shops

[A Gower]

i cant find anywhere that sells spares for the xray raycer let alone any xray

any help?

thanks

[currantbun]

PM sent

Rob

[Matt Brewerton]

Please only reply by PM to this question, no shops allowed.

Cheers
Matt

[scoyle]

Can someone send me some shop names, preferably internet based...

Thanks,
Stephen

[Doomanic]

i cant find anywhere that sells spares for the xray raycer let alone any xray


Then you really haven't tried very hard! ::)

[Robfo]

I've been trying to get some light blue springs for my evo 2 for about 2 months now, is it my lhs being lazey and not ordering them or is it centerpoint?
My lhs has got me other xray bits while the springs have been on order but its just getting annoying that he can't get me these bits!

[Dan Reynolds]

i don't think that its your LHs been lazy the light blue springs are hard to get hold off, i tried about 3 places and it took about 6 weeks for them to get here

[Glen Anderson]

I doubt it would be your lhs. The only reason I never got an xray is because getting parts is very hard. Its a shame because the xray is a great car but the support from centerpoint lets it down :(

[Xray Griff]

In some cases I must defend centre point, light blue springs and C-Hub alloy parts appear to have a problem further up the chain!

I think recently centre point have been dragging their feet over M18 option parts.

On the up side things have been getting better with the supply of XRay parts, but there is still room for improvement.

[John Stones]

They put my order to one side once and just left it there for a month or so :o

[Petermarkphillips]

In their defense centrepoint order the stuff in, in bulk, then everyone who has parts ordered gets them, and the shops get what they ordered, this leaves centrepoint with little stalk to the next order arrives.
Its a business and they cant have stuff lying around waiting for some1 to come along, as they owe xray the money for the parts as well.

I dont think it is entirely centrepoints fault, think its further up the chains. At the end of the day it aint as if xray's factory is only 10 miles up the road from centrepoint.

So you nearly need to predict what you will need for the next few months, and if you are stuck for a part ring a modelshop, or order over the internet.
Both these sources have got me out of a hole in the past, certain modelshops have a good stock if centrepoint dont have an item in stock.

[Dave Treacy]

While we're talking about shops, does anyone know where I can get the latest Xray FT from? I understand it was released about 2 weeks ago and is the same price as the EvoII FOC.

[Petermarkphillips]

They may be released but there aren't any production kits in the uk yet, xray haven't shipped them yet. All you can do at the minute is put one on order, only people with FT kits are factory drivers at the minute.

[Robfo]

In reply to the last post about centrepoint, yes they are a business i understand they have to order from Xray but if they don't have the resources to have enough stock to meet demand then maybe someone else should distribute Xray products in the uk.
Still waiting for light blue springs, 2 months and counting!

[Doomanic]

In their defense centrepoint order the stuff in, in bulk, then everyone who has parts ordered gets them, and the shops get what they ordered, this leaves centrepoint with little stalk to the next order arrives.
Its a business and they cant have stuff lying around waiting for some1 to come along, as they owe xray the money for the parts as well.

I dont think it is entirely centrepoints fault, think its further up the chains. At the end of the day it aint as if xray's factory is only 10 miles up the road from centrepoint.

Sorry, but that's rubbish.

CML are thousands of miles from Yokomo and Associated, yet they manage to keep most spares in stock.
Helger are thousands of miles from Losi, and they manage to keep most spares in stock as well.
Note I say most, not all.

Centrepoint seem unable to keep any spares in stock!

I too have been waiting for blue springs for several months and unless I place my order on the day a new delivery arrives from X-Ray spares seem to be a real problem.

It is not a logistics issue, the distance is immaterial.
It is purely down to poor stock control.

[SMTCA Focal Point]

If you dont work for them, or are involved in the chain, I dont think you can make that statement with the full knowledge of the supply issue. It isnt a simple case of poor control by Centre point, if the order stuff from xray isnt being sent as quickly as the public would like, its not there fault is it.

Perhaps Mr Weatherley will comment on this.

I dont believe it is in the interest of the forum to be slagging off a supplier. Esp, comming from a mod.

[Doomanic]

In case you hadn't realised, I am in the supply chain!

I am the poor git who has to handle all the "why can't I get spares for my X-Ray?" questions! >:(
Whether I am a mod or not is immaterial, I am a customer and deserve better service than I am receiving. >:( >:(

[SMTCA Focal Point]

I apologise and stand corrected.

[Petermarkphillips]

I don't know, all I know is they've tried their best for me over the years. I dont understand what the problem is, if the demand is there. Instead of critising is there something we as customers could do to help?

I would say though that richard and some of the guys are rather good at their R&D, they are always tryin new things.

[university_dave]

I don't know, all I know is they've tried their best for me over the years. I dont understand what the problem is, if the demand is there. Instead of critising is there something we as customers could do to help?

I would say though that richard and some of the guys are rather good at their R&D, they are always tryin new things.


I think that might be part of the problem, they're engineers not businessmen. ;)

The only way that customers can help people with stock levels is not to buy any of it.

[Xray Griff]

The parts are simply not arriving in the UK. While waiting for the M18 there was a period of over one month without any XRay parts arriving in the UK. After that there was a delivery almost every 2 weeks, which kept centre point on top of things. Now we are waiting for the T1FK it has been over a month again since the last XRay delivery in to the UK!

Centre point need the 2 week delivery turn around to keep up with demand. Who ever is stopping these regular deliveries should realise the damage they are doing to the brand.

There are some parts that are out of stock with XRay too and need to be resourced, light blue springs and Alu C Hub parts it would appear.

Any one needing parts for their T1 when the XB8 is due out! You may have to wait again!

[harmar superstar]

Please do this by pm!

[KeithRice]

I don't use this forum much but after reading this thread i remembered why i don't use it. All you guys seem to do is put people down and criticise. As for the lack of xray parts from centrepoint, its being caused by the majority of your local model shops.
If the shops don't pay centrepoint for the parts they've had or having then how do you expect centrepoint to pay for more goods to be imported from xray, so i think the majority of you need to get down off your soap boxes and ask your shops before blaming centrepoint for it all.
Centrepoint is a distributing firm so the reason for them trying new products is to gain a greater precentage of the R/C market, so what if some of these ideas don't work but the ones that do are always of the best quality and also come with an excellent backup service.

Keith

[Robfo]

I'm sorry but i have to say i disagree with you. If you read the rest of the Xray section you would see that most of it prases the Xray product and very rarely put's it down.
As for lhs not paying centerpoint, if this is the case centerpoint should stop supplying them. Its as simple as that, I work in my familys business which in part includes a retail shop (not rc related) i know that if we refused to pay our suppliers we would not recieve any products from them.
As i've said before if centrepoint cannot supply the Xray product to meet demand then there is obviously a problem that needs solving.
On a positive note i am very happy with the performance and quality of the Xray products i have purchased and will continue racing and buying the companys cars for a long time.

[KeithRice]

I'm not saying that everyone is putting it down inthe xray section but in this thread it is. I can see what your saying but if centrepoint was to stop supplying shops then how many of them do you know will turn round to a customer and say 'oh yes i can't get spares from them anymore because i'm on STOP' it would more than likely be ' i ordered them weeks ago and centrepoint haven't sent it'.
Its a nasty circle really because if we don't order spares then shops can't afford to order more stock and if shops can't afford it centrepoint don't get paid and then xray don't get paid and then no one gets any spares, so in my opinion i think if your waiting for spares then either hang on and see what happens or ring centrepoint direct and speak to Richard himself.
That wasn't aimed at you Robfo and i agree the car is a great kit and i will also continue to use it.

[Xray Griff]

The criticism is supposed to be constructive. There is a problem with supply and it needs to be looked at. If that means being critical of someone, so be it.

Model shops pay for these within one month, as per their payment agreement with centre point. If they fail to pay within the time scale there is a finance company letting them know they have not paid. The problem is the parts are simply not arriving in the UK frequently enough. If centre point have to wait more than a month for parts to arrive in the UK then we can expect problems.

As for the product you will not find much higher praise about an RC car than for an XRay. The quality and performance is not in doubt.

I am sure you will find other threads of a helpful nature.

[Robfo]

Ok I totally agree with your last post KeithRice ;D, if there are cases of shops not paying but telling there customers stories about the performance of centrepoint then that is very unfortunate.

I for one will be waiting for the parts i ordered through my lhs, i just hope it does'nt take too long.

[KeithRice]

Yeah I understand how the payment scheme works but surely you partly answered everyones question of supply, by saying that shops have a month to pay and if not then Centrepoints finance company persues payment, surely if all the shops are not paying until the 30th day then Centrepoint won't be able to pay for any new goods to be delievered on a 2week basis.

[Robfo]

The 31 days to pay policy is not exclusive to the rc industry. Its standard practice for most companys on any order apart from the first. I believe its designed to help the retailer to sell some of the product before they have to pay for it to help cashflow.

[KeithRice]

Oh yeah i totally agree you need time to reclaim money to pay for the goods but surely if xray is in such hot demand then shops should surely have the money to pay Centrepoint because people are supposedly in such demand for spares.

[Xray Griff]

Shops are also in the same trap with credit card companies. You buy now on a card and some shops do not get paid for 4-8 weeks.

The problem is not with finance it is with the regular deliveries. If the regular delivery problem is caused by centre point not having the finances, as you suggest, then they need to sort that out as soon as possible. Nearly every business to business agreements I know of take more than a month to be paid for and should have been taken in to consideration.

The feed back I have got from centre point was that when they had deliveries every 2 weeks everything was running smooth. It is the current wait that is causing the problems for the XRay racers, the shops and for centre point.

[Robfo]

That is assuming that the reason we are not seeing the parts is because of money difficulties as centerpoint, which i could'nt comment about because i don't know the answer.

From reading other posts in this topic it seems more likely that the problem is further up the chain. Which means centerpoint is getting alot of stick unfairly for something they can't comment about for obvious reasons.

The 31 days policy is a standard policy and any supplier would not expect to be paid before the end of that period just because the product is in demand. I can say this from personal experience. Not rc related but business is business whatever the products are. Its like that and thats the way it is HU, as RUN DMC told us! ;D

[KeithRice]

All of this is taken into consideration and I take your comments on board but then haven't people also got to look at all the other angles.
Because of xrays success they have to supply the world not just to sunny old England so we'll have to be patient and wait. I'm sure we're not the only ones suffering, and i'm positive xray are more than likely working around the clock 24/7 to supply everyone so its surely out of our hands and centrepoints.

[KeithRice]

Sorry Robfo practically repeated what you just said ;D

[Robfo]

Well at least we agree now ;D

I think the best thing to do if you can't get the parts you want from your lhs is to order them and wait. That way you will find out if the problem is with your lhs, centerpoint or even Xray. Well you might find out eventually.

And for that reason i'm gonna shut up about about the supply of bits and try and work out how to stop hitting stuff and having to order more bits ::)

[Xray Griff]

I will agree with you as well. There is currently nothing we can do about it, but wait.

I know some other countires have been grumbling about supply too. I can not wait for the day when supply matches the quality of the rest of the XRay brand.

I am sure using a one cell battery pack may help with the 'stop hitting stuff' part, but I am sure the hitting stuff is part of seeing how fast it can go before we lose it!

[Robfo]

It can go alot faster than i can! ;D ;D

Whoops i said i was gonna shut up :P

[Doomanic]

I would just like to point out that Centre Point use a Factoring Company.
This means that they receive a proportion of every invoice almost immediately, whether the shop pays or not.
Please don't be so quick to blame the shops if you don't know the whole story.

[Doomanic]

The proportion payed by the Factors is usually between 75 and 90%, if that's not enough to cover reordering costs then there is a real problem somewhere! :o

[MikeS]

Colin:

Shops are also in the same trap with credit card companies. You buy now on a card and some shops do not get paid for 4-8 weeks.

This is simply not the case. All main stream merchant service providers will pay the card transaction value in full within 3-4 days. If any "shop" is having to wait the month or two as you imply above then there really is a major problem with the merchant service provider.

Keith, I think for those others reading this you really should clear up your relationship with Centrepoint. It is obvious that there is one and it is not just as an informed observer.

Dom is pretty much correct. The level of advance invoice settlement that the factoring company will pay is generally dependant on a number of issues, one of which is the "quality" of the invoices, but it would not be as low as you indicate unless there are some serious issues afoot. There are also other reasons a company would opt to use a factoring organisation.

I am not locking this thread, but I don't think that there is any merit for this discussion to continue any further in the way it is now, since uninformed speculation and erroneous statements will not do either Centrepoint, the trade or the sport any good what-so-ever.

[Petermarkphillips]

tbh mike I think you should delete the topic.

[Xray Griff]

I would hold that thought for the moment. I am in touch with Richard at centre point and may have some news.

[Petermarkphillips]

dont say that griff and not comment further!

[Xray Griff]

Confirmed from centre point, another 2 week delay for the next XRay delivery to the UK.

The good news is light blue springs, C-Hub blocks and Alu parts should be arriving in that order.

Centre point have said they will be LOOKING at increasing their stock levels in order to try to alleviate these problems in future. If nothing else this is a step closer to eliminating the problem.

If you think this thread should be deleted let us know why?
These problems need to be aired in order to stop them from happening again. As soon as the quality of supply matches that of the quality of the cars, XRay owners will be the happiest RC racers about.

I promise to pipe down on this subject, unless some more important news comes up about parts

[cobra81li200]

And for that reason i'm gonna shut up about about the supply of bits and try and work out how to stop hitting stuff and having to order more bits ::)


True, muhuhuhuhuhahahahahhaah ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Andrew Rennick]

Why do people not want to see an absolutely fabulous bunch of people like those at Centrepoint succeed - I have heard them being slagged and put down since the TTech days of 92 - but they are still here, and still loyal supporters of the RC industry in the uk.

I have seldom met more friendly people, and though many Irish drivers regularly travel to mainland to race, when we put on a race worthy of your support - Gavin Clinch is one of only two mainland drivers willing to make the journey.

Hats of to Centrepoint, and I wish them every success for years and years to come.

[Moose]

Well Andy when the pictures do the rounds from the Titanic Cup this year, I will go a fiver with ya that it will be the first date in many peoples diaries for next year. The Titanic Cup sets the standard for all furture events 8).

the bar has been well and truely raised :P

[tonynearly49]

It is obvious there is a MAJOR problem with spare parts to the ordinary driver but Team Drivers always seem to have the parts they need.
Surely its the ordinary drivers that keeps the Major importer in business.
Its all well and good having news items in the race magazines extolling the virtues of a car but if the ordinary driver can not get the bits they need they will soon change car.
I went into my LHS and they phoned centrepoint while I was there and said that they would not be having any of the bits for at least 2 weeks so now we are looking at running a different car in the BTCC and looking at dumping the X-Ray in the bin as a complete waste of money.
unless anyone wants to buy it for spares

A VERY ANGRY FATHER OF AN X-RAY OWNER.

[Xray Griff]

Hats of to Centrepoint


With the first round of the BTCC coming up this weekend and no spare parts, there will be a very poor showing for XRay cars (outside of the Factory drivers).

[Robfo]

Why do you say that? Are you expecting to break something? I raced at ashby last week at the first round of the TORC, i gave my evo2 a right hammering and nothing broke!
We should think ourselves lucky that we race a sturdy car or the parts problem would be MUCH worse!

[Xray Griff]

Not expecting to, but have broken something! Having broken something as simple as a C-Hub front block, are there any of these spare in the UK to fix the car for racing this weekend?
They do not break every week, but when you do break something you want it up and running as soon as possible.
I am sure Robfo can not say he has never broken anything?

[Robfo]

Your right, i have broken bits just like everyone else. The good thing is that the car does'nt brake too often and when it does (if you are at a big meeting) the Xray team drivers are friendly and helpful. The last thing i broke was a c hub at the carpetmasters and jimmy maddison had some spare so i got one from him.
With a quality product like the Xray we should'nt have to get spares from the team drivers, but as thats what we have to do at the moment we should think ourselves lucky that they are willing to help and have spares themselves.
I am not in any way happy with the centrepoint situation as i've had some bits on order for over 2 months now. I'm just trying to be positive. You'll see why if you read the thread from the start.
What would you rather do, drive a Schumacher lol! ::) :o ;D

[Xray Griff]

Things have been getting better with XRay, we just seem to being going through a rough patch at the moment and the end is still 2 weeks away. They do not break very often, I must agree.

Do you think the team drivers will have enough to go round?

As you say, there is nothing better than driving an XRay ;D.

[Robfo]

I hope they will, we'll just have to be extra carefull :P ::)

[tonynearly49]

How many drivers have broken the C hubs?.
Alli parts and srings are desirable C hubs are essential.
Its nice to be able to jazz up your car but you need all the suspension and steering bits to be able to use it.
I agree its a fast car but with little or no spares back up its just a pretty MODEL. and not worth the money it costs.
Can you imagine buying a road car that you had seen being used in saloon racing only to find that when you had a minor bump you were told by your garage that you would have to wait 6 weeks for the spares it wouldn't sell very well.
This is what is happening now with the X-Ray.
I have spoken to my LHS and they have said that they would love to stock it but with limited, at best, spares back up there is no way they can.

VERY ANGRY FATHER OF X-RAY OWNER.

[redlinezak]

i have to agree with you tony. I dont think the build quality or the performance of the car be questioned by anyone but as you say it is a very pretty model when sat there. I believe that centrepoint are trying to resolve this issue but it would be nice to know where the problem lies(is it xray centerpoint or the lhs's) i would be interested to know what the supply is like in other countries (apparently the factory kit is already available in hong kong). I dont know how popular it is in the usa but is there supply over there? If the factory kit is in shops in HK then i see no reason why it shouldnt be over here. (does xray see the uk as a weaker market for there product and hence supplies there priority countries first or os it just the importers who are not ordering enough or having problems there end??

[DaveFOC]

The supply problem in the UK has now gone beyond funny and is now a complete joke. Someone needs a firm kick up the arse. This is sent as an owner of a broken T1FOC not a racer anymore ( have had parts on order since before xmas ) suddenly Schumacer or even Tamiya look good i could actualy "race" one.
Has anyone from CP seen this thread ?
Do they have any comment for there own defence or are the asumptions correct ?
Maybe i will try a PRO4
T1FOC for sale static model of high impact with imoveable object, 3 good corners, one over enthusiastic owner.

[KeithRice]

Guys, again people are expressing their frustration with the lack of spares and this is understandable but surely posting your frustration on the world wide web isn't solving anything other than damaging centrepoints name.
You all may reply to this and tell me where to stick it but centrepoint are waiting just as much as people waiting for spares so surely the comments in this thread are worthless and just slanderous to centrepoint.
If you think other wise please send me a PM and i will happily reply.

[redlinezak]

keith i understand what you are saying (i do not know if you are connected to centerpoint at all ) but i dont think anyone is meaning to be slanderous i think people are just looking for a reason for the problem (i know that is what i am doing) and a possible solution to it. I would be interested to know if anyone from centrepoint would comment on the situation and maybe give us some idea of why this is happening but i guess i can understand if they do not wish to comment.

[SMTCA Focal Point]

Corally was exactly the same a few years ago, a high quality product from effectivly a low volume producer.

I am sure Xray could produce mass market, easy available spares, but they would not be to the same quality of what you have just now.

Anyone built a TC3 lately, did you need a dremel as well....

[DaveFOC]

Sorry for the deleted word
But i must ask again why is there such a lack of parts in the UK.
I did not slate CP i asked if they had seen this thread and had a comment other people up the thread go on about CP.
Someone knows what is going on. Why not let the people who buy X-ray supporting the good name in on the secret. The brand exists in the UK because we buy it. support us so we can keep supporting xray. Lets face it its the best!!
i realy dont want to moan all i want to is race but until i get some spares to rebuild the car i have lots of time to fill (with chat rooms etc) of which this is the first for me. Anyone for a game of hangman?

[SMTCA Focal Point]

I dont believe there is anything sinister going on, or any lack of care on the part of any individual or company. It is unfair and some may consider slanderous to suggest otherwise. It is a simple fact that the demand has outstripped the supply. Xray is working flat out to supply the parts, what more can they do. Mario has commented on the mytsn site numerous times that the factory is a max capacity and they are doing all they can.

There is simply no point in complaining about it or complaining about Centre point. Ever heard the expression "my hands are tied".

[rweather]

Dear All
I am sorry that some of the parts are in short supply at this moment. We have had a 2 month period without spares delivery, which is my fault not Xray's, and Some usual stock items have been depleated.
I have asked the factory to send an additional batch of C hubs on express freight, because these seem to be causing some out-of-commision Xrays right now.

If anyone needs anything, please call us and we will try to help you.

A large shipment of spares is due here shortly and after is has arrived, shipments will be made on a high frequency schedule (every 2 to 3 weeks), so you can have confidence in future spares supply.

The Xray Factory is an amazing setup, with around 100 employees and almost everything manufactured in-house, from raw materials. This is unique in the model car world where other brands just sub contract the actual manufacture. Xray is the newest and most exciting Company to enter our industry and Centre-Point is proud to be the Distributor. The superior quality and performance that you see from Xray is a result of tireless work and attention to detail, and it is this same determination at Xray and at Centre-Point that will ensure that all aspects of your back up will be made as rewarding as the car itself.

Any problem will be solved and you can expect the right parts at the right time for the start of the season and onwards. Please call us if you need something. We are here to help you. T 01634 826 111

Richard Weatherley
CENTRE-POINT

[Robfo]

Thank you for the information.

[redlinezak]

thanks for the reply richard its nice to know that there is stuff being done to try and alleviate this problem and hopefully as im sure you will agree it will not be something that crops up again.

[redlinezak]

john i think that we are right to enquire about the problem as it is us that supports the product if we were to say nothing as you suggest what other option do we have apart from either stop racing or change manufacturers i personally would prefer to voice my concers/grievances in the hope that they would be tackled by the distributor as has just been the case with richard weatherlys post. We all know that noone is purpously trying to annoy us it is in noones interest to do that and i dont believe that anything i have said hcould be slanderous as i was just stating that there was a supply problem which there has been. Anyway hopefully this will soon be over and we can all go back to winning with our xrays (or in my case breaking summat else again ...how big was that order richard lol)

[Matt Brewerton]

I feel that there is nothing more to say on this subject. Therefore this thread is now locked.

[Luke Hobson]

me and tony are still waiting on the parts,

luke

[Robfo]

Just thought i'd tell everyone that my lhs has had a delivery from centerpoint this week, He's got loads of c hubs and light blue springs. :D
I hope centerpoint can keep it up.

[DaveFOC]

Happy racer, Not all my parts have been delivered but most of them have. I can now set about breaking ( sorry racing )the car again. :D
Well done Richard for taking it on the chin in admiting the problem, And getting the solution right.