Christmas Gift - No Refund or Exchanges?

Hi. Most Online Lionel dealerships have a "No Return" policy once an engine has been taken out of the box and operated.

If there is something wrong with the locomotive, you can check with Lionel to see if the warranty is still valid. Of course you would need that word document from hobbystation.net stating that you purchased the engine 2 weeks before Christmas.

Does your husband operate Lionel Legacy/TMCC on his layout using a remote, MTH DCS with a remote, or Conventional mode using just a transformer?

Don't have this particular engine, but suspect the performance would be optimal running in Legacy Mode rather than conventional.

Depending on where you live, there may be a local hobby shop that would consider taking the engine in trade for an MTH version.

Or you could post it here on the "For Sale/Trade" forum.

Perhaps someone with experience with this particular locomotive will chime in.

Good Luck.

-bruce

From what I have been able to gather, Hobbystation.net does not hold any inventory. Everything is drop-shipped from somewhere in Mass. They have been very cheap and reliable. As previously stated, I don't know of any LHS that will take back a used item because you are not happy with it.

I suppose if it was bought on your credit card, you could always talk to the CC company..?

Well they do not have a zero return policy, right from their website

quote:

We are a Lionel Authorized Dealer. We strive to have the best prices and the best customer service in the business. All of our Lionel items are brand new in factory boxes and come with all Lionel warranties. If there are any problems, they will be repaired or replaced for free. Please call or email us with any questions or requests

What is the performance problem he is concerned about? On the good note the AC6000 are very popular, you could probably move it here on the OGR buy/sell forum

=I can understand your disappointment. It doesn't seem right that you have to take a big risk when plopping down $400.00-$600.00 for an engine and be stuck with it if it does not run right. It probably makes you think twice next time you are thinking about buying a train item. I don't blame you for being disappointed and disillusioned.

Start ordering from just trains as they sent me a loco that did not run, had broken parts, and just a mess. Yes it was the AC 6000. They sent me a return label to send it back and recredited my credit card, I then ordered a Milwaukee S3 and am very happy with their service and always have been,
That engine , AC 6000 has problems in truck design coupling to the motor.

You didn't say what he was unhappy about really. If it has a defect contact Lionel service.

quote:

Originally posted by vs1999:
He ran the engine, but is not happy with the performance. Any suggestions, or does it look like I am stuck with an engine.

Unfortunately, I think you are stuck with the engine. Once you run it most retailers will not provide a refund or exchange unless the engine is broken or not working properly. And even then you are probably limited to a warranty return to Lionel.

Hobby Station is not on my recommended dealer list. The fact that you did not get a receipt confirms this. I bought a Vision Line Challenger from them and got no receipt. I made repeated attempts by phone and email to get a receipt and have given up after 10 months. I have also ordered from their website and heard nothing back for days only to find out the item they showed as available on their website was not available. They have good prices but that is it. In my opinion these people are flaky and unreliable. I would rather spend a little more and get good customer service elsewhere. I spent $1500 on a locomotive and you can't give me a receipt that is necessary for a warranty? Hobby Station is a FAILURE.

If something is wrong with your engine, Lionel will fix it. If your husband just doesn't like it, you should have no problem selling it and getting most of your money back. Good Luck with it and I hope your husband gets another locomotive that makes him happy.

quote:

If something is wrong with your engine, Lionel will fix it.

W/O a receipt?

I'd complain to the local Dept. of Consumer Affairs that no receipt was provided, and advise Lionel of the same. And, as mentioned above, if you used a credit card, get the CC co. involved too!

quote:

Originally posted by Mark V. Spadaro:

quote:

If something is wrong with your engine, Lionel will fix it.

W/O a receipt?

I'd complain to the local Dept. of Consumer Affairs that no receipt was provided, and advise Lionel of the same. And, as mentioned above, if you used a credit card, get the CC co. involved too!

Yes, Lionel will take care of it. You just have to tell them what happened. I have already made Lionel aware of Hobby Station's no receipt way of doing business when I had a warranty return with no receipt.

I bought several things from Hobby station the last being a legacy 10 wheeler.
It needed repairs for the smoke system and they wouldn't give a receipt.

I had to call Lionel customer service to get it ironed out. The only reason I got warranty service without the receipt was it was such a new offering the lady at Lionel knew it had to be under warranty.

They're not on my purchase list anymore.

David

Like the other have said most if not all train retailers don't have a return/exchange policy so you have to be sure that its what you want. As far as the receipt goes I now demand one be sent with the engine of whatever it is I buy. Here is the last issue I had with hobby station when I bought a vision challenger a year ago today and never received a receipt. I noticed in September that the engine was missing a detail piece from the front sand dome and I called Lionel and they sent me a r/a and ups call tag to send the engine back so they can replace the boiler shell. While packing it up I realized I didn't have a receipt and immediately emailed hobby station about sending me a receipt for the engine. I emailed them at least 13 times and 5 phone calls and no response. I unpacked the engine for Christmas and was running it and whammo the engine screeched to a halt. I reset the engine and tried everything I could and nothing happened it was dead in the water. So I emailed mike Reagan and explained to him the problem with the receipt and he told me to give me their info that he would be able to get things straightened out. An hour after emailing him the info I got a email from hobby station apologizing for not getting back to me along with a 10% discount coupon and a word doc containing a receipt not exactly what I thought of a receipt but it works. My engine is headed to Lionel and it will most likely come back better cause in my experience with Lionel and their service dept is they do one heck of a good job!!

Thanks guys for the information and support. My husband is running Legacy/TMCC with remote. He said the issue with the AC6000 Legacy CSX CHessie is it is not a strong engine, and the sound is not loud. He is use to running MTH and I think he is just partial to them.
I have yet to receive any receipt after requesting one several times from Hobby Station. I am calling Lionel in a few minutes about the receipt issue. Once I get a receipt, I will probably list it for sale here.
Again, thanks for your comments, they have been a big help. I will update when this issue is resolved.

Out of curiosity, what reason(s) do they give for refusing to provide a receipt?

quote:

the sound is not loud

This may be a result of the EPA 85 db restriction. All the newer Lionel trains seem to have lower volume levels.

Of course you can do what I do before buying a car---test drive it. If the car does not go straight down the road, has annoying sounds I don't like,or other things I don't care for, I test drive another vehicle and get one that I feel comfortable signing the papers on. Obviously you cannot do this with the mail order guys, but why not with the brick and mortar shops.

quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf97:
Out of curiosity, what reason(s) do they give for refusing to provide a receipt?

It's simple it called bad business practice. You call and ask for a receipt. They say 'We'll send you one" as soon as they hang up it's forgotten. In other words they can't be bothered.

It happened to me all the time at the Power Co. You go out to cut someone off for non-payment . They'd say "Checks in the mail" I'd say "Good ,when the company gets it we'll be out to turn the power back on".


David

quote:

Originally posted by DPC:

quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf97:
Out of curiosity, what reason(s) do they give for refusing to provide a receipt?

It's simple it called bad business practice. You call and ask for a receipt. They say 'We'll send you one" as soon as they hang up it's forgotten. In other words they can't be bothered.

It happened to me all the time at the Power Co. You go out to cut someone off for non-payment . They'd say "Checks in the mail" I'd say "Good ,when the company gets it we'll be out to turn the power back on".


David

"Its in the mail" works for the first call. When you call back, you get them to give you a name. When they say it again, you tell them that was what you were told before. If they give you a problem and you paid with a credit card, you have options. If you need the receipt to get warranty repairs and they refuse to provide it, you can tell them that if they don't give it to you, you will dispute the charge on your credit card because the item is defective and are returning it as such. When they offer to send the receipt, you can either play hardball or not but at that point I would follow through and return the item. In any case, that would end my doing business with them.

Normally, I wouldn't want to be a hard case but they are preventing you from being able to get it fixed under warranty and possibly jeopardizing a future insurance claim. They *OWE* you a receipt. Without one, I'd say the transaction wasn't completed (but I'm not a lawyer).

here is another thread about receipts from this company.

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve...7660482/m/5732933227

I purchase my items from Charles Ro and anytime there is an issue I neatly return it to them in perfect condition and they replace it right away. I understand it costs a bunch to ship hence I offer for them to charge me shipping again.

quote:

Originally posted by DPC:
I bought several things from Hobby station the last being a legacy 10 wheeler.
It needed repairs for the smoke system and they wouldn't give a receipt.

David

I cannot fathom ANY reason for refusingto give a receipt. Of course if paying by check (preferred) or credit card then the buyer has his own proof of purchase. I WILL NOT do business with them if that is their practice.

I can empathize with you on purchasing a gift that your spouse is not that excited to get... I have a few ties in the closet that I'm not that fond of either. In this situation however the price involved is much, much more than your average tie. This should be considered before making the purchase and inquiring about their policy before it (the purchase) is made.

I have purchased from Hobby Station before on many occasions and have had a good experience with them. I might not get the receipt straight away BUT I always GET one. I'm so very sorry of your current situation. My advice is to sell it straight away to provide a small loss and consider it a valuable lesson. Some Stores require a high restocking fee even though the package has never been opened… yes, this has happened to me.

Next time just purchase Gift Certificates or just plain & simple $$ works great for me at Christmas time. Good Luck.

I have done quite a bit of business with Hobby Station and to date have been very pleased with their pricing and service.

My last purchase was a Lionel UP ES44AC just before Christmas. After the purchase, we realized that the ES44AC would not negotiate our turns (by running a friend's loco). When we realized this, since it was never opened (still factory sealed) we asked if we could return it and apply part of the credit for an AC6000 that we knew would run on our layout.

Since Hobby Station no longer stocked the item, they found a buyer who wanted it. They mailed me a UPS shipper to drop ship the engine to the new customer and they applied part of the credit towards the new AC6000.

Again, they may not be perfect (none of us is). However, from my perspective they have been a pleasure doing business with them. If most of this is about getting a receipt, then simply ask that a receipt be included with the shipment when you place the order.

I think you will do well by posting your AC6000 on the Forum. It's a very popular engine and I don't believe that you will lose much on the sale.

Regards,
Steve

quote:

If most of this is about getting a receipt, then simply ask that a receipt be included with the shipment when you place the order.

Why should a customer have to ASK for a receipt?
Do you ask for a receipt at the grocery or hardware store or from a Cabela's order "NO" it's always included...and should be with EVERY order IMHO.

Good Morning! I was concerned to read some of the quotes listed here! I have dealt with Hobbystation.net for many years and have always had all my concerns, if any, resolved amicably. If ever I needed service and a receipt was required; it was always sent. Is the service a little low? Sure sometimes but this is an operation that offers great prices and usually the lowest available anywhere. In all my dealings I have always been satisfied with mail time and concern for the best value possible. Remember the $50 rebates Lionel was offering on Conventional Classics sets? I received rebates on 3 sets (requires purchasing a total of 6 sets) totaling $150 thereby lowering my cost to the lowest I ever paid for a Lionel train set. I never could have afforded the 6 sets without the great value Hobbystation.net offered. You can’t get the rebate without the receipt and all required receipts were received. Finally, for the purchase of the AC6000 I am sure she got a very good price and is the reason for the purchase. It would be smart, however, to check with person going to use the engine. I know my wife would never buy me anything without checking with me first. Also it is a bit over the top to buy something use it and then decide to return it. Lionel has made some great items lately and others that might have been better but when getting the best price possible there is no margin for returning items you should expect to deal directly with Lionel to resolve mechanical and warranty issues. I for one will be very happy to continue my relationship with Hobbystation.net and add more to my train layout!

quote:

Originally posted by trainbob1:
Good Morning! I was concerned to read some of the quotes listed here! I have dealt with Hobbystation.net for many years and have always had all my concerns, if any, resolved amicably. If ever I needed service and a receipt was required; it was always sent.

But you had to ask for it.

quote:

Originally posted by trainbob1:
Lionel has made some great items lately and others that might have been better but when getting the best price possible there is no margin for returning items you should expect to deal directly with Lionel to resolve mechanical and warranty issues.

For which you need to have the receipt. If the merchant is slow to provide it, that delays (or complicates) your ability to go to Lionel to get the service. Our time is valuable and one big reason to be in a hobby is to de-stress (not add it). Having to spend time and add stress in order to get something that should have been provided automatically is something that would prevent me from doing business with someone. I'm glad your experiences were different though.

Well... let’s just grab the pitch forks, torches and a few axes, go to South Carolina to storm the castle. Just kidding but I'm hoping you get the drift.

Most if not all of my orders from Hobby Station are over the telephone. Through this method one begins to develop a more personal relationship with the folks on the other side of the line. Bottom line is when I need a receipt. I get it. When I purchase an Item, they always offer a very good competitive price. And most of all I've discovered through conversations with them over time, that they are genuinely very Good, Honest, Trustworthy folks.

quote:

Originally posted by trainrails:
Well... let’s just grab the pitch forks, torches and a few axes, go to South Carolina to storm the castle. Just kidding but I'm hoping you get the drift.

Most if not all of my orders from Hobby Station are over the telephone. Through this method one begins to develop a more personal relationship with the folks on the other side of the line. Bottom line is when I need a receipt. I get it. When I purchase an Item, they always offer a very good competitive price. And most of all I've discovered through conversations with them over time, that they are genuinely very Good, Honest, Trustworthy folks.

Good to know. Since the LHSes I've been going to are closing, I am going to need to do more online/phone/mail ordering. I really don't want to "learn the hard way" when it comes to companies that are problematic to deal with. That's why I read these threads. I realize that different people have different experiences and that you have to "read between the lines" a lot but there are some vendors that start to stand out above the others (both good and bad).

Your point about establishing a personal relationship is well taken. This was what had me going to the LHS.

No pitchforks, torches or axes. Just the facts.

Hobby Station is an internet based business. You should not have to use a phone at all. You can do everything from your computer.

As far as establishing a personal relationship on the phone I have been there done that with them. They are nice and friendly on the phone but I have found that they do not follow thru on their promises. The lady's son or daughter? was living in my area and we shot the breeze about that. I tried repeatedly to obtain a receipt for my Vision Line Challenger thru direct conversation with Darlene and e-mails. I gave up after repeated attempts. They were also erratic with the shipping information. I would get an email saying a tracking number would come the next day, days would go by with nothing, I call back and get the runaround. Another time I ordered an ES44AC and my card is charged immediately. A few days go by with no response. I call and get the oh sorry that item is out of stock. Well your website says all items are in stock and ready to ship and you charged my card. I canceled the order. See a pattern here? They have good prices and are nice on the phone but are very erratic in their business practices. I gave them two chances to get my business and they failed to impress me. There are plenty of other choices out there. I expect a lot better treatment when I give someone $1500 of my money.

From Hobbystations website:

"We are a Lionel Authorized Dealer. We strive to have the best prices and the best customer service in the business. All of our Lionel items are brand new in factory boxes and come with all Lionel warranties. If there are any problems, they will be repaired or replaced for free. Please call or email us with any questions or requests"

Seems self-explanatory.

I have never heard of Hobby Station until today(this thread).

In light of all the bashing, I thought I would give them a try.

I went on line and ordered a small item, just to see what would happen.

The transaction was painless. The Order Confirmation (same as a receipt) was in my mail within a few minutes.

A lot of good advice here. Pays to deal with a good brick and mortar store. I do the majority of my train purchases with my local guy. He tries to match the internet prices, but I always pay a little more. The up side is when there is a problem he takes care of it.
JG

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Norberg:
I have never heard of Hobby Station until today(this thread).

In light of all the bashing, I thought I would give them a try.

I went on line and ordered a small item, just to see what would happen.

The transaction was painless. The Order Confirmation (same as a receipt) was in my mail within a few minutes.

I'm planning on calling my insurance agent and asking if printed e-mail messages are as good as a receipt when it comes to claims. You can type *anything* into a word processor and print it so I would be really surprised if they told me it was good.

quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf97:


I'm planning on calling my insurance agent and asking if printed e-mail messages are as good as a receipt when it comes to claims. You can type *anything* into a word processor and print it so I would be really surprised if they told me it was good.

It was the same format that I had received in the box from other vendors. It's not an E-Mail; it's an electronically transmitted form. What difference would it make who's printer printed it?

My insurance company sends my policy renewals/insurance cards electronically for me to print out. It supposedly helps save a tree or two.

quote:

My insurance company sends my policy renewals/insurance cards electronically for me to print out. It supposedly helps save a tree or two.

I have a few companies that have started doing this. I feel that they have shifted their cost of paper, ink, and printer wear to me, while they also save postage. I don't see how it saves trees when I am consuming the paper, not them.

quote:

Originally posted by Gandalf97:
I'm planning on calling my insurance agent and asking if printed e-mail messages are as good as a receipt when it comes to claims. You can type *anything* into a word processor and print it so I would be really surprised if they told me it was good.

Waiting to see what the answer is here!

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McNally:

quote:

My insurance company sends my policy renewals/insurance cards electronically for me to print out. It supposedly helps save a tree or two.

I have a few companies that have started doing this. I feel that they have shifted their cost of paper, ink, and printer wear to me, while they also save postage. I don't see how it saves trees when I am consuming the paper, not them.

I just store it in my documents. I only print something if/when I need it.

Just like my order confirmation from Hobby Station. I don't print it unless I need to.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark V. Spadaro:

quote:

the sound is not loud

This may be a result of the EPA 85 db restriction. All the newer Lionel trains seem to have lower volume levels.

Holy Smokes!! The gov. is concerned about a toy train, but it's ok for your kids to have a 1500 watt stereo in the car with two 18" woofers in the back that you can hear and "feel" the car coming from a quarter mile away??? Wow!

Hi guys,
I finally got a receipt mailed to me. It was only because I took some advice from someone here and called Lionel. They gave my information to the area sales rep. and within an hour I received an email from Hobby Station, telling me they have been out of town, and will mail my receipt that day.
Two days later I received it in the mail. It is typed on their letterhead so I'm assuming it will be accepted for any warranty work.
Again, I appreciate comments from everyone, and hope that Lionel has recognized a problem and will advise them to change their policy concerning receipts. As far my husband not liking the train, lesson learned, he needs to buy his own trains in the future.
Thanks to everyone who contributed and I hope it will help someone else in the future.