Al’s Hobbies Reviews 

I am going to be as honest and subjective as I possibly can and explain why I have given Al's Hobbies 1 star.
I have been ill with Covid for over a year and as a result I am on a realy tight budget when it comes to my hobby.
I ordered online an electronic speed controller and Spektrum receiver all in one product for my new jet aeroplane. I typed it into google search and it came up with Al's product. I went to the link and ordered it. What I didn't realise was that it was for a rc buggy and not aero even though that was what I had typed in Google. Not Al's fault but just an explanation of how the error occured. In future I will double check.
When the Item arrived just like everyone I tore it open in excitement as it was the last bit I needed to get air born.
Once open I realised it had battery, Thro, aux 1 and aux 2 connections instead of Ail and Elev or Rud. Thats when it hit me.
So I contacted A'ls to explain and to request an alternative and swap them over. I spoke to one member of staff who said it would be easier if I called back and spoke to their Spektrum specialist as to what would suit me best as well as organise the return but he would not be in for another 2 days. So I waited and called back and was told he was at lunch and to call back again. I did so and finally spoke to Gary the Spektrum tech. He said in short that there was no all in one alternative and I would have to get 2 seperate items to which I agreed. He said a full refund would be no problem even though I had taken off the cellophane. He said put a note in explaing what had happened and what he said in the return package and once they had it they would call me to discuss alternative items.
I paid to send the item back £4.85 insured and registered. A week later Gary called me and said they had received it but his boss said as I had removed the cellophane they could not return it to the supplier for a refund and they had specially ordered it.
Well, when I ordered it, it said in stock, not special order! I think and feel this was just an excuse to force me to accept a reduced refund. First Gary said they would take 13% off the refund, I said I thought it was harsh but suggested 10% he finished on 12% deduction and I accepted. After the call I was left feeling I had been harshley treated as I was willing to spend more on the replacement Items and had they treated me better would have purchased more items in the future!
However I am now left feeling that a decent sized company could'nt afford a few pounds discount in good favor to retain a good customer reputation. Appears not, they obviously prefer the £10 today once and never seen again theory instead of the £300 over a year theory as well as good word of mouth.
With all that said I have lost the best part of £15 but they will lose me as a customer, easily worth £50. to £200 if not more in a year as well as everyone I know when I tell them how I was treated. I don't believe they cant return it to their supplier or simply re-sell it at full price without the cellophane, I wouldn't know it should be wraped and I guess neither would any one else.
Never mind, my lesson is learned I have gained knowledge, Al's Hobbies however will certainly lose more than me from this lesson in the long run.
Enjoy your £15 guys, a hamburger each at best,a days universal credit for me never mind Im off to order from Slogh models instead.

You can't please everyone and some people make it very difficult to serve them at all, don't be put off by a small number of poor reviews from customers who wanted Al's to pull a rabbit out of a hat! I bought strip balsa from Al's Hobbies via eBay (mailed/posted). I can say it is the best packed fragile item I've received in a very long time. This tells me that the shop actually cares about the product quality and their customer satisfaction. I am a very 'pleased' customer, Thank You and keep it up. :-)

do not recommend ripped me off and are very rude when they answer the phone acting like its a incovince ive tryed having patients with them I cant buy a part for my rc without them constantly trying to talk me into a new one also there r not very acknowlageble at what they do I have try to ask questions and they jus stand there and stare and have a long delay before they answer I suggest jus driving to another town to buy parts or order offline

I am new to scale modelling, and to date have purchased most of the things - including the engine - from Als hobbies. However, today I visited the store and the staff seemed completely disinterested in helping me with my needs, dismissing it as "an American thing". I had travelled some 25 miles as a round trip, and at a cost of nearly 2 hours of my time. I had intended to purchase the transmitter and receiver from Als, as had been agreed on my last visit. However, if that is the attitude of his staff, the I will spend my money elsewhere.

Excellent service
First time visiting store can not express how helpful and friendly everyone was. Spent a lot of time giving advice and helped tweak car.
Would highly recommend to anyone.
Such lovely people will definitely be a regular customer now..
Thanks from H

I bought a Tamiya container trailer from them and they have also done some repairs on my rc truck. Spoke to Steve who managed to get the trailer at a very competitive price and was delivered direct to my door.
I'm fairly new to this hobby and having a physical shop where you can go for help and advice is very handy, not many places like this left now.

Visited their mk shop last year great service have just received a small order by mail both times great service and great staff

Only been here a hand full of times, Great customer service, any problems they will find a solution

Excellent service very friendly staff
Had RC truck kit delivered when they said it would come very impressed with them and would recommend to anyone

I ordered 10 items that are required for an upgrade project on a Vaterra Ascender worth just over £100.

When I did not receive any updates re my order after 7 days, I emailed for an update. I have not received a response to this email.

I did receive 8 of my 10 items and a refund for the missing two. This means I cannot complete my upgrade project with the items supplied by Al's.

I guess that Al's did not want to inform me of the missing items as I would have cancelled the entire order.

Sending it back would be pointless as I will end up out of pocket due to delivery charges.

I will now have to find the last two items elsewhere

I recently joined as a member of staff, but I'm trying to be as honest and un-bias as possible here. I've seen how brilliantly the staff service the customers and their knowledge​ base is outstanding. Alongside which, the amount of products listed on the site is huge. You are in safe hands making a purchase here.