Just got back from M.B. Kleins in Cockeysville and I’m pretty P.O.'d at them! Was going to get some Woodland Scenics turf and a Lionel Thomas set but after the he following incident took place I walked out:
I went to the Woodlands display and they had one bottle of the Earth that I needed but no Grass. i asked the sales guy if they had anymore in stock and he told me to go to the computer in the back of the store, pull up thier website to see if any in stock and get him the product#.
First red flag, why did I have to check the stock isn’t that his job?
They had 2 in stock, I got the number and let him know there was 2 left and here’s the #. He then tells me to go back to the computer, order it online and pay with my credit card, bring the receipt to up front and give it to the girl at the register. She will then call in back and someone will bring it up front. I have to use a credit card they have no other option, no check, no money order, no CASH! (even if you are already physically in the store)
Apperantly the have split the 2 stores, brick and mortar and web into 2 seperate entities, because if they take it out of stock in real life the website still thinks it has a few in stock when in reality it doesn’t. But if they need something on the shelf they will pull it from stock and remove it from the computer but they couldn’t do that right now for me even tho I had cash in hand!
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t there computer/cash register systems that allow the store to scan a products barcode at checkout and it removes the item from the inventory logs?
If you’re gonna run a store and website maybe you should invest in the proper equiptment instead of putting your customers thru all these hoops.
On top of all this they were making a big deal out of their newly expanded store.
I looked at the guy and asked him if he was kidding? He said
I haven’t set foot in Kleins since they moved.
The way they run it now is a friggin joke.
Carl T.
I was there the 18th. I admit I was a little surprised by the warehouse/retail split. But MB Klein features having accurate online inventory for mail order, so I can understand it. And ordering on their computer and paying by credit card was no big issue for me. Actually, I saved money. Since it was being “shipped” to my home address out of state I paid no sales tax. Since I was picking it up in the store I paid no shipping charges. What a deal!
I really like their up to date inventory. Before going by the store I knew what they had. And my last mail order arrived in 2 days with everything I ordered. So it may be a little quirky buying via internet in the store, but it works out in the end - at least for me and I saved money.
Enjoy
Paul
Never been to their store… but I have purchased online.
I was looking for some woodland scenic stuff but couldn’t find a local retailer that had hours I could make, so I emailed a place in Frederick (with later hours) and they were very nice, found they could place and order, and I picked up my stuff a few days later… their prices may be higher, but with service like that they earned a new customer.
Baltimore…
I get so tired of seeing dirty dimly lighted stores that look like a warehouse for toilet seats. LHS need to clean up their act. I have been quoted as saying , “That if I were Lionel (or MTH, Atlas, etc.) I would tell these guys to clean up their act and learn how to provide customer service.” First thing, a brick and mortar store needs to be open when the employed shop. Stores open from 9-5 are selling to the unemployed. Stores need to display the product so I can see it. (No short jokes needed.)
Kleins will someday realize that they should have never let the customers touch that computer. Can you say hacker!!! [soapbox]
Stopped by Klein’s today. O gauge section is twice the size it was downtown. Store is bright,nice size layout and the prices are competitive. Using the computer is a slight inconvenience, but it is no different then placing an order at home. I like the fact that the inventory on the website is update. Happy shopper.
I ama amazed by the number of people who don’t see anything wrong with being forced to use a credit card at a store! The law says you have to take legal tender it’s not an option. And as for it being the same as ordering from home it’s not, you are in the store not at home, if I was at home I would order it from home. I don’t use credit cards for piddly little purchases like $8.00 bottles of ground foam and in this economy why are you forcing people to use a credit card to buys toys? It seems like the MB Klein shills are out in force on this forum and the other big one out there! At least a few others see that there’s something wrong with a store treating it’s customers that way. Pplus, while I was there they said I could e-mail Ted Klein from thier website to complain as his e-mail adress is on the site, NO IT’S NOT! :
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