Here’s wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year! May all your dreams and wishes come true.
Shout Outs
Hobby Master Ushered in with the New Year
Late yesterday we learned that the December shipment of Hobby Master products were en route to us and expected the first week of January. Several key introductions are among the cache, including this heavily-requested Israeli M48A2 Patton Medium Tank (#HG5503).
Also scheduled to arrive is this handsome A-10 Warthog (#HA1316) and a bevy of other modern and historical warbirds.
Amercom Steps up its Warmaking Capabilities
Several new Amercom diecast military vehicles and helicopters were recently added to our product portfolio, bringing both sections up to robust levels. On the ground, several key introductions are being made available including this 1:72 scale M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and a Russian-liveried T-80 main battle tank.
In the air, a British Westland Scout light observation helo and US Navy Seasprite anti-submarine chopper were added to our fleet of rotary wing aircraft, as well as a heavily-requested MH-53 Sea Dragon transport helicopter. The Sea Dragon retails for $34.99 – a bit more than the other helos in the line due to its much larger size and added weight. Look for all of these new introductions some time in February.
We Give Thanks
As always, we give thanks for all of the many blessings we’ve received this past year, both personally and professionally. Moreover, I give thanks to our brand new son-in-law, Samir, who recently underwent a bone marrow harvest to save a child’s life, then returned to his surgical duties the very next day. I also give thanks to our prospective son-in-law, Jason, who will soon graduate from the correction officers academy and serve under the auspices of the New York City Department of Correction. Besides my wonderful wife, Robin, and our fantastic daughters, Linda and April, I give thanks for the many memories I had with my recently departed dog, Cookie, who was profiled earlier this month. A new furry friend will likely join our entourage shortly, making this an especially joyous holiday season.
Rest in Peace Cookie the Pom
In our early days, callers placing orders by phone would routinely hear our pet dog in the background, barking at the mail man walking past our house or going bonkers whenever the doorbell rang. Yesterday, at the age of 17, we were forced to put her to sleep, succumbing to a long bout with kidney disease that could no longer be controlled. Cookie was my first dog, so needless to say, she ruled the roost, which was fine by me considering she was my little buddy. In my eyes, she could do no wrong, despite our best efforts to train her. Its going to take me some time to get over her passing, and I’m sure each of you has their own story to share regarding a family pet that has gone to the hereafter.
Anyway, I’m hoping that my mom is now taking good care of her, and keeping her in tip top form until the day we can all see and play with her again.
Rest in Peace Cookie the Pom.
Dragon to Resume its Armor Production
The latest shipping schedule provided by Dragon shows two new 1:72 scale armor pieces pegged for a late November release. Frankly, we’re taking this information with a grain of salt, since loads of their products were announced some time ago and have yet to materialize. Still, we’re giving them the benefit of the doubt and will wait and see if these two pieces make it in time for the holidays.
The two pieces in question are this Japanese Ka-Mi amphibious vehicle (DRA60584) and a German Sd. Kfz. 231 armored car (DRA60599). Update: We are expecting both of these pieces right before Thanksgiving. Anyone that may have preordered DRA60583 will have his or her order amended to reflect an order for DRA60584.
The Amercom Deluge is About to Roll In
Word from our Amercom distributor is that their shipment has arrived and is currently being parceled out to their dealer network. We’ve ordered enough product to fill all of our initial orders and hope to be able to obtain more Amercom inventory should we receive additional orders going forward. We anticipate taking delivery of our shipment early next week and will immediately review, process and ship ot any orders we’ve received to date.
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah… Thanksgivukkah
In case you haven’t heard, Hanukkah comes especially early this year, popping up on November 28th, the same day as Thanksgiving. While some are referring to it as “Thanksgivukkah” due to its strange coincidental fall, we just wanted to remind everyone that the ‘festival of lights’ is just a few weeks away, making any sales we may be running right now all-the-more important.
Holiday Shipping Deadlines
With the holidays just a month or so away, we’ve updated our Calendar of Events so that it now includes shipping deadlines for both UPS and USPS.The Calendar of Events can be found at the bottom of our left hand navigation menu.
Each shipper, as well as their differing methods of transport, now appear on the calendar on a day-by-day basis so we strongly recommend you consult our chart, particularly if you live outside the US or plan to take delivery of your order, close to the holidays.
Lastly, orders must be received before 4PM EST for same day delivery, otherwise parcels will be shipped out on the next business day.
Ebay’s Global Shipping Program
A few months ago, we indicated that we had enrolled and been approved to enter ebay’s Global Shipping Program, which enables us to ship ebay-related sales globally to participating countries. We are happy to report that this program is now live and fully functional.
To determine the shipping and import costs to your country, simply click on the Shipping and Payment tab located within the body of each ebay listing. Next, click on your country from the drop down menu (if your country has been approved to participate in the Global Shipping Program). The buyer can now see, up front, what all of his or her shipping related-costs will be prior to purchasing the merchandise so there are no unexpected surprises once the item clears customs.
Keep in mind that we will be shipping said items to ebay’s fulfillment center, which is located in Kentucky, and ebay will now be responsible for shipping the merchandise direct to the consumer. Ebay will also provide both the seller and the buyer a tracking number, which permits both parties to track the parcel from start to finish. If you have any further questions regarding this program, feel free to contact us or ebay’s customer service.