Postage Piss Takes

 Sometimes, I get a pissed off... I know you'll find this amazing to comprehend, but it's true.

Recently, I have placed some reasonably sized orders with several companies, in order to get all the lead in place for the 30YW project and a tsunami of 28mm models has begun to swamp Fackham Hall to the point that I can't keep up with it.

Neccesity, has meant that to get certain troops, I've had to buy from one manufacturer who charges a premium for their models in the first place, which are 'OK, but not the best', but who make some stuff I need. No problem there, if needs must, but then you get hit for 10% postage, of which they supposedly refund any excess. Unfortunately this never happens. 

This time, I was hit for an amount which was way over the mark, and when I chased this up (after all you can send up to 20 kilos for £8-£10 depending on whether you go with a 24 or 48 hour tracked service. When I chased up my refund, I was told that as I'd asked for my stuff to be delivered asap, it had been sent Special Delivery without recourse to communication... 48 hours is fast enough for me.

In actuality, it was sent by 24 Tracked (see above) and when I brought this up, they simply closed down the conversation. 

This is not on, particularly because I assume they use a large volume postage account which reduces postage costs anyway.

Anyway, I'd already placed another order with postage being charged again in excess. I am now just thinking of that as a tax of sorts, but thankfully, I don't need to buy anything else from them. I'd planned to buy 38 regiments from them, but the eye watering postage charge and small chance of getting the excess back meant that I looked elsewhere, resulting in an excellent buying experience with 1st Corps who are splendid chaps to deal with and from whom I bought around 360 cavalry and 960 infantry. LIkewise, Dixon look after their customers very well indeed, and so they got an order for 960 Samurai and Ashigaru. 

And it's not a case of 'second best' either. I like to have variety in my larger collections, and indeed, my 30YW collection is a healthy mix of manufacturers. I have always liked to spread the love across as many manufacturers as possible, avoiding 'big box' companies and sticking true to my principles and beliefs about the hobby.

My plan, had been to use one company for my French and another for my Bavarian Infantry, with cavalry being a mix from three companies. Now it's been built from 1st Corps for the infantry and 1st Corps, Redoubt and Bicorne for the cavalry, vignettes and artillery with only 4 dragoon regiments from the company above... Their loss, but if they can afford to throw away £1400 sales, then they are in the realms of the 'big box' boys.

I know I'm not the only person who no longer shops with them. An acquaintance of mine, who is usually mild mannered, gets almost apoplectic when the name of the company is mentioned, calling them 'ignorant', 'rude' and other things I blush tto recount - so I won't.