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Is the hobby shop doing the right thing? I want your opinion... (SOLVED)

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Is the hobby shop doing the right thing? I want your opinion... (SOLVED)
Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 12:35 AM
I ordered some track from a hobby shop. They shipped me the wrong one, not just the wrong track, they shipped me track from the wrong manufacturer. Now they will hold my money until they receive the package in return. For a mistake that was not mine. The problem is that no one knows where the package is, it should take around 6 days from here to USA, but it was over a month since this package was sent from Sweden and they still have no package. I didn't even touch this package, just called the post office and explained the situation. I have told the hobby shop several times that this is not my problem at all. But they will not listen. I'm starting to get a little %#/(*. I want your opinion, is the hobby shop doing the right thing here? I will not give you the name of the hobby shop yet. But I will if they don't listen to me today. And I know that you will be a little surprised.
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Posted by AggroJones on Saturday, July 23, 2005 12:41 AM
If they made the mistake, they should cover all cost to correct said mistake. How I sees it, the shop is in the wrong. Is it Standard Hobby Supply?

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Posted by chateauricher on Saturday, July 23, 2005 1:39 AM
Considering you live in Sweden and the store is located in the US, I don't think its totally unreasonable for them to wait until the items are returned before issuing a refund or replacements.

However, it does seem that it is taking a very long time... longer than it really should. Is there any way you can trace the package you sent back to them ? Other than that, I can't think of any other options.

When returning an item to a mail-order/internet store, perhaps you should make sure they have to sign for it. Send it back by a courier company (like UPS or FedEx) if you can't send it by registered mail. Also, you should insure the package for its full value so that if it gets lost, you can get at least some money back.

Timothy The gods must love stupid people; they sure made a lot. The only insanity I suffer from is yours. Some people are so stupid, only surgery can get an idea in their heads.
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 1:56 AM
I agree, 100%. I will tell you the name at the end of the day.

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

If they made the mistake, they should cover all cost to correct said mistake. How I sees it, the shop is in the wrong. Is it Standard Hobby Supply?
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
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Posted by selector on Saturday, July 23, 2005 1:57 AM
I have a bad feeling about this, EL. I could accept maybe 18-21 days, but one month is too long.

You now can only hope that the package shows up. If it hasn't surfaced by the end of July, I'm afraid you're hooped.

I guess you won't be dealing with them any more. Grrrrrrrrrr! [:(!]
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 1:57 AM
Thanks for your opinion, even if I dissagree with everything you say [:D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chateauricher

Considering you live in Sweden and the store is located in the US, I don't think its totally unreasonable for them to wait until the items are returned before issuing a refund or replacements.

However, it does seem that it is taking a very long time... longer than it really should. Is there any way you can trace the package you sent back to them ? Other than that, I can't think of any other options.

When returning an item to a mail-order/internet store, perhaps you should make sure they have to sign for it. Send it back by a courier company (like UPS or FedEx) if you can't send it by registered mail. Also, you should insure the package for its full value so that if it gets lost, you can get at least some money back.


Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
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Posted by ericsp on Saturday, July 23, 2005 2:01 AM
I am a bit confused. Did the hobby shop call you and inform you that they shipped the wrong track, then you called the post office and told them to return the package to the sender? Did the package have a tracking number?

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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 2:03 AM
I'm trying to trace the package right now. But the hobby shop is not helpfull at all. I asked them for a shipping number, because my postoffice said that if I got that number, they can connect it to the return number, but the hobby shop didn't answer that question. Thanks selector for your opinon.

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

I have a bad feeling about this, EL. I could accept maybe 18-21 days, but one month is too long.

You now can only hope that the package shows up. If it hasn't surfaced by the end of July, I'm afraid you're hooped.

I guess you won't be dealing with them any more. Grrrrrrrrrr! [:(!]
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 2:08 AM
No, they sent me an email invoice the same day the package was sent from them, and in that invoice I saw that they have sent me the wrong track. I contacted them right away and the hobby shop said that it was a mistake. Then I called the post office (when I got the package) and told them to return it right away and they did. The package have a tracking number. But the only human that can answer that kind of questions is on vacation for a month. The thing I don't understand is why they will hold my money for a mistake that is not mine. I don't think it's fare.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

I am a bit confused. Did the hobby shop call you and inform you that they shipped the wrong track, then you called the post office and told them to return the package to the sender? Did the package have a tracking number?
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 23, 2005 2:38 AM
Electro,
I agree with you this should not take them this long to act on this. I also think that any good company would have more then one human that can make a simple call to the post office with there tracking number and verify the package was refused and is returning to them and in turn send you your replacement. The fact that your in another country from them should have no bearing on this. My other job besides the Fire Dept is workin with a large company who ships performance auto parts all over the world has given me some better insite into these types of problems.

If this is a reputable company that you dealing with then they sould be more than willing and able to help you in a way that benifits you as the customer. Have they offered you any help on this matter or only excuses and a royal blowoff?


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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 2:58 AM
I think this hobby shop is pretty respected, so it's very strange that they will not listen to me as a customer. The botton line is, they shipped me track that I never ordered. And charged my account for that.

The only thing they say is that they must have the package before returning any money. So what they basically do is shipping something I have not ordered, and keep my money. I don't think that's legal to be honest. I will contact them in an hour, and try to make them understand.

QUOTE: Originally posted by polizi

Electro,
I agree with you this should not take them this long to act on this. I also think that any good company would have more then one human that can make a simple call to the post office with there tracking number and verify the package was refused and is returning to them and in turn send you your replacement. The fact that your in another country from them should have no bearing on this. My other job besides the Fire Dept is workin with a large company who ships performance auto parts all over the world has given me some better insite into these types of problems.

If this is a reputable company that you dealing with then they sould be more than willing and able to help you in a way that benifits you as the customer. Have they offered you any help on this matter or only excuses and a royal blowoff?



Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 23, 2005 3:17 AM
Electro,

You said you were going to contact them in an hour here in the US it is 4:10 in the morning? Truth be told what they are doing is probly not illegal just really no practical on a customer service relations aspect.

I would also just tell you based on my experience that you will get much farther ahead to maintain you composure and be nice but firm. As the old saying goes "you get more flies with honey" Yelling at them will only put them off and not willing to help you on this matter. It may not seam right but I will go out of my way to help someone who is nice but has a bad problem rather then a guy who yells and screams and tell me how bad our company is. I will still help them but I do not go out of my way for those types. Just some advise to dao with as you please take it or leave it its your call. Good Luck let us know how this plays out I am interested in knowing.
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 3:33 AM
Yes I know that they ar probably asleep. What I mean is that I will send them an email [:D]

I will not yell at them, that's not the right method. But I will explain and try to make them understand. I let you all know what happens next.

QUOTE: Originally posted by polizi

Electro,

You said you were going to contact them in an hour here in the US it is 4:10 in the morning? Truth be told what they are doing is probly not illegal just really no practical on a customer service relations aspect.

I would also just tell you based on my experience that you will get much farther ahead to maintain you composure and be nice but firm. As the old saying goes "you get more flies with honey" Yelling at them will only put them off and not willing to help you on this matter. It may not seam right but I will go out of my way to help someone who is nice but has a bad problem rather then a guy who yells and screams and tell me how bad our company is. I will still help them but I do not go out of my way for those types. Just some advise to dao with as you please take it or leave it its your call. Good Luck let us know how this plays out I am interested in knowing.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 23, 2005 3:33 AM
If you need it that bad, call them back and tell them you will re-order. This way no more wait.
Ask them, upon receipt to credit back cost & expense.
If they are respected , have a professional/creditable reputation they should be able to
accomodate this request.
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 3:35 AM
I have just sent them an email, I will let you know what happens.

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

If you need it that bad, call them back and tell them you will re-order. This way no more wait.
Ask them, upon receipt to credit back cost & expense.
If they are respected , have a professional/creditable reputation they should be able to
accomodate this request.
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 23, 2005 3:39 AM
Screw ups happen, it's one of the American ways. They too want a resolution and you want to move on. When you told your PO to return the package part of the question may be who is eating the
return expense if you expected expeditated shipment, Air or Water?
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 23, 2005 3:46 AM
Yeah, they're doing the right thing. For THEM. NOt too customer oriented, are they? When you do get your money back, I'd go somewhere else.
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Posted by peterjenkinson1956 on Saturday, July 23, 2005 3:52 AM
we should run a comp to see who can guess which shop he delt with..closest member gets a box of track................. only joking.. sorry mate ..i live overseas and have had a couple of minor problems with orders from the u s a .. they have all been delt with satisfactory..when i complained that one of the shops had sent the wrong roadname for a loco they sent me a new one and didnot ask for the other to be returned..i got a surprise when the new one arrived unannounced.... since then i have bought quite a lot from this store and all i can say is be patient.. inform visa if you paid by visa and put the item in dispute ... i would say write to them and say that you didnot collect the item from the post office.. i agree with the other fellas ,,stay calm ..the other person may be a 50 yo lady with no interest in model railways and sent you other track because the track you ordered was not in store...hpe this helps you...peter
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 3:57 AM
Yes please, this could be a lot of fun, please vote for the company that you think this is. Maybe we can all learn something good. I vote for...
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 4:03 AM
I understand what you are trying to say. Water takes 6-8 weeks, Air only 6 days. The post office in Sweden always return packages by Air, never Water. So over a month is not normal, if the plane are still flying... [:D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3

Screw ups happen, it's one of the American ways. They too want a resolution and you want to move on. When you told your PO to return the package part of the question may be who is eating the
return expense if you expected expeditated shipment, Air or Water?
Rio Grande Zephyr 5771 from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah "Thru the Rockies"
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 4:18 AM
Can you please tell me what shop was so good that you recieved another loco for free? Shops like that really deserve a lot of costumers.

QUOTE: Originally posted by peterjenkinson1956

we should run a comp to see who can guess which shop he delt with..closest member gets a box of track................. only joking.. sorry mate ..i live overseas and have had a couple of minor problems with orders from the u s a .. they have all been delt with satisfactory..when i complained that one of the shops had sent the wrong roadname for a loco they sent me a new one and didnot ask for the other to be returned..i got a surprise when the new one arrived unannounced.... since then i have bought quite a lot from this store and all i can say is be patient.. inform visa if you paid by visa and put the item in dispute ... i would say write to them and say that you didnot collect the item from the post office.. i agree with the other fellas ,,stay calm ..the other person may be a 50 yo lady with no interest in model railways and sent you other track because the track you ordered was not in store...hpe this helps you...peter
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Posted by chateauricher on Saturday, July 23, 2005 4:55 AM
I don't know of any store that would issue a refund without getting the merchandise back. If that were true, anyone could walk into any store; claim a problem with something they "bought" there; not return it; and then walk out with a refund. H*ll! I think I'll walk empty-handed into Leon's (a major home furnishings store here) tomorrow and demand a refund for the big-screen tv, and the set of stainless steel kitchen appliances that aren't satisfactory. [:)] I could use the money for trains. [;)]

Can you imagine the financial losses stores would incur if that were true ???

So, yes, the store in question is doing the right thing — waiting for the merchandise to be returned before issuing a refund. The problem here seems to be the unusual amount of time it is taking for the merchandise to be delivered to the store by mail. It would seem to me that it has been lost, either by the Swedish post office, or by the American postal service. The package's tracking number should help locate it. Its probably stuck in a warehouse somewhere. Or, considering the paranoid US Customs these days, it might even be in a customs warehouse being held as part of an anti-terror investigation.

If you really want this track, I would do as locomotive3 suggests — re-order it and ask the store to refund you when the original package finally arrives.

Timothy The gods must love stupid people; they sure made a lot. The only insanity I suffer from is yours. Some people are so stupid, only surgery can get an idea in their heads.
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 5:09 AM
I you walked into that store and asked for a refund, and the people at the store knows that they have sent you the wrong big-screen-tv. But do not want to pay you back until the post office have found out where your big-screen-tv is. Does that makes any difference to you? Just curious... The point is, if I do something wrong, it's my fault and I must deal with it. If someone else do something wrong, is it still my fault? It feels that way because the hobby shop does not help me at all. I also think a good hobby shop must trust their costumers.

QUOTE: Originally posted by chateauricher

I don't know of any store that would issue a refund without getting the merchandise back. If that were true, anyone could walk into any store; claim a problem with something they "bought" there; not return it; and then walk out with a refund. H*ll! I think I'll walk empty-handed into Leon's (a major home furnishings store here) tomorrow and demand a refund for the big-screen tv, and the set of stainless steel kitchen appliances that aren't satisfactory. [:)] I could use the money for trains. [;)]

Can you imagine the financial losses stores would incur if that were true ???

So, yes, the store in question is doing the right thing — waiting for the merchandise to be returned before issuing a refund. The problem here seems to be the unusual amount of time it is taking for the merchandise to be delivered to the store by mail. It would seem to me that it has been lost, either by the Swedish post office, or by the American postal service. The package's tracking number should help locate it. Its probably stuck in a warehouse somewhere. Or, considering the paranoid US Customs these days, it might even be in a customs warehouse being held as part of an anti-terror investigation.

If you really want this track, I would do as locomotive3 suggests — re-order it and ask the store to refund you when the original package finally arrives.


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Posted by CraigN on Saturday, July 23, 2005 7:53 AM
The original purchase order will state what was ordered, it won't show the wrong item being ordered unless you give them the wrong info. The packing list and bill will show what was shipped. If it is different than the purchase order sheet, then it is the hobby shops fault and they need to make it right.

With one exception, you first need to verify if the hobby shop states a policy of substituting items if your item is out of stock on their order form? If so, then you need to be patient with them, they deserve that right.

Since it has been a long time since the item was refused, I would contact Visa ( if that is the way you paid) and let them know you never received the items and you want your account credited. They can research it. There should be a paper trail with the Post Office I would think. Also,sometimes a package gets damaged at the Post Office, it gets set to the side untill someone gets the time to fix up the package. That could also be why the Hobby shop hasn't received the package.

Save all your E-Mails too, you might need them to resolve the dispute.



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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 8:04 AM
I have saved every email, so it's very easy to follow everything that happened. I even have the email where they say that this is a mistake made by them. I have not received the answer from them about my latest email that I sent today so I will wait before I go any futher and give them a chance to sort this out. Thanks for your advice.

QUOTE: Originally posted by CraigN

The original purchase order will state what was ordered, it won't show the wrong item being ordered unless you give them the wrong info. The packing list and bill will show what was shipped. If it is different than the purchase order sheet, then it is the hobby shops fault and they need to make it right.

With one exception, you first need to verify if the hobby shop states a policy of substituting items if your item is out of stock on their order form? If so, then you need to be patient with them, they deserve that right.

Since it has been a long time since the item was refused, I would contact Visa ( if that is the way you paid) and let them know you never received the items and you want your account credited. They can research it. There should be a paper trail with the Post Office I would think. Also,sometimes a package gets damaged at the Post Office, it gets set to the side untill someone gets the time to fix up the package. That could also be why the Hobby shop hasn't received the package.

Save all your E-Mails too, you might need them to resolve the dispute.




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Posted by ereimer on Saturday, July 23, 2005 9:20 AM
if you don't get a satifactory answer to today's email it's time to escalate the problem . send another polite email saying that you aren't satisfied with the help you're getting and that you'd like the email address of the owner or manager of the store (assuming that isn't who you're dealing with right now) . if they won't give you that you might have to ask for the wners name and actually call and ask to speak to him directly .

this still might not help , even though it is the shop's fault for sending you the wrong item , and also their problem that there is only one person (on vacation) who can deal with it , it is unlikely that they will refund your money with no proof that you didn't go down to the post office and pick up the goods , or proof that the shipment got lost somewhere on the way back to the US . in these days of highly organized scams and rip-offs not too many companies can afford to trust customers .

good luck , i hope this gets resolved soon
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Posted by electrolove on Saturday, July 23, 2005 9:30 AM
Maybe I was a little unclear. The person that is on vacation works at the post office here in Sweden.

The hobby shop can call their own post office in the US to check if I the package is sent back to them. So I can't understand why they don't pick up the phone.

Thanks for your opinion. Still no answer from them, waiting...

QUOTE: Originally posted by ereimer

if you don't get a satifactory answer to today's email it's time to escalate the problem . send another polite email saying that you aren't satisfied with the help you're getting and that you'd like the email address of the owner or manager of the store (assuming that isn't who you're dealing with right now) . if they won't give you that you might have to ask for the wners name and actually call and ask to speak to him directly .

this still might not help , even though it is the shop's fault for sending you the wrong item , and also their problem that there is only one person (on vacation) who can deal with it , it is unlikely that they will refund your money with no proof that you didn't go down to the post office and pick up the goods , or proof that the shipment got lost somewhere on the way back to the US . in these days of highly organized scams and rip-offs not too many companies can afford to trust customers .

good luck , i hope this gets resolved soon
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:23 AM
QUOTE: I don't know of any store that would issue a refund without getting the merchandise back. If that were true, anyone could walk into any store; claim a problem with something they "bought" there; not return it; and then walk out with a refund. H*ll! I think I'll walk empty-handed into Leon's (a major home furnishings store here) tomorrow and demand a refund for the big-screen tv, and the set of stainless steel kitchen appliances that aren't satisfactory. I could use the money for trains


I know of many companies that will refund or reship items based on a customer not recieving his product, Since this was not recieved by the customer it is a very easy process to trace and start a claim with the post office. The only requirment for the US post office is the package has to be 30 days late for them to start a claim which Electro is already approaching. The company I work for would in this instance have the customer send us a letter stating what happened and that they did not recieve the product we would start the claim and reship the product, sure we might lose a few buck on this now but we get more back from a happy cutomer later.


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Posted by novicerr on Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:40 AM
Post office will only accept a claim if it was insured. They will not reimburse for uninsured articles. Also, customs may have the item. It sometimes takes them awhile to check it, since they do randomly check parcels.
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:54 AM
The hobby store admitted to shipping the incorrect items. A mistake was made, the hobby store needs to ship the correct items and regretfully take a loss if the wrong items shipped never return. They should not have allowed this to drag on so long.

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