What's up with $%^&* Wilco Models????

[superjedi]

EDIT, January 4th: Product received. . . see post page 2.

Geez. . . guess I should have learned after my first time around with Wilco. I had a thread a few months ago describing the interminable wait I went through before receiving my X-Wing helmet kit. After all was said and done, it was a nice kit which I built into a "Red Leader" helmet.
I wanted to do another one, and I figured the same thing couldn't possibly happen again. . . right?
*Sigh*

I contacted Bill at Wilco around the middle of September and said I was interested in getting another X-Wing helmet. He said no problem, and offered to sell me a "built up" kit at a discounted price since the wait for my last one was so long.
Here are some emails back and forth. These are only the "body" portions of the emails.

September 14th:
Hi Bill,
Well, finishing that last kit has given me the "Red Squadron" bug. I'd like to ask about ordering another X-Wing helmet kit, built up just like the last one.
How's your production schedule these days? I can hold off on ordering if you have any kind of backlog or anything.
Can you remind me of the price for a built-up kit?

Thanks,
Eric

His reply from September 14th:
Hi Eric--- Should be getting more plastic in late next week and only have 2 orders ahead of you (for one kit each); shipping should be within a reasonable time on this one!

In apology for the long turn time on your last order, I'll do you one for $105.00 shipped...

---Bill

It sounded good, so I sent Paypal on September 15th for $105.00.

A month went by, so I sent this on October 14th:
Hi Bill,
Just a quick status check to see how my helmet is coming along.
Thanks,
Eric

Got a quick reply, also on October 14th:
Hi--- We're vac-forming all day tomorrow, so your helmet should be ready to go by the weekend.

---Bill

October 27th I sent a status check:
Hi Bill,
Any word yet? My custom decals came in this week, just need a helmet to put 'em on.

Thanks for any info,
Eric

Got another quick reply on October 27th:
Hi Eric! Putting your helmet together this evening; will be mailing it Monday morning...

---Bill

Didn't receive anything, so I sent this on November 7th:
Hi Bill,
Did the helmet ever make it out the door?

Thanks,
Eric

On November 11th, I got this response:
Sorry, bad couple of weeks (lost one of our pets and it just about killed the Mrs.); should be able to get it together by the weekend.
---Bill

November 20th:
Hey Bill,
Checking again.

Eric


After no reply, I sent again on December 7th:
Bill,
Checking again. Can you let me know what's up with the helmet?

Eric

Got a reply this time, December 7th:
Hi Eric--- Will be shipping on Monday!
---Bill

Didn't receive anything, so sent this on December 23rd:
Bill,
Any updates? Haven't received anything.

Still didn't receive a reply, so sent again today (December 31st):
Bill, hello? Another week has gone by with no reply. What's going on with my helmet?

I won't be using my AOL email much longer. You can contact me at: educhin@cox.net

So. . . I'm a little steamed at this point. Again, with what happened the first go-round, I probably shouldn't have put in another order, but I did.
So the upshot is, I'm still waiting for my helmet after over 3 months after being told there was only a "2 kit backlog." :angry

I'm really hoping I receive this helmet, but after this one, I will not order anything again, and cannot in good conscience recommend that anyone on the board does business with Wilco.

 

[glim999]

Whoa. I've never had any problems with Wilco. This is a shock to me.

 

[zorg]

sorry to hear about this, i wish people would stop talking crap and send you the stuff you payed them for. theres always something that comes up. ill health and someone or something dieing are the top 2, followed by having problems with the molds then the old waiting on materials chestnut.

at least you get replies-eventually.

 

[keelhauler]

Dude, that’s really ridiculous! Unfortunately, I had a very similar experience during the same time period. Only, I finally got my stuff, and it didn’t take near as long! Here’s the play-by-play:

On Tuesday, November 13, I wrote:

Bill,

I paid for a Mare's leg kit and 2 PAL/grenade kits on October 25, but haven't received them yet. Just checking to see what's up! thanks

Bill responded later on November 13:

Hi … Should be in the mail within the next 2 days or so My apologies for the delay; we had a run of bad luck (a death inthe family & then both the wife & I down sick for a week). I will drop in a freebie item to make up for the wait...

---Bill

I guess he was referring to loss of his pet. Naturally, I responded OK, no problem! Taking care of family is much more important than some hunks of plastic, etc, etc. I figured the items would be in the mail by Friday, November 16. Well, they weren’t.

After two more weeks, I still had not received the kits. So, on Monday, December 3, I wrote:

Bill,

I still have not received the zoe gun kit and the 2 grenade/pal kits. I am beginning to get a little worried!

Hope all is well with you and your family!


Bill responded telling me he shipped them that morning, but that there was another problem:

Hi … Shipped out this morning via Priority Mail; you should see it by Thursday latest. I think I might have left out one of the PALs (there's an extra one on my bench); let me know and it'll be in the mail same day. Apologies again for the late shipping!

---Bill

After six weeks of waiting, I finally received something on Wednesday December 5, and I wrote:

Hi,

Yep, you were right. There was only one PAL in the box.

To his credit, Bill did ship the second PAL pretty quickly, I got it a few days later! But I never did receive the “extra freebie” he mentioned. At this point, I didn’t much care about it! I was just glad to finally have my stuff.

Bill contacted me again on December 11:

Hi--- You should have gotten your second PAL by now; your extra item ('Browncoats' Volunteers patch like the one they ripped off the Lieutenant in the pilot episode) will be along shortly (had to wait for 'em to come in)...

As of today, December 31, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of the patch and don't really expect to.

KH

 

[Lord Abaddon]

The few things I did get long ago there were no problems. I know Bill is in the military so cut him some slack as things can be screwy, but that is a long time even for them.

 

[Noeland]

Wow, that is not cool. Sorry to hear about all of this. I've ordered from Wilco before, but through Alex not Bill. There was a delay but Alex didn't make excuses or promise he'd ship it on monday, he simply said "We will get it out to you as soon as we can." and I had it within a short while after that.

They sent me a resin gerber as my freebie.

 

[Jango Wes]

Bill is an older guy with a cane, he's not in the military AFAIK. He is always at the Ben Stevens Sci-Fi Expo in Dallas selling his stuff. The next one is 12-13 January if anyone feels like stopping in and seeing what's going on.

Wes

 

[rocketeer25]

An email I got from him a week ago mentioned that he would be on vacation. I'm assuming that he'll be back at it once the holidays are over.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

my local rebel legion base has been ramping up for a group order with him on those buckets... here's hoping this has a happy ending!

 

[Zombie_61]

I've only placed a couple of orders with Wilco, but I had no problems with either order. In fact, months after I received the first order I had mentioned on another forum that the item I received was slightly warped (a resin Mal/Firefly pistol) and he sent me a replacement free of charge. I sincerely hope this ends well for you.

 

[superjedi]

Well as I've learned in this hobby, a little communication goes a long way. If I had just gotten any kind of info without having to email him repeatedly my frustration level wouldn't be where it is right now.

Believe me, I understand about being in the military. I'm active duty USAF myself, and I often take painting commissions (mostly for folks over on TDH for Fett gear) and if work is going to interfere with getting something done for someone, I'll send them a message letting them know what's up.

Yes, this is a hobby, but when you take someone's money, they should have a reasonable expectation that they're going to receive the product/service they paid for.

 

[Wakal]

Just got off the phone with Bill...your helmet is done and has been boxed and ready to go for longer than he cares to admit. He mails everything through the local dropoff kiosk, but built up helmets are too big for the kiosk and he keeps getting off work after the local post office is closed.

BTW, Bill is MSgt Lynches, USAF, and is still on active duty. He has had two surgeries (that I know of) to repair his right knee, but it is still torn up (which is why he totters around on a cane these days).

Now that he has a computer of his very own, he does answer emails a lot faster than he used to (when he had to go to the library to log in ).




Alex

 

[superjedi]

Thanks Alex. I really hate posting threads like these, as in the end they really don't serve any useful purpose.
But I'm human (as far as I know) and I just feel like venting sometimes.
People may click on the thread and "rubberneck" for a few minutes, or they may offer helpful advice, and this may sound dumb, but even one person offering advice or a sympathetic comment makes me feel better.

Anyway, I checked my email a few minutes ago and had this message:

Hi Eric--- Should get to the Post Office Wednesday morning. Will EMail when it goes.
---Bill

So hopefully, this situation will be resolved soon.
Happy New Year everyone!! :thumbsup

 

[Wakal]

Glad to help!

Bill is a good guy and always means well, but his shipping leaves a lot to be desired. At least I didn't have to go nuclear and ask his wife to nag him about it :angel




Yet :lol




Alex

 

[superjedi]

OK, it's Thursday. Didn't receive any communication that the package went out yesterday. . . :rolleyes
We'll see what happens.

 

[superjedi]

Alright. . . the package arrived today. :thumbsup
Like I posted during my first long wait from Wilco, the helmet itself it really nice. Just wish it hadn't taken so long to arrive.
There was a "bonus" in the box as well: a resin ANH Luke saber. :eek Totally unexpected. I have to say that was a nice gesture.
So, as far as I'm concerned, this thread can be flushed.

 

[Wakal]

"...the _____ itself it really nice. Just wish it hadn't taken so long to arrive..."

Hey, Wilco Models has a new tag line! :lol


Alex