My one and only experience with Trainworld was very positive. I ordered some period cars from them. A few days after I sent the order via USPS I received a phone call from a very nice lady (New Yorker for sure) who explained to me that the variety of available cars hadn't been completely explained in their ad. She went over their available stock and let me make my selection. A few days later I received my exact order.
The only difficulty I see with them is sometimes, for me, it's a little hard to determine the exact S&H costs of an order. A very minor concern and that, to me, is why it's best to deal with them via telephone.
Due to my extensive traveling I've learned that when you're in the other guys ball park you go by his ground rules. Usually if you give respect you get respect.
FritzvB
Midnight Railroader wrote: enduringexp wrote:Well, what they have to realize is most of us work. I work when they work. I am off when they are off. I can't call, so they lose my business, period. If they are going to go through the motions of having an on-line ordering site, they need to supply information. I haven't talked to them, and that means I couldn't have angered them. My e-mails were short and to the point. I asked what was in stock for the roads I am interested in. No answer. I like their prices, but if I can't get service, I will go elsewhere. I am sure they lose business from others for the same reason. Do you not have a lunch hour?
enduringexp wrote:Well, what they have to realize is most of us work. I work when they work. I am off when they are off. I can't call, so they lose my business, period. If they are going to go through the motions of having an on-line ordering site, they need to supply information. I haven't talked to them, and that means I couldn't have angered them. My e-mails were short and to the point. I asked what was in stock for the roads I am interested in. No answer. I like their prices, but if I can't get service, I will go elsewhere. I am sure they lose business from others for the same reason.
Do you not have a lunch hour?
Midnight Railroader
Off topic.
I visited your web page on the original Chicago Model train layout. I got to see it also several times. Have you checked with MR for pictures that you might display? They had the article on the new and old Railroad and had some good pictures. I have some postcards from the layout also.
Thanks for the web page.
CAZEPHYR
I've been dealing with Trainworld for almost 20 years and in my opinion they are the absolute best in mail order trains, bar none. When the girls answere the phone, I can usually tell if they're busy or not. If they are, I give them my order and they thank me and that's it. If they're not busy I usually engage them in some idle chit-chat and they're very friendly. The fact that I rarely use the 800 number might have something to do with it. More often than not, I place my orders over my lunch hour on my cell phone which has free long distance. The terms "Selected Roads" and "Assorted Roads" is used instead of listing every road name that they have in stock, which would take about 4 times as much ad space, which is VERY expensive!!! It does not mean that they are going to choose the road name for you.
Dick
Texas Chief
email is not real mail. Real people treat it accordingly. It is only worth anything IF the courts impound your computer or ISP records without advance notice. In this case it is not likely worth anything to you in any event. Maybe your soon to be ex-spouse. Note, I said email, not an online order form.
If you call Trainworld on the NON-free order line, they will be more than happy to talk to you and tell you what they have in stock and in what road names. I luv Trainworld. In 25 years they made one mistake, and they fixed it.
They have not charged me postage on back orders shipeed after my main order lots of times.
Where does anyone get the idea that internet transmitted credit card numbers are secure, but even more important, why would anyone use any credit card that did not absolve them of any and all liability for fraudulent use ? If you have zero liability, stop worrying and checking your credit rating every three weeks. They have invented a whole industry, and they fuel it through scare tactics !
I know it is a fact, some people HATE to talk on the phone. If that's you, admit it and live with it, and quit whining about the rest of the world not reading your emails. Get someone to call for you.
One word.....
RUDE!!!!
No amount of savings is worth being spoken to in the manner I used to deal with at TrainWorld. I have too much self respect. After spending literally THOUSANDS of dollars with them, I had finally had enough of being treated like Osama Bin Laden. I am proud to say that I have not darkened their toll free number or website in over two years. The only pages of MR and RMC I refuse to even glance at is the TrainWorld ad. I now take all of my business to FirstHobby or eBay merchants like MartyHO, Nomonee or EddytheJack.
The best comparison I can think of for the "customer service" operators at TrainWorld is the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld.
Hey Trainworld - - No Soup for YOU!!!!!
Cliff Powers
www.magnoliaroute.com
enduringexp wrote: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
I have purchased a few items from them ove the years, but you should call and make sure the item is in stock. Their advertisements lately show many items that are future and many items that are not available any longer, but that is the way of advertising today.
They ship quickly and normally are OK to deal with. Their prices used to be the best, but other Discount places match or beat them on many deals.
The email route to check stock is probably not going to work. The phone has always worked for me, but be ready with your requests as they are all business.
hello there,
I have just gotten my first order from trainworld. Most items are quite fine, but one trainset I bought had a damaged locomotive, traction tires were missing, tender connector was broken and drive shaft was missing. Okay, asked what to do. No respons. Another question, all caps answer that they reffered my email to the manufacturer. They could have told me.
Then there was another locomotive, putting it on the tracks, sparks everywhere, it was just one big short circuit. No way that that was going to work. Figured that the frame was not really insulated or so. Mailed them again. Question was if I was familiar with trains at all... Well, you call that customer service.
Oh and before I forget, half my order was missing. Not that they charged me for that part, but it would have been nice if they had told me.
Most likely a nice shop if you can stand this kind of treatment, and are living in the States. If overseas, do not use this shop. I would recommend rrtrains. Same price on many items and reliable.