being a US prototype model railroader in Germany, I am not really a rare bird . OK, most of the hobby shops do not stock US equipment, but thanks to the internet, sourcing does not seem to be that much of a problem. We have a number of mail order shops that carry a wide range of products - at least in their web pages. But whenever I order anything, it is out of stock and may not be deliverable at all. I am told that this is due to the limited run policy by the suppliers/manufacturers. OK, I can still order in the US, but there is always a 50 to 100 $ p&p charge attached to my order, plus the 1 hr. drive to the nearest customs office. But even then it is not secure that I will get what I want.
Why do mail order shops advertise products they do not stock? I find it extremely frustrating to get only 1 out of 4 locos I have ordered!
Having been down that route recently, I’ve taken to e-mailing first to determine availability.
As to why list items not in stock, being in a web retail business, I found it hard (and expensive) to maintain a full inventory of items I sell. I rely on fast turn around from my suppliers when I order things in. I notice even Walthers has an inventory problem.
Depending on what you are modeling, you might find Euro Rail Hobbies has decent inventory and shipping charges.
Yes, I understand ana appreciate your frustration. I live in the UK and I have the same problem. I buy solely over the internet to feed my hobby (PRR and NYC). I think it is a matter of trying the internet market and e-mailing enquiries before you buy. With locos I always e-mail and make sure that it is exactly what I want and that it is in stock.
The most annoying part of being outside the US is the price of mailing and then also the customs payment that is sometimes due. Our dedication to American trains is expensive. That’s without adding on the ever changing exchange rate.
I would advise to e-mail to make sure what you want is in stock everytime. I would also check the price and shipping with the internet supplier. It’s always worth building up a relationship with suppliers.
Well as a model railroader in Sweden, I can only agree to the above. I have all but stopped shopping through the big internet-shops due to their lack of inventory updates and their shipping costs, wich often is higher then when I order from smaller companys. I find that strange, don´t they have shipping deals with UPS,DHL etc. Considering that I live where I do, with the highest marginal taxes and so on + the fact that I have to pay 25 % tax on the total price INCLUDING shipping, I don´t think I am too grumpy.
Fortunately, I live in and model the US, and don’t have your issues, but I feel your pain.
I try to shop only at Internet sites that actually tell you when you search whether the item is in stock or not. Model Train Stuff is a good one – not only do they tell you whether it’s in stock, but HOW MANY they actually have, and they have real time inventory – as soon as you order something, you can see the number on hand drop by one. Walthers is also very obvious whether an item is in stock or not. Some others, make you play the “will I get it” guessing game – Blue Ridge Hobbies, for example, you have to go to a separate page to determine if your item is in stock, and you often can’t tell until after you’ve ordered it. Toy Train Heaven LOOKS like you can tell what’s there – they distinguish items by the words “available” under the “Buy It” button. Since some links don’t bring up any product, it’s a reasonable assumption that the item is in stock if its link is active.
Do you really have to pay duty on Internet sales and have to drive to the Customs office to pick it up? What a drag that would be.
I remember Kermit singing “It´s not easy to be green” - I sometimes feel that it is not easy to be an mrr having a knack for US railroads. US mail order or internet shops just do not care about foreign customers - a lot of the rates are negotiable. Well, and I do have to pay 10% duty on any amount exceeding about 200 $ plus a 19% sales tax on the total, including shipping. Plus that drive to the customs office for clearance. I live south of Hamburg, but I have to drive all the way to Luneburg, about 50 miles away. God only knows why Luneburg!
And I complain about $9.00 S/H…shame on me. However, I brought this topic up a few years ago on this forum. Shipping and Handling…what is handling? The way I see it is “handling” is paying the worker to pack the box with peanuts and your product. Paying the hired help and the price of the box and the price of the peanuts and the price of the sealing tape should be factored in with the price of the product. The price of the product looks good till you see the handling charges…just a thought.
Look at the bright side…right now, while the US dollar is in the tank, you can get a bit more for your Euro! [:P] Seriously though, bummer about that…if you need a, ahem, “mule”, I can come visit for the mere price of an airline ticket… [:O]
Sorry, Brian, no chance. I´d rather come to Washington State - I have very fond memories of Bainbridge Island - went to highschool there, back in ´73 and ´74. Haven´t been there, since! Made it up to the east coast a couple of times, but never again to the Seatlle area - I am pretty much ashamed of myself!
I was amazed at the cost to ship internationally. I recently sold a couple small items to Europe and Australia. What would have cost me 15-17 dollars to ship to the US and have it trackable was almost 40 to Europe and Australia. And that was with an 8 week delivery estimate. If I want it there in 14 days or less, it was getting handy the 70-80 dollar mark.
It is interesting that you post this. I live here in the US and used to be a Märklinist. In this regard, I encountered exactly the same problems that you are facing - limited dealer support and expensive shipping charges. There are very few Märklin dealers in the US and the prices are very high. I tried ordering from Germany directly but encountered a lot of delays in shipping and high postage costs. This was one of the reasons I gave up and switched to US modelling.
Maybe we need to handle this at the hobbyist level - European modelers in the US helping american modelers in Europe!
We don´t have Euro in Sweden, and the USD have been steadily more expensive, in fact an 80 % rise in 7 months! So I think I will resort to more scratchbuilding and give up on the nice kits and locomotives you have [sigh].
I can´t really complain about prices, even though the US Dollar is going up a little. When compared to Marklin, Roco or Fleischmann, Atlas, Athearn and even BLI locos appear to be a bargain. Overall, the cost of European prototype locos and rolling stock seems to be about a third higher, shipping & handling charges and tax/customs duty considered.
It is just that I cannot get what I´d like to have. [:(!]
High shipping costs are one thing, but waiting 6 WHOLE MONTHS for a few stirrup steps from Walthers? Come on, they can do better than that. Even though the stirrup steps were Grandt Line, (a batch producer), it shouldn’t take that long.
I needed a set of wheels for some boxcars. Went to the Internet to order from Walthers—waited—waited—waited----5 weeks—still waited—checked on order—backordered----waited----[sigh]
Then went to FLHS----ordered through FLHS—Walthers-----waited ----order came in to FLHS. 2 weeks—picked them up next day.[:-^]
Set ordered through internet-----waited ----waited----waited----4 more weeks-[xx(][banghead]----FINALLY CAME IN----some 12 weeks after I made the original order------[sigh]