Anyone else tried to get ahold of Ozark Minatures lately?
I’m trying to order some stuff and the website is messed up.
I tried calling and no answer…
Website just worked for me.
I always found Friday’s were the best time to call.
The website works. But when I go to check out I get a general error. It wont let me checkout. I’ll try calling them again
This is the error I’m Getting:
"500 - Internal server error.
There is a problem with the resource you are looking for, and it cannot be displayed."
From what I understand its on their end.
Hi,
It seems to be working now - from here in the UK I opened the site; went to detail parts (1:20.3) and that opened as well
Yours Peter
I just received an order from them a couple days ago.
Umm, still on the fence as to their work ethic. When I ordered hinges for my small cabin, it took a while and seemed like they finally arrived only after I posted a negative comment on LSC. Soon, I’ll be needing Precision Plastic sheet and Ozark is among those who sell it. But so does a doll house supply place in New England, where a very pleasant lady who answered the phone said they ship the sheets in a flat box (I’m guessing, more like a sleeve) and promptly.
Let me tell you guys a little story.
There once was a married couple that wanted to do something to help a hobby they loved. They had to keep their day jobs because the volume of the hobby business wasn’t enough to pay the bills - but all their off time was taken up processing orders and making new stock.
Then one day a guy with an “instant gratification” fetish decided that they were taking too long with his ordered and instead of contacting them directly, complained on a web forum. then a bunch of other folks decided not to order, Then somebody else complains, and it builds. At some point making stuff for a bunch of ingrates ceases to be “fun” anymore.
Then, eventually, the couple decided to throw in the towel mostly because they were tired of folks criticizing them for doing their best, and suddenly NOBODY is making those detail parts for a reasonable price anymore… and the hobbyists who complained and listened to the complainers all say “See, I told you they were shifty”, rather than accept that it’s their own damned fault.
The moral of the story is; Send an e-mail, pick up the phone, give the vendor a chance to fix the problem, first. We are a niche hobby within a niche hobby. Ain’t NOBODY gonna rush in to fill their shoes if you push them to quitting.
Thank you Mik , and its so sad that things like that happen , its so sad there is so much "its all about me " thinking anymore . so sad
This is NOT directed towards anyone by name , just in general , with several of my hobby interest .
I’ve been talking with him for a couple of weeks on and off … by e-mail. Last time we exchanged, he was not feeling well due to laryngitis, and not able to talk on the phone. I’m about to get back to him with the final order for the project – I’ve never had a problem with him; usually stuff ordered on the website is here quickly.
Just my own experience.
Matthew (OV)
Duly noted, Mik and Matthew.
I have always found them helpful and courteous (and - they deliver the Precision sheets in a Pizza box).
I think Mik put it well. When you are dealing with a one man show that does this stuff as a second fun job, you have to give some slack. People do get sick or have emergencies. Plus the site says they ship on Friday and I think monday.
I always liked when I would call and the kids would answer the phone. You had to be precise with the part number and have them read it back to you. They have grown up and it isnt nearly as fun! Truly a family business. Sometimes slow, but always pleasant. They are a bit low tech at some things that once in awhile slow them down but nothing I do in the hobby is that urgent. The family business is a dieing breed.
I’ll support the home business and little guy any day over the big fellas.
Terry
Spot on, Mik.
Large scale is a tiny part of the shrinking hobby of model railroading.
The only solid number we can look at is NMRA membership, which, of course, does not take every model railroader into account. After a bit of digging, the last number I found was a bit over 19,000 as of May 31, 2011. Lets pretend that number is off more than 100%, and say there are 40,000 model railroaders in the country. How many of those are LSers? How many of those LSers just buy and run, as opposed to scratchbuild/kitbash? The numbers get VERY small VERY fast. Large manufacturers arent going to get into the business of providing something for a couple hundred people, once or twice a year. Its guys like you or me that have access to machines and ability and desire to do it.
Amen, Mik!
If you have to have Ozarks in a hurry, try Caboose Hobbies. They usually stock quite a bit.
I agree. Most of the specialty manufacturers, and some of the better dealers in this scale are one-man operations and a lot of them are side business for guys who work full time at another job. Most of them will bend over backwards to help if you just give them a chance.
It can be tough when life throws a curve at these guys, The side business must get put off in order to deal with illness or other problems. We just need to be patient and tolerant when the side business is not the persons #1 priority.
I just sent Ozark a non-automated order today. Mentioned he was missed … I’ll report back, but I’m not expecting any issues.
Matthew (OV)
Amen! Ozark has always been good to me. Give him a chance. With one order I made, he called me to check that everything arrived ok. That’s service that cares.
Mik, assuming you’re talking about me, just to set the record straight, I wasn’t looking for “instant gratification.” Nor am I an ingrate. I was merely responding to a question asking if anyone had dealt with Ozark Miniatures, which I had. It took me a few weeks to receive my order, which I was very satisfied with. I appreciate how difficult it is to run a second business when you’re working full-time. My wife and I, who had stressful “day jobs,” sold books out of our home, shipping thousands of orders. We both realized that our customers didn’t care how busy we were; they simply wanted their merchandise delivered in a timely fashion, so many days, we worked late into the night fullfilling orders.
no, Joe, it was a general observation. But I can probably name half a dozen companies in various parts of the hobby sector that went through the scenario mentioned.
Consider it a cautionary tale.
And if you were in biz, then you know customers can be VERY unrealistic. And getting sick is an unavoidable reality.