William's Web Site

[Warburton]

No firm in ANY business can afford to neglect its website today and continue being successful. Each day, nore and more old and new customers look to a company's website for information, including product offerings. Whatever Williams needs to do to get their web house in order, they ought to do it pronto. Same goes for all other toy train manufacturers!

[Anonymous]

I e-mailed Williams last week about this very topic. They said they are currently working on the web site.

[Richard A]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rahway valley

I'm a member of the Plat. club,but by the time I receive the catalogs, the items advertised are usually sold out!

Allan,
I agree with you. Sometimes the simplest marketing strategy is best. Jerry and the folks at Williams seem to have developed a winner IMHO. But Don has a point, too. It does seem that some items advertised to Platinum Club members (I'm one) are in very short supply or mailings are made according to some formula that gives one group of members (frequent and/or large purchases?) priority. I've missed a few items advertised in the flyer due to their being "sold out".

But all in all, I think Williams is a great company, serves a much needed niche and will continue to be a major source of product for me.

[Anonymous]

As far as I am concerned, Williams IS doing it right! They produce modest runs of a relatively few items in a great variety of liveries. When demand warrants, the make another run of their best-selling products. In today's world of O gauge trains, that seems to be a very prudent and realistic way to approach the business.

Their products are excellent--reliable, durable, attractive, simple, and reasonably priced. They're also backed by a the best warranty in the toy train business, and their service is first-rate (on the few occasions when you might need it).

Seems to me they're probably doing quite well with that business plan, and the fact that some folks are reporting that they are "sold out" of items you want is a darn good sign! Indicates that they are moving product in and out--something every business owner wants to do.

As for their website: It would be nice if ALL of the manufacturers could keep their web presence up-to-date, but the fact is very few, if any, do. Williams is a very small operation--the way Jerry Williams wants it to be--and I imagine he has to retain someone from outside his small staff to do web updates. Doesn't really bother me at all that the site is outdated because I know what he is offering and I know that I'll quickly hear about any new products being planned or offered (and those are infrequent, aside from new roadmanes given to existing items).

Williams does not aspire to be #1 in the O gauge world, and that has kept them sane--and successful--through all the turmoil that has impacted this segment of the hobby in recent years. When the history of this era is written, I imagine Williams will stand out as one firm among many whose owner developed a responsible business plan and followed it with considerable success.

Keep that warehouse darn near empty, Jerry! In this day and age, that's a sure sign that you're doing something right!

[Anonymous]

Hey,

Williams is a good train manufacturer, and I do forsee me purchasing quite a few of their porducts in the years to come.

I think you are right though. Williams managment team does need to straighten up more.

The website shoud be updated regularly, and they should have the trains coming off their assembly lines or whatever they have like hotcakes in the middle of Janurary in Alaska.

Their line is too good to be treated the way it's makers are treating it. They do always seem to be sold out. I have been saving for a GP9 from them, and when I has enough, the sale was over and they were sold out.

So, that money that was going to go to them is going to go into a 2037 steamer or some other Postwar Lionel Train. I am almost there for the 2037. Not quite there yet though.

WILLIAMS, STRAIGHTEN UP, AND DO THINGS RIGHT.

steel rails

[jefelectric]

Hi Don,

I think everyone agrees with you. There has been a lot of discussion about this on this forum and the other one also. I don't understand it either. They would certainly sell a lot more stuff if they kept the site up to date. Maybe not only direct, but through dealers if you knew what was available to order.

John

[rahway valley]

It would be great if Williams would update ther web site. I'm a member of the Plat. club,but by the time I receive the catalogs, the items advertised are usually sold out! It would be nice to be able to check their web site for current product. I think Williams is missing out on numerous sales by not updating the site.
I have purchased a ton of Williams over the years and find their products a great value.
Thanks
Don