A few days ago I place an order for six items from their most recent catalog. Today I went online to check the status of the order. I was surprised to see that all six items were on back order. I've seen this happen on occasion when ordering from them but that was the exception, not the rule. Is this the new normal? Are they not stocking the items in the catalog and just ordering from the manufacturers as they get the orders. I also place an order for three items from Micro-Mark and only one is on back order and I was informed of this when I placed the order.
I cannot answer specifically, but here in the UK if an item is 'not in stock' the company has to say so in their advertisement. They can obviously 'take orders' for when new stock arrives. Either way we know if it is in stock and do we want to preorder.
If, say, stock is available and they have 'a rush on an item' therefore selling out, the company must inform the purchaser. The purchaser then as the option of cancelling the order or go on the wait list for new stock.
Simple and effective.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
I'm somewhat of a mail order junkie because I live in a Hobby Storeless area. I have noticed a lot of out of stock / backorder items in the last year. I work in manufacturing (actually production assembly) and we are having problems getting parts to fulfill orders. I was told that container ships coming and going are taking longer to load and unload and clear customs due to the virus. Being the MR world is loaded with imported products, that may be the problem.
They're required to? There must be a ton of loopholes, even Amazon's inventory system isn't up to that. Modeltrainstuff is one of the few that is truly real time - if you add an item to your cart and then go back, the inventory number has shrunk by however many you added to your cart.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Never heard of them but then they are a full boat retailer.
I am not familiar with Historic Rail, but if I recall correctly, there are some places that have no items in stock. You place the order and then they go out and purchase it and ship it to you. If their provider is out of stock on a particular item, then it is reported to you as backordered. Not good.
Rich
Alton Junction
They use to send me a catalog/flyer, I never bought anything.
Their prices were often above retail!
A quick check on their web site shows prices just a tinny bit below retail...... on stuff like Bachmann which you can make good money selling at 35% off.
Really taking advantage of unaware shoppers......
Sheldon
One item I tried to order was one of the two fire engines on the last page of their current catalog and was surprised when they informed me that it was not only out of stock but they did not know when if ever they would get it back in. I was surprised because I ordered within days of getting their latest catalog.
I just went back to their website to see what it said when I reordered some of those same items. No mention of the items being on back order and it allowed me to put those items in my cart. I didn't actually reorder them of course, but it looks like it would accept the order with no mention of the item being on back order.
I checked the confirmation email for my order and it said it was possible some items might not be in stock but it didn't specifically state any of the items were on back order. I only learned that when I checked the order status on their website. It just seems odd to me that out of six items, not one of them is in stock, especially since all six were listed in their current catalog.
What scale?
ATLANTIC CENTRAL They use to send me a catalog/flyer, I never bought anything. Their prices were often above retail! A quick check on their web site shows prices just a tinny bit below retail...... on stuff like Bachmann which you can make good money selling at 35% off. Really taking advantage of unaware shoppers...... Sheldon
That is where I heard of Historic Rail. Those paper flyers, not even magazine quality, would arrive in the mail and I would flip through them. Like Sheldon said, everything was overpriced and as I recall the brand name wasn't even mentioned.
I always wondered who was behind the flyer. I never requested it. Probably some hobby shop sold my name and address to Historic Rail.
I have great difficulty understanding why there would be any problems at all with merchendise of Chinese origin. Maybe it is just part of their master plan to destroy our hobby in addition to our economy. (Dripping with sarcasm)