BH Enteprises

Cutter · February 25, 2014, 03:39:06 PM

I would go for it anyway, you've nothing to loose but time.

CarriageShed · February 25, 2014, 03:49:15 PM

I'm still strongly tempted. They should be allowed at least one strike before they're out.

Papyrus · February 25, 2014, 05:53:03 PM

Hello chaps,

Until I read this thread I didn't realise there was an issue with BH Enterprises.

They had a stall at the Riddlesdown meet, so they are obviously still trading. Admittedly both the stall and the stock looked a bit tired. They didn't have the kits I was looking for, so I didn't make much conversation - perhaps with hindsight I should have done...

However, this has set me to wondering. If they are having problems fulfilling orders, maybe there is someone on the Forum who could help out? It may be that if someone volunteered to spend a couple of days clearing the backlog of orders (if that is the problem) or sorting out stock, or whatever, it could be all that's needed to make a difference. I realise it's all very well me saying this from the other side of London, but perhaps someone who lives closer may be able to help. There may be other cottage industries who would welcome a bit of volunteer labour. I just think it's important, because we all rely on these guys, and if they go belly-up it's a loss to us all. What do the rest of you think?

Having said that, I might just order my kits to see what happens.

Cheers,

Chris

CarriageShed · February 25, 2014, 07:43:37 PM

They're nowhere near me, but it's a nice thought that volunteer help with the non-modelling side of the business might be welcome.

I noticed that their phone number states evening calls only. The email address is a google one, rather than one that matches their website's domain name. It has all the hallmarks of a sideline business, something that's done after a day's paid work elsewhere. That alone will limit the time available for it.

Tank · February 25, 2014, 08:27:39 PM

Yes, Ray and Andy both work full time, so it's always been an evening job. I have always had to badger them to send me my items.

I know that Andy has just started a new job, but my tip is to just keep emailing them.

As for the meet up at Riddlesdown - Ray had take stock to another show as well, so I couldn't get the bits that I wanted either. Next year I'll make sure that they bring everything.

CarriageShed · February 25, 2014, 10:58:51 PM

Thanks for the reassurance, Tank. I think I'll give that tender order a go after all. If I'm going to upgrade one of my 4Fs, I might as well do the job properly.

Papyrus · March 17, 2014, 10:36:15 AM

Hello all,

Just to let you know, I placed an order a couple of weeks ago for two kits, and the parcel arrived this morning. I'm delighted with their service. Did the fact that I sent a cheque with my order help, I wonder?

Chris

talisman56 · March 17, 2014, 02:38:12 PM

So people are receiving goods from BHE - I ordered a few Bulleid coach kits just before Christmas and haven't heard a peep. Tried calling a few times (after 7pm on a weekday) but the phone never gets answered. Having read that some people that ordered last September haven't then had their order fulfilled I decided to wait until I could collar them in person at a show to get some answers.

Now I read that some people have been getting their orders sent in days, I wonder if it's what we are ordering is the problem, not the slowness in BHE to fulfil orders.

Having provided a telephone number and an email address I wonder if it would be good customer PR if they dropped a note or left a message to reassure those customers left in the lurch, so to speak, that their order had been received but that there would be a delay in fulfillment. Rather than as it is now, where nobody knows what is going on. Comments?

Newportnobby · March 17, 2014, 05:55:17 PM

Having worked in customer service for some time, the mantra should be 'every enquiry is answered within a maximum of 24 hours, even if only to say the item is not in stock and an estimate of availability given'.
Anything else is just failure to serve customers.

Cutter · July 29, 2014, 11:45:25 PM

Still waiting for most of the items ordered in early September last year -- 11 months ago! Occasional emails from Ray indicate supply problems with the etched brass wagon kits I seek and other issues with the cast locomotive body kits ordered. It would help of the BH website accurately indicated items currently unavailable--none of the items I ordered was identified as out of stock.

The BH wagon kits I have recieved have been great and some of their stuff is clearly available. I won't cancel my orders, but a year on still have no idea how many items I can expect to receive or when.

Bhenterprises · July 30, 2014, 09:26:29 PM

Evening all, especially "CUTTER" whoever this maybe?

Where I appreciate your concerns in contacting / updates/ communications in general from us to you.

I'll put this out to the forum, who might or might not know.... B H Enterprises is NOT A Full-time business of which people may not be aware off. Ray 'dad' to us, has been doing BHE for in excess of 30 years as a hobby / help to modellers not a profit making business.

Within the last 2 years we've (family) have had to contend with passing of Helen ''mum' this has been hard for the family. Especially the part mum played with the mail order systems that she had developed.

Ray has to now contend with the day-to-day running of the house, plus continuing with BHE on top of a extremely demanding day job, especially as he'll be going out at 7:15am for a full day as Building Services Estimator including 1hr driving both ways. For a 60+ yr old this is hard to keep the focus.

If we were to turn the clock back 30yrs, Both Brian and Andrew were living at home. Brian was the PC dept able to print and answer queries. Now current Brian lives with partner and Josh (Little Lad goes out with stand ) with a demanding job, ok he still gets access through technology on iphone. Andrew is married to Corinne, demanding job on the real railway "London Midland" and as of 2015 the potential 4th generation will come along.

Ok me and Andrew have access to emails whether the main bhengauge@googlemail.com
Bhengauge@gmail.com
Bhequestions@gmail.com

Andrew is on social media if needing to speak.

Also Bob Tidbury is on the forum who also can reach us.

We (boys) have plans to try and get BHE back to normality, but as we all know time is a valuable thing.

I can assure anyone, we would never cash or debit accounts until the physical items have been posted.

What would you want us to do? As I know Dad is thinking of a tempory mail order close to try and catch up.

Regards to all

Brian and Andrew Evans
On behalf of Ray Evans

PS would CUTTER please contact us off forum on emails with the subject header Forum

CarriageShed · July 31, 2014, 12:39:05 PM

Quote from: Bhenterprises on July 30, 2014, 09:26:29 PM
...Andrew is on social media if needing to speak.

Also Bob Tidbury is on the forum who also can reach us.

We (boys) have plans to try and get BHE back to normality, but as we all know time is a valuable thing.

I can assure anyone, we would never cash or debit accounts until the physical items have been posted.

What would you want us to do? As I know Dad is thinking of a tempory mail order close to try and catch up.

Regards to all

Brian and Andrew Evans
On behalf of Ray Evans

Hi

I think we all appreciate the problems that BHE has faced in terms of keeping going, we all sympathise, and hope that you can get everything back on track (no pun intended). For the most part, the concern has been due to a lack of response when placing orders, but now that I've been assured (several times) that my order has been received, I'm content for you to catch up and provide it when you can, even if it's in separate batches and some parts of the order take some time to complete.

Perhaps an auto-responder is required to acknowledge receipt of orders or queries, just to reassure people? Perhaps there's also some way that members of the forum can help out, if only in small ways?

Good luck and best wishes
Peter