Hello All
In the early Spring I signed up for the Watts train auction site and have been waiting since then for something to happen. Their website says to stay tuned for the fantastic Fall auction but when will that happen? Winter is just around the corner. Anyone have any ideas as to what we can expect from Watts?
Todd
Todd:
Why not just call Watts? They would probably be the best source of accurate information.
Watts Train Shop (toll free): 1-800-542-7652
Please let us know what they say!
Happy (Well Informed) RRing,
Jerry
I have been trying for several hours to purchase three pieces of rolling stock from Watts and the site keeps refusing my credit card. It states that the authorisation site may be down. I have never encountered this before. Getting a little short of patience!!!
Doesn’t anybody use a phone anymore? Its a pretty easy way to find out if a company’s website is working and there is a personal quality. 
Ric,
the telephone is fine for those who reside in the States, for me there is around a 15 hour time lag plus being able to secure an international connection. This time of the year is very busy on international networks.
Tim,
I absolutely understand, by your posting I had no idea where you live. I’m sorry if you’ve told me before and I didn’t remember. If someone else doesn’t give you the answer, I can certainly try to make a phone call for you tomorrow.
Ric Golding said:
Tim,I absolutely understand, by your posting I had no idea where you live. I’m sorry if you’ve told me before and I didn’t remember. If someone else doesn’t give you the answer, I can certainly try to make a phone call for you tomorrow.
Yes but
Todd Haskins said:Todd was asking the question......(slow down Ric..............;) )
Hello All In the early Spring I signed up for the Watts train auction site and have been waiting since then for something to happen. Their website says to stay tuned for the fantastic Fall auction but when will that happen? Winter is just around the corner. Anyone have any ideas as to what we can expect from Watts? Todd
Tim:
If you still can not complete your purchase transaction via the website, I would suggest you drop an email directly to Watts describing the problem and asking help in finding a solution.
Watts Train Shop’s ‘Contact Us’ page is found at:
http://www.wattstrainshop.com/Contact.html
You can input a detailed email message there. Probably more productive and less frustrating than repeatedly getting an “. . . authorisation site may be down . . .” message.
I would also suggest the same alternate contact method for Todd’s original inquiry.
Happy RRing,
Jerry
Ric,
no problem. The States is a big shopping market for us as there is very little available locally.
Jerry,
many thanks. Have emailed Watts.
Tim Brien said:Tim:
Jerry, many thanks. Have emailed Watts.
It will be interesting to see how long they take to reply to your email. Seems like lots of internet vendors have these “Contact Us” pages, but are very slow to reply to the messages.
Happy RRing,
Jerry
Jerry,
over the past weekend I did email them as regards an eBay item and they responded within hours. Of cause, the ‘Contact us’ link is not an eBay link but I am confident of a reply within a day or so.
Yesterday, I dealt with Tom at Only Trains. I cannot praise more highly the excellent service. The store web layout, prices and the friendly service remind me of the now long gone Ridge Road Station. Definately worth a visit.
If you are a Skype user then you can call USA toll free numbers at no cost. I used that facility some months ago. I hope it hasn’t changed.
Jerry,
Rick from Watts Trains responded within 24 hours, so the link is operative. Still unable to use credit card on the site. I have used this card continuously for 25 years, 16 years at my current address. Awaiting a PayPal payment request to complete the transaction (hopefully???).
Tim:
Thanks for reporting back. IMO, that speaks very well for Watts Train Shop’s internet efforts!
Happy RRing,
Jerry
OK, not Watt’s Train Shop’s fault, but my sale finally went through. Assuming that Watts would take PayPal on their online store, as they do on their eBay store, I deposited the funds in my bank account. I went through the process to pay online for the goods selected and got right through to the end of the process to find that they only accepted credit cards for purchases. OK, next step I transferred sufficient funds from the bank account to my credit card and waited the required number of hours for funds to be credited to my card. As the card is only used internationally, I do not leave any credit on the card to hopefully avoid fraud.
OK, I go through the online purchasing process and find that my card is declined by the merchant’s authorisation centre due address mismatch. I awaited 24 hours and tried again and also card was declined by the merchant’s authorisation centre. I emailed Rick to explain the situation and he arranged an invoice to use PayPal for the purchase. I received the invoice this morning and proceeded through the process, intending to use my card to pay for the goods. On payment, I changed the payment method from my bank account to my credit card and continued. Now PayPal will not honour my card and declined the payment. I selected payment by my bank account and the sale went through.
It seems that the United States does not accept credit card payments from countries outside the States (confirmed by Deborah Watts in the invoice that she sent me for the goods.
Now I have several hundred dollars sitting on my credit card that I cannot access. If I draw the money out then I have to pay a higher interest rate on the ‘loan’. If I leave the money in then I cannot use it as I did only use the card for international use. If Watts did not require a credit card for payment online then I never would have deposited the money on mty card for the purchase. If they were aware that credit cards cannot be used internally in the States for international purchases then why not offer PayPal as a payment option (less merchant fee to pay for them as cards charge 6% on the sale and PayPal 2.7%).
If not for the excellent service and assistance received from the store then I would remove them from my places to purchase LGB. If I ever purchase from them in the future then I will email first and request a PayPal invoice.
Yikes! Amazing how complicated a “simple” transaction can be! Hope you enjoy the trains!
It seems that the United States does not accept credit card payments from countries outside the States
Tim.
Aristo-craft and RLD Hobbies accept credit card payments from residents of the UK. I have purchased many things from these sources using a credit card. Unless things have changed quite recently, of course.
Alan,
how long since you purchased in the States using your card? Early last year (January, 2010) I was told by the good people at Ridge Road Station that credit cards were no longer accepted in the States using online sources. One could email card details and they would transact the sale manually. I was not pleased with using a very insecure email messaging system to transmit my entire card identity. At the time I believed that it was limited to ridge Road purchases only. It seems not!
Tim, with further reflection I gave my cc details to Aristo and Robbie over the telephone in all cases: so maybe that way is acceptable. But, banks always seem to prefer everything on their terms, not the customers, so maybe things have changed.