I just came across an "alledged" online store for Model Train Stuff advertising Broadway Limited HO and N scale engines at what seems to me to be ridiculously low prices.They call themselves a factory outlet with prices of 80% off MSRP prices.
Here is a link https://www.toygiftoutlet.online
Has anyone purchased from them or is this just another internet scam?
The website seems like a lot of work for a scam that could be taken down at any momment.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Chip,
I can agree with you on that. IT just seems like very low prices for these units that would cost several hundred dollars in hobby shop or like on Ebay. OR would they be "factory seconds"?
If this is for real ,I am going to buy several steam engines for my layout.
Model Train Stuff has an address of modeltrainstuff.com.
This place has an address of toygiftoutlet.online.
What's more, this site, at the bottom of the page, says the site has a copyright of Broadway Limited Model Trains.
This sounds like it might be in the same league as that phone call I got yesterday that said I need to send a cash card to them so the IRS doesn't send officers out to arrest me.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
M.B. Klein has used the online store called modeltrainstuff for donkey's years. This is their legitimate site. Anything else is spurious.
Model Trains: Locomotives, Freight Cars, & More | ModelTrainStuff
York1,
Perhaps a phone call to Broadway LImited might get an explanation as to whether this is real or not.
I did notice it uses the same "logo" as the legit site. Using someones company or corporate logo without permission can be a very expensive offense!
I also noticed they appear tobe located in both Australia and the UK or one or the other.
Here is something to think about alsao.The electrical power system in both countries is different from ours here in the USA. So would one of these locos work on our 110 volt system, as the power transformer for them must be different than ours.
I just tried to go to the website that the OP showed in his opening post and my antivirus program immediately warned me that the site was a scam and stopped the site from opening.
That's all I need to know to determine that the website is bad news.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Broadway limited is not broadway limited imports. This site doe not say imports anywhere. none of the listing have the word imports after broadway limited
If you click on thedifferent areas it takes you to the same list.
None of the scripts for the site has scripts for model train stuff or BLI.
Generally A site like BLI has under the contacts an email form but also the company address and phone numbers. This has a rather odd email.
Quick research found it only appeared nov 15 21. very new site.
This is wierd: Why my order shipping from China?
Because all of our products must go through the customs of China for security check due to COVID-19 influence.Thus, it usually takes more days on shipping. For preventing the spread of the virus and also protecting the safety of customers.
How long will it take me to receive it, and why so long? Start from you place your order with payment done, total you have to spend 15-25 days on waiting your package. We are sorry for that long time. That's because our products are all shipping from China and accept security check there. It will takes 10-15 days for checking and then go to your place. When Will My Backorder Arrive?
Backordered items are those which our suppliers are unable to predict when they will have more in stock, but as soon as they do, we will be able to ship the item to you. Usually you can get your item within 15-25 working days.
Not only does that read wsierd, How can a company make a time statement on backorders unless said item is enroute to the stock rooms from the manufacturer as you order it.
One other thing. watch the lower right corner. It keeps popping up a message. someone from ... just bought... x minutes ago. And it is stamped cyber monday.
I say this is a fraud site. I have seen that odd pop up message on other known fraud sites and only on those.
Shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Modeltrainstuff (.com) is a legit site, with a great store and staff.
toygiftoutlet.online is a scam site. Don't walk from them, run fast!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
i think i may been have been stupid and been caught in their web.
tomytuna i think i may been have been stupid and been caught in their web. York1
York1
One important life lesson is that if it sounds too good to be true, than it usually is bad news.
It is a shame that so many people fall into these traps, but one reason (maybe not in your case) is that many people have a misguided belief that businesses make HUGH profits. That they sell things for $500 that only cost them $20 to make.
The irony there is that if you believe that sort of thing, you are more likely to think extreme discounts are real, and be drawn in.
In most cases, especially in a small market lke model trains, legit businesses are selling their products at the lowest profitable price.
Sure, at the local yard sale, or other "disposal" sale, you get things cheap. But no one puts up an expensive web side to sell off unwanted inventory at a loss.
Contrary to popular opinion, most times you get exactly what you pay for - or - you never get what you don't pay for.
Sheldon
Simon
Contact hours: "Us time :21.00-6.00"
Us time? No one from the US would have written that line. No one from Modeltrainstuff would either.
Their links to Facebook, Google, Youtube don't work.
It's a scam.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Hmmm...
It looks like I will never know...
-Kevin
Living the dream.
It's not that hard https://www.toygiftoutlet.online/
Nope, my computer will not go there.
It sounds like I am better off this way.
snjroy tomytuna i think i may been have been stupid and been caught in their web. York1 who knows, you might receive something. I would contact my credit card company for advice. These might be locos that failed QC tests. Simon
who knows, you might receive something. I would contact my credit card company for advice. These might be locos that failed QC tests.
I would doubt that too. Most companies today use the duds as parts mules in the service department - because the Chinese do not take them back.......
When I worked at Radio Shack decades ago, we had strict instuctions to send expensive duds to the repair station, to be sold later as "reconditioned" if they could be fixed. All other defective product was destroyed on site and went in the dumpster.
This thing is so obvious - put up a site right before Chirstmas, steal some money, and disappear.
snjroyThese might be locos that failed QC tests.
Broadway Limited is one of the few manufacturers that has their own "Refurb Outlet" where previously defective locomotives are sold as having been repaired or possibly returns that get refurbished.
I don't see why they would endorse any "off shore" outlet operation.
Everyday my spam folder is chocked full of "big name" retailers and if I simply "click on the link" I'll be rewarded with huge savings, etc.
By this time every internet user should be able to spot phishing scams. It is easy to build a site using readily available "genuine" graphic elements, i.e. the Model Train Stuff logo, annd reel in a few unsuspecting bargain seekers.
Good Luck, Ed
I have ordered from the real model train stuff site several times, and always got good prices and got what I ordered promptly. I would go to them again, but this phantom site sounds like a complete scam.
M.B. Klein has greatly reduced their brick-and-mortar store and may have closed it completely, but they did that to concentrate on mail order.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
gmpullman,
I did not order anything from them, nor will I, I suspected a scam, but just getting some replies from fellow modellers.
TheK4Kid I did not order anything from them, nor will I
I wasn't specifically singling you out and I don't have any issue with alerting others of the alleged scam.
I was merely pointing out that Broadway Limited uses its OWN site to liquidate "seconds" and that any other site purporting to do the same would be suspect.
Cheers, Ed
No problem, I was doing the same, alerting others of a mist likely scam site. I had to just clear up a deal with Paypal where someone used my identity to set up a bogus account eleswhere and I was getting charged. I have Norton Identity theft which I am now finding out is absolutely worthless!
I cahnged over to PC Matic which works great!
They told me that Norton software is some of the worst protection you can purchase!
A friend of mine who is a top IT at DELL computers told me Norton slows your PC by at least 20% to 30% .Told me to get rid of it!
I had a go around with Norton on the 21st of JUly this year when someone hacked my Bank Debit card, and I had to go without my card for 3 weeks and cancel a trip I usually make every year.
When I first saw the very low prices on the scam train site, I knew it must be a scam! Like one post said, just before Christmas then they will disappear!
I've had nothing but positive experience from the "real" modeltrainstuff site. I hope he can get this scam site taken down quickly based on all the copyright violations. People will order from the scam site, not get their orders and then complain to the real modeltrainstuff site.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL tomytuna i think i may been have been stupid and been caught in their web. York1 One important life lesson is that if it sounds too good to be true, than it usually is bad news. It is a shame that so many people fall into these traps, but one reason (maybe not in your case) is that many people have a misguided belief that businesses make HUGH profits. That they sell things for $500 that only cost them $20 to make. The irony there is that if you believe that sort of thing, you are more likely to think extreme discounts are real, and be drawn in. In most cases, especially in a small market lke model trains, legit businesses are selling their products at the lowest profitable price. Sure, at the local yard sale, or other "disposal" sale, you get things cheap. But no one puts up an expensive web side to sell off unwanted inventory at a loss. Contrary to popular opinion, most times you get exactly what you pay for - or - you never get what you don't pay for. Sheldon
MisterBeasleyM.B. Klein has greatly reduced their brick-and-mortar store and may have closed it completely,
Yes, I believe that the store has been closed for at least a year.
gmpullman snjroy These might be locos that failed QC tests. Broadway Limited is one of the few manufacturers that has their own "Refurb Outlet" where previously defective locomotives are sold as having been repaired or possibly returns that get refurbished. I don't see why they would endorse any "off shore" outlet operation. Everyday my spam folder is chocked full of "big name" retailers and if I simply "click on the link" I'll be rewarded with huge savings, etc. By this time every internet user should be able to spot phishing scams. It is easy to build a site using readily available "genuine" graphic elements, i.e. the Model Train Stuff logo, annd reel in a few unsuspecting bargain seekers. Good Luck, Ed
snjroy These might be locos that failed QC tests.
As for the hours of operation, China's time is pretty much the opposite as North America. So customer service in China starts at 9:00 PM (or 21:00 hours), as it is 10:00 AM over there (at least in some parts of China).
I agree with the others the site is suspicous.
TheK4KidI also noticed they appear tobe located in both Australia and the UK or one or the other. Here is something to think about alsao.The electrical power system in both countries is different from ours here in the USA. So would one of these locos work on our 110 volt system, as the power transformer for them must be different than ours.
hether the locols are made ifor the market in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, Russia or China etc doesn't matter. the power actually supplied to the track is the same.
A 110 volt transformer made for the US will run them.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Whether the locols are made for the market in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe, Russia or China etc doesn't matter the power actually supplied (12volt DC) to the track is the same. A 110 volt transformer made for the US market will run them.
The exception in HO is 3-rail (mainly Marklin HO from Gremany) which are AC and they make transformers for the US market .
I think the scammer is hoping that for every 9 buyers that file a chargeback thru their cc company or Paypal, that 1 buyer forgets about the order until the chargeback window is closed. Either that or they'll ship something worthless just to prove tracking/delivery and then the buyer will have to jump thru additional hoops to prove it wasn't what they ordered. In either case it's not a huge risk but a major hassle for the buyer. (ask me how I know)
I looked at the site thanks to link provided here, wish it was a real site but it stole the logo from Modeltrain stuff and part of the body from Trainworld and another part of the body elsewhere. I don't think it is anything but a scam, dosn't even have the earmarks of a backdoor china operation.