[quote user="skippygp123"]
I've purchased from both TrainWorld and Wholesale Trains.
TrainWorld's shipping costs are way out of line, in my opinion. Their prices for locomotives and cars are cheaper than the competition because they tack on higher than necessary mailing costs. TrainWorld also tends to be out of stock on a lot of items their website shows they have. I've stopped buying from them. I'd rather pay a little more for the item and know that I'm getting fair mailing costs added on than to deal with TrainWorld.
I usually buy my parts from Al Kramer who goes by "ana.kramer" on ebay. He has great prices and doesn't charge a lot for shipping. He's more than willing to combine shipping and pack things together for you to save you $$. He stocks all kinds of things from a lot of different companies or has them "drop shipped" to you (sent directly from the factory) for a lot less than what the manufacturer's website lists.
Ed
amen Ed
The St. Francis Consolidated Railroad of the Colorado Rockies
Denver, Colorado
I do not suffer from insanity...I enjoy every minute of it!!! Over 60 and still playing with toys!
Be careful of shipping. some how U.P.S. has ties up some murchents inventory. I demanded U.S.P.S. shipping from an Outdoor supplier. I received it U.S.P.S. after U. P. S. delivered it to my local Post Office. I paid for both shipping costs.
U.P.S. is the worst for any delivery. I have a front enclosed porch. I found my M.T.H. "G" Big boy sitting for a full day by my exposed side door. One of my M.T.H. GG-1 was split open.
Complaints response, "We will discuss it with the driver."
I have dealt with Trainworld and Ridge Road Station since 1997. Both offer fast shipping and you will pay for that. I ask for what I order to be shipped by USPS. It only takes two weeks and I live in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Very reliable when it comes to using your credit card. Regards, Dennis.
Yeah ive bought from them before. Great prices... even cheaper than trainworld sometimes
VERY FAIR ON $$$$$$$. THEY KEEP A GOOD STOCK ON PARTS. WHATS BAD IS SHIPPING COST, NOT THERE FALT. DOING BIZ WITH THEM FOR YEARS.
SHINDIG
P.S SOMETIMES IT HARD GETTING PARTS DUE TO WAITING FOR THE (SLOW BOAT FROM CHINA).A LOT OF TRAIN CO HAVE CHINA MAKE OUR STUFF. I MISS STATE SIDE CO. MAKING OUR TRAINS.
This isn't exactly answering your question about the various on-line shops, but there's an old-timer there in Philadelphia at Bachmann who is in charge of repairs and who does repairs...can't remember his name because I always call him Doc. I know you want replacements, and you won't get off the phone any time soon with him (!), but he'll get you straightened away.
p.s.....you may want to talk to him anyway just to make sure you get the right trucks and all.
I too did not like Whole sale trains policy. it has been several years now, BUT. I called to purchase something I thought would be a bargain. After they explained their policy I hung-up the phone.
Sorry for the late reply. I have dealt with the fine folks at Wholesale Trains (also known as Lantz's Train Shop) for many years and never heard anything bad about them. Gary and Lisa Lantz and their crew seem to take good care of their customers. Train World was also mentioned in another post. They, too, are a large and reputable outfit.
Yes, they give you no clue about inventory. To recap and update what I posted above: five weeks ago ordered a pair of USAT motor trucks, listed on their website as "available." No items, no news. I emailed wholesale trains last week and asked. Got a prompt reply saying "USAT Is usually fast but they have been very slow to ship." Ok. So while I'm there at their website I notice a different motor truck that would be perfect for a kitbashing project. It says "next day." I order it. That was last week--no sign of it. The website just says "this item has not yet shipped."
Makes me resolve not to do business with them in the future--"next day" has a really clear meaning in most of the world
This post is as of 8-13-2010, regarding Wholesale Trains. I have used them several times because of the best prices on the items I wanted to purchase. No problems with security or credit card use.
That being said, like many of the posts prior to this one, they have two problems... 1) Very high shipping costs compared to the overall order, and 2) availability & backorders without any indications of total expected back in stock dates.
In the case of my current order of one railcar and 10 Kaydee 831's ordered on 8-2-2010, they sent the railcar by UPS on 8-10 and then sent the couplers by FexEX on 8-13. The single order totaled $133.39 but the split shipment cost me $29.62 in total shipping. That's about 23% of the total purchase amount... which is, as others have said..."excessive". Many of the internet merchants do not charge the customer additional shipping for merchant decisions to split orders or back orders to complete an intitial single purchase order. Likewise, many merchants know thier inventories and will advise you if someting will need to be backordered. I think that future orders for my needs, will be placed with merchants which can both tell you what is in stock, and if spliting the purchase orders are necessary, not charge the customer for excessive additional shipping, or at least in the intital order allow you to tell them to not ship until the order is complete. I suppose that could have been done for Wholesale Trains in the "comments section", but I did not have the back order knowledge until after placing the order.
Live and learn I guess...
I use Wholesale Trains - so far so good.
Only suggestions - figure out a way to give updates, since I have yet to figure out when the package is going to ship.
And of course, some clue on shipping costs up front.
Other than that, I will continue to use them on a regular basis.
John
I have purchased items from them at different times and was happy with both price and service. I have used my credit card without a problem but if your not sure you can use pay pal (ebay) for your purchase. You can generate a one time card for the purchase if you want.
I am from Canada and have spent some serious coin thru Wholesale Trains. Good service prompt delivery and no credit card problems. Regards, Dennis.
They are not my favorite retailer, but i have used them and still do. They are sometimes great, if they have the item in stock. My main issue with them is they are happy to sell you things they don't actually have in stock. You pay, and then....nothing. Eventually the item arrives, but they give you no info whatsoever on when. Case in point, I have two USAT motor blocks on order. It's been more than a month, and I still have no idea at all when they will or won't arrive.
Also I once bought a USAT loco from them that arrived, brand new in the box, with the infamous "cracked axles." Wholesaletrains would do nothing for me, I had to send it directly back to USAT.
Ian P - If a man speaks in a desert where no woman can hear, Is he still wrong?
ttrigg Credit card purchases: If you are looking for better security with internet purchases, especially the first few times with a particular vendor, here is a hint for total identity protection. Most vendors will hold your shopping basket for a few days. If your purchase (include shipping) is under $100, go to your favorite local store, there at the checkout register you will find "Gift Credit Cards." I get mine at Wally-World all the time. If someone "steals the identity" of that transaction then they will not know who you are now anything else about you. The card automatically "dies" when it is all spent. Wally-World has a site where you can track purchases on these disposable credit cards, after my purchase has cleared, I write down the remaining money on the card and then go to Wally-World and take cash in that amount out of the card. It may be a cumbersome process but nobody can get to my credit cards.
Credit card purchases: If you are looking for better security with internet purchases, especially the first few times with a particular vendor, here is a hint for total identity protection. Most vendors will hold your shopping basket for a few days. If your purchase (include shipping) is under $100, go to your favorite local store, there at the checkout register you will find "Gift Credit Cards." I get mine at Wally-World all the time. If someone "steals the identity" of that transaction then they will not know who you are now anything else about you. The card automatically "dies" when it is all spent. Wally-World has a site where you can track purchases on these disposable credit cards, after my purchase has cleared, I write down the remaining money on the card and then go to Wally-World and take cash in that amount out of the card. It may be a cumbersome process but nobody can get to my credit cards.
Tom,
That's a good idea. Another approach is to get a credit card with a very low credit limit. You can use that card when dealing with a seller that you're not comfortable with. The worst that can happen is they get your name and that card's info.
Walt
I have purchased from Wholesale Trains. I would have no problem giving them my CC and that's how I purchased my products.
I had a problem with a particular purchase, and at the time I was not happy with the outcome.
Years later I mentioned this on an Internet forum and Gary Lantz came on the forum and rectified my problem.
I took this as a very professional and honorable thing to do. The problem I had was with an employee who is no longer with the company, and I am impressed with their willing and speedy correction to a problem so old.
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
Mick
Chief Operating Officer
Northern Timber Company - Mt Beenak
I see we have our own "Q" - Bond: "You're cleverer than you look." Q: "Still, better than looking cleverer than you are." - Wikipedia, - Peter
Modeling the Bellefonte Central Railroad
Fan of the PRR
Garden Railway Enthusiast
Check out my Youtube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PennsyModeler
Tom Trigg
cacoleFor my Bachmann 2-truck Shay, I ordered parts directly from Bachmann.
I've purchased items from wholesaletrains.com aka Lantz's Train Shop in Horseheads, New York, on a couple of occasions and had no problems with them. Shipping is fast if the item(s) are in stock.
Some users on this forum have reported problems with what they considered to be excessive shipping charges, so I would try to verify what those are going to be before placing an order.
IIRC the main complaint was that they offer no options on shipping method and use only FedEx or UPS because they are reportedly just across the street from the shipper's offices.
For my Bachmann 2-truck Shay, I ordered parts directly from Bachmann.
I went to their store in Horseheads, NY once and bought a few things. They seem like nice people.
They have a medium selection in the store. They have a lot more online.
Tom
At Trainworld the minimum shipping cost is $13.
http://www.trainworldonline.com/Policies.php
SantaFe158My dad and I are looking to replace two worn out (older plastic versions) trucks on our Bachmann Two truck shay and are looking at buying some here. My dad's hesitant about giving them his credit card number to them without any information. I have never bought anything from here and would like any reports I can get on them.
I've never purchased anything from them but Trainworld has what you are looking at. I have purchased things from trainworld before and everything was fine. Trainworld also seems to ship fast.
http://www.trainworldonline.com/catalog/category/detail.php?id=1600&find_section=566
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