"In stock at Walthers" - who to buy from?

(preface: I don't want to start a discussion about the merits of paying full price at a LHS or a critique of frugality)

Walthers lists two items I need as "in stock". Total list price is about $85. Shipping is 10% (~$8.50). I like that their website shows real-time inventory status. I can order from them or I can save 20% to 30% ordering through a retailer. That's about $20.

I'm assuming (?) that since they are in stock there are shops out there that can take my order, fill it through Walthers without long delays or shorting, and save me money. I'm looking for recommendations on mail-order outlets that handle this situation well and communicate well. I would appreciate inputs either here or offline. I want to avoid situations where an order is accepted and either a) I receive it short items or b) it goes into limbo and I'm sitting around scratching my head for months wondering what's going on (while my layout progress grinds to a halt).

I will hastily add that I fully realize the potential for reasonable delays (up to a month) and the possibility that the shop will get back with me indicating that an item is, in fact, not available. Thanks.

 

Of the adverstisers at this site, the following have very low shipping. Please check the item price at the retailer.

Wig Wag
M.B. woo woo woo
Internet Trains

 

Jack, I have had the same problem before. I think the best thing is to find a dealer you can talk to that you trust who will keep tabs on your order. We had one here in Maine that would order stuff and never follow up, a year later they would have it and try to get you to pay for it whether you wanted it or not. I have had good luck with Feather River and some train store.com (Ed in N scale) for this kind of special ordering. Just make sure the dealer gets your message that you want to know the order status. Walthers should be a few days to a week for in stock stuff, at least from my experience. I also know some dealers charge a premium for ordering from walthers, which is nuts.

 

With Walthers, GOOD LUCK. Even if it shows "in-stock", I wouldn't take that to the bank. And in my experience the chain of procurement from Walthers, through never-never-land and possibly another middleman before arriving to your LHS or Mail Order/eTailer shop is anything but smooth or even remotely going to be sure thing.

I have yet to place an order of more than one item through a Walthers dealer and have it all show up.

Another piece of advice if you do decide to order directly from Walthers. Be advised that you will get TONS of junk mail from them after the order. I made the mistake of having them ship my order to my work address because at the time I was living in an apartment and mail tended to 'disappear' there. The order was filled and arrived quickly, along with no less than 2 catalogs, flyers, and other assorted crap per week. Looked real good when the rest of my company was getting hi-tech mags, research materials, and other business-related mail and mine was stuffed full of model train catalogs. VERY professional.

Again, good luck!

 

Thanks. Shipping charges are really secondary to my objective of timely response and follow-up. In fact, the discount percent is as well. I would rather get 20% of MSRP on small stuff (<$100) and actually have it show up than 30% and have it show up partial and late. That is really the basis of this inquiry.

 

I was under the impression that some shops dealt directly with Walthers as a distributor. Was this incorrect?

Sounds like you're in the same boat I am.

Yep. I already do. Thanks for the response.

 

I agree with Doug, the inventory report is not reliable. Stores like those mentioned above have multiple sources to order from. Even then, there are situations out of Walthers or any other wholesaler's control where certain items are out of stock and not being made. There are also situations where certain items have not been made due to the lack of wholesaler orders: wholesalers don't re-order 5 items from the manufacturer to satisfy 5 dealer orders.

"Out of stock" can mean weeks to years waiting (Chameleon paint stripper, anyone?); ask any LHS about their backorders. Train stuff is NOT supermarket stuff.

In short, get what you can get where you can get it. Walthers is likely not the answer.

Alan

 

Alan - your comments poke at the root of this problem. I don't think any of us really expect an on-line "in stock" indication to be 100% reliable. Undoubtedly, this is in large part due to the very things you mentioned. Hence, my question, "who (among the retailers) handles this well?"

Putting it another way; chalk me up as a satisfied customer if I place an order and the retailer tells me a week later "well I can get a, b and c, but x, y and z are not available". I'll likely order a, b and c and set out to fine x, y and z elsewhere. No harm, no foul and I'm half-way there. This is not hypothetical, but (I think) what many of us experience.

"Get what you can get where you can get it" is exactly right. As long as we know in a timely manner, by retailer, what they can and can't get, we can proceed accordingly.

Regarding Walthers: I recently asked here and elsewhere for help finding a small detail item. They are largely unavailable, however Walthers listed three dealers who had recently obtained them and (fortunately) the top one still had one of these that I was able to purchase. I'm grateful to Walthers and the small shop in GA.

 

The advertisers here are great.

See if one will call in your order and
make sure they can get the items.

I've ordered a few times from
Walthers in the last few months.

I ordered some less expensive items
where the discount wasn't a big deal
and I wanted the items right away.

It has been nothing but pleasant.
I have never had a backordered
item if it didn't say backorder in
the shopping cart.

Loco1999

 

I've had pretty good luck ordering directly from Walthers shop, usually get what I order ready for pick up at the PO in 3 days.

I did receive HO stuff with *my* paperwork, but I returned it, was shipped my stuff.

Decided to got with another source on some trucks, he had some stuff Walther's was out of, but the other dealer sent me dups of one, missing the other. Lost 50 cents per unit, but much less expensive than shipping back, so I ordered what I wanted with the last order to Walthers.

What bugged me was a dealer offering something that walthers was out of stock, ordering extra stuff to go along with the item wanted, receiving that, but being told the other was sold out. They should have known up front.

I had a order with Walthers, but when the Kato Budds for ATSF arrived, was shipped the 1st four, and later notified me, the other was sold out. I scrambled, got the other set in CB&Q, then found a ATSF set at shop in Texas, so have a 12 car train now.

I tried ordering quite a few items from LHS, too often, not available, or when it came in, maybe he sold it to someone else. So no big N scale book since. I visit LHS, if they have it, and I want it, buy it. If it hadn't been for web sites, would not have much of my stuff, wouldn't be trying to model, just given up.

puma

 

btw - I've been buying stuff a few times a year from Walthers, but have no mail related to my purchases and trains. They sometimes mail me a flyer catalog with my customer number, other times, they use my MRR subscription address. Been buying since August 2000.

MRR is used for the Model Expo mailings. In my wife's name we also get Trains, so her name is on the historicrail catalog, and the other railroad related stuff from the shop in MI.

Sometimes a odd train related thing comes, also MRR addressing. So, I'm not bothered.

 

After buying all over the place, I'm starting to believe that sticking to one vendor is a good idea. They start to know you, and after a while they recognize your name when you call. Guys at the club clued me on to this, and you know, it works great! I have a favorite, but I'll let you pick your own.

Tony Burzio
San Diego, CA

 

Tony - I have tried to do just as you suggested, but have wound up frustrated at times. There are shops that try to combine deep discounts with personal service and a full range of products; but that catches up with them at times. I think the volume and low overhead required for deep discounts precludes the level of personal service required for small/special order items. That's not a criticism - just reality.

 

I am in the middle of no where and have to buy everything by mail order. I have had very good luck in ordering direct from Walthers. Most mail order places do not carry small items that you run into needing all the time and don't want to be bothered with ordering the items for you. I am still trying to find a good dealer that will stay on top of things for me and do their best in getting the things I need.
If you will contact me direct I will tell you the best places I've found to order from without stepping on anyones toes here. EMACGIS@aol.com

 

A wise and considerate man.

 

I have to chime in here because I think a lot of what has been said is not a problem with Walthers, rather, many hobby shops.

My general consensus in regards to most hobby shops is that the owners are asleep at the wheel. In other words, you may ask a hobby shop to order product(s) for you, but (what seems like) more often than not, their purchaser/owner sits on your request and never does anything with it. Obviously, the easy way out is to blame Walthers, but the big problem is much more likely to be talking to you on the phone or in person.

Furthermore, because Walthers deals with so many cottage industries (mine included), availability of products is always an issue. I know many manufacturers strive to keep their products in stock 100% of the time, but sometimes they can't, and again, that is not the fault of Walthers.

I would urge everyone to speak up next time their shop says "the order hasn't arrived from Walthers." If Walthers shows the product(s) you ordered as "in stock", ask the shop owner if he has even placed them on order. If you get a "yes", then you can bet that the products will show up no later then 5-6 days after that point.

OK..... I'm getting off my soap box now ..... just keep all of that in mind next time you order through a dealer.....

 

Thanks Craig. My experience suggests that everything you said is 100% correct. In my mind, small orders are a great opportunity for the normally "faceless" internet outlet to generate customer good-will. The guy who processed my $100 "special order" is very likely the one who will get my next $500 reservation.

 

Exactly.......

Plus, buying power (or in turn, the amount of orders the dealer gets) has a lot to do with getting things in.....

 

I know that, as a scratchbuilder, I cause problems for retailers. While I might order 100 of one item, the rest is onesy-twosy. Still, I expect my order to be filled in a reasonable time. I've learned to cut retailers and etailers a lot of slack--and to pay full retail for the onesy-twosy orders.