Just got a refund from Ben. Ordered a GB1 style V-Hook mount set back in March 2022. Got an email in mid-April stating that it had “shipped”. After about a 6 month wait I had felt I waited long enough for the package to arrive. The record shop I work for has never had issues getting anything from the UK shipped to us and this was the destination I had the V-Hook sent to so I felt a bit skeptical about receiving the item after this long. I sent him the request for a refund yesterday (9-25-2022) and got an immediate response and refund this morning (9-26-2022). Echoing what others have stated regarding the amount refunded. I get the conversion rates and stuff but it looks like I might be out like $10-$15 USD. Oh well. I never bothered to message him regarding the package seeing just how much work it was for others here and for such a small item I felt it wasn’t worth the hassle. The sad thing was that I had ordered from him because the item seemed like it would have arrived here faster than had I ordered from the GBfans web store. Oh well. I’ll certainly be adding Ben of Kent to my BUYER BEWARE list.
As far as I’m aware he doesn’t do an accurate GB1 v-hook, so you probably dodged a bullet there anyway! If you need one quicker than gbfans can ship it drop me a DM.
Thanks, tobycj! I really appreciate it but have already purchased a new one.
I ordered the “Everything But Electronics” kit September 20th, 2021, all parts finally arrived 6 months after lots of shipment issues. One of the other guys in my franchise had warned me that shipping is rough with Ben, as he had a pack from before Covid that took months. Several things were missing that were supposed to be included, and after some back and forth he had them to me within a few months. Cue to last month when I decided to roll the dice and order some Metal Banjos from Ben. Ordered September 10, 2022 and am being told it may be lost after the usual back and forth about tracking. Ben has now sent out a second package to me for my lost item that he insists is Priority Mail and should be here quickly.
The merchandise is top-tier to me, I just have a hard time with constantly getting a different answer every time I inquire about my order. I will say I did order Super Straps from PackMan and he is also saying there is a shipping problem on his end as well.
My recommendation is do not order from overseas until their shipping problems are sorted out.
As a UK seller myself I can tell you that there are no major international shipping issues when sending parcels from here. Royal Mail are currently striking one day a week but this isn’t something that should cause any huge delays.
The vast majority of stuff I sell goes to the United States and I keep tabs on every parcel I send out using a custom tracking system which keeps an eye on how many days shipments are taking to be delivered. International tracked post should arrive in 7-14 days and this is certainly the case at the moment. In fact, this has more or less been the case for the 2 years I have been trading.
Believe me, when Ben says your package may be lost and starts blaming the couriers it actually means he never shipped it in the first place. In fact, it’s more than likely he hasn’t even started making the thing that you have ordered.
He plays this game time and time again, sitting on people’s money and stalling for time for as long as he can. Unfortunately there enough people who fall for his bullshit and give him 5 star reviews anyway. It’s telling that he never interacts with the rest of the community, except on his own private Facebook group which boots out anyone who says anything negative.
He is not representative of how international business should be conducted but the trouble is, there are still way too many people who like to defend him rather than admit to his dishonesty and put him where he belongs… on the blacklist.
Hi folks,
i just found this thread and I am a “little” nervous now. I ordered last december a sniffer and it hasn´t arrived yet. Quite the same conversation via etsy as shown above. He wrote me yesterday, he is waiting for tracking updates… so lets hope?!
Unfortunately it sounds like his usual excuses. User NuclearJungle had the same experience which is partly what kicked off this feedback thread. Oddly he’s just been advertising that his sniffer is finally available, so not too sure how he shipped one 11 months ago :roll: I assume the tracking number(s) he’s provided don’t work?
I haven’t got one yet… I think I was a bit naive here.
You paid last December, and he’s not provided a tracking number yet? Oh dear :-? I’d be inclined to tell him you either need a working tracking number, or a refund.
Well, he apologized that the package wasn´t sent yet until April. According to him its since April “on its way”. I ordered another stuff from the UK in the past and got there also no tracking number so I wasn’t very suspicious. The last update says that the sniffer will arrive November 15th. So, fingers crossed 
All of his stuff is shipped via a courier. He either has a tracking number that he’s not given you, or he’s still not shipped it yet, to be blunt.
Yes, I think you are right. Well I wait until November 15th and then I will demand a tracking number.
Yeah… that’s pretty standard anymore. Either you are going to get a working tracking number and your item arrives within a reasonable timeframe, or you are only going to be updated on the tracking while it takes forever to get nothing.
If the item has been “in transit” for 8 months, has changed couriers multiple times while seemingly going nowhere, and he is able to give you updates on the tracking but refuses to give you the tracking number or gives you a tracking number that pulls nothing, then you are probably never going to get your item.
That being said, he may surprise everybody and ship out your item tomorrow and you may have it by the 15th and all would be well(ish). But the fact of the matter is, there is no way for Ben to track your package and update you on what is happening with it or when the estimated delivery date is without a tracking number. If he has one, he should give it to you with no hassle. If he keeps refusing to and just “gives you updates”, then he is lying to you.
Just to keep you updated: He wrote two weeks ago, that the package is delayed till end november, so I wrote him yesterday and asked for a tracking number. He sent me screenshots of his conversation with dpd local. Seems quite real (there appears my name, address and a case number)… the tension is rising also the hope (?)
I would be wondering why you were given a screenshot of a conversation instead of the tracking number that you asked for. It’s a simple enough request that he has ignored while giving you some relief that you aren’t being screwed with. This thread is full of experiences just like this. He has to have a tracking number to talk to a courier about your package, so why not just give it to you as you requested and let you track it yourself? Even if it is 100% legit, he is still gatekeeping you.
My pack kit arrived today. 14 months after ordering it.
Well, better late than never.
Any sign of this yet, or just more excuses?
Well, meanwhile he switched to DHL. Trackingnumber is not working (What a surprise) and he sent me a screenshot of an email from DHL which announces the package for January 6th
So he’s claiming he’s somehow managed to switch courier companies once it’s already been shipped?! I really hope it does turn up then, but I’d not be shocked if you get more excuses