Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When will my order be delivered?

Aviation Retail Direct offers worldwide delivery. Subject to availability, we aim to dispatch all orders received by 1:00 pm on the same working day.

Typical delivery times are:

UK: up to 3 working days
Europe: approximately 10–12 days
Rest of the world: approximately 15 days

FedEx and UPS deliveries are usually faster.

Please allow up to 28 days for delivery before contacting us. Your card will not be charged until the item is ready for dispatch.

2. How will my order be sent to me?

Orders are dispatched worldwide using:

Royal Mail Airmail (Signed, Tracked, or Tracked & Signed – depending on destination), or
FedEx / UPS for larger, heavier, or higher-value items.

The delivery method used depends on the size, weight, value, and destination of your order.

3. Will I receive all items in my order together?

If an item is out of stock, we will source it as quickly as possible. Out-of-stock and pre-order items are only charged when dispatched.

If your order contains a mix of in-stock and pre-order items, it may be sent in more than one shipment. If additional shipping costs apply, we will contact you before dispatch.

4. What if my order is damaged in transit?

Please submit a return request via your order details page within 30 days of receipt, with photos of the issue. Once authorised, we'll send a prepaid return label and, once received and inspected, arrange a repair, replacement, or full refund. Return postage is covered by us for confirmed faults.

Minor issues, such as a small part like an antenna being intact but slightly out of position, aren't treated as a fault if it can be corrected by hand. Handmade models may also show minor cosmetic variations that aren't considered a defect. For full details, see our Returns Policy.

5. How do I return an unwanted or incorrect item?

Submit a return request via your order details page within 14 days of receipt. The item must be unused, undamaged, and in its original packaging. We refund the item cost only — original delivery and return postage are your responsibility.

6. I’ve placed an order but no longer want it — how do I cancel?

Please contact us as soon as possible at sales@aviationretaildirect.com or use the Contact Us page on our website to request cancellation.

You may cancel the full order or individual items
Orders already dispatched before cancellation will be treated as returns
Postage and return costs will not be refunded for dispatched items

7. I’ve found an item cheaper elsewhere — will you price match?

We work hard to keep our prices highly competitive and regularly review our pricing to ensure our customers receive great value.

If you find the same item advertised for less elsewhere, we’re always interested to hear from you. While we don’t operate a blanket price-match guarantee, we’re committed to maintaining competitive pricing across our range.

If you have found a lower price and would like us to take a look, please contact hasan@aviationretaildirect.com or ronnie@aviationretaildirect.com.

We pride ourselves on offering:

Competitive prices
Genuine stock
Clear returns policies
Secure payments
Reliable customer service

We encourage customers to compare prices, and we’re confident that our combination of competitive pricing, product range and service offers great overall value.

8. An item showed as “available” but I’m still waiting — why?

Items marked as “available” are either in stock or available from suppliers within a reasonable timeframe. Due to limited production runs, items may sell out before website updates occur.

If you’d like a stock update, please contact Aviation Retail Direct.

9. What does “Pre-order” mean?

Pre-order items are forthcoming products that you can reserve in advance. When you place a pre-order, your card details are securely authorised at the time of order, but payment isn't captured (taken) from your account straight away. Once the item is ready for dispatch, we process the payment, and your order is dispatched.

If your authorisation expires before the item becomes available (this can happen with longer pre-orders), we may need to re-authorise your card closer to dispatch — we'll contact you if this is the case and send a payment link.

10. What payment methods do you accept?

We accept:

Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Switch / Maestro
PayPal
Cheque (UK bank only, GBP only)

Orders are not dispatched until payment has cleared.

Payment card details are processed securely. You can remove stored card details from your account at any time.

11. Can I get a discount?

Customers can join the Aviation Retail Direct Club for £10 per year.

Membership benefits include:

10% discount across all product ranges
Discounts online, in-store, and at selected air shows

Please note:

Discounts may not appear automatically at checkout when joining — these are applied manually
Membership does not renew automatically
Website account registration does not equal Club Membership

A valid membership must be active at the time of purchase to receive discounts.

12. I’m having problems using the website — can you help?

Yes. If you experience technical issues, difficulty finding products, or problems placing an order, please contact hasan@aviationretaildirect.com, and we’ll be happy to help.

13. I can’t see my old orders in “My Account” — why?

Orders placed before the launch of our current website are stored on our previous systems and cannot be displayed in your new account.

If you have questions about older orders, please contact hasan@aviationretaildirect.com

14. Do prices ever change on the website?

Yes. Prices may change without notice due to:

supplier pricing changes
exchange rate fluctuations
shipping cost variations

If a pre-order item’s price changes, we will notify you before processing the order.

15. Why does a product show an old “due” date?

Due dates are provided by manufacturers and may change frequently. Unfortunately, these dates are sometimes missed or delayed significantly.

While we aim to keep due dates as accurate as possible, we rely on information supplied by manufacturers and cannot always provide updated delivery estimates.