Does anyone else buy from Historic Rail?

[Anonymous]

I'm curious to other people's experiences with Historic Rail. I have ordered a few books and a print or two from them in the last couple years, and overall I have been pleased in doing business with them. My biggest question is, does anyone else order things from them only to find out that the items are backordered? It seems EVERYTHING I order is backordered a few weeks. I'm wondering if it's just my luck or is that how it is with them?

Thanks guys

[Pruitt]

I bought a couple of things for Christmas 2003 and they arrived promptly.

[Anonymous]

I've only purchased one item from them and it arrived promptly. Some of their prices on certain items are a bit high compared to other online sites, but they do have some items I haven't seen available elsewhere.

[gvdobler]

I have ordered and received a couple items with no problems. One book was back ordered for a few days but still arrived in less than two weeks. I thought that was OK.

I have a friend with an internet store that does about $100 million a year in camera equipment and doesn't stock anything, so it is not unusual. As long as they can deliver on orders.

Jon - Las Vegas

[bpickering]

Ordered once, back in February. Three somewhat hard-to-find books.

After a month, I emailed them, only to be told that all three were out of stock. First hit against them- if it's out of stock, TELL ME, don't make me investigate why it hasn't arrived. I finally received them last week. Count 'em- about three months delivery time. Actually, the only reason I hadn't given up and cancelled the order was because I always thought of the order when I was away from a computer and easy communications with them!

The only reason I ordered through Historic Rail was because they listed the books- I searched Amazon, Alibris and Abe Books before ordering, and none showed them readily available. While I agree with Jon that Internet stores don't NEED to hold a large stock (heck, a LOT of companies take advantage of Just In Time delivery these days), I also think it should be the exception to have long delivery times, not the rule. When Walthers or Loy's Toys has had items back-ordered for me, they ship what they have, and ship the balance later. They certainly INFORM me if something will be delayed.

I'm not planning on ordering anything from them again soon. :-/

Brian Pickering

[AggroJones]

The only thing I was curious to order from them was the Tracks Ahead DVD. But with a company that stocks such a vast aray of items, it might not be instock if I order. Plus that DVD is sold out everywhere else AND out of production. Its not likely they would even have it.
So I passed.

[Anonymous]

I have ordered from them and had no problems. I have even posted before when I received one of their catalogs.

There is also Historic Aviation for those of us who like planes. [;)]

[cacole]

I've ordered Illinois Central Railroad DVDs from them twice. Each time it took over a month to get my order because it seems that Historic Rail doesn't have much of a warehouse space for everything they carry, so they order the DVDs from the maker as they receive orders for them. The last 3 DVDs I received from Historic Rail took six weeks, and appear to very definitely be DVD+R (or DVD-R) disks that the video company (Green Frog) copied after they received the order for them.

This is not Historic Rail's fault, really, and you can't even blame companies such as Green Frog for not having their disks commercially pressed and kept in stock, when you consider how small the market probably is for specialty videos like they sell.

[Anonymous]

I've never actually ordered anything from them, but the few items I did call and ask about were on back order like wes454 said. I think what they do is wait for you to order, then they order what ever it is from the supplier that has it, which is something any of us could do-and tack on an extra 20% on it like they probably do... I will admit though, they can get items that aren't available any where else.

trainluver1

[grayfox1119]

I have ordered from them, one item of three was not in stock, so it arrived 3 weeks after the reest was received. Having worked in industry for 43 years, I know I this works, and I have no problem with this. To care a complete inventory of every single line item, not only takes a great deal of space, but there is a considerable cost involved. Warehouse space, and taxes once you unload from shipper....and where do you think this cost is ultimately going to wind up? With the consumer people !!!! So in order to keep costs down, smart companies keep good movers in stock, order ahead as inventories drop, but for items that move very slowly, they will only order as orders are received. We need to be patient. If "we" need it yesterday, "why" didn't "we" order it ahead of the time we wanted it? We have ownership too, if we wi***o keep the prices low.

[cheese3]

I get the catalog in the mail and have been thinking of ordering some things and it seems overall they are pretty good. I might give it a try

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys! Seems that for the most part everyone has had good expiriences with them. I have always got what I wanted, it just usually takes a long time. Oh well!

Like others have said, it seems they have some unusual items at times, thats why I keep ordering from them.