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Century Hawk - Falcon - Raven - Predator > Why does Century constantly have parts out of stock?
 
 
Eury
Elite Veteran
Location: Ankeny, IA, USA.

Serious question. Why? Specifically HW6054, I've been checking Heli-World a couple times a week for it for a couple months, it's never in stock. I don't even need the whole thing, just the brass spacer ring that's in it. Going through parts for the Predator, there's other things that are continually on backorder as well, why is that? I know that there was a factory move or something a while back that effected production, hasn't that been dealt with?

I guess I'm jsut blowing off some steam. I've now got 3 Predators, 1 Gasser, 1 90 Max, and 1 Freestyle, I bought them because I got the gasser and I loved how it flew, and it came with a bunch of spares, so I tried the 90, and was blown away by the fact that it flew better than not only the gasser, but most other 90s I've flown, while being simple and easy to maintain and dead reliable. So, I'm pretty heavily invested in Century now, and I've never encountered this type of backorder before, not to mention that my Freestyle is just a worthless hunk of carbon and metal without that stupid brass spacer. A beautiful 90 sized heli grounded over an unavailable $7 part. That's ridiculous. I'm going to have to order it from Canada or something and pay huge shipping.


Nick Crego
I'm not going to put my lot in with economists.
05-03-2008 03:33 PM
 
 
Dilbeck
Veteran
Location: Springdale Arkansas

I'm sure that only a Century rep could explain this problem and would like to here from one now and then like on the other manufactures forums. Hello Century, Hello!

If it doesn't fly sell it!
05-03-2008 03:41 PM
 
 
rent
New Heliman
Location: USA

I think this is the reason that Century helis are not nearly as popular as other brands.
05-03-2008 03:52 PM
 
 
Mutt
Veteran
Location: t ca usa

Call them at 1.800.686.8588 and see if they have the part thier website sucks always has and always will untill someone decides to keep it updated. Thier site shows things out of stock but when I call them they have it. Come on how hard is it to dial a toll free number to ask? instead just come in and bash its eaiser I guess for some.
05-03-2008 04:49 PM
 
 
Eury
Elite Veteran
Location: Ankeny, IA, USA.

For your information, I have called. Twice, once about a month and a half ago, then again about 2 weeks ago. They don't have it. But thanks for implying that I'm a lazy idiot. I didn't bash, I asked a question, you are the one bashing people.

Don't insult people because they expect a website to work. If a company isn't going to keep their website up to date, then they should shut it down. Incompetency on keeping a website up to date is still incompetency, blaming the user for it because a phone call would solve the problem doesn't change anything. When all of the retailers that they link to on their website are out of it (along with the ones I've contacted that aren't linked from the by state search), then it is a supply problem. Which brings us back to the original question.

Why does Century constantly have parts out of stock?


Nick Crego
I'm not going to put my lot in with economists.
05-03-2008 04:53 PM
 
 
SuperSixTwo
Senior Heliman
Location: Lockwood, NV

they are popular and everybody has them ! Maybe you will have better luck now that the auroa or what ever is out.
05-03-2008 05:22 PM
 
 
Mutt
Veteran
Location: t ca usa

Did I call you a idiot?? no wheres in my post did I say you were a idiot. Dont put words there that were not said. Yes your bashing them. If it seems to upset you as it has what I said must be true since you got so upset over it.
05-03-2008 05:25 PM
 
 
Eury
Elite Veteran
Location: Ankeny, IA, USA.

I didn't say that you called me an idiot, I said you implied it. Big difference.

Yeah, I'm bashing something that I said I loved how it flew so I went and bought 3 of them. Does it piss me off that you came in and rather than answering the question or providing a source you made a worthless post saying "Come on how hard is it to dial a toll free number to ask? instead just come in and bash its easier I guess for some."? Yeah, that pissed me off. Bashing would be "Century sucks, because they never have parts, and their helis suck." That's not what I said. I said, "Why does Century constantly have parts out of stock?"

Do you have a Predator Freestyle RTF with the exception of a $5.75 part that has been out of stock for months? Didn't think so. When you have a paperweight that you just paid $600 for you can come in and tell me that I'm bashing because I want to know why they don't have parts available. Until then, you don't know what you're talking about.

If you would like me to bash their website, I certainly can. A while back I ordered a couple of things. All were listed in stock except 1, which said "Ships in 3-5days", but I only got 2 of my 3 items. After a week and a half I called and was told that they had no idea when the part would be in, probably not for a couple of months. Pretty wide gulf between "probably not for a couple of months" and "3-5 days", don't you think?


Nick Crego
I'm not going to put my lot in with economists.
05-03-2008 05:33 PM
 
 
Furious Predator
Elite Veteran
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

I know that Oldfart mentioned he would stop in and see if he had one for you, but this is a retailer thats just down the road from him.

Here is a link

they dont show stock status on the website, but if they dont have the part, they will take the 10-15 minute drive to the canadian distributer to go pick it up for you, and ship asap.

they are great folks to deal with, and shipping across the border only costs a couple bucks more then it normally would. i consider the folks at Pivotal to be the "Canadian Ricks".

if that doesn't hold up for you, then try Norburn Hobbies

more great people to deal with, but you either have to call or email them to see if they have your part, and to make the order. they are also very close to the distributer, but i believe they will only make a trip to Leisure Tech once a week.

Shawn
Team Leisure-Tech
05-03-2008 07:42 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
RappyTappy
Elite Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, NV

I may be able to help.

You mean this brass spacer?



Send me your address and I'll loan it to you so you can get flying, no charge. When the part becomes available send it back to me please. My Fuze 90 is down for redesign so I don't need it right now

Chris

Logo 500 3D

Forever Brothers
Mickey Tylo
05-03-2008 08:24 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Eury
Elite Veteran
Location: Ankeny, IA, USA.

Thanks Chris, I appreciate it. Some time digging around the LHS was fruitful, however, so I'm all set on the spacer now. The owner has a bunch of dead helis that he let me take apart to find a substitute, and an old X-Cell 30 netted a spacer the same diameter, and just a tiny bit thicker. A few minutes with some sandpaper and I have the perfect substitute.


Nick Crego
I'm not going to put my lot in with economists.
05-03-2008 09:30 PM
 
 
jschenck
Elite Veteran
Location: La Vista, NE.

Did you try RHPS?

...yep...
05-05-2008 02:48 PM
 
 
Eury
Elite Veteran
Location: Ankeny, IA, USA.

Yup.


Nick Crego
I'm not going to put my lot in with economists.
05-05-2008 03:26 PM
 
 
eeeeky
Senior Heliman
Location: Roosevelt UT USA

i have the actual part for the predator 90 specifically if you decide you want it...PM me if you want it.

Team Century
Team Gazaur
Blade FX,
Airthunder Batts
Always bros,
James Linder
05-05-2008 08:51 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
FAA
Senior Heliman
Location: MIlford CT

Century is horrible.

Period. I have had issue after issue both with parts availability and the way I have been treated on the phone by them.

In over 35 years in this Hobby, no other company has been so bad.

I will never buy another heli from them.

I love my Predator, but dread every time I fly it, in case I crash it.

As I have said before ... if only Thunder Tiger or Align would come out with a gasser...
05-09-2008 08:50 PM
 
 
eeeeky
Senior Heliman
Location: Roosevelt UT USA

Its funny though, because everyone else here has been treated perfectly, myself included...One time, i got the wrong motor in the right box...i called them up, the new one was shipped within 5 minutes. Being a rep or not, i was ALWAYS treated with the utmost of respect...And if you try and get stuff online, its a waste of time, the website is hardly updated with stock..Youd find that 99% of predator parts are indeed in stock, but you can only order if you call them.


I had a problem with a rotorhub on my raptor 30 back in the day, i emailed TT, and within 1 day i had a reply saying "We constantly receive many emails, so your question will be answered within 48 hours" And now, 2.5 years later...still not a reply. I Had a cracked blade grip that was still NIP on my old trex 450SE, i emailed align...never ONCE got anything back! sold that heli before i fixed it!

Team Century
Team Gazaur
Blade FX,
Airthunder Batts
Always bros,
James Linder
05-09-2008 08:59 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
FAA
Senior Heliman
Location: MIlford CT

I am happy you had great experiences.

I did not. And this was over several years now.

I was insulted by the way their staff worked the phone. They where clearly too busy to talk to me and sounded anoyed every time I even asked a question.

Please note that I was very polite, and curtious and this was not a single call, but multiple ones, spaced over several years and about different issues.

They must either pay their employees "dirt cheap", or they are family members that would rather be doing something else.

I was lied to. (Many times about parts, availability, and service)

I had to get reps from runyder to help me out. (Thank you guys !)

Parts where showing available online, and where not. And vice versa. In todays world, you live and die by the quality of your web site. There is no excuse for not having a better web site, with up to date status.

Parts where shipped based on phone calls, and where the wrong ones. Then I was given a hard time about exchanging them for the correct ones.

The stories fgo on and on ...

The bottom line, is that there too many other good vendors and suppliers out there that will work harder for my bussiness.

As I said before. I love my Predator,I think it is a great piece of Engineering, and I would recomend it to anyone, but I cannot see myself buying another Century product, unless they under go a major change as a company and the way the operate. The business model may work for them, and others here but it doesn't work for me.
05-09-2008 10:05 PM
 
 
Dilbeck
Veteran
Location: Springdale Arkansas

FAA, Your not licking right!

If it doesn't fly sell it!
05-09-2008 10:06 PM
 
 
RappyTappy
Elite Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, NV

Quote 
Century is horrible.

That certainly is your opinion.

I've been buying from Century for years with NO problems, always helpful, fast shipping ect ect. I'm not a Team member or anything so I have no ties with the company, but myself and many others I know have been treated just as good. Can't make everyone happy all the time. I haven't found parts to be THAT huge of a problem, usually in stock like eeeeky said 99% of the time. They did have a hurdle a while back with the factory issue which hurt parts production, but they got their act back together and I think they are a quality product and perfectly fine.

Chris

Logo 500 3D

Forever Brothers
Mickey Tylo
05-09-2008 10:53 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
rent
New Heliman
Location: USA

It seems most people are generally happy with Century.

If anyone has links to forums with a majority of people not liking Century, please post them.
05-09-2008 10:56 PM
 
 
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Century Hawk - Falcon - Raven - Predator > Why does Century constantly have parts out of stock?
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