It seems CMT has sold off their stock to Trueline Trains. I heard this has been in the works for awhile now and now I’m wondering who is going to be next. It seems Tom Tomblin had been blowing smoke up peoples rearends for awhile now on the state of his company and peoples deposits. Remember Tom, if you read this, bad things happen to bad people. [N]
Wow, I was unaware that CMT has been having problems.
According to Tom, and a letter published on his website, he has sold his existing inventory to Hobbycraft Canada. But Tom says that CMT will remain in business and will return once some family health issues are resolved.
Here is the text of his letter.
I have made several purchases from CMT in the past and always found Tom to be an honorable and trustworthy guy.
Rich
Rich, I thought he was too. I inquired about a few things I have on order that I have left a deposit on a week before he sold everything. He told me the rumours were false, he is still in business but he is scaling back. Hobbycraft now owns the website, the inventory and the list of preorders but they didn’t receive any deposits from Tom. He must have 10’s of thousands if not more money in peoples deposits that he hasn’t returned or hasn’t given to Hobbycraft.
It is highly possible that any deposits on preorders have been used to pay the China factory and that Hobbycraft will recieve “credit” for those deposits when the items are made and delivered to them.
Sheldon
The link in one of the above posts gives a number to call for any questions. If it were me, I think I’d be calling that number if I had any questions about any money I had on deposit.
True Line Trains/Hobbycraft is busy sorting all this out, and trying to maintain their normal business operations at the same time.
They are trying to get all this done as quickly as possible, and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing either…
If you have any concerns, contact them. Which is what they want you to do.
I did contact Trueline, they told me that Tom Tomblin has everyones deposits. Trueline is busy sorting out who owns what in regards to items given to CMT on consignment and items that should have been shipped that they bought fron CMT to customers. Hobbycraft Canada/Trueline Trains have the CMT Preorders but they were not given the deposits that go with them.
No.
I suggest those with concerns call like I did as soon as I found out.
The lady I spoke with informed me that the pre-orders that I have open with CMT and left a deposit for have not been affected. She was very helpful and she took down my information. Additionally she informed me that when the items that I ordered do become available, they will contact me to verify my billing information before shipping my orders.
TLT’s website also lists names of folks who should call in specifically for whatever reason. If your name is on that list, it seems it would be in your best interest to do so.
Did you speak with someone from TLT or CMT? TLT has said that any Trueline Train product that has been ordered through CMT they will honour the deposit, even though they didn’t get it from Tom Tomblin. They also said that they hope other manufactureres will do the same thing. I heard that Jason from Rapido MIGHT do the samething, until I hear it from him I will treat it as a rumour.
My conversations with Tom Tomblin has been all over the map. He will tell you what you want to hear to make you go away. TLT says they DON’T have anyones deposits. Tom says they DO. Who do you believe? TLT, a reputable company that is going way above what they need to do do make this problem go away or Tom Tomblin, a person who has lied about his companys situation just so he can hang on to who knows how much money.
The CN Pointe St Charles caboose project is still up in the air. I heard the molds are ready to go. I was also told that if he is sued then who knows what will happen to the molds. From a person that has spent easily 8 to 10 grand just in his store alone and has promoted his store to anyone that asks as being one of the best I found it very upsetting that he did what he did.
From the Rapido Newletter:
[quote user=“Rapido”]
Special Report
CMT/Canadian Model Trains and Rapido Products
Dear Rapido customers,
Please note this only affects you if you have ordered Rapido products from CMT.
The recent changes that affected CMT/Canadian Model Trains took us all by surprise, and I am sure that many of CMT’s customers are concerned about their outstanding orders for Rapido products. As a result, we have endeavoured in the past few days to find out as much as we could about the situation in order to provide you with this update.
1. Orders for Rapido products from CMT
True Line Trains has confirmed to us that it has taken over the order book of CMT. True Line Trains has advised us that it intends to honour orders placed for Rapido products by CMT’s customers. If you have ordered any Rapido products from CMT, please contact True Line Trains at www.truelinetrains.ca to confirm your order.
Time to move on to better Canadian and Ontario dealers. Otter Valley Railroad, Canadian Express Lines, Credit Valley, TMR to name a few.
CASO
Jason Shron sent out an e-mail to his customers that I just rec’d today. It notes that there is a problem with getting the right phone no. for people to call that may be causing some of the confusion/concern…
"Given all that has taken place in the last couple of weeks, I would like to clarify that Rapido does not have, and has never had, a financial or ownership interest in CMT. Rapido has simply been a supplier to CMT. Similarly, Rapido does not have a financial or ownership interest in True Line Trains, although we do share office and warehouse facilities with True Line.
Please note that as of time of writing, the modeltrains.com web site incorrectly states that the telephone number for True Line Trains is 905-738-6445. This is, in fact, Rapido’s phone number. True Line and Rapido have both requested for modeltrains.com to correct this error but it is still there. The phone number for True Line Trains is 905-738-6556. Given the similarity, it is an understandable mistake. However, having Rapido’s phone number on the web site serves only to add to the confusion…"
Just read Trueline site: Trueline Trains purchased all inventory of CMT. end of story.
Its not the end of the story Tatans. TLT buying CMT’s stock isn’t a big deal. The story is Tom Tomblin has deposits for preorders on a lot more then Rapido’s and Trueline products. These two fine reputable companys are honouring deposits made on their products, even though Tom hasn’t handed over the deposits. Maybe he will in the future but all the parties involved doubt it. As for the caboose CMT had planned to produce who knows what will happen to it. Like Jason said, as far as he knows… Toms word doesn’t mean much anymore.
TrueLine Trains has a lot of info on their website:
Read these webpages, maybe it will help reduce the confusion.
This is a quote from the TLT site concerning CMT.
Pre-orders (including ones with a deposit) for items not yet released
We will be honoring pre-order deposits made for forthcoming True Line Trains products.
We are encouraging other manufacturers to do the same for their products.
This is a quote from Rapido concerning CMT.
1. Orders for Rapido products from CMT True Line Trains has confirmed to us that it has taken over the order book of CMT. True Line Trains has advised us that it intends to honour orders placed for Rapido products by CMT’s customers. If you have ordered any Rapido products from CMT, please contact True Line Trains at
TA462,
I cannot recall if you said that you had tried this, but have you tried to speak to Tom directly?
Rich
I spoke to Tom 3 days ago. Tom told me about his situation and he told me that Trueline has the deposits and I should get in contact with them. I spoke to TLT and they say they do not have any deposits for anything. I phoned Tom back and guess what? No answer, I’ve phoned probably 20 times now since my first post and all I get is voice mail. He doesn’t return Email, I don’t even know if his email is still working.
I’ve spoke to Tom many times over the last few months about the rumours including a week before he sold everything to TLT and he assured me that CMT is fine and like everyone else they are waiting for new stock to roll in. A week before!!! No mention what so ever about him selling off his inventory and getting out of retail. Would you trust this guy now? I know one guy that has more then 500 bucks that he gave Tom Tomblin for preorders. I have 240 bucks on stuff. Thats just two people. Tom must have 10’s of thousands of dollars that don’t belong to him. [:(!]
Probably that should be “HAD 10’s of thousands…”