Why I'd Avoid HobbyKing.com

[Vertigo]

I don't even know if it's taboo to do this, but I'm absolutely fed up with dishonesty and I'm tired of it not costing people something for being dishonest.

Based on online reviews I've since discovered of HobbyKing.com, this isn't going to be news to many people.

I ordered some LiFePO4 packs from them. Yes, I run LiFePO4 packs. Had never heard of HobbyKing, but figured I'd try them with a small order. Ordered 4 packs from them.

Two of them arrived below the minimum operating voltage for the cells. Hmmm....Hence, they wouldn't balance. I knew they wouldn't, but put them on the charger, just to see if they would. They would not. So I sent one back, to test drive their exchange policy. The pack was still brand new. I just put it on the charger once to see if it would balance.

Shockingly, despite the delivery confirmation, they never received it. Who knows where one of my packs I originally ordered is. I'm guessing it was never even sent. I ordered four packs. I got two dead ones, one good one, and I guess the other one is like the proverbial "check" that's "in the mail."

I'm not making this up. Their "customer service" (I use that term even though it doesn't apply to what it actually is) gave me this answer both times I've inquired about how they've taken money from me, but haven't even furnished what I bought from them: "We can't offer any suggestions."

Really?

Oh well, I guess that adds my name to the list of those ripped off, which is a lengthy list.

I just couldn't let it slide. This kind of stuff needs to have a cost associated to those who do business this way. Actually, it's not even business. Last time I checked, taking money and then not delivering a product is theft.

I figured if they want to rip me off, the least I could do is try to warn others before they lose their money in the same foolish way.

 

[team3six]

Go find my thread in the electronics section on hobby king. You can get your money back. But its a month long hell.
Its hit or miss with them.
Lately more miss than hit

 

[vonclod]

hobby king can blow me..they rip off everyone in the industry by reverse engineering products that other companies have spent good time and $$ developing..they ask or used to anyway..how much do you want the item being sent to you valued..ie cheating the taxes..the screw over all local businesses that have to deal with various duties and taxes..they are scum

oh but they are cheap..yup they are cheap because it didnt cost anything to develop and there isnt much quality control..fawk hobbyking

 

[BJoe]

When it comes to batteries, I'll only buy them through the HTU I work for. We usually carry Venom, Traxxas, Dynamite, E-Flite, Duratrax, Thunder Power, and occasionally Electrifly and since there are real companys for me to contact and that usually supports their products well. Some of the cheap online batteries can be had for well under what I would pay as an employee, but if I was going to be getting 2 working batteries, I'd rather spend more money to get 2 that I know should work and will likely be covered by their manufacturer rather quickly (unless otherwise back ordered) instead of buying 4 for the same price and hoping to get 2 that actually work like they're supposed to.

 

[JeremyH]

hobby king can blow me..

How many dolla make you holla?

Don't offer, they might accept the challenge. :ror:

 

[FireWire79]

Wow, now I feel like some sort of freak.

I've ordere from the 4 times in the past and have never had any problems with them. Granted shipping takes a long time, but considering its coming on a boat from China, I'm not surprised.

As for the reverse engineering thing, that I didn't know. I only bought battereis since mostly they are all repackaged cells anyways.

I'll consider revising my purchasing decisions.

 

[canadianbacon]

Wow, now I feel like some sort of freak.

I've ordere from the 4 times in the past and have never had any problems with them. Granted shipping takes a long time, but considering its coming on a boat from China, I'm not surprised.

As for the reverse engineering thing, that I didn't know. I only bought battereis since mostly they are all repackaged cells anyways.

I'll consider revising my purchasing decisions.

They're from China, everything they have is reversed engineered. Why waste your time designing something when you can steal/copy the design from somebody else?

 

[BJoe]

They're from China, everything they have is reversed engineered. Why waste your time designing something when you can steal/copy the design from somebody else?

This

 

[binaryterror]

Never had an issue with their LIPO's, though I buy the Turnigy Nanotechs which are well reviewed on many sites.

 

[Nova's Ark]

I hate to admit it, but I was a big supporter of Hobby King at first. Our local club would get together and we'd buy lots of lipos. We paid for the expedited shipping from Hong Kong and overall the experience was good.

However, then my Team Drivers directed me towards Hobby Partz. The Sky Lipo 40C batteries outperformed every HK battery pack I owned:shock:. It didn't matter which brand or C rating battery it was from Hobby King. I also had several Hobby King batteries crap out at the cheap circuit board they use for their 3S & bigger lipos under fairly average loads. I thankfully have not ordered anything from HK in over year "thumbsup".

Plus with Hobby Partz, any order over $50 gets FREE UPS Ground Shipping:mrgreen:

 

[Zeus.:God]

Had one problem with a Turnigy Lipo I bought from them. I don't blame the brand itself, I blame whoever packaged my order. The box was clearly smashed on the side and bloated from the puffed battery inside. I had to register the warranty number on the back, get a hold of them through their live chat crap, then they told me to email their support with pictures of the warranty number and the voltage of the cells. Then they got back to me and asked me to take a video showing all sides of it... Over the course of a week and a half, I got the purchase price of the battery back and had to pay shipping to get another. Pretty shitty, but I've got 3 orders from them (4 including ordering the proper battery), and 3 with Hobbypartz (4 when reordering correct receiver packs). In my experience, I would say neither are any better than the other as far as customer service, but that's where the "you get what you pay for" comes in.

Overall, for me, I've had an acceptable experience with both companies. I have some servos and Turnigy Lipos from Hobbyking, and I have a charger, power supply, a Gens Ace Lipo, and 2 Gens Ace NiMH receiver packs from Hobbypartz that all work as they should. For the amount that I've got invested in them, I'm happy. I must say I would gladly pay and support the name brand companies by purchasing their product, if they didn't charge out the ass for them. There is no way I could ever justify paying 70-100 dollars on batteries that I can get for 15-20 dollars elsewhere, especially when they're still produced in CHINA, possibly in the same damn factory.

 

[sloppy]

I have never had a problem with a order or shipping or even packaging.. I did have some of the older packs crap out on me but who the hell cares with their pricing.. with the Nano techs I have had no issue's at all..

I do go with hobby partz more lately just because of their free shipping option.

Hell I dont even buy the "they reverse engineer everything" crap.. They have had quite a few items out before the "big names" started selling the same exact item.. I think its more likely some of these half ass big name company's just slap their sticker on the items and raise the price of course..

 

[Zeus.:God]

I have never had a problem with a order or shipping or even packaging.. I did have some of the older packs crap out on me but who the hell cares with their pricing.. with the Nano techs I have had no issue's at all..

I do go with hobby partz more lately just because of their free shipping option.

Hell I dont even buy the "they reverse engineer everything" crap.. They have had quite a few items out before the "big names" started selling the same exact item.. I think its more likely some of these half ass big name company's just slap their sticker on the items and raise the price of course..

It sounds to me like badge engineering- they either share a similar product among each other and switch the names and stickers (like my Ofna Picco .26 Outlaw- same as the Orion Wasp .26 and the Werks P3 .26. All made by Picco, sold under different brand names... 10 year old motor, I know, but still). I wouldn't be so quick to jump on the "they stole this or reverse engineered it" bandwagon, considering its all produced in China regardless.

 

[Nova's Ark]

There is no way I could ever justify paying 70-100 dollars on batteries that I can get for 15-20 dollars elsewhere, especially when they're still produced in CHINA, possibly in the same damn factory.

I totally agree with you. And from my understanding, there is only a few lipo cell manufacturers in the world and they are all overseas.

Hell I dont even buy the "they reverse engineer everything" crap.. They have had quite a few items out before the "big names" started selling the same exact item.. I think its more likely some of these half ass big name company's just slap their sticker on the items and raise the price of course..

Also true.

 

[sloppy]

It sounds to me like badge engineering- they either share a similar product among each other and switch the names and stickers (like my Ofna Picco .26 Outlaw- same as the Orion Wasp .26 and the Werks P3 .26. All made by Picco, sold under different brand names... 10 year old motor, I know, but still). I wouldn't be so quick to jump on the "they stole this or reverse engineered it" bandwagon, considering its all produced in China regardless.

Totally correct. Industries usually call it "private labeling".. You see it everyday at the grocery store No one really thinks foodclub or any of the generic food names actually produces the stuff do they???

I spent 10 years working in a large name bakery and we slapped bread in all kinds of different bags. I laugh every time I hear some fat cow at the grocery say they dont like the local store brand that is cheaper then buy the same exact bread with the big dollar name on it.. :lmao:

 

[Zod Rhombus]

Never had a problem with them, although I've only ordered Turnigy LiPos and they have all performed well. I try to order from the USA warehouse for faster shipping.

 

[MuddyOval]

Lots of Chinese companies work very hard to make their products look just like higher quality ones, just so people think it's the same thing but without the label on it. Manufacturers of "generic" foods do the same thing, including sourcing packaging from the same company as the name brand they want you to think is the same thing.
Many Chinese companies will "back door" the same product as a name brand, but it's FAR more common for another company to copy it as closely as possible to make you think that's what is happening.
Why send money straight to the Chinese military/industrial complex with these crappy direct-ship sites? They ship illegally into this country, they don't declare hazmat and safety information to air carriers which endangers people's lives, and they don't stand behind their stuff.

 

[Zeus.:God]

Lots of Chinese companies work very hard to make their products look just like higher quality ones, just so people think it's the same thing but without the label on it. Manufacturers of "generic" foods do the same thing, including sourcing packaging from the same company as the name brand they want you to think is the same thing.
Many Chinese companies will "back door" the same product as a name brand, but it's FAR more common for another company to copy it as closely as possible to make you think that's what is happening.
Why send money straight to the Chinese military/industrial complex with these crappy direct-ship sites? They ship illegally into this country, they don't declare hazmat and safety information to air carriers which endangers people's lives, and they don't stand behind their stuff.

Yes, there are many clones available, we know that... But at the same time, there are many products out there that are produced and sold by an unknown company to well known companies who rebadge them and sell them with an insane markup with no investment of their own other than advertising and the purchase of product. I'm curious to know just how much of HK's product is rebadged or cloned, and whether or not the "rebadged" products are the original. The only few things I know of for sure that are clones are the Rovan Baja 5b's they sell, as well as what looks like an old Traxxas Monster Buggy from Turnigy- then again, who's to say that the TMB was ever actually designed and produced by Traxxas themselves. It always looked like it was a jump away from their own design language, to me.

 

[Vertigo]

I told HK's priceless "chat help" that I would make sure and pass along their "we have no suggestions" about what you should do about us ripping you off answer to every place I could put it on the web. Most curiously, in less than 30 minutes, the package they couldn't find for a week suddenly showed up and they declared my claim that there was no life in the pack was valid. So they credited me the original purchase price. All I had to eat was the original shipping from them to me, then from me to them, and then again from them to me for the replacement pack. Seems fair enough. I pay $35 for the pack, plus about $40 worth of shipping because they didn't put a volt meter on the pack before shipping it to me in the first place.

Of course they didn't offer me my money back. Store credit instead. Great. I can re-live the whole nightmare over again!

I ordered a replacement (same) pack with the store credit. Their site showed 10+ in-stock in the U.S. warehouse. Perfect. I needed only one.

Oh, wait. Warehouse error. Turns out they didn't have any in stock. They send me an e-mail to tell me I can cancel the order so I log in and hit "modify" order. Sorry, can't modify order, contact customer support.

At this point, it's more of a comedy skit. It's so asenine that all I can do is laugh. I ordered this battery back in the first week of June. It's now July 11th and I'm still waiting to receive a functional version of that pack. Man! What a freakin' bargain!

Hobbyking is so horrible that it's hard to believe this isn't attached to a hidden camera show. I keep looking around for the camera. Oh, wait, there it is above the screen of my laptop. This is probably streaming on YouTube right now and people watching their TVs in China are laughing at it (me) right now. Who could blame them. I'm just another sucker. Glad I didn't order anything that cost much.

 

[Vertigo]

Go find my thread in the electronics section on hobby king. You can get your money back. But its a month long hell.
Its hit or miss with them.
Lately more miss than hit

Oh, I can't even imagine trying to get money back from them. It's a $35 pack. Honestly, they can keep it or send it. I can take $35 worth of business away from them easily. I hope they consider it a fair trade because in a way that's weird for me, I've certainly received more than $35 worth of "I feel better" by posting my dealings with them all over the web. And hopefully, at least a few could-be dupes won't pull the trigger when considering buying something (that doesn't work right) from them.

Hobbyking has become my new hobby. Well, not really, but those reviews stick around and will be read by a lot of people over the years. Like I stated, I hope screwing me for a $35 pack was a fair trade for them.