ZHL 1:30 scale HMY Royal Caroline kit

ADC said:
Hi Bob. How do you navigate the mysteries of buying with Taobao and what’s the communication and after sales service like? Does not seem foreigner friendly. Their website is very clunky also on my iPad. Thanks.
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I use Google Chrome as my browser. It automatically translates things into English. Look, Taobao isn't for everyone, and I'm not saying anyone should stop buying from ZHL. I bought my Le Requin kit from them. Max is great, easy to communicate with, always helpful, and my purchase was a good experience. But being retired and living on social security and a small income from my business had put ZHL out of my reach. I simply cannot afford their prices any longer.

I love the Royal Caroline kit and have wanted to buy and build it for years but just couldn't afford it. Then a few weeks ago I ran across the build log for a Dutch Yacht similar to the Statenjacht Utrecht. I asked where I could buy that kit and the CNC milled upgraded carvings. That's how I found Taobao and I ordered the Dutch Yacht kit and carvings for a grand total of $138.00. After checking tracking yesterday, I see that the kit is in New York and will be delivered next Wednesday.

It was quite a savings in dollars and so is the RC kit. It made it affordable, at least for me anyway. I don't particularly love the Taobao website and I worry that I may need customer service someday, but without that site, I never could have bought the RC. My wife and business partner would never allow me to spend nearly $1700.00 on a kit, and I can respect that.

If you want to shop on Taobao, use Google Chrome because it will translate the important parts of the website. You can't use a VPN connection is another thing, but the website is a secure site. And use a credit card, not a debit card. A credit card gives you security if the kit never reaches you. You simply call your credit card company and tell them you didn't receive the item and they'll refund your money.

Tale care.

Bob
 
lauckstreet said:
I use Google Chrome as my browser. It automatically translates things into English. Look, Taobao isn't for everyone, and I'm not saying anyone should stop buying from ZHL. I bought my Le Requin kit from them. Max is great, easy to communicate with, always helpful, and my purchase was a good experience. But being retired and living on social security and a small income from my business had put ZHL out of my reach. I simply cannot afford their prices any longer.

I love the Royal Caroline kit and have wanted to buy and build it for years but just couldn't afford it. Then a few weeks ago I ran across the build log for a Dutch Yacht similar to the Statenjacht Utrecht. I asked where I could buy that kit and the CNC milled upgraded carvings. That's how I found Taobao and I ordered the Dutch Yacht kit and carvings for a grand total of $138.00. After checking tracking yesterday, I see that the kit is in New York and will be delivered next Wednesday.

It was quite a savings in dollars and so is the RC kit. It made it affordable, at least for me anyway. I don't particularly love the Taobao website and I worry that I may need customer service someday, but without that site, I never could have bought the RC. My wife and business partner would never allow me to spend nearly $1700.00 on a kit, and I can respect that.

If you want to shop on Taobao, use Google Chrome because it will translate the important parts of the website. You can't use a VPN connection is another thing, but the website is a secure site. And use a credit card, not a debit card. A credit card gives you security if the kit never reaches you. You simply call your credit card company and tell them you didn't receive the item and they'll refund your money.

Tale care.

Bob
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Thanks Bob, much appreciated.
 
Hi Bob Looked at that site you gave Taobao, VERY INTERESTING thanks for posting, I recently bought a model of the Swedish yacht from ZHL, I think it was a CAF model it is unbuildable 1 sheet of colored plans instructions(WHAT) I found the same Swedis Yacht on the Taobao site from another MANUFACTURER much better plans and instructions, my question is I can not find a curency converter on the site the cost of what I am looking at is 480.00 yuan how much is that in dollars, I also saw the Pegasues on there site that is also one I want to do, do not know what the price is in dollars I figure I will start with moderate price then see how it goes from there, not to belittle ZHL did one of there before was satisfactory, but the other was just terible, if you can help me out with the conversion I will order that kit and post a build on SOS, let me know. THANKS Don PS CONGRAGULATIONS ON YOUR NEW BOOK WILL GET IT SOON
 
donfarr said:
Hi Bob Looked at that site you gave Taobao, VERY INTERESTING thanks for posting, I recently bought a model of the Swedish yacht from ZHL, I think it was a CAF model it is unbuildable 1 sheet of colored plans instructions(WHAT) I found the same Swedis Yacht on the Taobao site from another MANUFACTURER much better plans and instructions, my question is I can not find a curency converter on the site the cost of what I am looking at is 480.00 yuan how much is that in dollars, I also saw the Pegasues on there site that is also one I want to do, do not know what the price is in dollars I figure I will start with moderate price then see how it goes from there, not to belittle ZHL did one of there before was satisfactory, but the other was just terible, if you can help me out with the conversion I will order that kit and post a build on SOS, let me know. THANKS Don PS CONGRAGULATIONS ON YOUR NEW BOOK WILL GET IT SOON
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any online currency converter will do the job for you. just google it.

chris
 
Has anyone tried to get on the TAOBAO SITE TODAY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GETTING WHAT I NEED KEED GETTING MESSAGES THE SAYS TAKEING TO LONG TO ANSWER TRY AGAIN, ANY HELP WITH NAVIGATING this site would be greatly appreciated. Don
 
donfarr said:
Hi Bob Looked at that site you gave Taobao, VERY INTERESTING thanks for posting, I recently bought a model of the Swedish yacht from ZHL, I think it was a CAF model it is unbuildable 1 sheet of colored plans instructions(WHAT) I found the same Swedis Yacht on the Taobao site from another MANUFACTURER much better plans and instructions, my question is I can not find a curency converter on the site the cost of what I am looking at is 480.00 yuan how much is that in dollars, I also saw the Pegasues on there site that is also one I want to do, do not know what the price is in dollars I figure I will start with moderate price then see how it goes from there, not to belittle ZHL did one of there before was satisfactory, but the other was just terible, if you can help me out with the conversion I will order that kit and post a build on SOS, let me know. THANKS Don PS CONGRAGULATIONS ON YOUR NEW BOOK WILL GET IT SOON
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Hi Don,

I use Google Chrome when I browse that site. You have to create an account and be logged in to see the dollar amount. You can do a search in google for "yuan to dollars" and you'll get a data entry box to enter the amount in yuan or dollars and it will convert it to the other. 480 yuan is about $75.00.

I received the Dutch Yacht Bremen from Taobao yesterday (https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?sp...2099&spm=a1z10.1.w7132037-7036685162.5.ZKVusH) along with one upgrade of carvings (https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?sp...167&pvid=6969ef16-7e85-4f09-bc0c-832ca72ea1d9) for a total cost of about $138.00. Today I ordered the Pegasus upgrade (https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.0.0.455e16f4iLTOPW&id=551872090385) and the ship's light kit (https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.0.0.455e16f4iLTOPW&id=534376773629) so that added about $70.00 to my total investment.

The Bremen kit is nice but the instructions are very incomplete. No written instructions, only a CD and the CD just has progressive photos, except it stops once the hull and decks are planked. I guess at that point finishing it depends on what upgrades you do.

Thanks on the book. I take it you're referring to my first ever fiction novel, Blind Terror. There will be a sequel as well. I did a ton of research when I wrote Bind Terror and what happens in it could actually happen. Much of what you'll read is real and you can look it up on Google. Of course, there are a lot of fictional things in it as well. I really enjoyed writing it and fiction writing may be one of my new hobbies..

Take care,

Bob
 
donfarr said:
Has anyone tried to get on the TAOBAO SITE TODAY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GETTING WHAT I NEED KEED GETTING MESSAGES THE SAYS TAKEING TO LONG TO ANSWER TRY AGAIN, ANY HELP WITH NAVIGATING this site would be greatly appreciated. Don
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Hi Don, Just wondering if you have tried aliexpress.com? Taobao is the website targeted for the Chinese local market (ie Chinese buyers <> Chinese sellers). Are there similar items in the aliexpress platform?
 
Ali express is safe as long as you chat to the suppliers( Not Alibaba) . The prices are just as cheap but do not include postage sometines. Its a all a game. buy from supplier shop, get gurrantee and support but pay more, or gamble on the Chinese Ebay. The projection process does work on Ali express, I have used it, but its a 3-6 month process for a refund.
 
Hi All,
To all the ZHL buyers: I know that you have received good service from Max and the quality of the kits are not in dispute however the prices seem to be out of range for mere mortals like myself- especially for CHY/AUD FX rates
I was wondering how flexible Max is with the prices, actually, i'd like to know more about the company, not to scrutinise but out of real curiosity:
Is it a family business?
Does he do all the designs?
Does he start up the Laser and CNC machines after receiving the orders.
Is he the QA head and packer of every kit?
Why do his prices fluctuate across platforms and brands?

...and does anyone here have enough rapport with Max to ask him for a discount of his prices for all Ships Of Scale members?
 
Hello John,there are a lot of resellers on Ebay ,Aliexpress and such,go to Zhl website and get the right prices ,also you can send an email to him and ask some questions.We have a few guys here who dealt with him many times like @Peglegreg or @neptune and @Uwek and many others.

http://www.woodmodelboatbuilder.com/

Also we have a member wo actually visited another Chinese manufacturer Schi Sheng or something like that.
 
You can negotiate with ZHL. Send Max a message. His after sales service and communication is excellent which might be a problem with other sellers from China.
 
Wery interesting to hear that you kan ask MAX if he kan make you an offer, maby lower than other dealers.
This is mabe not the rigt time to make an order i you are in a hurry, (CRISTMASTIME)!.
Soleil Royale are sheeper at ZHL than sergal, i had an offer from MAX and ( SERGAL -Cornwall).
Thats good bekase im a por man an here in norway there are 25% extra in takses/fees.
Thumbsup
 
ragove,
The impetus of this forum is based on the freedom to purchase and build what a person desires. The motivation is not to support such allegations. Please take an exhaustive post I made about how many HMS Victory kits there are. Who designed and manufactured the first Victory kit and why are their many successive Victories on the market?
 
Welcome aboard @ragove! We understand your concern. However, You cannot simply allegate someone in anything until you have proved it. Just because it made in China, and have the same kit name\scale it is not enough to call it pirated. If you compare two kits you will find many differences in materials and the way parts made (technology).
We have united modelers at SOS across the globe and made this platform available for all level of modelmakers so they can learn from each other, and build what they want! We do not want to discuss legal issues at any cost. Please leave that discussion to the manufactures.
Lastly, we know Max, he will not sell pirated kits.

Hope you will not be offended and understand. Enjoy the forum.

P.S. If you have any build models please share the photos with us, we will be happy to see them
 
I have an ad for the boxwood version with both the hull kit and the Masting/rigging kit in the classifieds section. I tried canceling the order but it had already been shipped so here they sit on the shelf gathering dust. I am not going to do any period ship models and will not build this one although it is a masterpiece when finished. I am willing to part with it well below the advertised price for the two kits. Let me know if interested.
 
Gallo Greg, alias @Peglegreg ,
we wish you all the BEST and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Enjoy your special day
Birthday-Cake
Hope to see once, that you restart the works on this or another model .... Keep Care my friend
 
Happy Birthday, Greg! I wish this birthday is just one of many more to come. May your legacy be as staggering and timeless as the 50,000-year-old Aboriginal culture. Birthday-Cake Get better, mate!

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