Raiden Technology (raidentech.com) (Believed To Also Be Named NitroPlane.com, GrandHobby.com, NitroRCX.com, EGrandBuy.com, WonderHobby.com, ZHobby.com,any Site With (626)968-9860 For A Telephone #) Shipped a visually identical, but different product (AH-64 Apache RC Helicopter), at the same price, then denied it. City Of Industry California

First, the list of alternate names is not complete. I would be very suspect of any website that uses the phone number (626)968-9860.

I ordered a remote controlled helicopter around Christmas 2007 from RAIDENTECH.COM. The AH-64 Apache helicopter is what I ordered, which was presented as a "Colco" brand helicopter. I had done some research on web forums and this seems to be what I was looking for, which was a "real" remote controlled helicopter that can be controlled each for up, down, left, right, forward and backwards. Basically, I wanted a RC heli that would tolorate a beginner.

The website listed the helicopter as a "Colco" (which is a good brand to my knowledge) on each and every webpage from the front specifications page all the way through payment and receipt. Everything said "Colco" for the brand name.

The product was shipped in a timely manner, but when I opened the box, I could tell from the first look that the product was not the "Colco" that I ordered, although visually, the helicopter was identical. Being new to the RC world, I did not know what to look for, so I blew it off and started using the RC heli. The remote and heli worked to my (beginner) satisfaction at first.

The helicopter flew fine, but as all new pilots do, I broke the lower rotor blades. I replaced the blades, and continued flying, and eventually broke the lower rotor blades again. Luckily, I had ordered an extra set of upper and lower blades. When I pulled out the blades that RAIDENTECH packaged for me, they were not in a "new" package, but in an aftermarket, store bought small ziplock bag. The rotors did not even fit into the ziplock, and about 1/3 of the rotors were hanging out. To make matters worse, they shipped two sets of upper rotors, and no lower rotors.

During my down time, I was learning more about the RC heli's and found that the real "Colco" that I had ordered had 180 motoros, and that the cheap knock offs that were on the web had the lower grade 130 motors. I opened the paperwork to my no-name heli and saw that my heli had the 130 motors. I also noticed that there was no name brand on the helicopter, paperwork or box...so I have no clue what was really sent to me.

The difference in the 180 and 130 motors is power (and probably quality). The 130's that are in my heli are weaker, and seem to break a lot faster than the 180's. I probalby have 1 -2 hours of use on my helicoptor total (including trimming out the controls), and the motor is already twitching at low speeds.

I hopped on the internet and contacted their online chat person(s) and gave them my information and waited while they looked up what I had ordered. I was ignorant when I originally ordered the heli of the internet scams out there, and thinking that I had fallen for one, I decided to see what RAIDENTECH.COM would say. I mentioned that I had ordered an extra set of upper and lower rotor blades and I was not offered a replacement set, so I mentioned that I did not receive the exact RC heli that I had ordered and that was on my receipt. I offered (then, not now) to let things stay as they were if they would work a trade, since they had charged me the price for a nicer RC heli than they shipped me. The chat rep said flat out they they do not ship out knock-offs or no-name brands that are not on their website, and any trade would have to be handled through one of their departments (sale I think?).

I was finally told that a rep from their company would contact me shortly. I waited and no calls came, so the next day I started over with a new chat rep, who said that their reps do not make calls, but if I wanted to call their support line, they would be happy to assist me. I called the support line 2-3 times while I was still in the chat window, and it was always busy, so the chat rep told me to call in about an hour, when the lines were usually free. I called, and called, and called. I lost count of how many times I called, but it was probably 30-40 times and the number was always busy. At night, when they closed, I called and received a busy tone over and over, until it finally rang, at which time it was not answered, it rang so many times that the phone company auto-terminated the call. I gave up calling from frustration, which is probalby what they wanted.

I e-mailed their support line and received no satisfaction either, even though I had stated I would post on every RC web forum I know of about their business practices, talk to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and call my credit card company and put a black mark on their merchant account, and still, I received no help. Thus, here I am.

I cannot verify, but I believe if a company has enough negative remarks on their merchant account, the account will be closed, which is what I'm hoping will happen.

Mayday man down
Virginia Beach, Virginia
U.S.A.