For those who are unaware of this place’s practices, I share with you a recent experience I had:
I just ordered a few Woodland Scenics items(4 HO autoscene cars and a tunnel portal) from wholesaletrains.com in NY on April 25th (not very big items to say the least). I received them yesterday (5/3) and noticed on my packing slip they charged me $16.49 for shipping!
I thought, they must have made a mistake and thought I chose overnight shipping. Knowing I didn’t receive the items overnight, I went out to their website and did a little digging. I found that at the time of checkout, they sucker you in by saying “normal” delivery is $8.95, but if you read the legalese closely, they basically allow themselves to add whatever amount they want to for shipping after you give them your credit card number. I was under the impression I was paying $8.95 for normal delivery, which is a little steep anyway, and I was charged nearly twice that amount.
I then contacted their customer service department, and their response was that shipping is based on size, weight and destination, and basically I was SOL to get credited the difference. Now, I was born on a day, but I wasn’t born yesterday, and 4 little HO autoscene cars and a tunnel portal would not ship to Australia for $16.49 let alone Nebraska, which is technically only midway across the country from them! I can’t imagine what they charge people on the left coast! I purchased a Lionel Challenger from Trainworld who happens to be in NY as well, and they charged me no more than $6 shipping, and the thing weighed nearly 5lbs with packing!
So there is definitely something stinky going on here! [%-)]
It is common practice, and not a bad one, for online stores to charge a flat rate for shipping, and I’ve taken advantage of some good online train deals. I’ve also known up front what my total shipping was going to be before I clicked on that “submit order” button! I’ve never had a store tell me the normal shipping rat
I checked out their website and wasn’t that impressed with their way of doing business. I was unable to find anywhere where the terms of shipping cost is posted. I guess that pops up when you complete your shopping and go to check out. Most of the retailers that I have done business with have a link on their main menu that spells out their shipping fees. I feel this is kind of deceptive. Probably no illegal, but definately not cool. As for the, what you call “legalese” (I call this mumbo jumbo - I would never draft conditions that look like this - a good attorney writes so that it is understandable) - I usually avoid venders that have such nonsense as they are more concerned about protecting themselves (indemnity clause?) than for doing business and providing customer service.
I would suggest that you contact the Better Business Bureau that serves the area where it is located. If you are really feeling adventurous you could also try the state attorney general’s office for that state. Neither is likely to bring you any monetary satisfaction, but if enough folks complain, sometimes the state does take action against practices it feels are fraudulent.
May I also suggest that you could write them a very well worded, polite letter basically outlining what it is you purchased and how much the product (along with box, fillings etc) weighs and how much it would cost to ship the thing to them using the same form of shipping (use either the UPS or USPS website to get that info. then very politely ask them to explain the difference. Keep a copy of the letter you send them in case the BBB or state AG wants a copy.
And, tell them that you have described your experience on this forum . (I wouldn’t add, “Neener, neener.” though.)
All I had to do to get my BLI J-1 repaired was to describe my problem, send it and US$7.00, and I got it back in three weeks. I’m not Down Under, but I am a lot further away than Nebraska.
Well, i will not be ordering from them, if i can get 4 DPM kits shipped to the UK for $7 from another guy in NY what would this lot charge, i dredd to imagine…
Sorry to hear about the bad experience. Did you print out the receipt at the end of your purchase? (I always double-check the total BEFORE pressing the confirm button to finalize my order.) E-businesses usually also send you a confirmation e-mail listing the items and shipping costs on it.
I’ve only bought one thing from Wholesaletrains.com (a Bachmann EZ Command system) and was only charged what they said they would. However, seeing the vast variety of things that they sell on their sight, I wouldn’t make it a regular habit to purchase things from them. You’re liable to not get much support…
Tom
P.S. Mick, after re-reading your post, I would have to agree with the others. It would be good to take it up with the BBB and WST.com. Thanks for posting the warning. Let us know how things turn out.
Thanks to all for the suggestions, especially Dave with the legal advice!
The shipping info shows up just before you submit, and the way it is worded you think you’re paying $8.95 for “normal” shipping! The thought also crossed my mind that the items I ordered couldn’t possibly constitute the $8.95 charge in the first place.
I had composed a pretty in depth email to them explaining the situation, and the cold, two sentence response I received in return basically irked me! I did folow up that response with another email voicing my disdain towards their deceptive business practices, and that I was going to let you all know about it before I let it happen again to someone else!
I also did some checking and to ship the same package USPS Priority from their zip to Australia…$11
I know we’re out here in the middle of fly over country, but we’re not that far! [;)]
I had recently ordered an Athearn Genesis from them for $239, Great price, yes, but I’m glad I cancelled it because they would have charged me $180 shipping!
Anyway, I’m out $7.54, but I was more concerned with them pulling this same stuff on my fellow train buffs, and felt the need not to let them get away with it!
If I pursue it further (I like the BBB idea) I will keep you updated!
I’ve had items shipped to me fron Calif. to Canada for $3.00 from one seller and the next guy charges $17.50, what gives??? well the 2nd guy decided to charge @$14.00 HANDLING charges(somebody get a rope!!) and there was nothing I could do, luckily I paid very little for the product. ------------watch shipping AND handling
You do have a right to call your credit card company and give them the details they may reverse some of the fees and tell them to go stick there head where the sun don’t shine had visa do it for me once about 7 years ago with a company that thought they could charge what ever they want after stating normal fees are bla bla bla
If you think thats bad look at the $1.00 DVD they sell telling you how to do some of the basic scenery. The shipping on it is like $7.00. $7.00 for a DVD [V]. I quickly removed it from my hopping Cart. I buy ALL Woodland Scenics stuff from Ebay.
Discounttrainsonline is $6.95 flat rate, and that’s what they charged me. I think their web site is pretty well organized, too, and it has pictures of a lot of items. They also beat most LHS’s and a lot of other on-line places. I’m a happy customer.
No problem. Please let us know how it turns out. I’m hoping that there is just some mistake and Wholesaletrains credits your account 5 or 6 bucks.
Oh - this might be technical - but what I wrote was not legal advise. It’s just a suggestion of what someone could do. Legal advise, legally, can only be given when there is an attorney-client relationship. I know - legalese, but that’s the rules (my insurance carrier wouldn’t want me to do otherwise!).
Again - hope it works out!
Dave
I would say that you are lucky that this only cost you $8.00. I’ve heard stories where the lesson cost a bunch more!