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Post by JKP on May 26, 2023 11:16:28 GMT
After reading the current Trainz thread, I've thought about my overall train buying experience, I'll have to say I have been happy with all my train purchases with a few very minor issues(I'm not talking about new defects or warranty problems), just who I have bought from, @ train shows, online, or hobby shops I have visited. I still buy trains, mainly from just 2 vendors, Charles RO and Gryzboski and occasionally TK Hobby,(unless some one has a special run, I have a couple cabooses on order). Rockymountaineer had said something about we buy from who we like which is true. I like dealing with the 3 vendors I listed. How has your overall train buying experience been.
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Post by Country Joe on May 26, 2023 11:47:31 GMT
Most of my purchases have been from Mario's Trains, Roundhouse South Electric Trains, and train shows. Roundhouse South, a 4 hour round trip, is my closest O gauge train store. I haven't had any problems with any of my purchases so I'm a happy camper.
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Post by af3020 on May 26, 2023 12:22:43 GMT
It would be nice if everything in the world of purchasing (or anything else for that matter) was 100% perfect. Unfortunately, buying and selling is like any other process and, as anyone who has ever dealt with processes will tell you - 3 standard deviation confidence limits exist for a reason. I suspect my situation is typical - the vast majority - as in say 99+% of the transactions - have occurred with no problems. The remaining less than 1% has had something go wrong. My view is, it isn't any fun to have something go wrong, but going wrong is the extreme exception and not the rule.
In those situations where something did go wrong I would estimate at least 95% of those were successfully resolved. Indeed, the number of instances where the problem was not successfully resolved are (for me anyway) so rare that I have to really spend some time trying to recall them. In short, from a process standpoint, the remaining situations where something went wrong and did not get resolved to my satisfaction are so rare as to amount to nothing more than random process variation.
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Post by Adam on May 26, 2023 12:39:00 GMT
I've purchased from a variety of sources including Menards, Charles Ro, Trainworld, Marios, Pat's, Trainz, Roundhouse South (once on a visit), train shows and, yes, eBay. I have purchased some accessories from Amazon as well. I would say without exception, I have not had trouble with the few returns or support requests I have submitted. I don't know if I am lucky or what but less than 5% of the products have given me any trouble.
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Post by rtraincollector on May 26, 2023 12:59:12 GMT
I have not had problems with my many purchases as for customer service except a couple, and I don't even remember who the sellers were. My point I guess more frustration of description and what was actually the case. When you get something not even close to what you were believing you where ordering, then to me that is a problem. When I sell I try in telling every little thing I know about an item. ( I've been burnt on eBay as a seller even when doing that. ) As a seller ( when I do sell ) I want the buyer as happy at buying as I'm in selling it, or at least knows what I know about an item, so no surprises. I hate sold as is look at pics and they give you one pic, tells me they don't want to sell it. Or as only description see pics as they are the description But as a whole I have had very few items that I wanted to or did return, and that's why I got frustrated with the quality of items I have gotten over the past month, I shouldn't have to return an item because of inadequate description.
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Post by ptc2 on May 26, 2023 17:46:34 GMT
Charles Ro has handled most of my train purchases and the experiences with them has been excellent.
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Post by david1 on May 26, 2023 22:35:09 GMT
I rely on the secondary market now a days just because prices for new are out of reach for me. Buying used is not without risk but you can less the risk by doing some homework. Research what your buying, look at the pictures, in another words do your homework. Pricing too high,pass it by. Sellers who sell as is, keep looking. Unless you really know the product and realize what issues it has.
Most of the products I have bought have Been worth my time and effort, for instance I bought a 2018 SD70M in the EMD scheme. Apparently the person who had it before was ham handed. The handrails were bent, the snow plow was broken, sun shades on the cab were broken and a big thumb print on the roof that I guess someone tried to glue the sunshade back on. the mechanism was just fine , no issues. I got the engine for half of what it was worth but after my work and getting back to like new it is now has a place in my fleet. Btw it cost me nothing to get it back to like new and just a little patience, and luck finding touch up paint in hobby Lobby, I got it done.
Dave
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Post by atsda on May 27, 2023 1:41:21 GMT
I would have to say that my purchase experiences and results have been good overall; although, I have not made many purchases. Early on (when getting back into the hobby about 17 years ago), I did buying through bidding on eBay with good success. A significant amount of my inventory was purchased in this way. With some additional money spent on repairs and refurbishing, I came away with trains I operate and enjoy. To date, I have not purchased anything from the vendors that have been name in this post so far. What I have purchased recently in terms of accessories and locomotives and rolling stock have come from what I would call ‘private sales’. That is, from the guy that does my repairs, and from a local ‘train warehouse’ (that features primarily post war O gauge) These transactions have been in-person, where I can get my hands on the equipment. I have been very satisfied with the purchases over the last year from these sources – everything works well – no problems. Alfred
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Post by harborbelt70 on May 27, 2023 9:00:13 GMT
Some experiences have been better than all the rest. Those that turned out to be complete duds are very limited but these where there was some manufacturing defect in the product are too numerous for my liking. Basically I don't buy much at all any more and while cost and space are important factors the main one is really lack of faith in the main manufacturers/importers' QC. The conspicuous exception is Scott Mann's 3rd Rail and GGD but his output is limited.
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Post by dennym57 on May 29, 2023 2:56:27 GMT
I would say my purchases were more than satisfactory. Any problems I had were self inflicted.
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Post by roadrunner440 on May 30, 2023 0:59:30 GMT
I would have to say that my purchase experiences and results have been good overall; although, I have not made many purchases. Early on (when getting back into the hobby about 17 years ago), I did buying through bidding on eBay with good success. A significant amount of my inventory was purchased in this way. With some additional money spent on repairs and refurbishing, I came away with trains I operate and enjoy. To date, I have not purchased anything from the vendors that have been name in this post so far. What I have purchased recently in terms of accessories and locomotives and rolling stock have come from what I would call ‘private sales’. That is, from the guy that does my repairs, and from a local ‘train warehouse’ (that features primarily post war O gauge) These transactions have been in-person, where I can get my hands on the equipment. I have been very satisfied with the purchases over the last year from these sources – everything works well – no problems. Alfred I use Gryboski's. I did attend the Sacramento Sierra division tca meet last sat and bought a couple of items. First bought a prewar Lionel 48w whistling tin litho shack, mint in the original box with insert. paid $20, bay prices 40-75 if u can find one which are not mint. Also bought 2 prewar tin litho cars Lionel 653 and 655, both in excellent if not mint shape. $20 each as the collector was unloading some of his prewar inventory. These cars sell on eBay from $30-60 depending on condition. My prewar 1684 train is now complete with 6 cars. Also picked up some MPC mint refer and boxcars for $10 each, on eBay $20-30. Bought 2 postwar catalogs, 1954 and 1956 mint in sleeves for $25 for both. It was great reading those catalogs and seeing all the pricing and what was being offered back then. The art work is excellent. My wife and I had a great time talking to all those old time collectors.
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Post by atsda on Jun 1, 2023 3:24:06 GMT
Roadrunner, Sounds like you have had good purchasing success, and are a discerning buyer. Good that you completed the 1684. Alfred
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Post by dlagrua on Jun 1, 2023 19:56:09 GMT
My purchases of new and NOS stuff have mainly come from Joe Gryzboski, eBay and a NY upstate hobby shop, the name I cannot remember. Have purchased occasionally at Allentown and years back at the silver/blue halls at York, from Trainland and Nicholas Smith there. I cannot recall that I ever had a bad transaction but buying the simple stuff tends to minimize the that.
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Post by rtraincollector on Jun 1, 2023 20:13:32 GMT
Okay here we go. The 408E and it's passenger cars, I need to look at the cars better the one car jumped the track but not sure if it just happened or a bit earlier and didn't notice when engine jumped the track. ( the engine has two bad wheels that I need to replace. )
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Post by atsda on Jun 2, 2023 2:56:38 GMT
Dennis, Good to hear from you - it's been a while. At some point, give an update about your layout. Alfred
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