HLJ: What's going on?

[kaho]

Hi guys. I searched for "hlj" and all I have heard are good comments. So I have this question.

In November I have ordered a model kit and a few wheel sets from HLJ, at that time most of the items in my order were in stock, except for a decal sheet which says "december release". I knew that it requires every item to be in stock for HLJ to send me the items in one shipment, so I waited.

However, I have noticed some of the other items that I ordered went from "In stock" to "out of stock" while I wait for the one item which saids "december release", and when the availability of that item changes, instead of "in stock" it went straight to "january re-release"

So now I have been waiting for 2 months, watching the availability of each item I ordered rotate from "in stock" to "out of stock", and "__re-release"...etc...I emailed a couple times to [email protected] yet I get absolutely zero replies from them, I have gotten no replies from them neither from email nor the HLJ site. (I looked through my junk folder very often already).

I have moved to a new place since my last time using HLJ, and I had also updated my mailing address to my current one. This was done right after completing my current order, and they also sent me a letter of acknowledgement through email. They also haven't told me about anything being sent to me. Therefore I don't think this is the cause of such delay.

Can anyone give me advice as to what I should do? I really doubt that such ordering process is working normally. This is my second time using their service and the first time doesn't take as long as this, and they were more prompt to replies.



Thank you~~!

[generationx]

It is possible on HLJ, once you have logged in, to change your delivery preference to "Ship available items". Maybe try this, it means that when items come in stock they'll be sent to you straight away I think.

[skiff]

I run a webstore, which has a good warehouse program behind it. It keeps track of the stock, of current orders, desired stock (low and high) and so on.

I expect HLJ to have a similar system.

Very probably your items are reserved for you, but they are still waiting for the item that SHOULD release in december. (probably this item has a delay, holding back your complete shipment).

In the meantime some items may have sold out, but yours is still in stock. The computer simply takes "warehouse stock" minus "allocated stock" equals "available stock". Once "available stock" reaches 1 or 0, the website will prompt "out of stock".

This is, however, only the case if they have a similar system (I cannot imagine them working without) and their stock levels are accurate.

It probably is cheaper to have someone respond to questions (slowly) than to inform you in the first place.
You could always give them a call, to inquire about the status of your order.

[jaykay640]

Well that's the problem with HLJ. They wait for that perfect moment when everything you order is in stock but they don't make a little pile with your personal order and reserve the stuff. So if you order a bunch of things that moment is not really likely to come. They say it's not feasible to reserve things for customers until everything is there. Maybe that's true because they have a lot of customers. Nevertheless i find it very inconvenient and have not ordered from them for a long time as a result.
It's your choice. Either order only stuff that's in stock or find some other place that will send your stuff when everything is there and don't give the other goodies away before:-)

[Hiroboy]

Originally Posted by skiff

I run a webstore, which has a good warehouse program behind it. It keeps track of the stock, of current orders, desired stock (low and high) and so on.

I expect HLJ to have a similar system.

Very probably your items are reserved for you, but they are still waiting for the item that SHOULD release in december. (probably this item has a delay, holding back your complete shipment).

In the meantime some items may have sold out, but yours is still in stock. The computer simply takes "warehouse stock" minus "allocated stock" equals "available stock". Once "available stock" reaches 1 or 0, the website will prompt "out of stock".

This is, however, only the case if they have a similar system (I cannot imagine them working without) and their stock levels are accurate.

It probably is cheaper to have someone respond to questions (slowly) than to inform you in the first place.
You could always give them a call, to inquire about the status of your order.

From passed dealings with HLJ this is the way their system works.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

First of all, if you log into your account on HLJ you can see where your order is; open orders vs. shipped orders.

HLJ's ordering system is a pain in the ass if you don't know how it works.

They DO NOT hold ANY items that are in-stock for your order if you are waiting for something pre-ordered to be released. I think they do hold items if they are being restocked w/in a day or two.

Therefore if you order 10 items, and 9 of them are in stock but the 10th item isn't released until next month, if you don't instruct them what do do (ship in-stock and continue waiting, or ship in-stock and cancel others, or cancel full order) then you may never, ever have a situation where all ten items are ever in stock (when the 10th item came out, other items are backordered or out of production...like Aoshima rims that are here today and gone tomorrow), so your order of those ten items may never be sent together. I think they have a 2-month order window; after two months your order will be shipped automatically with whatever is in-stock at the time.

I emailed them about it, and they (the owner) told me that there is no way they can have a stockpile of partially-filled customer orders, he said they don't have the space and customers change their orders regularly. I don't like the fact they don't keep an order started either, and I don't like the fact that their online catalog isn't real-time so you can know for sure if something is in stock or not.

Therefore to retain my sanity, I order from HLJ in two methods: I'll pre-order items separately, not w/in another order.

For currently available/new merchandise I only will order it if/when it is in-stock.

I haven't been burned yet. I have watched orders of mine of all "green-dot" in-stock merchandise all of a sudden have several items "backordered" a day or so after my order went through...but all orders were filled quickly and all back-ordered stuff was included. These were all new releases or items that aren't hard to get aka discontinued. The order process took no longer than if everything was in-stock at all times through the process.

I know it's frustrating, but that's how HLJ is. Don't mix pre-orders w/in-stock, and don't order anything that's not in-stock. If you do, watch the page and hit the links to tell them what to ship and when. It does work.

[willimo]

[Vladamor]

I stop ordering there, and CANCELED all the items because I'm tired of them. The last thing was send me an canceled item...
Now I'm buying in other site

[cham2020]

Best part is i canceled at VR4 Hasegawa model and suddenly they send me an email asking for payment !

[The Sheene Machine]

It all sounds strange for HLJ. I've used them for 4 years without any problem.
Without making the same remarks - 'MX5' is right on the money with his comments.

[Nobbys Nuts]

Originally Posted by The Sheene Machine

It all sounds strange for HLJ. I've used them for 4 years without any problem.
Without making the same remarks - 'MX5' is right on the money with his comments.

Ditto the above comment.
Every time one of these posts comes up it is the same story. The customer has ordered something out of stock and they are made to wait.
You just cannot do that with HLJ. If it isn't in stock and you don't want to wait indefinitely don't order it. Pre Orders are another story again.

[kaho]

Thanks for the advice!

Finally I understand how it works. Now I just need to wait for any item of my order to be available again (When I first ordered only 1 or 2 of them are not currently in stock, now all of them are out of stock.)

The 2 months window is soon to come. Maybe then I would at least see email from them saying items are sent.

Really appreciate the help guys!