Dash Trains

All of my purchases from Dash auctions have been positive. Yes, some of their items seem inexpensive but you have to take into account that there is a buyers fee applied to each sale.

If you like an item, ask questions about it and about their return policy. Then ask yourself what you are willing to do to fix an item that arrives DOA.

I purchased a Lionel Union Pacific Heritage Loco from them that arrived broken in several places that happened after the time was photographed and before it shipped. Somebody broke it and said nothing. I was pretty annoyed. I personally have not had good luck with Trainz

 

Check the 'fine print' on the auction item.  Engines listed as 'not tested' have no warranty.  But - you can purchase an add on feature called testing for $25 that tests the engine and includes a new battery.  I have had one DOA diesel - 'not tested' - they would not take it back.  Be careful about bidding - the 15% buyers fee, plus shipping and if requested 'testing' for $25 adds up.

I have bought many items from Trainz.com through Dash.  A few were either DOA or broken.  Trainz has always paid return postage and either repaired the item and returned it to me, or refunded the full amount I paid.  No questions asked.  So I have no problem buying from Trainz.

 

This is Trainz.com's policy, so I do not know about other sellers on Dash.

 

Ron

ANY item from anywhere list as untested I gotta assume it doesn't work.

98% of people sell train items know how to test it.

Jim

So with this "gaurentee" if they find something wrong, will they fix it or am I stuck with it?

DASH/Trainz makes me wonder sometimes who is in charge of their pricing. And by that I mean, it's awesome for me, sucks for them. I've picked up several cars via buy it now on their site for 1/3 of the price the same car was currently bid up to on eBay at that exact moment. 

I have had pretty good luck with DASH/TRAINZ. I have had a few issues but TRAINZ has always fixed or made price adjustments on damaged or no-op issues with engines. As for prices, I cant complain at all even with the 15% total price drops when you buy more than one item when you include shipping. Great place to go when on a budget.

 

Smoke unit upgrade.

There has not been a week go by since last fall without a box from DASH arriving here, engines, rolling stock, building kits, etc., with one questionable C7 grading on a steamer from a few weeks ago, everything else has been a home run in my book.

 

I only run PS 2.0+ engines, and anytime buying used I expect to replace the battery right away, I also love that I can check prior use. Most (not all but more than I would have ever expected) of the engines with a C8 notation from TRAINZ / DASH have been brand new when tested, Chrono with less than 5 mins has been the norm, most of the C7's have had some run time but overall less than anything purchased has "Like New" from eBay and even with the premium at very reasonable prices. 

 

Be sure as others have noted to read the details of the listings and ask questions if you have them well before the listing closes, they are not lightning fast on the reply.

 

I do factor in like others have mentioned the premium when bidding and that I expect there to be some issues, happy when there is not, but I do expect something to be wrong, on the up side buying used is like saving 50% on every purchase -- thus leaving more funds in the budget when some must have new thing comes along.

 

Stout Auctions has also been great for me, they have a good size auction about every five / six weeks and their prices realized have also been very good, their grading is more conservative in my view than anyone else, C7 - C8 is often perfect, brand new, never run in the original master shipper with all paperwork, and sells at 60% of original MSRP which is often $50 or $100 less than current MSRP on very similar items (maybe PS 2.0 vs 3.0 but for $450.00 steamers rather than $1200.00 I will live with the difference.)

 

 

I have had good luck with Trainz both on Dash and ebay.  I have had a few problems but they have always taken care of them.  Never had a DOA.