Model won't load, support is ignoring my request for help after I spent almost $60 on model. This is my last purchase on this site.

I was interested how to fix it as well. But if the seller isn't responding either, I did a search for why old FBX's won't load in Blender and it said there's a free tool on Autodesks site called the Autodesk FBX Converter. If you do a google search for "What to do if an FBX is too old for Blender" and it should give you more info. Something for us sellers to bear in mind, update files after a few years though if that tool works it makes it a lot easier.

Blender 3.0 was released in December 2021. Since then, support for older FBX versions has been gradually dropped.
In the past, FBX compatibility was not an issue, as creators exported older FBX versions so that models could be opened in most applications without problems.
If I understand correctly, you purchased a plane 3D model (as shown in your review). This model was originally uploaded on 2017-04-02, which is almost nine years ago.
Before purchasing a model, it is always a good idea to check the upload date—not only because of FBX version compatibility, but also because texturing workflows have changed significantly over time. For example, older models often used displacement or bump maps, whereas modern workflows rely primarily on normal maps.
I have previously received feedback from a buyer complaining that a model used a bump map instead of a normal map; however, the model in question was also very old.

Respectfully though, digital goods having a ‘best before date’ is some kind of artificial scarcity. The tin says model is animated and comes in FBX, so perhaps instead the store should list known compatibility versions. Testing of digital assets in open source 3d software can be automated if this site is going to be innovative vs just a “dumb store” with scant tech support.

Just curious. When you say it won't load, do you mean it won't download from the site, or it won't load into your 3d application?

Interesting and thank you. It makes me angry though to pay for something and it doesn't work and CGtrader support hasn't responded, the artist hasn't responded. I didn't intend to "donate" $60 to CGtrader, I bought a model that is supposed to work and I won't be satisfied until I get a refund. It's the principle of the thing.

This is the first I'm hearing of this issue. Perhaps I've been lucky because I use Blender to export all my FBX versions these days, so no one has reported that back to me. Perhaps some of my older ones that were exported via 3dsmax will need an update. I'll have to look into the Autodesk FBX converter.