"navwar, postal order really?" Topic

I was after some navwar 1/3000 ships but they only do old fashioned print out order for n write all ya bank details down onto it including security code and post it off hoping it safe, I could use recorded delivery but then that means extra cost on top of the item and postage just to order, I was gonna ring too but looks like theyre only open 2 hours on Saturday.

Does anyone know why they haven't modernised atleast to use PayPal. It'd be so much easier or even anywhere else to buy them in a more secure payment method,

The proprietor's been going for many years, is I think past retirement age, and has neither the need nor the desire to join the information age as it were. He's sold off some ranges in recent years, stopped supplying trade, and gradually cut back the hours, so really isn't chasing custom, and happier just doing things the way he always has.

They haven't modernized because they do not want to.
Their method was perfectly acceptable in the 1980s, so why is it not today?
If you want to buy his stuff, you will jump through his hoops.
No one is obliged to use that PayPal nonsense if they do not wish to.
Obviously Navwar is content o sell to people who do things his way and feels no need to scratch and claw for market share.

Oh, how fondly I remember the days when I had to find a bank in the Wilkes Barre/Scranton area that would write me a money order in British pounds!

********************

Isn't it about time for someone to bitch and moan about not being able to buy The Sword and the Flame from a shop with all the bells and whistles? I haven't seen one of those in over a year.

but they only do old fashioned print out order for n write all ya bank details down onto it including security code and post it off hoping it safe,

The last time I placed an order with him (sometime last year?) I simply sent a cheque along with my order by "snail mail". No problem. No need to supply bank details other than what's on the cheque. I think I got my figures within about 4 days.

Rather than sending all your Bank details, couldn't you just send a Postal/Money Order with your order?

I was thinking of buying his stuff till I saw the ordering process. No skin off my nose if he does not want my money, I'm positive he feels the same way.

I order by fax from the Czech Republic and I cannot recommend Navwar enough. Yes, it is old school, but the turn around time is quite often shorter than when I order online from other companies. Really!

On the order form it says cheque or by credit or debit card, I myself do not have a cheque book, last I knew they were being phased out. Especially in the retail world which I work in.

IMO though surely setting a PayPal account up would be far more easier than dealing with payment the "old fashioned way" cos atleast then the money is already in the bank. As I'm a 'youngling ' it doesn't bode well if he does it the way that may put people off purchasing his items.

I wouldn't care how he does it if there was another company who stocks his ships, but noone else does, I'm guessing it's his way or no way. Bit harsh really but oh well.

I like his attitude and would by his ships if I were not so invested in 1/2400. In fact, I still order through shops, by mail or not at all. This electronics stuff is just a fad doncha know?

It put me off ordering the other day. But he's welcome to choose his way of business.

Most bank accounts still issue a cheque book don't they? Or am I getting old too? Must admit haven't opened a new account recently. Or used a cheque either recently.

Going to the shop is like stepping back 30 years in time.

It's a fantastic place to visit and I wish I could stay there all day when I go. What I love most about the place is customer service. He's always happy to help and is extremely knowledgeable.

Oh how these modern franchise shops could learn a thing or two…

Pity some people insist on being anchors on the technology movement. But oh well. Guess not earning money and making the customer jump hoops is somehow entertaining for the manufacturer.

It's more of a pity that you insist that everybody be dragged kicking and screwing into this brave new world. If you want his stuff you will do it his way. If you do not, then don't complain about it.

Some are happy with the level of business they are doing. Why invent more headaches?

I agree completely, times have changed. I won't buy anything under these conditions of Navwar. Cheques ? On the European continent whe do not use them anymore since past century. Yes Mishima, maybe int he UK they still do but not on the continent.
The shop is the best of course, only it is disapearing.
Paypall nonsense? I'd like to see that one explained. The classic banks missed out there (as they so often do).

Ah for the 1980s, simpler times indeed.

BelgianRay – I maybe use one cheque a year. And that is for another Victorian company which I won't mention (not wargames related at all). I hate using it then but I have to. They are virtually extinct in the UK. I do not mourn the death of the cheque.

We still use cheques quite a bit. May not be the quickest way but if works ok.

Cheques still alive and well. How else do you pay the local builder or plumber if you don't want to keep several hundred pounds in the house? That's why the banks had to do a u-turn in UK. Different in shops, where they can take cards easily.
Bought from NavWar a few years ago. Nice models and did not find the ordering system too much of a pain.

I'll just ring the guy up on the very slim 2 hour window he has for his opening times on a Saturday n see if he will accept payment over the phone, cos he's lives so deep in the past he doesn't even have email!!

It's been a while since I've ordered from Navwar (the chequebook's associated with the joint account and the missus goes through it in great detail…), but I always found them very quick in delivering the goodies with never a problem.

I like that they refuse to acknowledge the 21st Century, cos it's . More power to their casting elbow.

These days, I bet it's safer to send bank info via mail than the internet.

Let the guy run his business his way. It sounds like he'll retire soon. Would you really want folks to tell you how to run your business? How about your home?

I'll just ring the guy up on the very slim 2 hour window he has for his opening times on a Saturday n see if he will accept payment over the phone,

The same sentence on the website that says they have no email continues "…and regret we are unable to take telephone orders."

I haven't bought anything recently – but I always just sent a cheque. No problem.

As said above – what's in it for the proprietor to modernise now?

I still write quite a few cheques – I could do more internet banking, but the banks hate cheques so there's that small pleasure to enjoy when parting with money.

He won't take orders by phone – I tried to do that before I read the bit on the website about it. Sent him a fax – it's really not that hard once you get over the initial shock reaction.

Look on the bright side – at least he has a reasonably functioning website that lists his products – you don't have to send a 50p postal order for a crappy catalog in the mail !

If you want what he makes bad enough, you will do things his way. More power to him.
Stop being so spoiled, so "It's all about me!"
Or do without and feel so proud of yourself for being a 21st Century Man.
Pretend you are buying real ham from an Amish farm in Lancaster County. Damn fine ham.

One day it will be called "Heritage Customer Service"….

I live about half hour from the shop, so I can pop there on a Saturday afternoon to pick anything up, if I want to.

That said, most of my recent orders have been faxed and I paid with my credit card. No hassle about a cheque and doesn't need to go via Paypal.

The orders have arrived quicker than if I had waited until the Saturday to go along to get them myself.

It works for him, I get my stuff quickly, so what is the issue?

I also still use cheques, partly to spite the banks who want to kill them off in favour of dubious electronic processes which put all the risk on the account holder.

Long live NavWar and all other hobby manufacturers, it is them which provide some variety.

I've made more than a few orders from navwar using cheques. The orders always arrive within 4 days some times 3 days, that's including the time my order took to get to him. Amazing service and shows trust in the customer as there's no way a cheque would have cleared in that time.

It seams old fashioned, but why do everything the same way. As everyone has already said going to the physical shop is a great experience. But having been there I have no idea how he gets the orders together so quickly

also when you think about it ordering this way isnt that old fashioned I remember doing it as a teenager and I'm only 28

Bindon Blood, we've a club in Cheshunt if you need opponents.

I've shopped with this guy for decades, I used to buy all my Heroics and Ros 1/300th figures from him, until he sold them off to new owners.
The guys knowledge on all things military history related is immense and I always enjoyed the conversations I had with him.
Granted his business practices do nowadays seem a bit antiquated, but being a one man band he spends most of his time casting and packing orders and it works for him and his customers.
The shop is always worth a visit if you are around the area on a Saturday afternoon and want to step back in time a little.
The range of 15mm Napoleonic's is very comprehensive and true 15mm small in comparison to some more modern ranges but nice nonetheless.
For what it's worth I recommend the place.

Pretend you are buying real ham from an Amish farm in Lancaster County. Damn fine ham.

Thanks DKABD. I'm a bit further east than you. Cheers for the offer

I'm in the US and have very little time for running errands, so the logistical issues getting a check in GBP and an envelope with the right international postage were a practical obstacle to placing an order. I found a slightly different way to do it entirely by computer: I created a spreadsheet that looks pretty much like his order form, added my credit card info, printed it and signed it, scanned it, and faxed the scanned image through a free online fax service. No fees, no errands to banks or post offices, no international (fax) call, etc.

His turnaround time was astoundingly short. I wouldn't have believed a package from the UK could arrive that quickly.

Even better: I got a second package a few days later with extra masts, and a note apologizing for shorting me, which I hadn't even had time to notice yet. The note also explained why I had more galley models than I ordered – he threw in a few extra to make sure the order wasn't short, just in case he miscounted. Amazing.

- Ix

NavWar postal, it's been quite a while since I have done, but when I did, I looked through his list of stuff & set about writing him a nice letter with pen & paper, listing what I required, adding up the cost & pp, not forgetting to add my name & address & of course popping the cheque in too. I then licked a stamp (the worst part) and simply popped it in a post box the next time I was passing one, usually on my way to the pub. Order was always delivered within a week without fail.

I think it's a pleasant enough way to do business in this quick, electronic, instant, me want it now, age. And its up to him isn't it, if he's happy with it, that's that.

Darn. I've come over all nostalgic for a slower gentler time & I'm going to have to all that again & order something just for the nice gentle buzz of it all.

Oh, and if you don't like it, just get your toys from elsewhere – you could have ordered loads on t'interweb in the time it took you to post this up, on a forum which the good Mr NavWar himself probably (?) isn't a member of. :)

Peeler – at least stamps are self adhesive now :)

See some technology isn't all bad!

You're not wrong, lick free stamps was a good move :)

Ten days ago I filled in a Navwar order form including my creditcard number and such. Put it in an envelope and took it to the postoffice to be mailed from The Netherlands to the U.K.
Today I received my ships, very well packed.
A pleasure to do business this way.

I have a paypal account, but this "oldfashioned way" is not harder to do at all.
But I rather would have been able to visit his store :-)

I love it how because a company doesn't conform to one's form of puchesing, it's therefore obviously wrong.

And I don't no what we of working in retail has got do with the price of fish.

Navwar are great from my own personal dealings with em.

I love it how some people can't accept other people's opinions and assume they are wrong, I was merely makin an observation and venting a frustration, I never said it was wrong I just asked a question as to why he hasn't modernised. 'nuff said

I'm sure they are great service with postal orders I don't disagree, but that method isn't my favoured way, so I either do it or don't, simples

Ordered by fax numerous times, never had a problem and always a quick turnaround, cant see any reason for this to be a problem for anyone.

"… Some people can't accept other people's opinions…"

You posted your opinion, others posted theirs … ?

Pointing out positive sides of an issue when someone is venting frustration about that issue does not necessarily mean that the opinion of that complaining person is not accepted.

When someone don't want to buy items, because he can not use his favoured way of paying…, well (that is everyones own choice) so be it.
I can not imagine someone here even bothers to care…, I certainly do not.

Another Navwar fan here. Yes the website is annoying and clunky, yes it would be easier if I could just click 'order' at the end. Okay there are a few extra steps involved – agree I (initially) felt a little uncomfortable adding my card details to a paper order form. (As someone mentioned this might actually be safer…) Soon got over that worry after the first order.

I post and fax orders to Tony. I've found if you fax an order Thursday or Friday you get a knock on the door, from the postie on Tuesday. It used to be Monday but Tony switched to 2nd class post when postal charges went silly.

The system is slightly antiquated, but it works a lot faster than some hi tech systems. At least he is not completely living in the 80s…. remember "please allow 30 days for delivery"?