Trainworld/Trainland

[Anonymous]

My experience is that they did respond to my emails but slooooowly. Any chance you ticked them off by inquiring again too soon? They always seemed to take 3-4 days to respond to my questions. As people stated above, they do show a little NY impatience at times and are definately not the most customer service-oriented business but they have come through for me several times with great prices and fast shipping.

[cacole]

Giving out your credit card number over the phone is not near as risky as giving it out over the Internet, and especially not as risky as e-mailing it. E-mail is not the least bit secure.

As others have mentioned, the women who answer the phone are the owners or owners' wives, because this is purely a family-run business. They do a lot of business every day, so naturally they're in a hurry to complete your order and move on to the next customer.

Personally, I have never ran into the least hint of an attitude problem on their part, so it may be that you sound like you have an attitude, or maybe they think you're just fishing around among different stores comparing prices and are not really interested in buying anything from them.

That's why it's important to have the exact Walthers catalog number and road name, if applicable, of the item(s) you want to purchase before you call them. Sometimes they've had to drop the phone and run to the back of the store to check on availability if I did not have a correct item number when I called, or they weren't sure about a particular road name being in stock.

They have always been very courteous when I call, even to the point of calling me "sweetheart," "honey," or "darling." Other people here in Arizona that order from them have had very similar experiences.

[Anonymous]

That is exactly what I am trying to do, deal with them. I have e-mailed them questions 3 times and I never get a reply. With internet ordering, you get proof of what you ordered, when, and for how much. I am always reluctant to order things by phone, and I really don't want to give out my CC# over the phone. I will have to assume, by the way they ignore my contact attempts, that they are doing so well that they don't want or need my business. I guess we will both lose on this one.
Tim

[Anonymous]

I think those "girls" that answer the phone are just plain cool ! Of course, I'm originally from NYC, and can quickly 'pick up the pace' to keep up w/ them. They don't have an attitude, if the caller doesn't. They're just busy doing their job, a non-existent quality in many businesses these days.

And yes, their prices are super, and probably the best anywhere. I've purchased both HO and G scale from them over the years, and never have they quoted in-stock and didn't have it right then and there, or had to offer a backorder, a substitution of a roadname, not ship the next day (surface UPS - 3 days to GA, and 5 days to CA ),or ever ship anything damaged or that got damaged enroute. If they've had a price reduction since an ad came out, they'll most likely bill you at the lower of the two prices. (they just did that recently - I got a Walthers gas electric for $21.95 - msrp of $59.95-ain't Walthers catalog prices just nuts?)

What more do you need. It's mail-order/internet companies like this that are (unfortunately) causing the demise of the LHS. Trainworld is the best mailorder hobby supplier I've ever dealt with.

[Fergmiester]

A very good bunch to do business with. Quick, effecient, friendly!

[AggroJones]

Trainworlds alright. Got some super deals from them. They send everything in tack at lighting speed. Packages somtimes take only 7 days from NY to CA.

One problem. The girls that answer the phone on the information line always **** an attitude with me. I don't know what the hell their problem is. It's like they're reluctant to give information.

[Anonymous]

I'm like "7j34k" when they answer the phone I forget my TEXAS draw and get my ears ready for some fast listening. Sometimes they talk faster then I can listen but every time I've asked them to repete they do it without any hesitation. They are super to deal with and have some good prices. When they advertise a price with their selection I ask what they are and then sometimes I can pick what they pick out for me. You will enjoy doing business with them.

[Anonymous]

Phone them with as much info as you can find on the item you want. I think they are great and never had a problem....

[Anonymous]

I have had good luck with Trainworld. For mail order in general, I always make sure the item I am ordering is IN stock. I never seem to have difficulties. When I haven't done this there have been delays and lost items etc...

Guy

[nfmisso]

I have been doing business with Trainworld for more than 25 years, and continue to do so.

[7j43k]

I've dealt with Trainworld for years--never a problem.

I agree with the others; phone them up. If you're interested in a stock check, it's best to have an item number. In their ad in the July MR, for example, let's look at the Proto 2000 SD-45's. There are two item numbers: one for the sale locos and one for the regularly priced ones. Give them the item number and the road name you're interested in and they'll tell you if it's in stock. If you just want to know what road names are on sale, give the item number and say that you'd like to hear the list of what's in stock.

Trainworld is in New York. New Yorkers don't dawdle. They like to move things along and get it done. This can sometimes come across as a bit rude, but it isn't meant that way. It's just a different way of approaching life, and it is, of course, quite productive. When I call up, I just shift my California mind into a higher gear and enjoy the conversation.

Ed

[cacole]

I've ordered from them several times over the years, and always received excellent service. They are a family-owned business. The best way to deal with them is by telephone instead of trying e-mail or using their Web site. If you want a particular item for a particular road, try to determine the exact stock number before you telephone them by checking other Web sites and getting the Walthers stock number. Once you have the exact stock number, they can find out whether or not it is available much faster.

[hd8091]

Tim, I've done business with them in the past ,you will have more luck calling them and spending your own nickel for the call. Just be sure to know the item number you want them to check,it speeds up things alot. Their service could use a little help however and an attiude adjustment. You get what you pay for.; they are in New York and not your LHS.

[Anonymous]

Have any of you had dealings with Trainworld/Trainland? I see their ads in Model RRer, and I have accessed their website, but a lot of the items they advertise state "selected roads" or "assorted roads". I have e-mailed them twice to try and find out how to determine what roads and #'s are available, but I get no response. Any ideas?

Tim