"Warning!! orders with Chiltern miniatures!" Topic

Hi guys,
I've recently put an order on chilternminiatures.co.uk.
I've ordered ww2 ready to roll 1/72 vehicules
2xFiat dovunque rtr42a
2xcamionetta desertica rtr41
2xFiat 626 truck rtr35
Paid 35.42gbp with paypal.
I've received 1 week later only one of each reference and the Fiat 626 was broken.
I immediately sent a message to the owner Will Townshend but the email adress is not a valid one: domain name not found.
So i open a dispute with paypal but no more answer from the owner.
I finally transforms the dispute to a claim and paypal announce me that no refund is possible with this seller.
So be carreful with this site and don't put any orders if you don't want to be scammed like me.
Regards

Why was no refund possible? That sounds odd.

Paypal only guarantees refunds on items bought through ebay. However you will still be covered by normal distance buying laws. You need to refer to your credit/debit card bank that paypal is using.

Have you tried contacting Will via Plastic Soldier Company email?

He gets that all the time. I imagine the Chiltern one doesnt work anymore…

link

All his detail are there, I'd suggest giving him a buzz. He is an excellent trader to deal with and I have never had any problems. However I know he has had issues with teh Chiltern site and orders coming through there.

Will is a very correct person, probably you used a no longer available e-mail

I just dropped Will an email with a link to the this thread…

@cuachicwarrior – Will Townshend here, profuse apologies, Chiltern has taken a back seat to PSC these days. I think the email who were using is an old dead email (although there is a current phone number on the website – you could have called me)

email me at info@theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk and we will sort out your order straight away and throw in something extra by way of apology

be careful how and when you use the word "scam"

With only 7 posts since 2007, its hard to take the fellow too seriously when others have had great service.

I don't see what his post count has to do with it.

The OP didn't get the order or the service he should have…and then with dodgy contact details it look like he had been stung..so he has right to be miffed.

However using words like "scammed" on a public forum..is over the top. The OP recived an order (a cocked up one granted) so it clear wasn't meant to be a scam (when you just wouldn't recive any thing).

Hopefully it looks like it will get sorted…which is a credit to the company owner.

I don't see what his post count has to do with it.

Agreed.

Thirded – some people don't post much, so what? If his account was newly created for the sole purpose of making this post, that might be another matter, but he's been a member for 5 years.

I think the email who were using is an old dead email

I tried your email address, and got this error message back:

Failed to deliver to 'sales@chilternminiatures.co.uk'
SMTP module(domain chilternminiatures.co.uk) reports:
host magma.bpweb.net says:
553 5.3.0 <sales@chilternminiatures.co.uk>… Address does not exist

A lesson for us all. Start with your issue and ask if anyone can provide valid contact information.

I've had no dealing with Mr. Townshend, but appreciate his quick and generous response.

Vince

Now children,lets play nice with our lovely toy soldiers.
Vickie & John

Whatever happened to just giving people a ring to discuss the problem?

I think people have forgotten what a "phone" is, and how to use it (unless they are in a restaurant right next to you, then they remember in spades!). Email as a trustworthy method of communication leaves a LOT to be desired.

Whatever happened to just giving people a ring to discuss the problem?

The OP is in France so maybe his first language is not English. Personally, I would avoid phone calls if I have to try and speak a foreign language and that may have happened here.

The "scam" remark was not called for, however. VCarter has it right.

Doug

Thanks to all guys especially Piersbrand who have contacted Will for me.
i used the word "scamm" because my english is not enough perfect and varied to explain my problem.
It's the same with the phone, i don't practice enough the language to hold a phone conversation.
The bad email was the one given in my order confirmation mail.
Yes i have contacted paypal who have explained that only ebay purchasing are insured and refunded by paypal.
I'm going now to contact Will townshend and i'm sure we will find a solution.
apologies for "disparaging" but i only wanted to warn the community.
Good wargaming.

Personally, I would avoid phone calls if I have to try and speak a foreign language and that may have happened here

Indeed. As well, just becuase there is a phone number doesn't excuse your other contact info being dead or wrong. I am glad to hear that this all got sorted out in the end!

"Whatever happened to just giving people a ring to discuss the problem?"

Email is just as good in today's world.

Well, at least until the email address doesn't work, or one party's spam filter is over-sensitive…. I've had the occasional lovely dialogue where someone emails a query, I respond, and then get a string of increasingly irate "why don't you reply to my email?" type messages, as their spam filter has evidently taken a dislike, but it hasn't crossed their mind this can happen….

Email is nowhere as good as a phone…

Besides it not getting there there is no tone or inflection. There is also no two-way discussion.

Hello Guys,
Will Townshend has immediately answered me and have found a solution to my problem. It was only due to an error in the preparation order and a bad email adress on the website.
But i can confirm now that the owner is serious and professional.sorry for the misunderstanding and thank you tmp which is the best "messenger" for our hobby!!

I love a happy ending!

"Email is nowhere as good as a phone…"

Email is a time-stamped written record of the exchange. Email allows you to consider what you've written before you submit it. A return receipt is a written record that your email has been opened.

Your mouth and ears provide none of these services.

But if they aren't getting it, and you don't know whether they are or not, then the whole thing is at a dead end. Piers is correct. When they answer the phone you KNOW they got the message and then you can ask them for an em,ail confirmation if you like. But I suspect Caesar is just being argumentative for the sake of being argumentative… render unto him, and all that. 8)=

:-)

My true opinion is that email is the better form of communication. I like a "paper trail".

A conversation is great, but there have been too many times when I:
a) have been flat out lied to with no proof (All Fronts Armor Depot aka Hobby Armor Depot, I'm thinking of you and your "shipped it out today, here's a fake tracking number").
b) meant to say something in one way but it came out differently.
c) mis-remembered the wording of something which was important.

Written communication makes me happier.

What Caesar said.

Phones are only a last resort.

I want to buy the movie rights to this saga.