Did Towerhobbies just axe coupon codes? 😳

[Evetsyelspih 124]

Just did an order with Amain instead of Tower. Ordered yesterday afternoon and it shipped early today. That’s how you do it! I will miss the Tower discounts but at least Amain has a little discount. I have fond memories of using Tower for the last 20 years but I guess it’s time for a change.

[Rinskie 1342]

My Amain order from last week is sitting on my shelf waiting to be built. They have excellent customer service too btw. Tower who? 

[Raman36 1805]

The disaster at Tower continues.  Last week they charged me card 2 times for my order for the Ultima JJ. The first went through and the second was declined, because it triggered fraud alert.  I contacted their garbage virtual service. Got Joel F. He told me that the pending charge would drop. No 🤬, I manage a retail store, I’m well aware. But I pressed why they double charged he had no answer.

Few days passed I contacted them to see when order would ship. Got Joel again he said it was processing. 
 

Friday, I saw both charges fell off. Contacted them, got Joel again, we’re BFF now 🤣 told him the charges dropped. He said he would need to research next step and that I would be emailed. 

Yesterday I contacted them again. Got a Bob. He said that notes from Joel state that order has to be recreated. He said you received the email right. Nope. I searched all boxes in gmail, nothing. 
 

He forwarded me the email from Joel. “Unfortunately there was an error with this order and it has to be cancelled by our system. Please replace your order as soon as possible. Thank you”

I replied this email: 

Hi Joel,

Thank you for your email.  I have no problem resubmitting the order.  I just need your guidance on how to replicate the $75 coupon and $10 off since you have done away with them.  

Subtotal $389.99

Loyalty Discount - $10.00

Order Discount - $75.00

Shipping $0.00

Estimated Sales Tax $0.00

Order Total $304.99

 

Please advise

—— 

No reply yet. I could go the Amain route but they only offer $25 off, not $85!  Nonetheless very frustrating 

[Sogogi 3363]

1 hour ago, Raman36 said:

The disaster at Tower continues.  Last week they charged me card 2 times for my order for the Ultima JJ. The first went through and the second was declined, because it triggered fraud alert.  I contacted their garbage virtual service. Got Joel F. He told me that the pending charge would drop. No 🤬, I manage a retail store, I’m well aware. But I pressed why they double charged he had no answer.

Few days passed I contacted them to see when order would ship. Got Joel again he said it was processing. 
 

Friday, I saw both charges fell off. Contacted them, got Joel again, we’re BFF now 🤣 told him the charges dropped. He said he would need to research next step and that I would be emailed. 

Yesterday I contacted them again. Got a Bob. He said that notes from Joel state that order has to be recreated. He said you received the email right. Nope. I searched all boxes in gmail, nothing. 
 

He forwarded me the email from Joel. “Unfortunately there was an error with this order and it has to be cancelled by our system. Please replace your order as soon as possible. Thank you”

I replied this email: 

Hi Joel,

Thank you for your email.  I have no problem resubmitting the order.  I just need your guidance on how to replicate the $75 coupon and $10 off since you have done away with them.  

Subtotal $389.99

Loyalty Discount - $10.00

Order Discount - $75.00

Shipping $0.00

Estimated Sales Tax $0.00

Order Total $304.99

 

Please advise

—— 

No reply yet. I could go the Amain route but they only offer $25 off, not $85!  Nonetheless very frustrating 

Wow. Is that a real glitch..? Or way to invalidate used coupon code.. either way that’s a bad experience.

[RichieRich 872]

I just noticed in their recent e-mails that the Tower Cash does not get given to you until the order is shipped. So don't order anything on preorder or backorder...or maybe don't order at all.

[GToddC5 2915]

I have a couple orders in limbo, and I fear they will also get cancelled due to "errors" in their system to screw me out of the discounts. One order was placed two months ago, and the model is showing in stock. The other order was placed 3 weeks ago and both models show in stock. I tried the chat this AM and got the runaround and then passed to another contact, then booted off before the next chat could begin. Rinse and repeat a couple times then got too frustrated so I tapped out for now. I imagine the two outstanding pre-orders will also get "errors" and screw me out of those discounts as well. 

[Raman36 1805]

I finally heard from them. They’re going to add the $80 as tower cash so I can reprocess the order.

So when this order does ship, I’ll have $60 tower cash. Which works out the same as the coupons. The difference being you have to spend to get it.

Where as the coupon would draw in new business outright. 

[Willy iine 18843]

I am so glad I did not place order last week..    I'm just going to wait it out a bit.. to perhaps indefinitely.. nothing has changed anyway, everyone in the world has a M08R but me..  

[GToddC5 2915]

45 minutes ago, Willy iine said:

I am so glad I did not place order last week..    I'm just going to wait it out a bit.. to perhaps indefinitely.. nothing has changed anyway, everyone in the world has a M08R but me..  

Only because of Tower's previous discount structure, was I looking at the M08/M08R for my future 280ZX Tribute build. I ended up getting a great deal on a M06 chassis and thought the fact that it has a longitudinal mount battery was cool, like the RM Mk.2 chassis. If I DO end up with an M08R, I highly doubt it will be from Tower.

Side note - I had some LP left from my previous purchase, and used it toward an order on 11/02, for the 1990 Mercedes-Benz C 11, before they could change their minds and ditch the LP, lol. Today I received the new $20 Tower Cash email from that purchase over $100, which I now need to use by 12/31. Package is due to arrive today. So 6 days to get an in stock model from Tower, and 4 days to receive an in stock model from Amain (ordered a day after and received a day before!)

And then today I'm sure you received the 4X Points email through 11/10. I think they are floundering and I'm seriously trying to remain strong and not place an order, but how the heck can I break the cycle and "zero" out on the smaller discount structure? It's a trap!

[Raman36 1805]

1 hour ago, Willy iine said:

I am so glad I did not place order last week..    I'm just going to wait it out a bit.. to perhaps indefinitely.. nothing has changed anyway, everyone in the world has a M08R but me..  

I have the 08, not the R. Although mine is hopped up beyond the R to RRR 🤦🏻

[Willy iine 18843]

18 hours ago, Raman36 said:

I have the 08, not the R. Although mine is hopped up beyond the R to RRR 🤦🏻

Dang.. now I feel super left behind..

I wonder if I popped on a VW Van body on the M08R, people would get mad.  

[Raman36 1805]

5 hours ago, Willy iine said:

Dang.. now I feel super left behind..

I wonder if I popped on a VW Van body on the M08R, people would get mad.  

Would be awesome 

[Evetsyelspih 124]

On 11/7/2023 at 1:53 PM, Evetsyelspih said:

Just did an order with Amain instead of Tower. Ordered yesterday afternoon and it shipped early today. That’s how you do it! I will miss the Tower discounts but at least Amain has a little discount. I have fond memories of using Tower for the last 20 years but I guess it’s time for a change.

……..and my Amain order arrived less than two days after I received the shipping notice.

[Willy iine 18843]

5 hours ago, Raman36 said:

Would be awesome 

I'm glad to hear!   I really want that van.. but no where to display at the moment..     

It's like I need a parking (display) permit before I can buy another car.  

[ImALlama 1696]

Currently I'm not a huge fan of tower at the moment due to their 20% off no exclusions email a month or so ago, I'll admit I did use it and it worked on things that are normally excluded from coupons, but the couple of Tamiya kits I was trying to order were excluded . I tested several others and the discount wouldn't work an anything Tamiya, so I'm not so sure they understand what no exclusions mean.

I think the new spend $100 get $20 isn't bad, though there's a much greater chance I'll buy something with the old setup, and I almost always bought more to up it to the next tier of discounts. My main problem with it is I've got to spend a bunch of money by the 15th for the tower cash, then I've only got till end of year to use it or its gone? nope, not doing it. Maybe after the new year it'll work ok or they go back to the old system, but for now I'm done with them. The main two things that kept me buying from Tower were the coupons and It wasn't uncommon for me to get my orders next day even with the free slow shipping as they're only 5 hours from me.

[Norco Kid 75]

On 11/8/2023 at 12:17 PM, Raman36 said:

I finally heard from them. They’re going to add the $80 as tower cash so I can reprocess the order.

So when this order does ship, I’ll have $60 tower cash. Which works out the same as the coupons. The difference being you have to spend to get it.

Where as the coupon would draw in new business 

I have the Super Sabre and 60th Mid on pre-order w/coupons so I hope they honor those!

[tim.senecal 533]

On 11/8/2023 at 10:59 AM, Willy iine said:

I am so glad I did not place order last week..    I'm just going to wait it out a bit.. to perhaps indefinitely.. nothing has changed anyway, everyone in the world has a M08R but me..  

I don't have an M08R either...   it has been at least 20 years since i bought something from Tower Hobbies.  I did buy something from Amain 2 weeks ago...

[Willy iine 18843]

14 hours ago, ImALlama said:

Currently I'm not a huge fan of tower at the moment due to their 20% off no exclusions email a month or so ago, I'll admit I did use it and it worked on things that are normally excluded from coupons, but the couple of Tamiya kits I was trying to order were excluded . I tested several others and the discount wouldn't work an anything Tamiya, so I'm not so sure they understand what no exclusions mean.

I think the new spend $100 get $20 isn't bad, though there's a much greater chance I'll buy something with the old setup, and I almost always bought more to up it to the next tier of discounts. My main problem with it is I've got to spend a bunch of money by the 15th for the tower cash, then I've only got till end of year to use it or its gone? nope, not doing it. Maybe after the new year it'll work ok or they go back to the old system, but for now I'm done with them. The main two things that kept me buying from Tower were the coupons and It wasn't uncommon for me to get my orders next day even with the free slow shipping as they're only 5 hours from me.

Yeah, I like to have my savings instantenously to compare pricing with other stores.  It's not unusual for me to be a repeat customer, but that is no excuse not to offer instant savings.   I've not bought anything from Tower this month and at this pace, unless it is for paint I can't source anywhere else (or to use up my member points if they still offer that), probably wont until they 'fix' their promo codes.

[Kpowell911 2628]

Maybe Tower dont want people using codes and discounts anymore? So they dont mind ‘upsetting’ regular customers?

Im in England, so coupons/promo’s dont really exist, its an alien concept to me. 

[Kowalski86 5012]

2 minutes ago, Kpowell911 said:

Maybe Tower dont want people using codes and discounts anymore? So they dont mind ‘upsetting’ regular customers?

Here in the West, the problem that I see with "upsetting" regular customers, in many fields, is that said regular customers hardly ever shop elsewhere despite the upset. They're initially bitter, but just go with it anyway, because "that's just how it is".

Not to go too OT, but look at Hollywood or videogames and all of the nonsense that they get away with. But people just keep buying microtransactions or watching the latest remakes that never top the original films. And both of these industries are much more volatile than RC.

Plus, when you're Horizon and own 80% of the hobby in the US, you can afford to loose a few customers.

 

 

[Kpowell911 2628]

3 minutes ago, Kowalski86 said:

Here in the West, the problem that I see with "upsetting" regular customers, in many fields, is that said regular customers hardly ever shop elsewhere despite the upset. They're initially bitter, but just go with it anyway, because "that's just how it is".

Not to go too OT, but look at Hollywood or videogames and all of the nonsense that they get away with. But people just keep buying microtransactions or watching the latest remakes that never top the original films. And both of these industries are much more volatile than RC.

Plus, when you're Horizon and own 80% of the hobby in the US, you can afford to loose a few customers.

 

 

Exactly! Tower/Horizon know what theyre doing with this. Spot on with your video games analogy, just look at the backlash/review for the new COD…….. Itll still be the best selling game this year…..

[Kowalski86 5012]

34 minutes ago, Kpowell911 said:

Exactly! Tower/Horizon know what theyre doing with this. Spot on with your video games analogy, just look at the backlash/review for the new COD…….. Itll still be the best selling game this year…..

Most people are probably too occupied with the new 1/18 Grom or one of the new Losis, to notice Tower Coupons being axed.

[N1smo 0]

On 11/7/2023 at 7:44 PM, Raman36 said:

The disaster at Tower continues.  Last week they charged me card 2 times for my order for the Ultima JJ. The first went through and the second was declined, because it triggered fraud alert.  I contacted their garbage virtual service. Got Joel F. He told me that the pending charge would drop. No 🤬, I manage a retail store, I’m well aware. But I pressed why they double charged he had no answer.

Few days passed I contacted them to see when order would ship. Got Joel again he said it was processing. 
 

Friday, I saw both charges fell off. Contacted them, got Joel again, we’re BFF now 🤣 told him the charges dropped. He said he would need to research next step and that I would be emailed. 

Yesterday I contacted them again. Got a Bob. He said that notes from Joel state that order has to be recreated. He said you received the email right. Nope. I searched all boxes in gmail, nothing. 
 

He forwarded me the email from Joel. “Unfortunately there was an error with this order and it has to be cancelled by our system. Please replace your order as soon as possible. Thank you”

I replied this email: 

Hi Joel,

Thank you for your email.  I have no problem resubmitting the order.  I just need your guidance on how to replicate the $75 coupon and $10 off since you have done away with them.  

Subtotal $389.99

Loyalty Discount - $10.00

Order Discount - $75.00

Shipping $0.00

Estimated Sales Tax $0.00

Order Total $304.99

 

Please advise

—— 

No reply yet. I could go the Amain route but they only offer $25 off, not $85!  Nonetheless very frustrating 

Do you have a direct contact for Joel F?  The same thing happened to me, I've had one response from Aleic G saying, "the order is in process and can't be cancelled in the status.  I have sent a message to our warehouse to ask if they can cancel the order." It's been over a week and still no response and still shows as awaiting shipment.  Do they respond to that Horizon Hobby customer support email?  

[Raman36 1805]

3 hours ago, N1smo said:

Do you have a direct contact for Joel F?  The same thing happened to me, I've had one response from Aleic G saying, "the order is in process and can't be cancelled in the status.  I have sent a message to our warehouse to ask if they can cancel the order." It's been over a week and still no response and still shows as awaiting shipment.  Do they respond to that Horizon Hobby customer support email?  

No I don’t. The email they send is generic and I have yet to get a single response from them.

I saw some changes to my account on tower but the $ cash they’re supposed to add hasn’t been posted yet. 

[87lc2 2855]

11 minutes ago, Raman36 said:

No I don’t. The email they send is generic and I have yet to get a single response from them.

I saw some changes to my account on tower but the $ cash they’re supposed to add hasn’t been posted yet. 

Hope you get it.  They messed up an order of mine a couple months back and as an apology they were going to add 800 rewards points and it never came.  I think they're just hopeless at this point.