Aarons City Trains

According to their website, they are open 11-4 Wednesday through Saturday and are closed Sunday through Tuesday.  Short hours.

 

http://www.aaronscitytrains.com/

 

Weren't the hours posted on their door?  If not, I imagine they will be now.

20 hours a week? Sounds like a part time business!

It's summertime, and Aaron's is a small business. Trains are not big sellers in July. The owner probably has another job to make ends meet, or maybe he's minding the Internet side of the business and can't do that and keep the shop open at the same time. Given all the train shops that have gone out of business, it's hardly surprising that one is on summer hours. I bought some stuff from them over the Internet a couple of months ago. It was reasonably priced, well packed, and arrived promptly. Good people, I'll do business with them again, most likely. 

i had heard business was so slow they cut back on hours.if you plan to visit ,its best to call at the hours 11 to 4. i think right now they do more internet sales,than in-store. one thing is sure,with the inventory robert u. built up,they are sure to have what you want!-jim

Certainly! Akron, Ohio is such a tourist mecca.

 

They give hourly tours of all the closed tire plants.

Now, now now, Mr. Poland, Niles, Youngstown resident, one who lives in glass houses should not throw stones.  They may go from Akron to your area to tour the closed steel plants, Packard Electric, etc.

They used to be open on Sundays but were closed this paat Sunday when I visited while running from the storm. They posted an ebay ad yesterday.

Aarons City Trains are great people to deal with. I do know that this Summer they have cut back on their store hours, while things are slow. That is a necessary move in this economy in order to stay in business. We all would like things to be the way they used to be...like in the good old days of 10-12 years ago, however things are much different now and store owners have to be very savy just to stay in business.

 

The other thing to consider is that with the 4th of July falling on a Wednesday a lot of business owners (not just train shops) have taken one or both week ends off for the holiday. It always pays to call ahead, just to make sure they are open...especially when a holiday is in the equation.

 

I share your frustration as I have stopped at numerous shops while on vacation to find that they were closed or had reduced their hours. Although it makes no sense to us, it makes a lot of sense from a business standpoint.  Just be patient- when the train season starts back this fall we will see many shops (including Aarons) back on their regular hour schedule.

 

IMHO

I remember the times when stores closed by 5 or 6 pm and were never open on Sunday.  So many of this day and age would be lost in world without 24/7 retail.

 

 

I know several trains stores/dealers who have “summer hours.” Sidetrack Hobbies to name one. Not unusual at all.

I had the opportunity to stop in at Aaron's yesterday for the first time and I was impressed!  Nice people, good prices, a nice display and a HUGE inventory.  He has more O gauge than all the other LHS's I've have been in around Northeast Ohio combined!  And they were unpacking 2 more pallets of stock that seemed to have just arrived. Aaron was busy packing up shipments to go out that afternoon. I picked up a nice flat car with a 4wd tractor load and a Wylie Coyote ambush shack (my grandson will love that!) along with some mega steam.  I also had a chance to speak to Aaron's father in the parking lot as I was leaving and by time I left I felt like a friend not just a customer.  I'll definitely make it a point to return.

 

www.aaronscitytrains.com

 

Kevin

Hi guys, Aaron here.  Thought I would jump in and help everyone with some facts.

 

As a lot of you have pointed out we are obviously in the slow season.  After trying to stay open extended hours throughout the summer (including all of last year) we determined that we simply lose money staying open more than a few days during the week with shorter hours.  As some fine customers above pointed out our current hours are Wed-Sat 11am-4pm.  Our local customers have become accustom to these hours and believe me I would rather stay open until 7pm or 8pm every night during the week for those that have to work during the day (like most people).  However, after 4pm we found ourselves with maybe one customer a week during the weekdays.  This didn't make much financial sense to stay past 4pm.  We also found that most of the customers who work during the day or were visiting us from afar were coming to us on Saturday.  Thus the current summer hours.  Come September we will return to our extended hours and days which will include Tuesday and staying open at least until 5pm.  As the holiday season nears we extend our hours to being open every day of the week and usually closing around 7pm.  Please forgive us for the short hours during the slow summer months but the economy just won't allow us to stay open longer right now.

 

Might I point out that we are open 24 hours a day online at www.aaronscitytrains.com

 

For those that are new to us, we have a massive amount of O-Gauge trains.  Mostly MTH and Lionel.  Every item in the store is online and the inventory is accurate and up to date.  We accept all major credit cards and try to keep our shipping rates as low as we possibly can.  We also have all of our close-out items online in the "SALE" section.

 

If you do get a chance to come to wonderful Akron, Ohio, please stop by as we would love to see you.  We are located right near downtown and near the University of Akron.  Just off of the Grant Street exit on I-77 / I-76.  

 

As for the weeds in the lot.  Yes, they must go!  Sorry about that.  We are on it right now!

 

Thanks to all of our current customers and thanks to the great O Gauge society in general.  We are fans just like you and love this hobby.  Take care.

 

Aaron Hoey

Owner 

 

Aaron's City Trains

587 Grant St.

Akron, OH.  44311

234-678-3482

 

www.aaronscitytrains.com

I can attest to that!  A huge inventory of stock and nice folks, as well.

 

We also thank Aaron for being a regular advertiser with the magazine!

Anxiously awaiting delivery of an original TMCC Milwaukee Road GP9 I bought for a reasonable price from these guys.  I already have the electrocouplers ready to be installed on hand.  I bought it from the online store on 7/2 and for some reason have yet to get any shipping info or a tracking #.  I'm not really stressed, I'm sure it will work out, but they may want to work on communicating shipping info to an online buyer.  I believe that is standard practice, if not a common courtesy these days.  I have followed up- not much help-yet.  I would like to know when it's going to show up at my house, so it doesn't end up in someone else's basement.

I have never been to the store but have purchased items on the phone. These ARE GOOD PEOPLE to work with. I am very glad Aaron had the courage to buy this store and reopen it.

 

thanks Aaron 

We stopped in today and picked up a Railking Dash 8 and a mess of Fastrack. The gentleman helping us didn't even mention that he was closing up at 4. I am very impressed with the inventory and how easy it is to view everything. Sort of the antithesis of Glen's. Friendly and helpful. He even unboxed the Dash 8 and put it on the test track so my son could hear the sounds first. My wife even commented on how nice the store looked.

Well since everyone is posting...I might as well share my one story. For me my interaction with Aaron's Trains was disappointing. Let me give you the back story.

 

Well over a year ago as an AM Hobbies customer Bob Thatcher contacted me about MTH Pre-order. I decided to give him a try and pre-ordered 20-97285 Milwaukee Road High Sided Ps-2CD Hoppers, both numbers. Well we all know what happened. My pre-order was lost, MTH released the item, and I didn't know what to do. As a Milwaukee Road guy I didn't want to lose it.

 

So I checked the product locater and saw that Aaron's Trains had it in shop. Now I'm all about the local guy. Where ever I have lived...Milwaukee or DC, I have supportted the local guy. So as a small business I was happy to try and get my item from Aaron's Trains.

 

So on Friday June 8, 2012 I call up Aaron's and spoke to a female. I explain the situation and said that the MTH Product Locator has them having a Milwaukee Road Ps-2CD High Sided Hopper. They had it, they quoted me a price. I was thrilled. And with that I gave them my credit card information. They told me they will run my credit card on Saturday June 9. They also tell me that due to the summer hours they will not ship out until the 13. I'm cool with that...

 

So at the end of the week on the 15 I'm doing my online banking at home. And I notice that Aaron's Train's never ran my card. I'm puzzeled. So I called them up again and explained to them, "Hey my name is David, I purchased a couple of Milwaukee Road cars from you, and I want to find out if they were shiped." The response..."Oh yeah they were shipped you'll get them shortly. I was like.."Are you sure?" And Aaron's Train response, "Yes you'll see it shortly..."

 

So by the end of the 22, my credit card was still not charged and no package showed up. I was frustarted and decided to move on. A couple of pre-ordered items arrived for me at Eastside Trains in Kirkland, Washington. I spoke with Johnny and told him the brief situation. I ordered the Milwaukee Road cars, the dealer I work with made a mistake, etc.. They have them in stock, and as an established customer Eastside cuts me a break. So Eastside Trains gets the sale. I have them today, and I'm baffled by how Aaron's Train's operates.

 

I would have thought they would be happy to have a sale. Especially given the economy in Ohio. But they sat on my information, and my credit card number and did nothing. I wanted to try Aaron's Trains because I heard good things about them. However, my experience with them was disappointing, and frustrating. And I'll be happy to continue to support my local dealer and Eastside Trains.  

Well, I had a great experience with my purchase from Aarons City Trains. Over a year ago I was searching all over for K-Line sper or Snap Track. Aarons had a buch of it at a great price.  Thanks again to the staff at Aarons City Trains from Larry in Calgary

If you do get a chance to come to wonderful Akron, Ohio, please stop by as we would love to see you.  We are located right near downtown and near the University of Akron.  Just off of the Grant Street exit on I-77 / I-76. 

 

My Grand Daughter starts at Kent State this fall, I am guessing I will be stopping in at Aarons Train Shop quite often when the wife and I visit her. Its about a 2 hour drive North of Columbus.

To MUEagle,

 

So sorry to hear about your experience.  As a small business we rely on positive word of mouth to maintain our business and attract new customers. 

 

Our guys (and girl) work really hard every day to get every customer what they need.  With hundreds of orders of course there is an occasional mistake.  Regardless we wish no mistakes ever happened and I'm sure you do to.  We recognize that you deserve the best possible service as do all of our customers.  

 

At the end of the day we are glad you ended up getting the item you wanted, even if it wasn't from us because the whole reason we are in this business is to help model train collectors and fans get whatever they need to keep the fun rolling along.    

 

Our apologies for the mistake and we hope one day you will give us another shot with your business.  Cheers to you and have fun railroading.

 

Thanks,

Aaron