Problems with internettrains.com

[gatrhumpy]

I gave them an ultimatum. If they don't ship out my order today, then I expect the money back in my account by Tuesday.

[cacole]

I gave them an ultimatum. If they don't ship out my order today, then I expect the money back in my account by Tuesday.

A formal complaint through the Better Business Bureau is the only way I could get them to refund my money.

With their history of ignoring phone and e-mail complaints, I doubt that they are going to pay any attention to your ultimatum.

[hobo9941]

I think there is some kind of Federal Trade Commission rule or law, that you cannot charge a credit card, until the merchandise is shipped, or ready to ship. Probably not well enforced, but a complaint to them might help.

[hobo9941]

  

  I have no idea why this posted so large.

What are the Rules For Mail Order Sales?

 

Under federal law, you must receive mail­order merchandise within a reasonable time after placing your order. If the seller cannot ship on time, you have the right to cancel. If the seller advertises a six­week wait, that is a reasonable time. If the seller does not state a delivery time, 30 days is considered reasonable. If your shipment is delayed, the company must notify you of the new delivery date and allow you to cancel the order if you choose not to wait the extra time. If you have already paid for the products, the seller has seven days to refund your money. If you bought on credit, the seller has one billing cycle to adjust your account. If the seller is unable to ship within the promised time period the products you ordered, the law requires the seller to notify you of your right to cancel the order. The company must send you a postage­paid business­reply envelope so that you can cancel your order or inform the seller that you still want the product. If the company informs you that it cannot promise you a definite shipping date, you should cancel your order. Even if you consent to an indefinite delay, you still have the right to cancel the order if 30 days pass and you have not received the order. Helpful Tips

• Since many catalogs contain pictures of enlarged items, check the text of the advertisement to be sure of the actual size of the item.
• Be aware that the quality of the product may be lower than it appears in the ad. This is particularly true of off­brand merchandise. Find out if the same product is sold locally so that you can see if the quality meets your expectations.
• The performance of the product may not match the ad's claims. Weight­loss and body­enhancing products are especially notorious for misrepresentations. The more outrageous the claim, the more likely the product will not live up to it.
• Make sure you will receive everything that is pictured. Often several items are shown in the photograph but only one or two of them are actually sent to you. Double­check the text of the ad before ordering to see if it lists exactly what you are paying for; don't rely on the picture alone.
• Beware of price comparisons using "list prices" or "suggested retail prices." Often, as a promotional tool, a seller will compare the price of a product to the "list price." Usually, the seller's price is a significant reduction for the "list," making it look like quite a bargain. However, before you assume that you are saving money, check with a local retailer. The same product may be available in a local store for the same "low" price (with no postage or handling charges). Since few items are ever sold at the "list price," compare the seller's price to an actual price before ordering by mail.

  What are the Rules For Mail Order Sales?

   

  Under federal law, you must receive mail­order merchandise within a reasonable time after placing your order. If the seller cannot ship on time, you have the right to cancel. If the seller advertises a six­week wait, that is a reasonable time. If the seller does not state a delivery time, 30 days is considered reasonable. If your shipment is delayed, the company must notify you of the new delivery date and allow you to cancel the order if you choose not to wait the extra time. If you have already paid for the products, the seller has seven days to refund your money. If you bought on credit, the seller has one billing cycle to adjust your account. If the seller is unable to ship within the promised time period the products you ordered, the law requires the seller to notify you of your right to cancel the order. The company must send you a postage­paid business­reply envelope so that you can cancel your order or inform the seller that you still want the product. If the company informs you that it cannot promise you a definite shipping date, you should cancel your order. Even if you consent to an indefinite delay, you still have the right to cancel the order if 30 days pass and you have not received the order. Helpful Tips

  • Since many catalogs contain pictures of enlarged items, check the text of the advertisement to be sure of the actual size of the item.
  • Be aware that the quality of the product may be lower than it appears in the ad. This is particularly true of off­brand merchandise. Find out if the same product is sold locally so that you can see if the quality meets your expectations.
  • The performance of the product may not match the ad's claims. Weight­loss and body­enhancing products are especially notorious for misrepresentations. The more outrageous the claim, the more likely the product will not live up to it.
  • Make sure you will receive everything that is pictured. Often several items are shown in the photograph but only one or two of them are actually sent to you. Double­check the text of the ad before ordering to see if it lists exactly what you are paying for; don't rely on the picture alone.
  • Beware of price comparisons using "list prices" or "suggested retail prices." Often, as a promotional tool, a seller will compare the price of a product to the "list price." Usually, the seller's price is a significant reduction for the "list," making it look like quite a bargain. However, before you assume that you are saving money, check with a local retailer. The same product may be available in a local store for the same "low" price (with no postage or handling charges). Since few items are ever sold at the "list price," compare the seller's price to an actual price before ordering by mail.

  
  
  

[hobo9941]

I have no idea why the above post came out so large, or why it is blue. Something screwed up on this end, I think.

[Anonymous]

I gave them an ultimatum. If they don't ship out my order today, then I expect the money back in my account by Tuesday.

A formal complaint through the Better Business Bureau is the only way I could get them to refund my money.

With their history of ignoring phone and e-mail complaints, I doubt that they are going to pay any attention to your ultimatum.

 

I second that. I have used the BBB on 2 ocassions in the past, however not hobby related. It works everytime and is a very powerful consumer tool. It only takes a phone number of the business and a short paragraph to type online and it's done.

[Red Horse]

Thanks for the heads up on this train store, I will avoid them like the plague, at least some of us here have been spared the aggervation because of your experiance with them, very unprofessional.

[SF Bill]

Reno N Scaler:  Don't drop out of the hobby, just drop that dealer.  I'd lllke to suggest, even reccommend, a dealer closer to you-Feather River Train Shop in San Rafael, CA.  I placed an order for an item that was out of stock at Walthers and my LHS couldn't get, on a Sunday AM.  I didn't hear anything for a week after the automated confirmation , so I sent FRTS an e-mail. No sooner than it was sent, I had a LD fone call from the owner to explain that he had missed it when he came to work on Monday, and he appologized to me several times and the order was processed that very day and I received it within 3 days, in my Eastern state! 

SF Bill Hemstreet

Youngsville, NC

[gthomp10]

I totally agree.  RRTRAINS.COM is a class act.  I always go there first if I need to purchase something online.  Great prices, great service and very honest.

[stebbycentral]

I don't know that the moderator's policies allow, but I'm beginning to wonder if it wouldn't be a Public Service just to "pin" this thread...

[pturvill]

"hobo,"

Your posting was LARGE and blue probably because of some HTML baggage you imported when you copied and pasted the text from some other source (twice, I might add).

BTW, "Mail Order" is quite a different matter from "Online Ordering." Unless the merchant uses the US Postal Service to either advertise, ship merchandise, or both, the USPS isn't involved, and many "postal" regulations simply go out the window. Since the WWW is -- truly -- World Wide, no national government (including the US) has been able to get a good handle on regulating it. That's why we see so many fly-by-night operations operating under several different names from several different URLs.

Internettrains.com may feel they're immune from "postal" regulation; the best way to put them out of business is to simply not purchase from them.

[CAZEPHYR]

My thought on this post is if you want to donate money and not get anything for it, please PM me and I will give you an address so you can send me the donations.  

[loathar]

I gave them an ultimatum. If they don't ship out my order today, then I expect the money back in my account by Tuesday.

A formal complaint through the Better Business Bureau is the only way I could get them to refund my money.

With their history of ignoring phone and e-mail complaints, I doubt that they are going to pay any attention to your ultimatum.

 

I second that. I have used the BBB on 2 ocassions in the past, however not hobby related. It works everytime and is a very powerful consumer tool. It only takes a phone number of the business and a short paragraph to type online and it's done.

All the BBB can do is pull a stores good BBB rating if there is a problem. When was the last time you went into a store and saw a "Member of the BBB" sticker on their door?? (or on their web site??)
They are just another scam that tries to charge a yearly "good credit" rating fee from businesses. They used to be a good organization. Now they're just a joke.

[pturvill]

My thought on this post is if you want to donate money and not get anything for it, please PM me and I will give you an address so you can send me the donations. 

Huh? If you had a point you were trying to make, I'm afraid it sailed completely over my head.

[Phoebe Vet]

I've only ordered from them one time.

They were a little slow, but otherwise I was completely satisfied.

Are you guys trying to tell me I was just lucky?

[pturvill]

Are you guys trying to tell me I was just lucky?

Yep. You obviously ordered one of the few items they actually had in stock.

[CAZEPHYR]

My thought on this post is if you want to donate money and not get anything for it, please PM me and I will give you an address so you can send me the donations. 

Huh? If you had a point you were trying to make, I'm afraid it sailed completely over my head.

 Sorry.     

 

 

[LNEFAN]

I added an early post to this thread more than a year ago! And I see the complaints are still flowing! Frankly it's difficult to believe that this so called "hobby shop" is still in operation!

[Reno N Scaler]

Reno N Scaler:  Don't drop out of the hobby, just drop that dealer.  I'd lllke to suggest, even reccommend, a dealer closer to you-Feather River Train Shop in San Rafael, CA.  I placed an order for an item that was out of stock at Walthers and my LHS couldn't get, on a Sunday AM.  I didn't hear anything for a week after the automated confirmation , so I sent FRTS an e-mail. No sooner than it was sent, I had a LD fone call from the owner to explain that he had missed it when he came to work on Monday, and he appologized to me several times and the order was processed that very day and I received it within 3 days, in my Eastern state! 

SF Bill Hemstreet

Youngsville, NC

I never did get out of the hobbie, as a matter of fact I started a new layout last year and did alot of buying from alot of online hobbie shops and had very good luck, I will never buy from this hobbie shop again. I built a 7'x11' layout and run the whole thing on DCC. I have since my original posting got very wise about online hobbie shops, I do alot more research before I give my money to any online store.

I realy enjoy my old new found hobbie.

I am sad to hear that the problems with Internet Trains is still going on, and I wish nothing but good luck to the people that order from them, but as for me I just can not and will not take another chance on them.

[gatrhumpy]

I received an e-mail on Friday saying that my order had shipped out on Friday, so they paid attention to my ultimatum. I also sent Steven an e-mail and sent him a link with this thread.

I'm sure I'll be excited about getting the items I ordered, however, I won't be shopping from them again.

[pturvill]

Did you also get a Tracking Number? They've been known to *say* they've shipped just to buy a bit more time...

Anyway, we'll be watching this space; let us know if/when the shipment actually arrives.

[gatrhumpy]

Yes, I did get a tracking number, and it's supposed to be in my arms by Thursday.

[SteamFreak]

This thread is incredible - it makes my glad that I never ordered from them.

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Internet_Trains

Not one positive rating.

[milwrd4634]

Consider yourself lucky that you didn't order from them. I had a large subscription order with them that I finally just cancelled. Phone call after phone call, credit card charged 4 weeks before "in stock" items shipped. My girlfriend ordered a present for me from them in February that showed "in stock" and when she checked it a week later was told they had to order it. She cancelled and ordered from Dallas Model Works, got a better deal AND they paid airfreight to make up for Internettrains lack of integrity. She knows nothing about trains and knew I had an order with them, so she ordered through them also. Boy was she not happy ! Plus she JUST got her refund back on her credit card after she cancelled the order (5 weeks). I keep seeing the same answers from CAZEPHYR - who is the president - going back years. Same story and bs.

[hobo9941]

bump

[hobo9941]

This needs to be kept on page one!

[David Woodard]

I agree.  Page one stuff

[Anonymous]

 

This a great thread, yes page one...but with threads like this you have to go to the last page for the newest entries.  I will never shop at Internettrains again. 

[gatrhumpy]

Well I got the items last week, FINALLY. I will never shop from them again. I ordered something from my local hobby shop Tuesday, April 1st, and I was informed that it's now in. I ordered the Pikestuff N scale truck terminal!

Time to try my untested and brand new kitbashing techniques!

[R. T. POTEET]

 

Gotta revive this. Ordered the Walthers Milwaukee Road full subscription from them. They pack badly, horrible customer service and they charge your card weeks before they ship (if they do at all). Stay Away from them - PLEASE !

Milwaukee Road 4634, I don't know how much research you did into internettrainsdotcom but a search through the forum would have revealed that internettrains had instilled a number of people with heartburn of varying intensity.

You would also have found that, in addition to this post title, there was another one titled simply internettrains.com. In that thread forum member beegle55 implied that there was probably nothing intrinsically wrong with internettrains.com beyond their being slower than the proverbial molasses-in-January. He stated that his latest order had arrived within a month. I came up on the internettrains web site and scoped out their prices and didn't really find them all that impressive; neither, for that matter, did I find anything which stated that they were going to charter a Boeing 777 and solicite a courier service in getting your order to you within 24 hours. Local hobby shops are "yesterday" companies and if that is when you wanted it then that is where you should have gone to get it.

I can't address your "poor packaging" issue but I do suppose that some of these discounters get a little rushed in trying to get things out after receiving shipments from their distributor(s). There are a number of terms that describe these discounters: three shelves in the corner of the garage; four boxes stacked up in the family room; don't trip over the inventory at the foot of the basement stairs, etc, etc, and soforth. The owner may well return home from work some evening and find that Brown has dropped eight boxes at his front door during the day. If he is to avoid getting swamped with subsequent deliveries then he may well have to work until after midnight and if you have to get up at 5am you are likely to rush your packaging just a little bit; yours is, to the best of my knowledge, the only response up here that addresses this issue of "poor packaging".

Somebody has advocated that this thread be maintained on the first page! WHY?

Stay away from them . . . . . PLEASE !

Keep in mind that what you swear at someone else might swear by! which is why you might own a Chrysler Motors product and I don't and why I own five Bachmann N-Scale dash eights and have for ten years and, although I will admit they may not be of the same caliber as Katos and Atlases they have served me well. If you find internettrains a company you no longer wish to do business with . . . . . THEN DON'T!