Helipal.com is an online Radio Control hobby shop in Hong Kong. This report reflects my personal opinion developed by my personal experience with Helipal. First there is nothing under handed or intentionaly devious about Helipal. They are just a bunch of nice folks who are inept - they just can't seem to get it right. I ordered batteries for my Nine Eagles helicopter and they sent the wrong ones. I sent my helicopter to them for repair and their repairs were ineffective. I had to order batteries for my helicopter from another source (this time I got the correct batteries) and I had to have my helicopter repaired here in California. The repair expert in California had to grind down an high spot on a shaft casting which he saw immediately and add a new swashplate. The California expert said the previous repair person didn't completely test their repair.
Helipal hase never sent the right batteries nor have they offered a refund on their ineffective repairs. I regard all the money that I spent with Helipal as completely wasted, the turnaround time on the repair quite long and the amount of correspondence necessary quite tedious.
This raises the larger question of whether it is in the best interest of an individual hobbyist to deal with an online shop outside the United States. When you deal outside your own country you have not one to repeal to; you are on your own. If you shop stateside as with Amazon or Ebay (with Ebay protection) you have a third party between you and the foriegn supplier.
It is my personal opinion that Helipal.com is a group of very nice, caring people who just can't fly right side up no matter how hard they try. I lost $58.67 on the repair and the price of three batteries. I personally regret ever having attempting to do business with them.
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