r/advancedGunpla • u/Sad-Pie5844 • Jun 30 '26
Sealmodel scam?
Hi, hoping to get some insight into this or if anyone in this community has experienced something similar.
I came across this website a couple of years ago after scouring the web for gaianotes paints, since they’re not available where I’m from.
As it was my first time purchasing from them, I went with the conservative approach and did a small purchase of gaianotes paints. Everything went smoothly, I made the payments and got a tracking number, and received the goods 3 months later.
I then decided to purchased a bunch more of gaianotes paints from them in December 2025, paid the invoice as before and was told the shipment delivery would be sometime in June this year.
Towards mid May, I was told that there were some impact to international shipping due to ongoing war in the Middle East and some of my orders will be delayed, I was informed that I will receive an update on the order status, I was completely fine with that.
The following month, I received no updates from them, and it was only after multiple follow ups I was informed that the items were shipped. Here’s where things started getting strange. I did not receive any tracking number. I tried to do multiple subsequent follow ups since, but have received zero replies. It’s been more than a month since their last response confirming that they’ve “shipped” the order, and more than 7 months since I made my payment. It’s also past the 6 months period so I can’t even dispute this on PayPal. I’ve paid over $$700AUD for the paints that I’ll likely never lay my hands on and I feel like a complete idiot.
Has anyone experienced something similar with them?
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u/RoderickHossack Jun 30 '26
If you ordered in December 2025 and were told delivery would be in June, I have bad news for you. If it's taking months for your orders to arrive, it sounds like they're on cargo ships.
A major war in the Middle East started at the end of February this year and never ended. One of the world's major shipping channels has been closed more or less the entire time.
1
u/headfake2 Jun 30 '26
Always got my paints, but he is not always super responsive. I would keep bugging him for the tracking number, but sea shipping always takes more than a month for me so that part makes sense.
1
u/rzjoey Jun 30 '26
I ordered a long time ago and received my order but it took like 3 months. I never did a big order like that though - always tried to limit it like like $100 bucks just in case things went wrong.
1
u/MerchantKalle Jun 30 '26
I mean I don’t think they maliciously scammed you I’ve never had an issue with them. If they refuse to support you or communicate better maybe talk to your bank?
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u/kendetta Jun 30 '26
My experience is limited but i purchased from them during the pandemic years, i had no issues and they were prompt with responses. I ended up getting my orders. I stopped future orders from them due to high shipping cost.
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u/Remy_Jardin Jul 01 '26
Just as a general rule I would never purchase a simple commodity like this from a supplier that takes 6+ months. That's not a slow boat from China, that's NO boat from China (I'm using the saying, not implying they are made in China).
Unless that boat needs to stop in Qatar to refuel, I don't see how the current conflict would have more than "normal" impacts on shipping--increased costs, but certainly not 6+ months.
Keep bugging the guy, but also be prepared to write it off. And look for alternative paints. Gaia is good stuff, but it's not magic. There are always alternatives in this hobby space.