I’m a beginner when it comes to ordering online so sorry for the dumb question. I ordered some on sale out of stock items from Walthers a few weeks ago. It sounds like Walthers will be not be receiving any more shipments of the product I ordered. On their site it says,
"Not currently in stock at Walthers, Expected: Unknown This product is on-sale today for $16.98
Some dealers have received this item from Walthers in the past. Click here for a listing."
When I click on the link, it shows me a list of about 10 hobby shops that have received the item. My question is, if I order from one of these shops (assuming they still have the items I’m looking for) will it still cost only $16.98, or will I have to pay whatever the hobby shop is asking? Thanks in advance for any help.
I have never encountered anything like this, but my guess is that you’d have to pay whatever the hobby shop’s asking price might be because they are not obligated to honor Walthers’ on-line sale prices.
I never order something that is clearly indicated as not in stock with an unknown delivery date.
The real answer is a little convoluted to explain in a post…but basically any one shop has different ways in how they handle Walthers sale items.
The Walthers website says something like they have found that you may only have about a 25% success rate in finding an item you are looking for from one of the dealers listed…I’d be surprised if it were really that high.
Lots of variables of course…but it never hurts to try and call up the shops listed and see what they say…if they have it in stock, and then find out how that particular shop handles sale prices. Every shop is different to some degree in that regard.
I would say just because they are a Walthers dealer does not mean that they participate in the Walthers monthly sale.
First, see if the manufacturer has a web site. If so, see if they still list the item in question. If so, Walthers will likely get it, and ship to you at the sale price.
Or, send Walthers an e-mail or call them. They’re usually quite responsive, and may have some idea of whether or when the item might arrive.
You might also want to check some of the other online vendors – if they show the item in stock, their price might be close to the Walthers price, perhaps even lower. Then I’d cancel the Walthers order and get it from the other vendor.
Just be sure the vendor shows it “in stock” as opposed to “available” – some of them say “available” when they don’t have it, but as far as they know, they can order it from their wholesaler.
I’ve already emailed walthers asking if they knew when the item would be in, if ever. This is the response I got.
“Unfortunately the availability date of your backordered items is still unknown. This does not mean that we will not be receiving theitem, it just means that we have not been advised of an availability date from the manufacturer. You can also check availability dates on our website (www.walthers.com) by inserting the item number in the “quick search” option at the top left hand side of the page.”
I already knew all of this, but it was nice of them to respond. The item in question is Walthers Five-Unit Articulated Double Stack Well Cars Ready-to-Run (N scale). So, I guess my options are,
Look at the availability at the manufacturer’s website. If the manufacturer is listed as Walthers, where do I look?
Call or email the hobby shops
Look at other online dealers. I’ve already done this a little bit but none of them are participating in the sale. The cars are about $31 instead of the sale price of $16.
That’s actually GOOD news. Some manufacturer, likely in China, is making the item FOR Walthers. Walthers just doesn’t know the production/shipping schedule. But it’s pretty clear the item hasn’t been discontinued – they’d surely know that.
So, sooner or later, you’ll get the item at the sale price.