RunRyder - Why does Century constantly have parts out of stock?

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Century Hawk - Falcon - Raven - Predator > Why does Century constantly have parts out of stock?

oldfart
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver, Canada

As a distributor of their products (along with products from a number of other manufacturers) for over 12 years. I can honestly say that I have been relatively impressed with the fill of all of our orders.

They always seem to have everything we order relative to the Hawks, Ravens, Swift 16, 550SE and 620SE electrics. The only area that they seem to have occasionally had some more then normal delays, have been in the parts for their bigger Predator Series. But then I must say that they always did come through pretty well, such that we usually got the items B/O's before we ran out of stock.

Ditto for some of the scale kits. But that was mostly due to the greed of Bell/Textron and the fight Century had with them when they decided to increase their "copyright" fees.

So I can understand why maybe someone, who ordered their Predator items directly from Heli-World (a hobby shop owned by the same people that own Century) may have occasionally had problems. But usually they could have sourced their requirements from another hobby shop and found them there.

FAA

I am sure most of what you say is related to Heli-World and not to Century. Fortunately Heli-World changed management awhile ago, and it seems that they have improved dramatically since then. That is why you may find so many of their customers now very happy with them.

05-09-2008 11:25 PM

funkyflyer
Veteran
Location: Griffith, IN.

Well, when I first started flying, I flew Century. They do make an excellent machine. However, the parts issue is what drove me away, and I see that nothing has changed. Too bad, Century helis are really nice, I still miss my gasser.

Wow, the ground was closer than I thought.

05-10-2008 02:30 AM

rent
Heliman
Location: Central USA

funkyflyer

You see that nothing has changed. That is what I am looking for. Please show me how you know this to be true. Thanks.

05-10-2008 02:34 AM

centuryman
Veteran
Location: deerriver,mn usa

Hows this one for you?
Yesterday i called heliworld,(I've been watching the status of the tail belt for the swift 620 for a few weeks now.)
I asked when they would be available.I explained that i had put an 8s power system in a swift 16 and needed the longer boom and belt so i could run bigger tail blades to hold the power of the 8s setup.
Anyways they pulled one out of a kit for me,and shipped it out priority mail the same day.
Now if that's not service. what is?

05-10-2008 03:31 AM

Ray Fernandez
Key Veteran
Location: Guam (U.S.A.)

A number of times (and I mean ALOT) Antonio and Saul had and still have, come through for me whenever I needed parts, even as centuryman mentioned, going into the warehouse and actually getting the part that I needed mailed out to me.

Thumbs up for the company because of service people like them.

Ray Fernandez - GUAM

05-10-2008 05:48 AM

oldfart
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver, Canada

funkyflyer

As I said - your problem was also with the Predator.

05-10-2008 06:36 AM

funkyflyer
Veteran
Location: Griffith, IN.

Quote
You see that nothing has changed. That is what I am looking for. Please show me how you know this to be true. Thanks.

Oh, perhaps the threads about not being able to get parts are still happening. That is what this thread is, you know.

Oh, but I get it. I am the only guy in the world who ever had a Century sitting on the shelf for two months waiting for a part that was on backorder. There is no real problem, Century just didn't like me. Century never had any issues, they get you guys a steak and a blow*** every March. Cool, I just wish I was informed earlier that I couldn't be in the club.

I know, you guys just forgot to give me the secret password to be able to get the good customer service. Shame on you.

However, Century still seems to be hamdling things better then Avant.

Wow, the ground was closer than I thought.

05-11-2008 02:17 PM

rent
Heliman
Location: Central USA

funkyflyer

Nevermind. I was looking for constructive information.

05-11-2008 02:21 PM

rent
Heliman
Location: Central USA

funky flyer

replied to me via PM and explained his position. Thanks funkyflyer.

05-11-2008 02:55 PM

oldfart
Elite Veteran
Location: Vancouver, Canada

funkeyflyer

And I repeat ... seems only with SOME PREDATOR parts....NOT with parts for their MANY other helis.

This is why I take exception to a generalization such as the initial question "Why does Century constantly have parts out of Stock" and your subsequent comment, which was also related to PREDATOR parts.

This is also why so many disagreed with it. They obviously did not have any problems getting parts as you may have, because they were ordering parts for five other models of Century helicopters - Hawks, Falcons, Ravens, Swift 16, Swift 550SE or Swift 620SE.

As they almost ALWAYS seem to have parts for the others, but sometimes do NOT have some parts for the PREDATOR, IMHO does not justify a blanket statement and support of that statement, that implies they are always out of all parts.

The statement would have been more proper if it had said "Why does Century constantly seem to be out of stock on some PREDATOR parts". Then I am sure there would not have been the resistance to the statement.

05-11-2008 05:53 PM

Eury
Elite Veteran
Location: Ankeny, IA, USA.

I would say that Century constantly being out of Predator parts is part of "Why does Century constantly have parts out of stock?" You can make the distinction all you want to justify it, but the fact is, Century makes the Predator, Century makes the parts, and there are long periods of time when they don't have the parts available.

I'm not sure why you think it is OK for them to be out of stock on parts for their flagship, and most expensive product, as long as they have parts for their less expensive ones. IT IS NOT OK. I don't give a damn if someone can go get parts for their $200 Hawk when I can't get parts for my $1500 Predator Gasser, or my $1200 Freestyle. They should be able to support all of their helis, or stop producing the ones they can't put the parts out for. It pisses me off, how does the guy who just spent $2k on a new Condor feel?

This thread has become a bash fest, which is not what was intended, and I'm closing it down. I guess what we can all take away from this are the following points:

Heli World's website sucks, they don't update the stock levels.

Century does a great job of providing parts for their cheap helis, but if you give them thousands of dollars, expect them to not be able to provide you with the same level of service. Seems kind of backwards to me, and makes me think that when I run out of spares for my Preds, they will be sold and I will go to a company who doesn't have trouble supplying parts.

Nick Crego
As I wind on down the road...

05-11-2008 06:07 PM

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Century Hawk - Falcon - Raven - Predator > Why does Century constantly have parts out of stock?

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