Hobby People

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Unlike the corporate propaganda written in the first review, this review is from an actual customer.



My wife purchased a R/C airplane on-line as a xmas gift for me. Unfortunately, the kit she purchased did not contain all the parts necessary to fly the plane; she needed several hundred dollars in servos and other electronic devices. Being that it was a surprise for me, she could not consult me for what to purchase. Instead, she relied on the "experts" at Hobby People to help her. She spent nearly $400 at hobby people for the necessary equipment.



I was happy to receive the gift and immediately began the build. I ran into a snag when it was discovered that my wife was sold a "Brushless" Electronic Speed Control, even though the kit came with a "Brushed" motor. No problem, right? Just return the wrong part for the right one, no?



No.



I explained the problem to the grumpy cashier at Hobby People who immediately questioned the lack of packaging. (The "packaging" in this case was a ziploc bag. The ziploc bag contained a flyer/user guide [which I had] and the part [which I had]. Just no plastic baggie.) After pointing out their policy regarding needing the original packaging, he then asked me if I'd "buy the part like that". To which I replied, "No because I need a BRUSHED Speed Control". I then argued that they were the ones who advised and sold the wrong part and that they shouldn't be giving me a hard time about it. At this point, I was directed towards the manager, Dustin. Dustin had a much more pleasant attitude and said he remembered selling the part to my wife. He asked to take another look at the manual, which I provided (and was provided to him, originally, by my wife). He then said that the Thunderbird 20 was completely compatible with a brushed motor. I asked why that option is not illustrated on the wiring diagram included in the users guide and he did not know. He said I could probably go on the Thunderbird website and find it, to which I replied, "I already looked" (because I had already looked). He told me it was guaranteed to work and that I was not allowed to exchange parts because he didn't sell a wrong part. I explained that it was a 20 mile trip to get there and I wanted to exchange the part for a "Brushed" ESC and he told me he didn't have any. I left with the original ESC and very unhappy.



I've since found out that his proposed method of connecting the black and white wires to make the ESC work with a brushed motor "would not work" according to Joe, product specialist at Castle Creations (makers of the Thunderbird brand). I would have fried the component if wired as advised by Hobby People.



So, DO NOT shop here if you need the employees to provide you with any technical advice/knowledge, as it may be incorrect. A brushed motor has 2 terminals/wires; a brushless has 3 terminals/wires. This simple distinction was not made by the MANAGER, god only knows how poor the other employees knowledge is.



DO shop here if you want to be sold the wrong part just because they don't carry the right part.



DON'T Expect to make a return unless you return NIB.