No Australian stockist anymore?

[sapperastro]

So, I went to chase up an order I have with Creative Models in Sydney as they hadn't responded to my emails. And the website appears to be gone. So I checked the Sovereign Hobbies website and it states "None" in other country distributors. So I am guessing that money is now lost.

 

Are there any other shops in Australia/NZ that have expressed an interest? Or is this the end of Colourcoats in my part of the world?

 

Edit:

 

In answer to my first question;

 

https://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?/topic/98162-are-creative-models-australia-still-going/

 

Seems they did die, and as this guy says;

 

Quote

I did my best to support CMA for a number of years and bought various things from them. I had a few things on order from, so it leaves a bad taste in the mouth to find out he's wound up the business without advising or refunding those with outstanding orders.

 

Given CMA's "we don't know you want it, if you don't order it" philosophy, I'd got used to ordering and waiting for a while until it showed up, so I only just found out that the business had folded today when I decided to check on some items I ordered 18 months ago.

 

I save up to buy stuff for my hobby and it doesn't feel great to now be down a not insubstantial sum without notice or apology. I realise I'm in the category of "unsecured creditor" in a business that's been liquidated, but I think it's poor form to treat customers this way.

 

Very similar story.

Edited May 21, 2024 by sapperastro

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

Hi,

 

We never heard another word from Creative about what was or wasn't going on after we tried to contact Glenn there after we received a lot of complaints about Creative taking peoples' money and delivering nothing.

 

I am aware that they routinely sold what they didn't have, taking customers' money, ordering from us often many months later and, sadly, blaming us for the length of time he held peoples' money and didn't deliver produce to them. That irks me a lot, I'll be honest.

 

I am also aware that Creative's stock has been sold off. Colourcoats stock remaining in Australia was bought by a new startup called Model Revival Australia. They're going through the long process of stock taking and building websites etc.

 

There has been contact between us but we don't have any open orders. I think realistically they'll need to generate cash before committing to large expenditures.

 

In the mean time my wife and I have taken a break from the business for personal reasons - our professional circumstances and time commitments are somewhat different now compared to 10 years ago when WEM went bust, and we are pondering what best to do with this little business. Nothing is decided yet, other than that we agree the status quo is too big a burden.

[stevehnz]

Sorry to hear this, both from your guys POV Jamie, & about Creative. I had a couple of orders from him but not for a bit now & had no hassles. Had always meant to get some more but never got around to it. 

Steve.

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

On 5/22/2024 at 6:30 AM, stevehnz said:

Sorry to hear this, both from your guts POV Jamie, & about Creative. I had a couple of orders from him but not for a bit now & had no hassles. Had always meant to get some more but never got around too it. 

Steve.

 

Thanks Steve,

 

We are thinking of various options. We'd obviously like it to continue in some form and for Model Revival Australia to resume supply into the Australian market. BNA were a stockist back in the WEM days I think but I imagine they have enough on their plate?

[stevehnz]

38 minutes ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

 

Thanks Steve,

 

We are thinking of various options. We'd obviously like it to continue in some form and for Model Revival Australia to resume supply into the Australian market. BNA were a stockist back in the WEM days I think but I imagine they have enough on their plate?

I used to get Revell enamels from BNA but some years ago they ceased shipping them, about the same time as all international shipping seemed to go a bit PC, it was an advantage with Glenn, he shipped them anyway & my couple of orders had no hassles. I currently get the odd Revell tin from an outfit in Auckland who seems to restock from time to time.

Steve.

[sapperastro]

Sorry to hear about your personal circumstances Jamie. It's all about what you have going on in life, and what you need to give away.

 

Creative generally made sure stuff was sent, even if it took them 6 months or more to order Colourcoats, but postage was cheap, and anything they had in stock was posted quickly. I kind of got used to waiting anything up to a year and a half for Colourcoats paints that were especially popular, your famous Azure Blue being one of the items that always seemed to be a race to nab a tin or two when they came into stock, before the inevitable "out of stock, wait 6 months+ for more".

 

Glenn was also someone who did answer my emails, so when he suddenly went silent, I thought it a bit odd. Gave it a bit more time, then checked and poof, website gone with nary a word, along with the money I used on my last order. Oh well, not the first time this has happened to me, probably won't be the last.

 

As for BNA, they still have a few tins of old WEM stock, odd colours mostly. They might be interested in restocking if you decide to launch back into the business again. Thanks for the heads up about the other mob. Hopefully they will have a website up soon so I can see what they have.

 

Steve, I actually get many of my enamels from SuperHobby in Poland. They don't give a damn, just post them off, and they have arrived every time. I wonder if they would be happy to stock Colourcoats....

Edited May 24, 2024 by sapperastro

[Bell209]

On 5/24/2024 at 1:27 PM, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

BNA were a stockist back in the WEM days I think but I imagine they have enough on their plate?

I'd be surprised - they have a lot of stuff added to their inventory all the time. I'm another Creative Models victim - two CMK kits never arrived after paying my money but I always had good service until Glenn went bust.

 

I suggested to Craig at AeroWorks he take on Sovereign Colours but he's a bit lukewarm, despite also being a fan of enamels (I got my final lot of Testors paints from him before they gave up on enamels).

 

All the best Jamie and I hope we see the revival of Colourcoats before too long - they're my absolute favourite and your dayglo cololours are unparalled. 

[Ed Russell]

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies - I would definitely sound out BNA as they are contnually increasing their range and seem to have a world-wide presence. The people who bought the Creative Models stock seem to have had a web site under development for two years so I don't know whether they would be a big advance on Creative Models.

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

12 hours ago, Ed Russell said:

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies - I would definitely sound out BNA as they are contnually increasing their range and seem to have a world-wide presence. The people who bought the Creative Models stock seem to have had a web site under development for two years so I don't know whether they would be a big advance on Creative Models.

 

Hi Ed, this will be one for @beefy66 to pursue when he's feeling better.