I like Danny Sheehan living in Queensland do most of my shopping on line but I deal with RLH Hobbies. He is great and always lets me know by email any questions I have.
Bob Hayes
Think you meant RLD Hobbies, Bob - and I second your comments.
I have dealt with Wholesale online, over the phone, and in person. I have dealt with RRS on the phone and in person. I have dealt with Trainland/Trainworld in the mail, online, on the phone and in person (both stores). I have dealt with St. Aubin’s over the phone.
Add in a few other major players (advertisers) and a few miner ones (local places) and I’ve got praise and horror stories for just about all of them. I’ve gotten deals and I’ve had to struggle for what I wanted. I’ve been treated well and I’ve been treated shabby at some of them. I’ve also worked at two separate hobby shops, neither of which were mentioned here directly. It ain’t easy. Even face to face transactions can go bad fast.
I take my purchases much more seriously now and in the case this past May when I was trying to buy track locally and could not from RRS, Trainworld, or Wholesale for various reasons but mostly because they simply did not have any in stock! All of these were in person visits so that I did NOT have to pay shipping. Can’t win any way you look at it.
I’ve always had good results when dealing with Wholesale Trains. They have always been fair in their pricing, and have always been upfront with stocking issues. Gary runs a small shop and is trying to compete with the bigboys. As with any online retailer, I don’t necessarily believe what is on the website (got burned lo these many years ago on my first purchase… the guy said never to believe what is online, so I don’t. btw, different site) so I call and order that way.
SteveF
Steve Featherkile said:My only issue with Wholesale Trains is that they insist on shipping UPS. They have, from their point of view, good reason (trouble with US Postal Service refusing to pay on insurance claims). Unfortunately, as mentioned elsewhere, UPS sees a border as an opportunity to stick it to the customer, big time. So, alas, I will no longer order from WT or St Aubin -- by the time UPS has added its charges, it's just too expensive. I'm not blaming these stores in particular; they're just the ones of which I have experience. Their service was good, but UPS fouled the well. So far (touch wood), I have never had problems with postal shipments.
I've always had good results when dealing with Wholesale Trains. SteveF
I really don’t purchase much LS train stuff, and I do spread the business around based on availability and pricing. Opposite to the bashing going on above, I’ve had perfect service from Wholesale Trains. They were the only ones who would order Aristocraft’s arch bar trucks when I needed to equip some of my kit and scratch built stock. Sometimes it takes a little time, but I have always gotten exactly what I ordered, including partial shipments when something was back ordered, with the costs and shipping exactly as agreed.
I do use the phone rather than on-line ordering, but that applies to all my LS train transactions. On occasion I have spoken to Wholesale Trains owner Gary Lantz. I believe he really goes out of his way to make certain things are right. He is also a strong supporter of the LS hobby in general. Many times he also has the lowest price available anywhere. His pre-release pricing on the new Bachmann K-27 is just one example.
Everyone has a right to their opinions, but I believe joining a public forum specifically to trash one vendor is at best low class. Doubly so when the defamation (as in “They are dishonest”) starts.
Happy RRing,
Jerry Bowers
I too have had nothing but good dealings with Wholesaletrains in fact my largest every LS purchase came from them, a pair of USA PA A-B lash ups that I preordered at what was way below what anyone else was selling them for at the time. Because of the long time between placing the order and the time the product became available they called me to verify that a. I still wanted them and b. if I still wanted to use the same card I used to order them with. They also agreed to ship them to my work address because I had concerns at the time that they would be delivered when no one was home. They also nailed the date I was told they would arrive. Beyond that I have ordered a number of items over the years, Shay replacement trucks, Aristo SD45 power blocks (for projects not repairs) Aristo trucks and a number of other items that I felt I got good pricing on. I have spoken with Gary at the ECLSTS and he certainly doesn’t strike me as a rip off artist. If you have issues, pick up the phone and call them, better yet do that in the first place and forget the internet, even the large dealers rarely have totally up to date info on their sites.
Ric Golding said:I would go with the above.
Caboose Hobbies, Ridge Road Station, St. Aubins, San Val, Trainworld and Watts (shops listed in alphabetical order, not order of preference) have received most of my online business with (I hope) much happiness for both parties. I know I have always been satisfied.
Caboose is my local, or was and I go past Denver quite often.
But their stock of LS seems to have diminished.
Funny…I dodn;t know that Wholesale Trains was Gary Lantz…I guess thats why my Indy came in a box form Lantz Hobby Shop eh?
I had no problems with my first four orders. The fifth order had missing parts. Four emails and three phone calls later I was told the parts had been shipped twice. A year later I’m still waiting for them. I guess about $6 in parts is worth losing thousands of dollars in future sales…
-Brian
I’ve had the same thing happen to me from other suppliers. Stuff happens.
Can we let this thing die a quick death. Almost everyone has had something go wrong. I do not know why it happens. Yes, it is frustrating, but posting “I hate…(insert target for tonight here)” doesn’t help anyone.
Soap box off.
Steve Featherkile said:
I've had the same thing happen to me from other suppliers. Stuff happens.Can we let this thing die a quick death. Almost everyone has had something go wrong. I do not know why it happens. Yes, it is frustrating, but posting “I hate…(insert target for tonight here)” doesn’t help anyone.
Soap box off.
I hear ya, Steve, but if I don’t gripe to you guys who am I going to gripe to? Its not like the wife ever listens to me. I’m perfectly understanding of screw ups. What pissed me off was being lied to twice. Don’t tell me a problem has been fixed when nothing has been done.
-Brian
I don’t know what the right way to post bad new is, but it seems there should be some way, I read the forums to learn from others.
If one vendor habitually does bad things, then I would like to be forwarned.
On the other hand, vehement “griping” does not seem to be really the right answer.
So, I think there must be a middle ground. For the record, I ordered a bunch of rail clamps from wholesaletrains. The box was left on my doorstep by ups. It was poorly packed and wrapped. (wholesale trains), it was burst open at the end (UPS)… and about $40 of merchandise was missing.
I took pictures and told wholesale trains. They told me to file a claim. I filed the claim. After a month, UPS (or maybe FedEx, I have forgotten) told me the shipper must file the claim.
Wholesale trains, when contacted, refused to file the claim or do anything.
I will no longer order from them. I have since learned that EVERY shipper requires the sender to file the claim. Obviously wholesale trains knows this.
So, they are on one of my 2 lists: One list is my favorites, with great service and good prices, and the other is the “watch out” list, with many reports of poor service, or disreputable business practices.
OK, now likewise stepping off soap box.
Regards, Greg
I’ve done business with Wholesaletrains for a long time and been very happy. I’ve spent a lot of money with them. I’ve bought products for myself, my son and my school from them.
My last order however was for a N scale Shay. I asked many times for updates on shipping only to be told it would be as soon as the products arrived from the manufacturer. After stock started showing up I even asked them to ship me a road name they listed as in stock. Nope, they told me to wait just a bit longer. Finally I canceled the order because every hobby shop in Michigan had them in piles on their shelves. All the other online dealers had loads of them as well. When I canceled the order I was charged a restock fee. It was only about $20.00 but after all that I’m done. I’m not going to buy from them for myself, my son or the two train clubs I run at school. I’d rather pay extra for “better” service.
And don’t take this as a bash. I had fantastic service from Gary for many years. This is just how it is now. Money is tight and these are just trains. If I’m spending money on this stuff I better get treated right.
Jon.
I don’t see how they can charge a restock fee on something they never sold. If it hasn’t been received by them and sent to you the sale has never taken place. $20 or no I would have filed a complaint with the State Attorney General’s office.
Warren Mumpower said:Don Quixote Warren. Always tilting at windmills. No wonder your BP is so high! :D
I don't see how they can charge a restock fee on something they never sold. If it hasn't been received by them and sent to you the sale has never taken place. $20 or no I would have filed a complaint with the State Attorney General's office.
Blood pressure is just fine, Steve. I just don’t like being screwed.
I dont see how a $20 restocking fee is legal for an item they dont have in stock.
I was upset about it too but now I know where I’ll be spending money the next time I buy something. Or should I say I know where I won’t be spending the money.
Jon.
When ordering any parts, I use the phone after checking the web site and ads in Garden RR’s listings for prices. Then, at the phone call, I ask for the name of the clerk and use it in the conversation. Here’s either the problem source or the solution to the problem that has yet to happen. I have had good service, no delays, packaging OK, and no hidden freight costs from San Val, St. Aubin (Vegas), Trainworld, and Ridge Road Station. Personal service from my end, I think, is rewarded at the sales end.
Wendell