Toucan Hobby, be careful dealing with this site

[Old School]

A site in China, Toucan Hobby, has been selling metal replacement parts for RC 1/16 scale tanks and trucks and given the feedback received on their associated eBay store, "toucanhobby", they seem to be doing a satisfactory job of it. However, in 2017 they branched out in a line of RC boats by a company "DT". These look to be a very nice range of fast electric and gas powered RC boats. The company on their website lists ten instock of many, many different models. Alas, I believe that the instock listing is incorrect and possibly the site does not have any boats instock and only secures a boat from the manufacturer when a purchase is made. This is fine if stock is available from the manufacturer. If not then problems occur.

I purchased a 51 inch catamaran hull five weeks ago and received immediately an email from the site requesting my home contact number for the shipping manifest. I assumed that as the site showed ten items instock and the site had requested info from me that all would proceed smoothly. Alas, five weeks later with no further info from the site and two emails from me requesting shipping information being ignored, I have opened a dispute via the PayPal buyer protection policy. Perhaps they will ignore me but not an email from PayPal. I am hopeful a hull will be sent to me as opening a dispute via PayPal is no guarantee that I will get my money back (nearly $300.00 usd),

Note: I believe the website has four affiliated eBay stores connected with it as those stores item description is word for word identical to the Toucan Hobby website item description. Those eBay stores are as follows -

toucanhobby
bingishere4u
ceramic_lady
color-never-fade

Until just a few days ago "bingishere4u" listed continuously over 60 DT boats on Australian eBay for at least six months. He suddenly removed all DT boats from his eBay store. The "toucanhobby" site also listed numerous DT boats on its eBay store and has also removed all reference to DT boats on its eBay store site. The other two eBay stores still list a few boats, but previous contact with one eBay store, "ceramic_lady", requesting info on whether the boats they had listed as available were actually instock was ignored.

Late last year I purchased a 51 inch catamaran hull from "bingishere4u" and immediately upon purchase I received a tracking number and the item was marked as shipped. Every attempt to actually track the item returned that the tracking number could not be found. The seller had "incorrectly" marked the item as shipped and had issued an invalid tracking number. Nearly three months later after eBay dispute resolution the seller refunded my money plus $10.00 for my "inconvenience".

For legal reasons I cannot pass unfavourable comment as to the business practices of these sites, but given my experience and belief that the main website and four eBay stores are affiliated and list items as instock when actually they may not be available for purchase, I would be extremely cautious if considering purchasing a DT boat from either the main website or its apparently affiliated eBay stores. One store required eBay dispute resolution to get my money back and now the main website I have had to initiate PayPal intervention to get them to respond to me as to whether the boat hull they had listed as ten instock and I purchased five weeks ago is actually available.

[MadProps]

seems like most everything takes 5-7 weeks from china....unless they offer a faster more expensive shipping choice
I have an order with HK that was placed almost 3 weeks ago and I just got the shipping notice yesterday

they dont care

[Old School]

Yes, up to 39 days (working days) is the normally quoted time with EMS shipping quicker but not by much. However, I have found that in general the smaller eBay stores will post an item in about two to three weeks. Hobbyking with their normal shipping usually takes the longest time to get to Australia with up to two months being normal.

Toucan Hobby quote a turnaround time after purchase of just several days to ship an item with transit time 8 - 22 days. However, if they list an item as instock but actually do not have the item then shipping time obviously blows out as they need to source the item after the purchase is made (assuming the item is still in production). Also, failing to respond to contact emails also adds to the mystery.

An eBay store "thebuild-rc" from whom I have recently purchased two hulls does charge more than others for shipping, however, the hulls were delivered in less than a week.

[Doug Smock]

Sticking this thread for a little while.. Nope this works out for you!

Sites will only sell me something they don't have in stock one time.

[Old School]

Many thanks. They also list on Allieexpress with seller guaranteed delivery within 45 days and 11 - 19 working days shipping time to Australia.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/120A-ESC-E51-Fiber-Glass-Catamaran-Electric-Brushless-Racing-Speed-RC-Boat-PNP-Toy-Boats/418842_32791717220.html?spm=2114.12010612.0.0.5a8c49bfSEvpjh

[Old School]

Well the PayPal intervention apparently stirred up the henhouse. I received a phone call this afternoon from Angel who emailed me five weeks ago requesting my home phone number for the shipping details. In broken English I gathered that the hull has been sent and a tracking number will be advised to me in an email. They are very concerned that I raised the dispute via PayPal. However, they ignored two emails from me and only when PayPal was on their backs have they responded.

I told her that I want an "active" tracking number that shows real time tracking, not a number that is stagnant and reveals nothing. I advised her that I was not happy with the service received nor with receiving the false tracking number back in December from Bing, whom she instantly seemed to recognise, confirming my suspicion that all the four eBay stores are linked to Toucan Hobby.



UPDATE: I just read the email from angel and surprise, surprise, the hull was shipped on March 16th, but for some unexplained reason customs refused to pass the goods and returned them to the store. The story from Bing back several months ago explaining why after two months he had not shipped my hull was that the post office had returned the hull due damage. Sounds all like a load of baloney. One excuse after another. I am now not as elated as I was a few minutes ago.

I have replied to Angel's email stating that only when I receive a real time tracking number will I cancel the PayPal action as honestly trust is at a rock bottom.

Edit: I tried the tracking number supplied in Angel's email and am surprised that it seems genuine. Alas, this was the package that customs refused so it failed to get past the post office (similar tale to Bing's excuse several months ago). Hopefully, if they actually post the item again it will be with a valid tracking number assuming that they do not simply return my money.

[rol243]

why would customs refuse a model boat hull ? maybe advise Angel that you may also be notifying Scam Watch about there dealings if something isn,t done now. come on now as we know if you want something shipped quick you can have it within 24 hours or so., these guys are just not cutting it. i purchased a tunnel hull from the States some years ago and it arrived in 2 days.

[Old School]

I am awaiting another email from Angel to see if they do ship the hull today. Apparently it would take a few days to advise of a new tracking number. Trust is not getting any healthier but I will wait a few more days. They think that I will lift the PayPal dispute simply because they say they will ship to me. They seem unhappy to post knowing that I have raised the dispute. In reality all they need to do is supply a tracking number and PayPal will automatically close the case even if I do not agree. So much for buyer protection policy. I want proof of postage, as does PayPal. If I close the case prematurely then it cannot be reopened and I lose my money.

Edit: received a further email stating that the hull will be posted and a tracking number supplied soon (?). Apparently it was not customs as I was told who refused the package but the post office due the oversized packaging. As described, quote: "is strict shipping rule on big size packing box recently, and that boat is not small."

[MadProps]

ALSO becarefull with TomTop sales

TomTop sales did the same thing to me ....they sold me a defective transmitter that I bought on ebay from a calif address....I bought from them because of the USA address.....they ignored me about the defective controller, I filed a paypal complaint and they diddled me around every which way dealing with PayPal they finally said they would take the return BUT I had to send it to China and of course that cost more than the item is worth!!!!....I made a lot of noise I bought it from a calif address ....PayPal said I was satisfied because they would take the return and I got screwed
TomTop Sales also sellls under 4-5 names on ebay Im pretty sure they are dumping defective returns on ebay knowing they just have to say RETURN IT TO CHINA

Im also aware someone will post I bought from TomTop and all was well ....I say wait till your not satisfied or the item is defective ......then talk to me...... this was only 3 months ago they may have a new dumping on ebay policy to cash out their junk

[Old School]

I see numerous reviews on Hobbyking where purchasers say that they purchase multiples of items because they are cheap expecting that some failures will occur. If you want one item then purchase two or three as the return shipping cost on one item exceeds purchasing the additional items to counter any failure that occurs. Lack of quality control ensures a higher failure rate than from a more reputable manufacturer. That said I have no complaint of any item purchased from Hobbyking.

As regards my dealing with Toucan, perhaps the Chinese have a different philosophy on life. Maybe they do not prioritise haste when dealing with western cultures and proceed at their own rate. As I found out above they guarantee delivery within 45 days but use a shipping method (EMS) that takes a maximum 22 days, thus allowing themselves over three weeks to ship an item. A different way of life as compared to what we expect.

I am awaiting confirmation my purchase has been shipped and a valid trackable tracking number.

[Hydrocarbon82]

Old School I've bought plenty of cheap china goods and defect rate really isn't much higher than generic goods from Amazon or Walmart. I do make sure I research the part & the seller tho. Aliexpress has a nice system where most smaller items can be kept along with your refund, so it REALLY encourages sellers to up their game.

Edit: I tried the tracking number supplied in Angel's email and am surprised that it seems genuine. Alas, this was the package that customs refused so it failed to get past the post office (similar tale to Bing's excuse several months ago). Hopefully, if they actually post the item again it will be with a valid tracking number assuming that they do not simply return my money.

First off, do NOT cancel the PP dispute. You won't be able to re-file for another later. If it was returned to them, ask them to approve the dispute and re-purchase it. There are no "dings" or negative effects to a PP account if both seller & buyer reach a mutual understanding.

Also it is helpful if you list your location. In the USA we have laws that let us go beyond PP dispute and file for a credit card charge back (only way I pay). I had to do a dispute for a member here that packaged a hull like a 4yr old, it got damage, then he kept my money, FedEx's insurance, AND lied to PP. Credit card co sorted it out.

I have had a few items refused by US Customs for unknown reasons, it happens. It could be as simple as an officer seeing powder from sanding inside as drug residue or it being late on a Friday.

[Old School]

Many thanks. The store was not happy that I raised the dispute, but given that they ignored two emails requesting shipping info and five weeks had passed since the purchase I felt that they needed a little encouragement to do something. Oddly, going on the tracking number supplied for the hull the customs/post office refused the item was initially shipped the day after my second email.

After the recent phonecall in somewhat broken English from the caller, I told them that the dispute would not be closed until I was sure the item was safely on its way to Australia with a valid realtime tracking number. Some sellers provide a tracking number which is inactive just to "appease" the buyer. She stated that they would resend the hull. I have until April 9th before the dispute automatically closes. I want proof of posting before I close the case. If they post the item in the next few days it will not arrive until well after the case has closed so I need some reassurance by following the tracking.

The only time I have had a package questioned was when the seller used a package that had previously contained foodstuff. American customs repacked the items in a replacement container.

[Old School]

I have received another email detailing that the hull has been sent and a tracking number supplied. There was also a link to a tracking company that initially was seemingly impossible to understand how to track an item but I finally worked it out after a night's sleep. I tried the tracking number on several other tracking links but was unable to get a result with the number supplied but it did work on the tracking link the hobby company sent me.

[Old School]

Most recent tracking shows a package has arrived at Sydney Airport (hopefully mine!!!!!). If so then I should have the hull by the end of the week (fingers crossed).

[rol243]

I certainly will keep fingers crossed for you, this has been a total nigthmare of a deal for you over the last few months and that dealer should go.