They supposedly have a Athearn GP35 in stock that I been wanting but,I’m a little gun shy because of the conflicting comments I have read over the years.
I may give them a call and see if the road name is indeed in stock.
I haven’t purchased anything all winter so after getting a 7% discount offer by e-mail I thought I"d go for it. A paragon Q-2!!Darn,undecorated only.Oh well.Went with the new bachmann pennsy FA.,a box of road bed and some flex track.
A few thoughts on Trainworld:
Yes they are New Yorkers, they don’t mean to sound abrupt, it is just the pace of one of the worlds largest cities.
If you know EXACTLY what you want, and understand their numbering system (which is derived from the mfr #'s , but not the same) call the 800 number and place your order.
BUT understand the girls who answer that line are not NEAR the trains and don’t know anything about trains.
OR, call the regular number if you have questions. They have always answered my questions, checked stock and taken whatever time I needed, and taken my order over the phone - not sure why you had a problem doing that Crandell?
Motley, I’ll get in trouble for this, but get over yourself. You’re not the only customer they have and no operation that large can always “garrantee” that everything is in stock just because some computer says it is. Generally Trainworld has incredibly fast shipping, but things can happen. I know why you got treated poorly - they could see you would be a problem customer the next time - something they really don’t need - their phone is ringing off the hook with people happy to get stuff at such low prices and fast shipping - why spend time arguing with you over 3 days vs 10 days? Maybe you should have bought it some place where you can just carry it home yourself.
YES, they have been slow to get with the modern “online” ordering thing. But if something is not broke (their old way of doing business) why be in a hurry to change it? Abrupt or not, I always enjoy calling there and talking with a REAL person.
I have bought a lot from them over the years, some things at unbelievably low prices on closeout, other things at just a good discount and great service.
I spread my hobby dollars around to lots of different dealers, both by mail/phone/internet and in person. But most all are operations who have brick and mortar stores like Trainworld, even if they are far enough away that I’m not going there
Neather Trainworld or Kleins has the best prices on these, but I suspect Star Hobby in Annapolis MD will remain one of the lowest priced Bachmann dealers with a brick and mortar store.
There is some guy on EBAY now giving them away for $212, what a fool.
Sheldon
Sheldon, I have no problem dealing with trainworld via the phone. In fact, this early time six years ago, I initiated the phone call to place an order, but they refused it. They insisted that I had to download the PDF order form and either fax it (I have no fax capability) or mail it. I don’t recall the item, probably a BLI K4. I ended up getting one from Canadian Model Trains.
This time, things have gone smoothly, except for one minor glitch attributable to me. I entered the wrong card expiration. A lady called me just this morning to verify, and when she ran the new information, it went through. I apologized and she responded cheerfully that it was no big deal. A bit of a change from my first experience. [Y]
Crandell
Sheldon, Get over yourself. What are you the official Trainworld public relations rep or something? First of all, being a “New Yorker” does not give you the leniency to treat customers like A-Holes.
Second of all, I was explaining my experience with them. They lost me as a customer for life. And I spend a lot of money on trains. If you are saying they don’t care because their phone is ringing off the hook, great that explains why they treated me this way.
Get over yourself already, and stop with the attitude.
Motley:
I have dealt many times with Trainworld. They have always treated me with respect. What kind of problem did you have that made you think they were treating you like an “A-Hole” (sic)?
I wonder if that first experiance you had was some sort of “Canada” thing, because I have delt with them for nearly two decades by phone - long before your 2006 experiance - with out ever a problem of any kind or being asked to fax/mail and order.
Motley, Still sounds to me like you called them with an “attitude” because of your preception of the credit card thing - which if I remember correctly, you have complained about before and others have explained to you before.
I have worked in retail a fair portion of my life, in hobbies, electronics, auto service and tools, and have been self employed most of my life. Guess what, I always try to treat customers with respect, but customers often don’t treat sales people with respect - and customers are not always right.
Some people cannot be made happy after a problem, some have unreasonable expectations - like the old cartoon where the store manager says to the unhappy customer - “would you be happy if we give you a new one, give you double your money back, and shoot the clerk who sold you this one?”
Businesses a
First of all, after I waited 10 days, I called them to find out about my order, they were very rude. When they told me it will not ship for at least another 7 days. I told them to cancel my order. That’s when they got even more rude, asked me things like “why did you even place the order”. I told them I didn’t want to wait 17 days before the item shipped. They acted like I was the problem. Then I received a very short rude email from who I believe was the owner. They acted like canceling the order was a huge ordeal or something.
I don’t care if you’re from New York, you should not be treating customers like that.
Now if I would have received an email, or a phone call explaining when it will be shipping, and that they are sorry for the delay. I would have kept the order, and probably would have made more purchases from them. But hey, with their phone ringing off the hook, I guess they don’t have time for that.
I ordered from Tony’s one time, and they didn’t have the items in stock. Tony himself sent me an email explaining this, and when I can expect the items to ship, and apologize for the delay. I was OK with that, and I continue to order from Tony’s all the time! How about that for customer service!
First of Trainworld is awsome as is Model train stuff. At Trainwold they move at a very fast pace, no time for anything and they have always come through but shipping can be delayed by many things, most often people who are shipping to them and then there is a delay (this is New York after all and trucking is still somewhat controled, not as bad as it used to be but still).
Respectfully, fellas, it is what it is for each of us, but I had hoped to convince people that things change in time. I must have changed as I have aged and experienced new things, not just in life and in retirement, but in this still-new hobby to me. Perhaps the culture of trainworld has morphed as well? I was willing to give them a go once more, and wanted everyone to know that it was a markedly different experience, and one I would have to rate as quite positive. So, if anyone is demurring, I would urge you to try again. Clearly, there are many who continue to ‘try again’, and have no problems of any kind. If the price is right, and if you get the item in a reasonable length of time (I have waited for a replacement QSI Titan-U from Tony’s for two months now…the first disappeared in the mail), why not take advantage of their business ethic and price? Help them to continue to help you. God knows we like to beef and bellyache about the cost of the hobby these days.
Crandell
I think that Motely and Phoebe Vet should go back and edit one of the words in their posts before the moderators catch on and lock the thread.
I have ordered online and been to both their Brooklyn and Lyndhurst stores in NY. Of the two ways to shop, I prefer visiting their store. Their Lyndhurst store is the HO store as the Brooklyn store has a limited amount of HO products, mainly O. There is a large amount of O in both stores. Using either method of shopping, you are no doubt dealing with New Yorkers; and I mean that in the nicest way. I live in NC but work out of NY. I am used to it. Personally, to me and like many Southerners, Im the type of person who has never met a stranger. Most NYers, particularly NYCers, are no nonsense/whaddaya want? type about alot of things. Im used to it and I actually find it both humerous and refreshing as they dont really mean to be terse about it, its just how they are. If you remember that “your not in Kansas anymore” when you deal with Trainworld both on the phone, email, and in their stores, youll be all right. If you cant/dont want to deal with that, then this store is not for you.
Gee Whiz…New Yorkers are fine people…I know, I am one!!! I am from long island and I have shopped their long Island store numerous times. My last trip back I was buying a locomotive, and they didnt have my road in the LI shop, but they had it in Brooklyn. The staff at the LI shop is mostly nice. The woman behind the counter broke out her photo album of her and her husbands layout. Cool store. The Brooklyn location is nuts. They have a ‘phone room’ with about 3 or 4 NY women answering phones and taking orders, with what seemed to be on floater going back and forth to the store and the phone room. There were people in their from all over the world spending 1000’s of dollars. I suppose they were businessmen in NYC, and stocking up before they returned home. They had my loco behind the counter when I got there. They seemed very nice, if not incredibly busy. the brooklyn location is huge, and it only has a small store. I ordered from them on the phone once, and I had a pleasant experience, with my order arriving in CA within a few days.
Ease up on the New Yorkers!!! we are people too! [:D]
When I lived on Long Island, I used their Long Island store, and I had been to their Brooklyn store many times but always by train. (You take the (F) to Ditmas Avenue). One day I was driving in from my parent’s house in Pennsylvania, and so I called them to ask for directions. They asked where I was coming from and so I said “North Dakota”. Then I told them ok, I was going to come over the Verrazano Bridge. At least that made the job somewhat easier for them. I got there just fine, but the item I wanted was in the Long Island store. They told me it was about a half an hour drive. (HaHaHaHa…) LION is a native Noo Yorker, and him knows better than that. You could not do that even at 2AM in the morning! But the LION made the drive anyway, hadn’t been out there in years.
It does not matter where you are going in NYC, by train or by car, nothing is less than one hour.
ROAR
Nonsense. I can get from GCT to Times Square in about 10 minutes.
On foot.
Being from Staten Island, I used to frequent their Brooklyn store a lot. However you cannot depend on their back ordered items ever comoing in (My Wife is still wating for a Lionel M & M car she ordered two years ago as a present to a tinplate modeler). Once in the store the staff is knowledable.
BUT with the Verrazano bridge being $13 toll I could order online from MB Klien or Toy Train Heaven for less even with shipping.
Backordered LIONEL is a LIONEL problem, not a Trainworld problem.
$13 toll bridges, another reason to stay away from NYC.
Sheldon
I, too, have been a victim of their rudeness. They are very difficult to deal with in the case of defective merchandise. Their technical help is extremely limited as well. Once the sale is made, they don’t want to know you. They would prefer no foot traffic or face to face transactions. They really are more a telephone/internet enterprise. As big as the internet is, I suggest you do some shopping elsewhere. In spte of what they may say, all sales are actually FINAL. Buyer beware.
I have to say this is a first in exchanges with LION; I actually agree with everything he’s said! LOL
He’s hit the nail on the head about Trainworld. They have alot going on (not to say they don’t think you’re important). I would tell anyone visiting trainworld/trainland (try catching the F train after work and getting there before they close on a weekday, that’s an adventure, lol) not to expect to casually walk in there and expect to shoot-the-blank with the staff for the following reasons:
- There’s a huge possibility that the knowledge of trains is VERY minimal (depending on who you talk to)
- They are taking calls as well as dealing with other customers
I prefer to phone my orders in with them rather than use their online system. I’ve never been comfortable with it and noticed that it was inconsistent with their real inventory. I don’t knock them for it as I’ve been accustomed to calling in or walking in there for years.
I’ve found them pleasant to deal with (in-person and over the phone) in a sense that they answer my basic questions about availability. I don’t expect to ask anything else beyond that. You’ll have to best experience if you do your homework before you go. The way I see it, it’s the least one can do for good prices [:)].
I can see how some folks can be put off by the perceived “attitude” of whoever is answering the phone but it’s not personal. Being a New Yorker, I inherently understand that. They simply operate on a “let’s keep it simple” principal. I’ll email an inquiry regarding a particular product and they reply, without the “thank you for your email and your interest in yada yada yada…” (lol) simply with a copied and pasted table showing the entire inventory of products associated with that item number showing all paint schemes, roadnumbers or variations. Blunt, but effective (for me) as I can