Any experience with Wholesale Trains?

Same thing happened to me only I fought through Discover and lost. Don't use Discover anymore either.

Though I've never ordered from the subject of this thread, I can say this is great advice for anyone. 

I avoid companies/sellers that don't charge 'exact shipping.'  They keep the difference and you always pay more than the actual shipping cost.  The difference goes in their pocket.

This hobby is expensive as it is, don't 'donate' your hard earned money..

I have delt with them in the past , & they could not give me a price on what the shipping would be,to me i always felt they were to high i will not order from them again.

I never actually purchased, but I "registered" with their site back when there was some sort of blowout on a Clinchfield Heritage unit a while ago.

After reading all the legalese on their terms and conditions page, I passed and I will never venture there again.

IMO, there is no place in this internet world we live in where it's useful to list items that "may be available someday if we can get one for you" (assuming it's an item that is released - pre-orders for items not yet manufactured are a different scenario).

If you have a web site that is willing to charge me, you darn well better be putting the item in a shipping box and shipping it to me within a day or 2.

-Dave

This same situation happened to me almost 2 years ago. I was ordering a Lionel Legacy Steam locomotive for my son for Christmas and so was counting on ordering it from a dealer that had one in stock. I thought "available" meant it was in stock but found out quickly it does not. I called them and they had no idea if they would get the item in stock anytime soon. I explained my situation but they would not budge on their position and charged me a $26 cancellation fee. I have never ordered from them again.

Wholesale Trains has been around a long time. They were very competitive when I was buying loads of Gargrave's products and I got some good buys there. Their policy is to ask for payment on everything even those items not in stock. You can wait for months and if you wish to cancel, they will not refund all of your money. I can understand this policy on special high priced limited run engines, but to charge a restocking/cancellation fee on standard stuff (like Bachmann Williams); this IMO is not good policy. On the positive side they ship quickly on items in stock and offer decent pricing.

Have purchased 3 Lionel locomotives from them in the last 6 months at lower prices than anybody else offered even with the $25 S&H.

Expect this thread to vanish...they are now a forum sponsor  

Good prices..have used them in the past without any issues.

Everyone knows the Forum sponsors are all good to deal with, right?

I know there is another forum sponsor that sometimes gets dinged for personality interactions at train shows, but I have never had any issue there, so I guess everyone''s mileage may vary.

Maybe if the owners read all of the negative reviews they will attempt to right the ship.

I had the same thing when I canceled a pre-order with them. They charged me a fee for each item that was pre-ordered. 5 items that were over a year away in some cases. I argued, they charged me, I disputed it with my CC which was either Visa or MC if I recall. They sided with me and I didn't have to pay the charges.  Never again...

Gentlemen,

   Having no experience with this particular company I will hold my opinion until I personally deal with them. 

PCRR/Dave

Wow, I had a similar situation happen to me.  I ordered a locomotive for my son as a Christmas present.  I too thought available meant in stock.  I called a couple days before Christmas asking when I was going to receive it.  The lady said it wasn't in stock yet and couldn't give me a time frame.  I argued with her about it being listed as available and that leads one to believe you have it.  When I told her to cancel the order, she charged me a cancellation fee.  I will never deal with them again and would never recommend them to anyone.