to people to come home from a day at work/flying and check stock online amd simply order and forget about it.

You are definitely not wrong. I do wonder what is going on at certain heli retailers that have quite antiquated looking websites with no way of knowing whether an item is actually in stock. How can they expect people not to go somewhere else such as Fast Lad when their websites are so poor?

[J-S-Q]

Yep, the US market is a tough one with some major players already so prices have to be keener. I must say that I am using FL less and less where I can. Their prices have creeped up more and more over the last year (I wonder how much margin increase they use to finance experience RC?). As I am back to being mainly align helis most of my business is going to either my LHS or Align-trex.co.uk as the service they provide is first class and their stock range is always increasing.

I agree that FL now seem to be a bit more expensive than a lot of other places. I've started using Align-trex.co.uk as well because their prices are better on 99% of items, their stock is very good (as long as you are talking Align stuff), their service is brilliant and their website is actually a bit better than FL's (because you can see your shopping basket without going to a separate page).

[Sticky Stick]

I agree that FL now seem to be a bit more expensive than a lot of other places. I've started using Align-trex.co.uk as well because their prices are better on 99% of items, their stock is very good (as long as you are talking Align stuff), their service is brilliant and their website is actually a bit better than FL's (because you can see your shopping basket without going to a separate page).

I have used them for my last two orders. Excellent service at competitive prices. Shame they only do Align.

[raptormark]

they will be doing more if you go to rc rotor hobbies as well its his brother in law. but if you do need anything else just mail them they may be able to get you what you want

[PsiLo]

Ive been using Inwoods more and more now due to their prices. Look at this for an example...

Inwood Models : FUTABA GY750 3 AXIS GYRO & 6203SB S-BUS RX COMBO (Preorder) [RAR1FBL] - £284.99

Futaba CGY750 Flybarless Unit & R6203SB Receiver Combo P-R6203

And before anyone says they are out of stock, this is because no one that I am aware of has the 3ch S-Bus receivers in stock yet. They should be here any day soon, but my point is look at the price difference.

I am lucky, inwoods are my lhs

[jamiem]

I have used them for my last two orders. Excellent service at competitive prices. Shame they only do Align.

Shame they don't reply to emails sent through their site. I sent them a question asking if theyre website showed live stock, and if a particular item was in stock, and a week later I've not heard a peep from them. Great way to get new customers on board!

[heliharry]

can i help i will speak to them if you wish to get you a answer