Has anyone placed or received an order from Rio Grande Hobbies lately? Placed an online order, sent an email and even called during posted business hours for 2 days straight (left a message). No return email, package, or phone call. The past couple of orders I have placed with him have been real slow to get from Georgia to Virginia. woo woo woo's, BLW, and even Feather River are great for service and prompt shipping (usually 2-3 days after placing the order I have it in hand). Seems like Rio Grande's quality has dropped since it was sold and moved from Kentucky.
I recently ordered from RGH. They have been working on a new server. Eventually, they will roll out a new website/order system with some improvements. Last week, they reported some Email problems. (I don't know if their ISP has converted from BellSouth.net to ATT.net.) I'm no techie to know how the ATT/BS merger worked. All I know is ATT has had a lot of work to do. I don't know if any of this can affect phone/internet service. UPS service from GA to KY has been very fast. I usually get 1/2 day service.
4N-Scale has been my primary supplier for years and I have been with Wayne since he bought the business and moved it to GA. As was mentioned above, he is going thru a software conversion and maybe this is causing some gliches. Anyhow, I don't understand his not returning your phone call. His website says he has an new phone number. I assume you used the new number?
Just got an order from Wayne this week. Still trying to understand the new invoice. Order included FVM boxcars, new release Atlas covered hoppers and March MTL cars.
Actually talked with Wayne twice this past week on a billing issue, which he straightened out right away. He had been waiting a restock of something in an order I placed and hadn't shipped. In our conversation I canceled that part of the order and I got a notice that my order shipped Thursday. I haven't done much business with 4NScale but all has been satisfactory.
I've used 4Nscale for years. Both before and after Wayne purchased the business. Wayne's service has always been top rated. As was mentioned he is going through some new software installations. I just received my Ahearn Challenger last week. This is just a temporary little glitch. Hang in there with him. See ya Ron
Guys- The following is a personal thing with me and absolutely NOT the policy of Trainboard. I also am not familiar with the actual facts in this thread but make the same as a general statement. Every time, and it happens every few months or so, here or there, someone has either a question about a particular e-tailer or a complaint about that business. Either way, it has never failed that there will be a quick degeneration into "XX is a better dealer"or " have never had a problem with YYY, try him" Things soon either turn into a plug fest for one's favorite dealer or serious damage can be done on a public board to a person in business, either warranted or unwarranted. If unwarranted, analogize it to someone going over to your boss and lying to him about something that you allegedly did which is completely false. Or, if you have your own business and someone takes out an ad in a newspaper (our board is quite like a virtual newspaper) slamming your business without justification. I would urge the complainant to deal with the retailer in private, and/or complain to whichever authorities govern that person's business, whether it be E-Bay or the Consumer Affairs Bureau where the business is located. That is the best way to get satisfaction from the person who allegedly wronged you. If vengeance is your goal in posting (AND I AM NOT ACCUSING ANYONE IN THIS THREAD OF THAT) then posting a slam is the best way to accomplish that without the other party having an opportunity to explain the other other side of the coin. One way or the other, it ain't fair.
I have placed orders with several E-tailers with whom I usually get great service. All have been slow to ship the product I ordered. Maybe it is an inventory problem but all items were shown to be in stock when I ordered. I also have noticed the prices on foreign items such as Peco turnouts have jumped considerably probably due to the week dollar these days.
It has been a year ago that I have ordered some things (from Europe), which I had to cancel because I lost my job. This wasn't a problem for Wayne, and my previous orders were always completely correct. New software can be tricky, but I believe Wayne is doing a great job.
I actually ordered something from RGH and Wig-Wag on the same day.I placed the order 2 weeks ago and I just received shipment confirmation from Wig-Wag yesterday but havent heard from RGH.Wig-Wag however did send me an email stating they were backed up from a show they attended so I was happy atleast they told me it would be a delay in shipping.I would say just have patience with them.
I'm with Foth on this one. I'd guess that this type of thread comes up about every 60 days, and usually degenerates into a "he says-you says" type of argument. Every time I stomp on a thread like this, I hear the same argument: I'm not allowing a TB member to fully express his or hers warning against a particular vendor. For me, these threads don't wash any longer. Pick a vendor, any vendor--we have threads about their poor service, difficulty contacting via phone or email--pick your complaint! And spare me any arguments that I am protecting advertisers--we just don't do that. I don't even know who our advertisers are. I think now may be the time to move beyond this forum, or others, for redress on a single order. If you honestly deal with your suppliers--though it may take some patience--you'll resolve the issue far more quickly than you would resolve it here. You can detail every slight, every ignored email, every busy signal or unanswered call here at TB--but it's not going to get your problem resolved any faster. My position is: pick a vendor, pick a problem--it's happened to all of them!
I have one pet peve: Threads like this. I used to participate in this kind of thread just to balance it for my fav vendor. On general principle I am glad Trainboard does censor them. That said I find them ineffective and an overall waste of time for all parties.
I've locked this thread, but only after some thought on my part. As I've said earlier, "Pick a vendor, pick a complaint. . . ." Posting a complaint here does not help resolve it--we are not mediators for the poster, and these threads usually lead to a plaintiff vs. defender argument. I'm tired of the rants about poor service from one and great service from another, and I'm confident that most Trainboard members feel the same.
