For the prices that trainworld has, I’ll glady “suffer” a little inconvience and call. Yes a full service website, with up to the minute stock levels posted and secure ordering would be more convinient, but hey, that’s why the prices at 7-11 and other Convenience stores are what they are.
Actually, while the initial investment could be heavy, full service websites are intended to save $$ in the long run. Look at why so many companies have gone to automated operator systems (“press one if you…”). They are far cheaper than paying a staff of real operators.
Yes, these automated operators are generally despised. But if used correctly (unlike my health insurance company [:(!][}:)]), they can be used effectively. Same thing applies to websites.
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QUOTE: Originally posted by MAbruce
I suspect TW is family owned.
Stop & think of Walthers. They have a geat site plus great staff.
Just suffered through their website again looking without success for what I thought whould be a staple product, Atlas N Scale flex track. Either they don’t carry it or it is too well hidden in their pages or I’m just too blind to see it.
We pretty much discussed their website quality to death in another thread, but here’s just another example of how a website that looks as if a child designed it has sent a customer elsewhere. It took less than a minute to find it at Standard Hobby, so it looks like they’ll get this order.
Wayne
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QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive3
I don’t understand some of this flip-flop of technology. Some of you say here you get “all warm and fuzzy” dealing with a real person, hearing a voice,taking more time to do the old fashioned way what technology has made simpler, but then you all talk about the high-tech DCC. It seems to me the amount of time it takes for 1 person to put you on hold, walk back, find the ladder, and climb 5 shelves to see if what you want is in stock would be better spent answering 10-15 simple e-mails or checking inventory on a screen. Wouldn’t you compare Trainworld to DC and most others to DCC? Doesn’t something seem kind of backwards here?
TW doesn’t climb a ladder for me. Next time, I will ask them.
Trainworld is also known o be a clearing house for factory overstock which may explain the low prices you see. I’ve dealt with them and they ship promptly.
I’ve ordered from Trainworld twice. Both were outstanding experiences and I would definately buy from them again. If Trainworld wants to keep its phone order only format, current stock checking procedures etc., that’s their call. If I don’t like it I can go elsewhere. Bttom line - their prices are good, I know right then and there what is in stock (and do get to choose my roadname on some of their sale items if they have it) have always got very prompt shipping, excleent job of packing etc etc. Given their trackrecord with my orders and from what I can tell, a bunch of other folks, they’ll continue to get a chunck of my hobby budget. Yeah, they’re old fashioned but so what.