My wife ordered my xmas present 12/4 from internettrains.com and still no sign of it. They don’t answer their phone, saying they are all busy, and they don’t take voice messages. The online tool to track shipments just says they are working on getting it working. Anyone else having problems with them?
Garrett
I’ve ordered from them a few times, and it’s usually taken a while for them to get stuff together (though, I usually pick them for some of the less common stuff, if for no other reason than they list it). Right now, I’ve got an order I placed on 11/19 that’s still unshipped; according to their order status, 2 of the 3 items are definitely there, and they’re waiting on the third.
As I’ve heard it, this is because they don’t really have much, if any, actual inventory, instead ordering from their suppliers when they get orders (for the less-common stuff; they might have an on-hand stock of more common, “major brand” engines and cars, but I’ve never ordered anything like that from them, just detailing parts and the like). But, they’ll still show these things as “in stock”, though it’ll take them some time to get it.
It takes a lot of patience for dealing with them; you’ll (probably) get your order, but shouldn’t expect it to be in quickly. I hate to say it, but you probably won’t have your Christmas present by the big day.
Give it some time during the holidays are very busy,I had the same problem I got my order a before xmas,Good Luck Hope Yu get It Soon.Merry Christmas to you.
I am in the same position, though my order dates back to November 26th. According to their tracking software it still hasn’t shipped. I have been trying for the better part of two hours this afternoon to get through to their customer service department and either get a busy signal or a pre-recorded message telling me to hang up and try again later. The last time I ordered something from them I experienced a prolonged delay on delivery as well, and that was not duirng the holiday season. I certainly do not intend to use them ever again.
My experiences are similar to those listed above, including the phone calls. However, I found that they do respond to email - in my case within a day.
I ordered some HOn3 switches on 11-29-06 and they arrived on 12-18-06.
-George
I’ve got the Walthers GN passenger set ordered from InternetTrains. The initial order was quite slow and, having sent them a fair-sized initial payment, I was concerned when the shipment didn’t arrive after a month. On the 30th day, I phoned them, got an answer, and they claimed to have packed and shipped it that very day. Since then, subsequent cars have arrived as promised. For convenience’ sake, I’ll let the full order stand, but I’m somewhat reluctant to place additional orders with them.
My experience with InternetTrains came right on the heels of placing an order via IHC’s website. It’s been four months since I did so, and I’ve yet to receive the order or anything other than an automated Email acknowledgment that the order was received, they’ve not responded to any of my Email inquiries. Strange behavior for a company that touts its “industry leading” customer service. I’m not holding my breath; and, indeed, my local hobbyshop owner won’t deal with IHC either, claiming they’re perpetually one step ahead of the law. I’ve no idea how true this is, but he’s a good old guy who’s been in the business a long time.
On the upside, I’ve had a great experience dealing via Internet with Walthers and Micro Tools. And, of course, I’ve had a good experience with all my eBay purchases.
Lynda
They are slow. I waited for nearly 6 weeks last spring, no holidays or anything that intervened, for a Micro-Engineering 160’ Combination Bridge. I got it, so they do as they promise, just not very quickly.
I ordered a Spectrum GE70 tonner from them and it took 10 days to get here…I found that unacceptable as the other on line shops that I use gets here within a week.If I order on Sunday I have my order by Thursday or Friday…
Four times I ordered from them. Three times the order took over a month to complete (one took over 3 months before they sent the item). I think they actually have very little in stock but wait and order from the companies they do business with a few days after you place the order. After several e-mails and several phone calls, they finally told me they were waiting for it to arrive from the company (this was after several other excuses). I no longer do business with them. 90% of my business is now done with two shops that are my LHS. One of them is also an online dealer but is very upfront about whether he has the product in stock or not and exactly how long it will be before it is in my hands.
I’ve dealt with a more reputable e-tailer, www.discounttrainsonline.com, several times with good results. But see what happens if you make a one-letter mistake and type in www.discountrainsonline.com, omitting the double-t between “discount” and “trains.” Somebody else has registered that URL, which is probably legal but certainly not very ethical. They are, in effect, hijacking the business and the good name of Discount Trains Online.
One guess who is doing the hijacking. I’d carve Thomas engines out of my own leg bones before I would deal with those guys.
I ordered from them and it took about a month ot get the stuff because some of it was backordered. I finally told them to send the stuff they had and sent the backordered products later. UPS then goofed up and delivered the package who knows where. I’m still waiting for them to re-send the stuff.[:(!]
-dekruif
I followed a tip in another thread about internettrains and sent a note to webmaster@internettrains.com. Got a reply in four minutes, and before they closed two more messages. They upgraded the shipping and the item I ordered to the next level up. Should be here next week. Their phone system leaves something to be desired, and the online order tracking hasn’t been working this month. I’m pretty forgiving, and since they seem to be the only train retailer with a wish list on their site it is the easiest way to get gifts. I hope they can get their act together. Are there any regular customers out there interested in singing their praises? Garrett
Try Wholesaletrains.com. Their site tells your for each item whether it will ship in: Next Day 1-3 days 3-5 days 7-10 days backorder preorder out of stock discountinued. They have done well, based on those notations for each product. Of course I have a distinct advantage, they are about an hour away and I can always go complain live in person! They have a hobby shop attached and it is open to the public.
I made the mistake of ordering a BLI Santa Fe #3751 from InternetTrains on Oct 21st because their web-site said there were five locomotives available. My credit card was charged $328 on that date. A month and a half later, checking their web-site, they were still “processing” my order. Then, it became a “back-ordered” item. Three e-mails, and two phone calls later, I was promised a December 14th delivery date… nearly two months after I ordered an “available” item. No more InternetTrains for me, again.
I just do not understand this! I have never had any problems with internet trains!!!
thanks for the links, the one company is very sneeky bastards arn’t they!!!
I’ve ordered several times in the past, and never had a problem. My latest order is
apparently on hold, but they went ahead and charged my credit card. I emailed
them, but no response. After reading the preceding posts, I am now concerned
about this company. Is someone asleep at the helm ? If I can’t get through to
their “customer service” about a reasonable request for information on how
my order is being processed, I will certainly take my business elsewhere.
I would like to receive my order,and am willing to wait a month or even two months,
but I really don’t like anyone charging my credit card before my order is even
assembled,packed and shipped.[sigh]
Well, I’m not one to normally complain, or bring a dealers name into the subject, but seeing as how it has been started, here is my story.
I am in Australia, I ordered some clearance items on 23/07/2006, I was charged on my M/C the next day, after a month, then two, all I was told was that there were delays from the manufacturer and I could cancel the order if I wished (how do you wait for clearance items that are listed as “available”), I opted to continue with the order, several emails have been sent, with “its still being processed” answers to just a couple.
I tried tracking the parcel with the mail tracking number and came up with it as having been sent in April 2005, I queried this situation but never recieved a reply, on checking just recently, using the same mail tracking reference number, the parcel had been listed as leaving the USA at the start of December, as at the time of writing this, Christmas has come (and will be gone) and still no goods.
I accept the fact that they could be on the bottom of the ocean or elsewhere, but a bit of courtesy certainly wouldn’t go astray, unfortunately, I am a bit more than just an hour away, and phone calls are expensive, I just have to wait and possibly (more than likely)wear it.
I did advise them that I wished to order more items, but was reluctant, then I noticed the items had gone up in price, but at all times, were listed as in stock and available.
And I didn’t mention their name in here once, but yes, same firm unfortunately, yet I dealt with them some time back and the service was quick and commendable, have they changed hands maybe?
Teditor.
Thanks for the link, I tried both, the one with two T’s, and the one with one T, I feel pretty confident now that I can kiss my Aussie dollars goodbye, I think I hold the record for waiting, almost six months now.
Looks like paying more in the local Australian hobby shops will still work out better value.
Mind you, Kato USA, Atlas, N Scale Monster, Caboose, Horizon, others have all been great, guess there’s a bad egg in every basket.
Teditor
my experience: they are S-L-O-W!