I would like to disagree completely with the adverse reviews that I am shocked to see posted about Airtrans Aviation Hobby and Gift Centre, EMA. Having been a loyal customer since 1996 I have never experienced any discourteous service ... in fact just walking into the shop is enough to make me smile. A fantastic range of products continues to be offered despite the downsizing the shop has dealt with effectively since moving to its current location and prices in my opinion are fair to favourable ... Herpa Wings 515139 1:500 scale Boeing E-3A Sentry in NATO colours priced at £12.99 when first in stock for example. Try same model for £18.99 on e-Bay in comparison ... Sorry I have to disagree. On a few occasions I have purchased second-hand Herpa models from Airtrans and only once spotted a defect upon checking the item carefully before buying - OK I did find this a little disappointing however I did not feel the need to make sweeping and unpleasant generalisations regarding the shop or items stocked in general.

I am due to pay Airtrans a visit this week as it happens and will be mentioning what I have discovered here ... Sorry if my defence is felt to be annoying by anybody but having been a customer there for 12 years to date, I think I know what I am talking about.

I hope that I am able to spend another 12 years being able to support this shop for sure and as I am unafraid of leaving a clue to my identity attached to this review I am sure many of its readers will recognise me straight away ... and even put a face to me.

Airtrans Aviation Hobby and Gift Centre @ EMA. 10 /10. Many thanks for 12 happy years, from 'DJ DUNKIN.'

A fantastic shop, excellent layout, quite cheap and very friendly staff who are more than happy to help you out with any queries or questions you may have. They also give detailed explanations into what you are about to buy IE. Scanners. They show you how they work, give you free book guides [second hand] and throw things in usually! I got a 6 pack of re-chargeable batteries for free!

A truly amazing shop.

Airtrans has gone down a very steep hill in recent years, I gave up on them in 2000. It seems they have little or no regard for customer satisfaction and their general poor attitude would put many people off spending their cash with them.

I would rather shop with a company that at least tries to show an interest in what they are selling.

Airtrans East Midlands Airport - I have to agree with what's been said about this outlet. They sell a lot of secondhand stuff which probably didn't cost them anything but that they sell for an absolute fortune (old magazines, books, etc.), and the staff...well....

A former loyal customer of this Airtrans outlet which sells models of airplanes, having spent hundreds of pounds there, I purchased a DVD from the above outlet, which I was assured would play on my region 2 DVD player. Having got home I found out it would not play. I put it in - nothing happened.

I took it back to the shop to get a refund. At this point I was informed by the overweight, arrogant guy behind the counter that quote "A DVD is a DVD and it will play on any player". I mentioned it could be a region 1 DVD and got told "There's no such thing - they all play on any machine". I was then asked "I suppose you want a refund then", and when I said yes I was told "well you must have copied it then".

This outlet has put me off them for life now, and accused me of being a criminal at the same time. All because they thought they had taken some money from me and then had to give it back when it wouldn't work. Appalling.