Osborns Reviews 

Not a great experience. Unfortunately, I ordered two items through their website before reading any reviews and my experience mirrors that of so many others. Nothing on the website to say the items being advertised were not in stock. There was a glitch with the payment process and the first transaction showed as not having worked and to try again, which I did and the second time I was successful and received a confirmation email. I then noticed on my PayPal account that the first transaction had actually completed so I had been billed twice.

I emailed Osborne's about the billing error and asked for the additional payment to be refunded - no response. After a few days I rang and got to speak to them. They advised that only one payment was showing on their system but they'd look for the other one and that additionally none of my order was in stock and they had been unable to obtain the items. They said I had been messaged about this - I hadn't received anything. I asked for a refund and for the order to be cancelled, also the additional payment which had definitely been taken from my account to be refunded.

I then received a refund - for one payment only. As a result I filed a claim with PayPal for the additional payment to be refunded. PayPal received no response from Osborne's either, so in due course refunded me themselves.

Basically, terrible communications. Advertising items that are not necessarily in stock is just a waste of everyone's time. If items are not in stock an immediate phone call to advise and to seek instructions would be good practice. No response to emails, it seems that ringing is the only way to get through to them - not acceptable for a business selling online. Even PayPal didn't get a response when disputing a customer payment.

This may very well be an excellent model shop if you call in and do business in person, I don't know, but my experience of their distance selling is an example of how to gain a terrible reputation. I would not buy from them again, simply because of the high probability of being messed about.

I was searching for a loco in a particular livery that was out of stock everywhere except Osborns. I emailed them to confirm availability and they replied within a couple of days that it was available. I placed an order from Canada and it was shipped promptly, arriving within ten days or so. Smooth, friendly service. No complaints!

Ordered Dapol coach on 26 January and received order confirmation, with no indication of any "out of stock" situation. I rang to chase the order up - the pre-recorded message refers you to their email address. I have emailed three times to date with no response whatsoever, nor email delivery or read receipts. Customer service is non-existent. I will never order from these people again.

Very poor service. Ordered Dapol signals. I received order confirmation email which mentioned that confirmation does not mean items are in stock. (I checked their website which showed same items were still on sale)
Tried to contact seller several times over a month's time, but received no response.

Ordered in good faith and received an order acknowledgement. However, items were not delivered within a reasonable timeframe so enquired by e-mail only to be told that the items were out of stock with no expected date of delivery. I asked for a refund which I received but this all took 3 weeks and it was only because I followed up that anything was done.

I visited the shop today as I was in Bideford for the weekend. The shop is well stocked with a great range of items. The man who served me was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. I’d been looking for Kadee couplings for a while and you don’t often see them in model shops. He gave me lots of advice, explained how they work and ensured I bought the right ones I needed. I will definitely go back to the shop again. Very happy 😀

Placed an order in good faith as items showing as available on the website. Nearly a third of the order value was out of stock. No communication and no response to e-mail so I called and was assured that I would get an e-mail response within 48 hours. No response ever received. No response to further e-mails. Raised a case with PayPal and eventually received a refund from PayPal. I made the mistake of placing a further order before the issues described above had been resolved and exactly the same thing happened although the mere threat of involving PayPal resulted in an immediate refund.

Very poor. They do not seem to know how to run a business. Beens a few weeks now of chasing an item purchased. Not a single acknowledgement. They just take your money and run. Not like items are cheap and have a very unhappy child who has missed out on there main birthday present. Will be taking this further. I feel this is theft taking money and not giving the items.

Popped into the shop to pick up a new loco-an Osborn's exclusive via Dapol. Great to see Michael and see all his 3d modelling projects.

Ordered 2 sets of wagons from this shop on the 3rd Febuary. Paid with Paypal, only confirmation I got was an email from Paypal, nothing from the shop at all. After waiting a full week, I decided to try and contact the shop via email. Sent 3 emails in total, no reply to any of them!
Tried ringing the shop several times nobody answered. tried a few days later and finally got to speak to someone. He said that there was a parcel on its way to me, and that it should be there any time. A parcel did arrive, but only contained one set of wagons. According to the shop the second set of wagons would follow a few days later. They still haven't arrived numerous emails chasing them up have gone unanswered. I have now started a claim through Paypal.

Do yourself a favour, Do Not order from this shop, it will only end in dissapointment!

I sent an email to check if an item was in stock, website said yes but looking at other reviews I thought I would check. Well over a week later and no reply to email. How can you not reply to a simple email these days, shocking.
In the past I was a good customer of this company but how things change

I decided to cancel a recent order as the items I required turned out not to be in stock. This despite having no warning about stock availability on their website and therefore being able to order, and pay for, as many items as you wanted!
That's not good business practice as far as I'm concerned.
However, unlike others in their reviews, I received very good service from the shop who refunded my payment the following day after my request to cancel.
Thank you for that.
Just sort out your web site ordering to show actual stock availability please as it would have prevented any problems in the first place!

Ordered in December 2024 - no communication no item sent or received.
Very strange that this shop continues to accept PayPal payments when it’s clearly out of business!! PayPal has finally refunded my payment . Do not order from them.

My partner and I went into the shop this Friday and Saturday. They had what I wanted and ordered items we needed . There are only son and dad that run the shop. You don't pay til your items are in the shop then u get a call for payment and get stuff days later.

I purchased a Kato smart controller from them ages ago, and yet despite there website still saying there available. They haven't gotten any and are refusing to answer my communications.

Ordered 3 items off Osborns Models. Had to chase Osborns to see what was going on with my order. Out of the 3 items ordered only 2 items turn up. Osborns Models donr return calls or rely to email. To resolve this issue, I had to involve PayPal, who did get my money back for the item that didn't arrive. I'm all in favour of supporting model shops, but the the experience i had with Osborns was dreadful. I would never buy from them again and would never recommend them. One star is to good for this so called model shop.

Ordered items, money taken via Paypal and confirmation received. It's been three weeks now with no response to emails or phone calls. Claiming through Paypal for a refund before it's too late. This appears from other reviews and the opinions from friends in the Railway Modelling world to be just an online store and possible the worst one in the UK.

A small order made that was acknowledged, then nothing. Sent email which was ignored. Eventually got a refund from Paypal.
Made another larger order again, acknowledged and then nothing.
Phone line seems to be disconnected
UPDATE
Sent another email to Osborns. However it had an email receipt attached so I know they have opened the email.
And ignored it.

Try this:

They are active on RM Web - last interaction was Friday - perhaps you could try them there?

GWR pre-grouping liveries - Page 6 - GWR Rolling Stock: model and prototype - RMweb

Placed order 4 months ago, paid in full, Michael never answers the phone or reply’s to messages left on answer machine. I’ve had two emails saying he has sent replacement items, this guy is a liar and total on line scammer. BE WARNED HES A ONLINE SCAMMER.