Hobby Shop Orders

[mgruber]

Is anyone else having a problem with ordering items thru their local hobby shop, or is it just me? I've placed an order nearly 3 months ago with a reputable hobby shop in the Chicago area for some common items as Walthers turnouts, a "Cornerstone" kit, some Central Valley items and even a brite boy and I'm still waiting. It's enough to make you give up. Any comments or suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me as if, reputable or no, your shop has not actually ordered these items. You can go to www.walthers.com and check on the stock status of any item in their catalog; fi they show it as "in stock", the problem is with your shop. In my experience the Central Valley items are almost always in stock.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like laziness or indifference to customer service. One of the smartest things an LHS can do is place special orders for customers. Hey -- it's a very likely SALE rather than a hope or a guess as to what customers may want.

In ordering from Walthers a retailer can include a special notation for inclusion on the packing list -- like the customer's name -- so special order items can easily be segregated when the Walthers shipment is unpacked.

I would gripe to the owner or manager for treatment like this. And if the gripe doesn't square the problem away pronto I would definitely take my business to another retailer.

[CP5415]

I've never had a problem ordering anything through my LHS, YET!

My LHS always checks to see whether or not Walthers has it so he can tell me if I will see it or not before I leave the store.
Every LHS should do this.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

In fairness to the LHS.... The Walthers website, and the on-line ordering system available to retailers, will show only the most basic stock status at that moment (i.e., the item is in stock at Walthers or not, and won't show the number on hand). So a retailer (or a mail-order retail customer) can order an item supposedly in stock at Walthers, only to find it is on back order when the shipment and packing slip arrive from the Walthers.

Nevertheless, a retailer should keep a special-order customer informed of the status of his order, lest the business go elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I have not had any problem thru either of my LHS's with special orders. They often are able to check information that is sort of "Back room" direct to the supplier or factory level that regular internet users dont see.

Walthers may show a item in stock on thier site but the LHS may only be able to get 2 copies that week... communicate what you are looking for and dont leave the store without seeing the owner or manager write you down on a note card. Or something that tracks your special order.

I sometimes have been guilty of "forgetting" about a months old special order that finally got released and suddenly having to budget for it. Or ordering something 9 months ahead of time to meet the factory deadline to ensure that order will be availible at release. (More likely to fill the production qouta before the first item is made)

Dont smother your LHS about a minor widget on special order when you have several others on the shelf ready to go. Check with the store occasionally to ensure that perhaps all your orders are in? Or maybe there is a item you want to order but havent gotten around to it...

The best way to order is to do your own home work.. get the product number, road name, options (sound or no sound? color? etc) Maker and possibly even contact info for a smaller factory that may be not yet on your store's list. The less time the staff has to hunt or research the better your business environment will be.

I have been lucky to have two stores that treat a 1.40 bottle of paint with as much care as a 1,000+ Brass Wallet Mallet.

[jsoderq]

I sense a problem here on one end or the other. Just so people don't get the wrong idea, I had a hobby shop for 5 years, have been ordering from Walthers since the '60s and have a fill rate well over 90 % in both cases. Walthers online inventory is very accurate and since they stock in depth on most items, the odds of ordering and not getting the item are small. Now what you cannot do is order and expect to get something that has not been made yet -happens especially in detail parts and items from small backyard operations. Over the years there are items in catalogs that were never ever made. Also with very short supply items like LifeLike locos, Walthers and other dealers may be sold out before the item ever arrives at their doorstep. Also many items are produced in batches (I was a production manager for a couple of large American model companies) so a kit may be available in January but not in June. Lastly, are you sure your LHS is a regular Walthers customer. Shops have many places they can order from and not every shop orders from every supplier every week. If you think the problem is the shop, try an order direct from Walthers. Excellent service but at list price except for sale items. However this can be the best way to get what you need especially items like Walthers track or other speciality items.

[Anonymous]

The only problem I've had recently was ordering through the Walther's website-through a local store (they offered free shipping when Walthers did not). I guess free shipping means 3 months shipping. Oh well. I found something to do before I got that stuff anyway. Fortunately it wasn't stuff that was NEEDED.