Never buy a heli that got no spare parts available here!

[Newbirdie]

I heard of this heli Zoom 400,it is made in China.Not Taiwan.My bad experience with heli that is not available locally.Once anything happens,get ready to spend lots of $$$ on shipping to ship from overseas.And best part the time you have to wait!And sometimes they don't arrive??Yes,it happens!This is the problem if you have to buy the spares from overseas.Parcel "missing in action"!So i never will buy heli that is not available here in the LHS.I would rather pay more than to take the risk.And especially new helis from overseas.You don't know when this chinese companies will stop producing it's spares.God bless..

[HZM]

Well.....sigh.... in fact that is also come across my mind when I bought the pic pro and logo 10....... But I read so much about them that I finally cave in ..... yeah its a long wait the other time I stripped the main gear during chinese new year period

Mike

[MicroHeli-Nut]

Hi NewBirdie,
You seem to be having problems with this 'overseas' heli you bought. Which heli is it? Probably you could bring it down to one of the funflies and let us help you with it?

[BonJour Brat]

Arggghhh! No!!!! now u got me thinking again... Oh dear...

969, maybe we should wait till LHS carry the zoom?

[Brandon Chng]

nnewbirdie, these experts don't need spares one, they are creative enough to replace the spares with cheaper and better stuff

[HZM]

Wa lau Brandon...u sure or not......I brain nearly go burst when I tot of alternative the last time I stripped the main gear.

If you guys are so positive on the Zoom, I suggest pooling in money to get an extra set for spares......

Mike

[Art]

see why I get a R50v2???

[jaZallo]

hey i got mine locally leh but last i check no spare leh.........

i meant the WIFE

enjoy

[Art]

abang...tat one must change....regularly

[BonJour Brat]

dot dot dot ...

[969]

Spare problem, GST problem, etc, etc, etc... BonJour, in this case may I suggest we wait a little longer and see what the LHS can offer. Till then we will probably be able to make better decision which to go for. What do you think ?
FDC, what about you ?

[FDC]

Newbirdie's advice is very much relevant and should be taken into consideration but hmmmm...

If I had a malicious mind , I think this would be a case of product bashing as the Zoom was specifically singled out now that the CP HB and/or CP FEDA will be coming out very soon and the Zoom is gaining in popularity. If everyone would like to get a Zoom from overseas, then there would be dramatic decrease in market locally for the CP HBs and FEDAs. I doubt if the LHS would bring in the Zoom before they could sell-off all their incoming inventories of CP HB, CP FEDAs and other CP micro-heli in the price range of the Zoom. But I don't have a malicious mind .

There is nothing wrong if the Zoom was made in China or Taiwan. What is important is the quality of the product and so far quality and construction/designwise point of view, the Zoom is great.

When buying a product which is not locally available, it is always important to evaluate the pros and the cons and carefull planning about the spare parts should be made beforehand. You should also consider how likely the lack of spares would affect you and your capacity to cope with it.

The only cons right now with regards to the heli itself is the TR crown gears which strips easily and the narrow landing gear which is a personal preferrence.

I currently have some problems with my zoom. I stripped the groove of the carbon tail shaft drive holding in place the front crown TR gear. This I did not anticipate as I ordered only spare main/tail blades and TR gears. So carefull spare parts planning should be made for those interested in getting the zoom.

When buying from overseas, it is important to evaluate the reputation of the online vendor. Don't just give off your money to a total stranger without knowing it's background and current status with the rest of the RC hobbyist around the world. You can always have some info from other international forums.

The cons of waiting for a product to be available locally is that maybe it won't be available locally as there might be no strong local demand or for the reason stated in the first paragraph.

For the guys wanting to get the Zoom, I think it's best for you guys to wait a little longer and evaluate the current situation before deciding if you would get from overseas or wait for it to be available locally.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[MicroHeli-Nut]

I can sympathize with the LHS and understand their point of view.

But i think it's really sneaky and immature ( *ahem Ahem*) that they bash a specific product.

It all boils down to the product and price itself. We need something that's affordable and good.

It would be decent if the LHS can stock the products we want. Not the OTHER way round. Basically if U're gonna go cheap there isn't a guaranteed return.

Interesting case:

ABC shop keeps saying product H is coming in 2 weeks. And got everyone waiting and waiting while the rest of the world gets them. Now a newer Z is in the market that's priced competitively to H and the rest of the world are getting them FIRST again......

If the LHS pays attention to our needs and wants, then it won't happen. Seems like this is an endless cycle. Suppliers go cheap because we look like small fry to them. Then they dun wanna bring in something when we want them to.. Tell me, like that how not to order from overseas. And at the same time when their 'product' is in stock. It's either out-classed, out-priced, or OUT already........

One STU shop better still, say: ' U order from me, 10 days the product will come' And the price is more expensive then when you ship it by yourself.... Isn't better if STU shop was an online shop?

[Newbirdie]

Originally posted by MicroHeli-Nut
Hi NewBirdie,
You seem to be having problems with this 'overseas' heli you bought. Which heli is it? Probably you could bring it down to one of the funflies and let us help you with it?

Thanks guys.I wish i had time to join you guys for the funfly.

Me flying humming bird.Good bird!

[Newbirdie]

Originally posted by MicroHeli-Nut
Hi NewBirdie,
You seem to be having problems with this 'overseas' heli you bought. Which heli is it? Probably you could bring it down to one of the funflies and let us help you with it?

Thanks guys.I wish i had time to join you guys for the funfly.

Me flying humming bird.Good bird!