Agreed. It's not ideal, but it's not the end of the world either.Not saying Estes is a perfect company, but all this angst over catalogs that don't include prices in them? Wow, I'm a bit surprised by that. Or maybe it's just me...
Agreed. It's not ideal, but it's not the end of the world either.Not saying Estes is a perfect company, but all this angst over catalogs that don't include prices in them? Wow, I'm a bit surprised by that. Or maybe it's just me...
It’s the magnification effect of the internet - for the hundreds (likely thousands) of “normies” who are satisfied with their nifty new full color catalog that cost them less than a cup of fancy coffee there’s a few dozen of us who’d, as my dad says, would complain if you hung ‘em with a new rope.Not saying Estes is a perfect company, but all this angst over catalogs that don't include prices in them? Wow, I'm a bit surprised by that. Or maybe it's just me...
Not saying Estes is a perfect company, but all this angst over catalogs that don't include prices in them? Wow, I'm a bit surprised by that. Or maybe it's just me...
Received the new Estes catalog today and I'm very disappointed, NO PRICING! Are we suppose to contact support for pricing ? Fantastic Estes ! Time to move on
Or More rocketsThis is common.
By not listing pricing in the catalog, Estes can make one printing of the catalog and just include updated pricing sheets throughout the year.
Hmmm...I expect this means we will see at least one more price increase before the end of the year.
Another example of Estes' recent decline in some ways (yet improving in other ways). I am still waiting for resolution to a customer service issue I submitted a month ago, that they acknowledged, but have not actually responded to. Things are changing at Estes, and it isn't all good. Nice new products are great, but you can't forget the basics. And in these days of increasing competition (how many "garage" rocket companies are there now?) you had better retain customer loyalty to your brand. They are losing that battle quickly.
Totally agreeNot saying Estes is a perfect company, but all this angst over catalogs that don't include prices in them? Wow, I'm a bit surprised by that. Or maybe it's just me...
We all want Estes to stay in business. Most of us do at least. I really don't care much about the catalog or missing prices. That's what the website is for. And bringing back old favorites is great, although I think they are a bit too pricey. New designs, like 'em or hate 'em is also good for business. I don't even mind a price increase of a buck or two across the board. What I don't like is them messing with their dealers (mandatory pricing), which in the end is really messing with their customers. And as was said, customer service was pretty awesome, and I often told others about how great they were. ("Yeah, my rocket blew up on a E12, but Estes replaced the motors and the kit, so I get to rebuild it better! They're great!") Now I can't even get them to reply to me. Even if the reply is "Stop whining and go to heck!" at least I know they read my damn email. And they have had so many mistakes with their website, it really is an embarrassment that costs them money.Let’s try and be more positive folks. In these days of a cost of living crisis buying model rockets is probably not high on people’s bucket list. I would say Estes are making changes, some of which are not popular for good business reasons. The first of which being so the company may survive. There is always the alternative and closure of the company, and no rockets at all.
I would say Estes are passionate about their products, but a model has to sell in sufficient numbers to justify production. Hence some of the old favourites. Just some thoughts.
I'm not 100% sure that's correct. Until I was a BAR that spent regular time on TRF, I was unaware of any company that made model rocket kits (and engines) besides Estes. I imagine most average consumers are the same way.if it's Estes at MSRP or something else at market price, Estes is pricing themselves out of the market, especially on C through F motors.
See, this is why I keep coming back here. Great word!... Anecdata is not meaningless but it is also not a basis upon which to make apocalyptic pronouncements.
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I am dealing with this exact same issue...I may have already mentioned it here too....still waiting..It is amazing how they take a company known for it's amazing customer service and ruin it relatively quickly.....
I did that...still nothing....I had a Cato issue a month or so ago. I submitted a request on their website form. Crickets. Then I sent an email - not through the website - but rather to "[email protected]" and they responded. It seems the web form is broken. A few others here have had the same experience.
Hans.
For me, the catalog is for looking at the cool pictures with my kid and maybe finding something neat to pick up on my next order, and the web site (or local shop or other vendor website) is for checking prices and making buying decisions.Not saying Estes is a perfect company, but all this angst over catalogs that don't include prices in them? Wow, I'm a bit surprised by that. Or maybe it's just me...
Same here.For me, the catalog is for looking at the cool pictures with my kid and maybe finding something neat to pick up on my next order, and the web site (or local shop or other vendor website) is for checking prices and making buying decisions.
For me, the lack of prices in the catalog is a bit of data hole in seeing how the prices have changed.Not saying Estes is a perfect company, but all this angst over catalogs that don't include prices in them? Wow, I'm a bit surprised by that. Or maybe it's just me...
Catalog is for figuring out which rockets you want to check out at ACSupply.Same here.
Catalog for ogling and website for purchasing.
That makes sense. Bummer to the catalog collectors, I guess.For me, the lack of prices in the catalog is a bit of data hole in seeing how the prices have changed.
For example, I have a 1976 Estes Catalog where some rockets were under $1.00 (I believe the Mosquito was 69 cents).
Or seeing that Big Bertha was at one time a $4.95 kit (it's currently $30 at Estes and $26 at Amazon).
Of course, back then Bazooka Bubble Gum was 2 cents, and a comic book was 35 cents.
Inflation.
Not with their minimum order threshold for free shipping!Catalog is for figuring out which rockets you want to check out at ACSupply.
Hans.
It's the same at Estes. And hardly anyone else offers free shipping at all.Not with their minimum order threshold for free shipping!
True points. Estes has some pretty good sales that AC Supply doesn't though. At least for me, it means buying more often from Estes than AC Supply.It's the same at Estes. And hardly anyone else offers free shipping at all.
Hans.
You're lucky you got Denise on your case. Apparently Scott is (not) handling mine. He consolidated a couple of my submissions into one open case, but never sent me anything beyond an automated response, nor has he done anything from I can tell on my service sign in records.I sent a question to [email protected] and got back a response in a few days. Denise was helpful as usual.
I find group buys are a great way to hit free shipping thresholds.Not with their minimum order threshold for free shipping!
AC Supply is generally 30% off all the time (used to be 40% off, alas). Maybe I've missed some promotional mails, but my impression was that Estes runs a sale like that only once a year or so.True points. Estes has some pretty good sales that AC Supply doesn't though. At least for me, it means buying more often from Estes than AC Supply.
Yeah, Estes doesn't have sales very often that can overcome AC Supply's "everyday low price." But because I don't make major online purchased that often, I can afford to wait for those Estes once or twice a year sales that I just can't pass up (and can't be matched by anyone else).I find group buys are a great way to hit free shipping thresholds.
AC Supply is generally 30% off all the time (used to be 40% off, alas). Maybe I've missed some promotional mails, but my impression was that Estes runs a sale like that only once a year or so.
Edit to add: I wasn't counting the random sales like the nearly-free Der Big Red Maxes last spring, but I don't think we've seen a random sale like that since then.
I'll take advantage of occasional Estes sales on kits that I like, or when their website screws up and lets you order a BDRM for $12, but frankly I found their Christmas sales lackluster (just my opinion) and didn't buy anything, unlike in the last few years when I ordered multiple times. I did however buy about $200 in engines and other items from AC Supply during the same period. So no Estes 2023 rocket ornament last year. But I did get the Apogee one!True points. Estes has some pretty good sales that AC Supply doesn't though. At least for me, it means buying more often from Estes than AC Supply.
Good point. In company with a friend who hadn't already used the launch_2023 code, I went in heavy on the Estes sale around Thanksgiving when that coupon stacked. But we also do group buys throughout the year to get motors from AC Supply.Yeah, Estes doesn't have sales very often that can overcome AC Supply's "everyday low price." But because I don't make major online purchased that often, I can afford to wait for those Estes once or twice a year sales that I just can't pass up (and can't be matched by anyone else).
I liked Estes' most recent Christmas sale, but they had a sale that lined up well with what I wanted to buy, which I could stack on another discount code. The problem was that I bought a lot of scale kits (subject to the sale) and they didn't count the Red Nova or the Nike-X as scale kits (but they did count the Bull Pup and Patriot).I'll take advantage of occasional Estes sales on kits that I like, or when their website screws up and lets you order a BDRM for $12, but frankly I found their Christmas sales lackluster (just my opinion) and didn't buy anything, unlike in the last few years when I ordered multiple times. I did however buy about $200 in engines and other items from AC Supply during the same period. So no Estes 2023 rocket ornament last year. But I did get the Apogee one!
I know. Anecdotal evidence is not conclusive. But I got the same reaction from friends when discussing it last Christmas season.
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