North Seas Fleet

[tessy]

Hello everyone,

I need some help. I was hoping to surprise my husband, while he was on a business trip overseas, with delivery of his dream sub, the LA class. I paid Nick at North Seas Fleet for that LA Class sub over 2 months ago. Just prior to placing the order, I guess you could call it the 'researh' period, I was in regular email contact with Nick. Responses to my questions were prompt and concise. I was told the model would be completed in no more than 6 weeks of receipt of payment and that I'd receive regular updates of the build process along the way. Has anyone dealt with him before? Is he reputable? The surprise for my husband is all but gone but I certainly don't want to lose my money as well. When I look North Seas Fleet on the Vendors link to the left, I see the name of David Crawford, not Nick. Are they partners? New ownership?

Nick, if you're out there reading this, please respond to me asap. I apologize for having to bring this to the public forum but I feel I needed assistance in any way I could get it to get in touch with you.

Thanks to all that can help.

Tessy

[Guest]

I'm afraid this fella hasn't

I'm afraid this fella hasn't got a lot of good feedback from people that have purchased his products. The price maybe low, but the boats often exhibit poor workmanship.

Personally I would seek to get a refund, and look to a decent vendor for your boat.

Andy

[tessy]

I'm afraid this fella hasn't

I'm afraid this fella hasn't got a lot of good feedback from people that have purchased his products. The price maybe low, but the boats often exhibit poor workmanship.

Personally I would seek to get a refund, and look to a decent vendor for your boat.

Andy

Thank you, I will ask the same on some other forums, too. Here is the email thread with no responses from him since he acknowledged receipt of funds and said he was beginning the work....





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From]
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 3:44 AM
To: Tessy
Subject: Re: LA Class submarine



Hello Tessy,

I have the payment and the model is underway, I will keep you informed on the build through-out.

What is the time frame for the model to reach your husband ?

Regards Nick

[Guest]

There are only two other

There are only two other LA class hulls out there that I know of (happy to stand corrected if someone else wants to chip in).

Thor 1/96th scale hull. Moulds are still out there somewhere, but Matt Thor discontinued production sometime ago. The scale shipyard has some Thor moulds, I believe they may be older moulds, so perhaps not quite so accurate.

http://scaleshipyard.com/Catalog%20Page ... tml#SUB-17

Secondhand Thor hulls do crop up for sale from time to time- you could try a post on the subswap forum, as someone may have a hull gathering dust on a shelf that they'd like to exchange for some Christmas cash.

The second hull was produced by Eden, now Sheerline. It's absolutely huge, IIRC the scale was 1/48th!! I don't think it's in production now, but the moulds are still kicking about.

These are just hulls. To make a working sub, you'll need to add a WTC.

For the Thor boat, a D&E Subdriver will suit you well.

Andy

[tessy]

Wow, that is great information

Wow, that is great information to have. Thank you so much. I will pass this along to my husband and we'll see where that takes us.

In the meantime, if anyone has contact with Nick, we're still here on email waiting for a response and will not leave this until settled either with sub or refund.

Thanks again for your help, Andy.

Tessy

There are only two other LA class hulls out there that I know of (happy to stand corrected if someone else wants to chip in).

Thor 1/96th scale hull. Moulds are still out there somewhere, but Matt Thor discontinued production sometime ago. The scale shipyard has some Thor moulds, I believe they may be older moulds, so perhaps not quite so accurate.

http://scaleshipyard.com/Catalog%20Page ... tml#SUB-17

Secondhand Thor hulls do crop up for sale from time to time- you could try a post on the subswap forum, as someone may have a hull gathering dust on a shelf that they'd like to exchange for some Christmas cash.

The second hull was produced by Eden, now Sheerline. It's absolutely huge, IIRC the scale was 1/48th!! I don't think it's in production now, but the moulds are still kicking about.

These are just hulls. To make a working sub, you'll need to add a WTC.

For the Thor boat, a D&E Subdriver will suit you well.

Andy

[Rogue Sub]

Tessy,

He is indeed a very

Tessy,

He is indeed a very flaky guy. If you do a forum search on subpirstes you will see thread after thread about him taking money and producing no product. Hes even gotten into argments with us on threads. How did you pay. If it was credit card I would call and reverse the charges now. He will be done with him after that. There is another Los Angles boat available aswell. It is made by barnstormerboats. The guys over there are way easy to deal with and you will get your product timely. I think he has two hulls already made so it would just need to ship out. One word of advice for this boat though... It is a "builders boat" When i say that I mean it is just a hull and planes and will require a bit of fabrication and clean up. I recommend going to deep sea designs and getting the scale drawing to match it so he can finish the detail.

Good Luck

Kevin

[tessy]

Tessy,

He is indeed a very

Tessy,

He is indeed a very flaky guy. If you do a forum search on subpirstes you will see thread after thread about him taking money and producing no product. Hes even gotten into argments with us on threads. How did you pay. If it was credit card I would call and reverse the charges now. He will be done with him after that. There is another Los Angles boat available aswell. It is made by barnstormerboats. The guys over there are way easy to deal with and you will get your product timely. I think he has two hulls already made so it would just need to ship out. One word of advice for this boat though... It is a "builders boat" When i say that I mean it is just a hull and planes and will require a bit of fabrication and clean up. I recommend going to deep sea designs and getting the scale drawing to match it so he can finish the detail.

Good Luck

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for your input. I thought I was doing the right thing dealing with that company but after what I've been through with lack of communication and what I'm reading from you all, I'm afraid I didn't.

I paid with PayPal by using their Send Money option to his account. I have tried disputing the automated way but it says I don't have buyer protection. I have not called to discuss why this is the case though. That will be done as soon as I hit submit on this response!

Thank you, Kevin.

Tessy

[Rogue Sub]

Tessy,

Im having the same issue

Tessy,

Im having the same issue via paypal aswell. I just had my Credit card company reverse it and paypal wasnt able to do a thing about it. They are talking to my credit card company now instead of me. Ofcourse your case is a little old. I wonder why you dont have buyers protection. Shady!

Kevin

[Guest]

You can try contacting trading

You can try contacting trading standards-

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

You might want to email or telephone Nick and tell him you will be doing this unless he refunds you in full.

If that fails, and you get no response, then pursue the matter with Paypal.

Andy

[tessy]

Tessy,

Im having the same issue

Tessy,

Im having the same issue via paypal aswell. I just had my Credit card company reverse it and paypal wasnt able to do a thing about it. They are talking to my credit card company now instead of me. Ofcourse your case is a little old. I wonder why you dont have buyers protection. Shady!

Kevin

Well, I contact PayPal and was told that after 45 days from the original transaction, they will not dispute the transaction on the buyer's behalf. Basically, the buyer is on his own. I explained to them and shared emails with them showing the seller, Nick at North Seas Fleet, stated the build time was 45 days so at that point, I had no reason to file the dispute. To no avail. Anyway, through this forum from those of you that have posted in response to my original post and through some IM's I have received, this certainly won't be the last North Seas Fleet is hearing from me or Law Enforcement. We may never see the sub or the monies we spent but I can assure you that I will do everything in my power to put a stop to his business practice. I can only assume I was told build time was 45 days as he knew the PayPal policy. Shame on Nick at North Seas Fleet (Northseasfleet). http://www.northseasfleet.co.uk/ Please excuse my using of the company name in numerous ways as I want this to come up in any search one does for his company in the future.

Thank you again everyone for your support and advice.

Tessy

[davietait]

You will need to put

You will need to put in a complaint to the following local council office.

The Highland Council
Transport, Environmental & Community Services
Trading Standards Unit
38 Harbour Road
Inverness
IV1 1UF


t: 01463 228700
f: 01463 223723
e: trading.standards@highland.gov.uk
w]http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/highland/[/url]

They will be able to put pressure on this guy to get you your money back.

Davie ( disgusted that a Scot would act like that )

[tessy]

You will need to put

You will need to put in a complaint to the following local council office.

The Highland Council
Transport, Environmental & Community Services
Trading Standards Unit
38 Harbour Road
Inverness
IV1 1UF


t]trading.standards@highland.gov.uk[/url]
w]http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/highland/[/url]

They will be able to put pressure on this guy to get you your money back.

Davie ( disgusted that a Scot would act like that )

I knew I married somebody from the UK for a reason. You folks have been very helpful to me.

Tessy

[Guest]

Unfortunately, folk like this create

Unfortunately, folk like this create a lot of problems, especially for honourable vendors.

OTW or Sheerline are both excellent UK vendors, who deliver on time and don't rip people off. Their products are good quality too.

Andy

[subdog]

Northseasfleet

I thought about a purchase from him..now I am pondering the sanity of this. Has anyone else out there had issues with him??

[anonymous]

Hi Subdog,

I really wouln't advise

Hi Subdog,

I really wouln't advise placing a new order.

Apart from the people on this thread , I know of another person (An AMS member here in the UK) waiting for any news of their order.

Hopefully North Seas Fleet are sorting their act out but no point in risking it , I suggest.

Have a nice Christmas!

Davy