Large Scale Central

Online Sales

General Discussion
#1

Due problems with other online hobby discounters, I have limited my online purchases to a single, well known online discounter. I have been purchasing from this store for the last six years, with very rarely an issue. Of late though, I have noted an issue with online purchases. An item is listed as ‘instock’ and yet I am rarely able to purchase more than one of the items, as it seems that only one item is available at the listed online price. I receive an email that the item is unavailable and yet only a day or so later the item is listed as available on their site.

Also, at present the store has a sale on a well known brand of largescale locomotives and yet, the items are listed as ‘backordered’. The sale ends in two days and for the entire period of the sale the items were listed as backordered. The prices, though, are well above the prices offered by the usual evilbay suppliers.

#2

Tim, assuming this is a USA vendor…

During a business trip this past May, I stoped by (as I usaually do) with a well known and always advertising dealer here in the US to see what to buy. Granted, I had not actually set foot in the store since 2007 as I flew for my trip in 2008 and 9…

…boy was I in for a shock. What used to be walls of stuff were emtpy walls, all stock pretty much confined to one room. From lines of locomotives and stacks of boxes in the past…to two secondhand LGB Euro steam locos (I bought one of the two) in stock and a couple sets and a smattering of USA and Aristo.

…in 2008, I had a chance to visit another dealer (again well known in the US) up in the Northeast. Again, much of the same, very few items, and a lot of empty spaces.

also…in 2008, placed an order with a well known US vendor and asked if an item was in stock. Was told yes…once it arrived, it was obvious the item was NOT in stock and had been drop-shipped. Never dealing with them again…

Way of the world I fear. I miss the days of “kid in the candy store” and being able to look at things. Might as well mail order it all, if they have it as you have found out.

#3

One store I deal with has had to layoff staff, including the Internet sales person who’s job is to keep the “in stock” up to date.
I doubt the owner has a clue how to do it.
That could be a problem for other dealers as well.

And as stated, no one is keeping the shelves stocked any more.