I just wanted to share a horrible experience with potential online buyers. I have been a customer of N Scale Supply ( www.nscalesupply.com ) for 10 years and now the owner refuses to sell to me! It is the worst possible service and immature / disrespectful behavior I have ever experienced. His order form has a place for comments. I wrote that I didnt like his login system ( I said it was buggy and put you into a frustrating doo-loop if you couldnt remember your password ) he emailed me directly and said he was canceling my order! I went through the BBB and he said he is not obligated to serve me as a customer. He also made up reason after reason ( which changed with each successive email ) about why he refused to sell to me. He says I have some unpaid order from 2003 ( which he refused to give me details on after I tried time and time again to make restitution for … because it never happened! ) The complaint with the BBB is unresolved so you can check it out yourself.
I would be more than happy to show anyone his rediculous emails if you would like further information. I was pretty upset at this, but have since found other online ordering sites that are actually cheaper and friendlier.
What sites have you all used and recommend for N Scale?
Thanks and I recommend you take your business elswhere, especially in these hard times where people should appreciate you spending your money in their shop!
Fifer Hobby is a good, knowledgeable and friendly e-tailer, exclusively N - Scale.
I have purchased from N Scale Supply over the years and never had any problems other than my own bank not paying on my credit card when I place an order with them.
Try Fifer they are good people and have great service!!!
He is absolutely correct! he is under no obligation to sell to you! however he may not realize it at this momemt but he needs you as a buyer worse than you need him as a seller!
yep, time to pull the pin. that guy reminds me of a burlington yardmaster who told a shipper that the reason his freight was delayed was because the railroad had more business than it could handle. response = “i am the first guy today who is going to help you with that problem” and he did, they gave the roadhaul to the CNW after that.
Fifer hobby is good (everyone on nscale.org orders from him and loves it, and he’s a member of the site, though I’ve never ordered from him)
I pretty much do all my ordering online now from modeltrainstuff.com, or go to my LHS and order from walthers or the manufacturer. The onlyt other online sites I’ve used aree discountrainsonline and wholesaletrians, both of which I’ve had good experiences with.
On another note, this guy at nscalesupply seems like he has extremely thin skin and never grew up from the age of 8 onwards.
I order exclusively from MB Klein (modeltrainstuff.com) and Toytrainheaven.com both have been great and are generally very well stocked. I would however give MB Klein a slight edge because of the great customer service they have provided me and the prompt and speedy delivery of items.
Sorry to hear about your negative experience but unfortunately it happens. One vendors misfortune is anothers gain.
Brooklyn Locomotive Works refuses to ship outside the US, so there’s no way I can buy anything from them.
I’ve had no problems with N Scale Supply. When I ordered from them I just e-mailed them to find out if the items I wanted were in stock, then I’d ask for a total price including shipping and then send them a money order. I don’t have a credit card and I’m not set up to pay on line, so I have no idea how online ordering/payment works.
Can we keep something in perspective here? This is one post, only one side of the story, about “bad” service, from someone who has only 3 total posts on the forum. To me, this raises questions as to motive. It may be true, but it may also be “tainted” truth.
As always, buyer beware and also internet users beware of what you are reading.
I have been and continue to be a loyal customer of BLW for a number of years.
However, from time to time I would purchase used equipment from N scale Supply over the last five years and was quite satisfied with his service and prices. Then, due to a small communication problem on my part he became quite sarcastic cancelling my order, and refusing to allow me to shop at his site. He appears to be some what off balance emotionally when dealing with customer conflict which is sad because I really did like his site.
He probably has more than enough business without Dave and I as customers so it is maybe a moot point.
I delt exclusively with Scott of N scale supply for years. Then my last transaction with him was my last. When I tried to make sure he had my correct mailing address before he shipped as I had moved all I got was a runaround and then insulted through his emails. My order was shipped back and forth to the wrong address. I now deal with a couple stores in New Mexico that have better prices and friendly service. Try them, you’ll be much happier.
As others have correctly stated, there is no law that says a business must sell to you as a customers except for the anti-discrimination laws. Since this was an internet transaction its probably safe to assume that his refusal to sell to you was not based on race, gender, age etc.
As a word of caution to members - you should temper your harsh words about any business or business dealings that in your mind did not go according to your expectations. It is not unheard of for a business to claim injury to their business, especially if it is found that your side of the story was not completely accurate.
This thread ties into another thread about supporting your local train store. Kinda makes one reconsider supporting your LTS. Remember, good service ain’t cheap!
There is a similar post going on right now about supporting your local hobby shop and it seems there are as many problems as there are positive experiences and that is to be expected. The thing is that when we post experiences here they are there for the world to read and form opinions about a given internet site, retailer or LHS - and then based on these opinions some people will make their decision about their willingness to shop at given location. In other words, these posts can be somewhat influential and I am wondering if any effort is made for the retailer, internet sire of LHS to actually read what we are saying. I doubt if there is but it would be interesting to see how an enterprise would react once they know what is out here for everyone to read. If it were my business, I would want to know.
I disagree a bit … I believe its free speech under the 1st amendment. I dont think there is anyway a business could get away with legal action based on you stating that their shop is terrible and you dont recommend them on an internet forum, its no different than telling your buddy they suck at work. I agree that if you stated blatant lies about their business that may be a different story, but your opinion based on a factual experience is untouchable.
Im glad to see that I am not the only one that got this twisted, sarcastic treatment from him. I, too, enjoyed his sight and was taken aback at the crap that came across in his emails.
I am grateful for these forums for many reasons, learning, keeping in touch with other hobby members, and also for situations like these where we can save someone else, or ouselves, from uncessesary hassles on account of poor customer service. I told N Scale Supply I was going to post my opinions as part of my BBB complaint so Im not trying to hide anything.
Dave.
p.s. Im very happy with what I have seen on Fiferhobby.com … if anyone else has some suggestions please continue to share - thanks!
I agree with what you said about me, which is why I said I was willing to provide all the emails to show that Im not tainting the truth one single bit. I have been a subscriber to MRR since 1992, and only started on these forums for the very reason of how angry I was about how I was treated. He said some nasty things to me in those emails and this is the only thing I can do in my own defense since the BBB cant make him do anything.
You can see from the replies that Im not the only one this has happened to, in almost very similar circumstances … sarcastic emails, orders being cancelled … I’d say that in and of itself validates what I wrote.
I hope your sole purpose for joining the forum and posting here was for more than just venting and warning others about your treatment from N Scale Supply.com. Now that you’ve said your peace, I think we should move on. Thanks.