Hello Fellow Rail Nuts,
Here as of late, I have been searching the world over looking for Proto 2000’s E8-A and E8-B set
in undecorated. Granted I know this has been out for a long time but, as usual I have goofed off til the last minute and now, I cant find a set anywhere. Next time I will buy it when I see it. Needless to say I have e-mailed several different internet stores and most of the time I get the “sorry out of stock” email in return. But one thing that drives me crazy are the “Silent Websites” !!! For example I have e-mailed Trainworld several times and NEVER get a reply. I dont know why they bother to put a ad in Model Railroader,you cant find out stock info or anything. If someone on here just happens to work of Trainworld or any other SILENT SITE take this under advisement " IF YOU REPLY WE WILL BUY !!!"
Well, from reading other people’s posts about their experiences with Trainworld, they don’t respond to emails. They are primarily a mail order site and to get information like that you have to call them.
Reed
I have had the same problem with some hobby shops and manufacturers. One time I sent an e-mail saying that I was not going to beg to buy the product and if I did not get a reply, I would not buy. I got a reply.
When I saw the thread title, I thought it was about websites that don’t hit you with a blast of sound the second the page opens. I work at my computer all day and late into the evening and usually listen to internet music broacasts through my headphones. [{(-_-)}]
Hate it when I get blasted by some crap some idiot webmaster thinks is “kewl.” Can’t click off fast enough.
[End of off-topic rant]
My businesses are all web-based and I know it’s hard to respond fast enough to emails to please everyone, but it’s not unreasonable to expect a reply within one or two business days.
I sent Trainworld 2 e-mails abaout 2 days apart, 3 months ago. Still waiting? No, I will never buy from them. If they can’t respond to my e-mails, what does that say about service??? I have seen a lot of positive replies about Trainworld, but most of you have had the time to call repeatedly to check stock, prices, and make an order. I agree, if you are going to have a website, work it properly. Maybe they don’t NEED my business, just as I don’t NEED their products.
I work in the printing trade, and e-mail has gotten to be a major communication tool as far
as getting ok’s and customer relations. Any body that dosen’t see the hand writting on the wall
and uses the tools at hand will in fact join the dino grave yard[2c]
I’ve kept records of my e-mail and less than 15% of my e-mail is responded to, the same with telephone calls never returned after conversing with a machine, apparently e-mail and telephone messages have increased @ 50% BUT the actual communication is DOWN 30%. ----more calls–less communication. aaaahhhhh–technology----ain’t she great!!!
You should keep in mind that Trainworld does not appear to be a “normal” hobby shop operation. It appears they buy items in huge lots at greatly reduced prices, and pass the savings along to their customers.
They deal in volume, not customer service.
If you want something they are advertising, then they are a great place to shop. They do not appear to have the staff to answer each and every e-mail. A friend of mine has phoned them several times and has received answers to his question this way. This appears to be the way to go if you want to deviate from their listed and published items for sale.
If receiving a personal e-mail is more important to you than getting good deals, then you have made your choice.
I’ve had the silent treatment from Bachmann on E mail request to their service department for prices on parts for my Spectrum HO Decapods, now one month old. Ho hum, guess I’ll phone them, but it will likely cost me more to do so than the parts are likely to cost. I wonder why they bother listing an E mail address?
FundyNorthern,
A personal e-mail is not the point. Trainworld puts out a 4 page ad (always the same ad) every month, but they fail, in nearly every item, to list roadnames. I could see not listing actual unit or road numbers, but come on, they can’t tell you if they have a Santa Fe or a Missouri Pacific? My e-mails to them were to find out if they had ANY Santa Fe diesels, and I got no reply. Instead, M B Klein sold me 4 P2K locos at $30 each, and T and K Hobby sold me 2 more at just over $30. The deals are everywhere, so I will go where someone actually WANTS my business. I feel that if you can’t respond on the internet, don’t have an internet site. Their site is a waste, as it has NO INFO. Just prices, and either “select roads” or “assorted roads”. It never changes, and obviously requires no work to maintain. Also, wouldn’t you think it more efficient to respond to e-mails than to have to answer the phone?
I would like to take advantage of some of their deals, but I am not going to beg them to take my money.