has anyone purchased either on ebay or amazon from altarail? purchased 3 bachmann trestle bridges on the 2nd, label printed and still ups has not received my package
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
What does ebay say your delivery window is? Until that date passes, you have very little recourse other than to remain patient.
read the feedback, sometimes they take forever to ship, but overall good feedback. these were 22.00 free shipping, could'nt pass em up.(69.00 total) sent email friday and 1 today
7-10 of this month
I guess you didn't understand what the 10 meant.
Mannyrock
The problem I've had with eBay deliveries is when they get routed through the Detroit or Atlanta offices. My stuff was in Detroit for over a week, and Atlanta about 3-4 days. This was about 6 weeks ago. Hopefully it's improved.
@tim reilly posted:has anyone purchased either on ebay or amazon from altarail? purchased 3 bachmann trestle bridges on the 2nd, label printed and still ups has not received my package
Thanks to you, I just bought a Bachmann Trestle Bridge (46-1225) off of the site we dare not speak its name...the same bridge I had as a teenager. (Now I'll have to buy a 9in straight code 100 for it.) And, as an FYI, sometimes I'll receive packages that still indicate that the shipper has not received the package. And, patience is a virtue. <Other clichés here.>
@texgeekboy posted:The problem I've had with eBay deliveries is when they get routed through the Detroit or Atlanta offices. My stuff was in Detroit for over a week, and Atlanta about 3-4 days. This was about 6 weeks ago. Hopefully it's improved.
I bought an item from ebay out of Minnesota. It listed the steps to get it to Sioux City, IA oauot 300 miles south west of MPLS. 13 steps to get it here as it went to the Chicago post office. Crazy.
Dick
Guess I've been lucky. Have purchased literally hundreds of items off eBay, and have had maybe a half dozen "less than ideal" experiences.
I generally think most people are trying their best. 🙂
Mark in Oregon
i i've purchased nearly all of my trains, scenery etc. on ebay mainly all reputable sellers. this seller does'nt respond to messages, and quite frankly, it will cost about 40.00 more to buy from other sellers separately. i guess i'll have to wait and see what happens
Never had an issue with responds or delivery, shipping has gone up, but we all know why. Some do wait till your credit has cleared, so that takes a few days good luck.
I need to point out that a current eBay purchased came through the Detroit office and was in Indianapolis the same day. Things are getting better!
I buy and sell on ebay all the time. I sold some items over a month ago and they still don't show as delivered, but I contacted the people and they received the items. My post office routinely doesn't scan packages and they don't get scanned until they are delivered...annoying, but not much I can do about it.
Don't forget just because someone says they don't take returns on ebay doesn't mean you don't have any recourse especially if the package doesn't arrive or the seller doesn't respond to your email. I bet if it doesn't arrive by the date specified and you opened a not received case, they would answer you!
Good luck!
Just bought from a seller in Australia! Will see how this experience turns out. A
For what it's worth, a lot of sellers are delayed being paid funds. It takes ebay 2 to 4 days to pay seller bank. Takes bank another 2 to 3 days to pay sellers bank. Ebay suggests sellers not ship until they receive payments.
Joe Gozzo
If you get the option when buying only pick UPS or FedEx. As a seller I have had bad experiences with USPS to the extent a box car was delivered 3 months late. Of course the buyer had to file a bay claim and I was forced to give a refund, fortunately I already had a USPS check in hand for the lost item. Their tracking is unreliable, but the others have been quirky lately as well but nowhere near as bad. Just make sure you file a claim before the bay window closes or you will be out of luck.
A bought a "Tardis" from the UK a couple of years ago and there was no tracking available. After a month I filed a claim and the charges were credited back to me. A month later the police box arrived and I reached out to the seller and sent payment thought PayPal.
With the bay guarantee as a buyer I have no issues with buying. Just be diligent about reporting when things go off track, you may not get the item but you will get the cash back.
Totally agree in regards to selecting UPS or FedEx over the USPS.
@Trainlover160 posted:For what it's worth, a lot of sellers are delayed being paid funds. It takes ebay 2 to 4 days to pay seller bank. Takes bank another 2 to 3 days to pay sellers bank. Ebay suggests sellers not ship until they receive payments.
Joe Gozzo
Joe, When I get the notification that I have 'been paid' I know that means eBay has received the funds from the Buyer which includes money for the item and computed shipping costs. I take the package to our local post office or UPS drop off point (in our case an ACE Hardware store) and ship it. I am given a receipt with the Tracking Number which I then enter into the eBay system. When the eBay system shows the carrier has received the parcel, the next day I received a green color notification that funds are on the way to my bank account. Usually, that day the funds show in my savings account as Pending and on the second day they are available. As my wife and I are not relying on these funds to provide bread and milk in our kitchen, forty-eight hours from time of sale to availability of the funds from that sale is something we can live with. I do not make a special trip to the bank to withdraw those funds, they may sit there for a week or so.
Respectfully, John in Lansing, ILL
@roll_the_dice posted:Don't forget just because someone says they don't take returns on ebay doesn't mean you don't have any recourse especially if the package doesn't arrive or the seller doesn't respond to your email. I bet if it doesn't arrive by the date specified and you opened a not received case, they would answer you!
Good luck!
Andy, Very good point. Also, it never hurts to ask the Seller if they will accept a fairer price. Just like at a train show, if you don't ask you will never know and you may receive an offer. John
@rattler21 posted:Andy, Very good point. Also, it never hurts to ask the Seller if they will accept a fairer price. Just like at a train show, if you don't ask you will never know and you may received an offer. John
I do make counter offers for higher ticket items on eBay, and in all cases except one they’re either accepted or the seller makes another offer below the original price. For small items, like parts, I just pay the asking price.
@tim reilly posted:has anyone purchased either on ebay or amazon from altarail? purchased 3 bachmann trestle bridges on the 2nd, label printed and still ups has not received my package
A lot of sellers have handling time in their listing of how many days before shipping. Many only go to the shipper once per week. I sell on eBay and have printed the labels but don't get to drop it off for a few days. I am sure its fine.
@rattler21 posted:Joe, When I get the notification that I have 'been paid' I know that means eBay has received the funds from the Buyer which includes money for the item and computed shipping costs. I take the package to our local post office or UPS drop off point (in our case an ACE Hardware store) and ship it. I am given a receipt with the Tracking Number which I then enter into the eBay system. When the eBay system shows the carrier has received the parcel, the next day I received a green color notification that funds are on the way to my bank account. Usually, that day the funds show in my savings account as Pending and on the second day they are available. As my wife and I are not relying on these funds to provide bread and milk in our kitchen, forty-eight hours from time of sale to availability of the funds from that sale is something we can live with. I do not make a special trip to the bank to withdraw those funds, they may sit there for a week or so.
Respectfully, John in Lansing, ILL
Another thing is when you drop off a parcel, always get them to scan it. Your insurance is not valid until scanned into the system and if the package gets stolen or lost it's your problem. You may get eyes rolled at you but always ask for them to scan and a receipt. I had a unscaned parcel vanish from a Fed Ex Office a few years ago and fortunately it wasn't anything of value .
@CBQer posted:I bought an item from ebay out of Minnesota. It listed the steps to get it to Sioux City, IA oauot 300 miles south west of MPLS. 13 steps to get it here as it went to the Chicago post office. Crazy.
Dick
Dick:
I recently bought something from a seller in Jacksonville, Florida. I live on Long Island, NY. After a few days I noticed that the package was in New Jersey! That's right next door to New York, right? But then, it went down to North Carolina for some reason, then back to New Jersey and finally to me on Long Island. The item was shipped USPS. Why it went up and down and back up the East Coast, only the USPS knows!
John
@rattler21 posted:Andy, Very good point. Also, it never hurts to ask the Seller if they will accept a fairer price. Just like at a train show, if you don't ask you will never know and you may received an offer. John
Exactly! I ask for a slight discount on lots of items even if they don't have OBO, worse thing they can say is no or ignore me. I also welcome offers when I am a seller unless it is a ridiculously low offer. Just be fair with offers...knowing that ebay sellers without a store pay 12.9% in fees on the price of the item, shipping, and tax collected by Ebay. Ebay is still a great resource for many items, if you do your homework on pricing and read feedback before buying.
@John Knapp posted:Dick:
I recently bought something from a seller in Jacksonville, Florida. I live on Long Island, NY. After a few days I noticed that the package was in New Jersey! That's right next door to New York, right? But then, it went down to North Carolina for some reason, then back to New Jersey and finally to me on Long Island. The item was shipped USPS. Why it went up and down and back up the East Coast, only the USPS knows!
John
Shipping with USPS is definitely weird right now. I had the opposite happen...I sold an item on Ebay (I am in Savannah, GA) that was shipping to Las Vegas, NV. The guy purchased on Friday night, I shipped Saturday and he received it Monday! Was crazy fast...seems to be no rhyme or reason with shipping times anymore.
@roll_the_dice You pointed out the one of my beefs with selling on the bay. Charging fees on shipping and sales tax. I get why they go after shipping but charging for taxes? Yes its usually few bucks, but to me its the principle. The other killer is selling a $10 item having $12 in shipping and getting charged roughly $3 in fees.
That said there are few options - garage sales, forum posts - never have sold anything through the posts, even though they sell through the bay for 30% more. I do not have that much to sell at any one time to make travelling to a show worth the cost - so for me they are the only game in town. So the Bay it is, they provide access to a market otherwise unavailable to me.
I hear ya with the fees. I sold 11 GGD passenger cars on ebay a few weeks ago and had over $225 in fees! I used to get "mad" more annoyed about ebay charging fees on sales tax and shipping, but I finally remembered that I pay the CC fees on shipping and sales tax when I sell something when I had an internet based business. It's a win win lose lose proposition...Ebay affords sellers more eyes looking at product (win win), but for that service I am paying high fees (lose lose)...love hate relationship!
And you are right...I list things here, no bites and sell them on Ebay for much more...crazy.
@roll_the_dice posted:And you are right...I list things here, no bites and sell them on Ebay for much more...crazy.
Andy,
To your favor folks searching eBay, especially those that don't blink at paying too much, are most likely not aware of this forum.
Maybe we should keep it our little secret?
Mike
Unfortunately, there is no efficient way for buyers to sort through the items for sale here. If you don't see an add as soon as it is posted, it gets lost.
Likewise, sellers do not get nearly the exposure here that they do on eBay, and cruising through the WTB posts are even more difficult than the For Sale.
the problems are both a matter of design--after all, why should a Discussion forum be designed as a marketplace?--as well as of scale (i.e. number of potential buyers and sellers).
However helpful the forum here might be to some, that help is the exception more than the rule. And this point is not criticism: it is a fact of the nature of the beast.
I never worry about purchasing anything from anyone who is a member of this forum. Not ever.
I cannot say that about ebay.
John
My last name is very similar to a city in Iowa. I purchased an item from a large retailer. The retailer used the correct spelling and address. The USPS mixed the name with the city and sent the package there. It took numerous phone calls and weeks to get it straightened out...
Recently, I purchased a model bus from MiniModelshop, in Great Britain. I placed the order on the 4th. I received it on the 8th. Free air mail shipping'...
I've learned, many sellers on the bay, create a label, but wait until they have several items to ship out at the same time.... Currently I'm waiting over a month for an item that shows the label created the same day I placed the order.....
I have a close personal friend that is a long time postal employee. I'm told Covid, has had a huge effect on employees. Many are still out, and many employees ride the sick call list.
BTW, FWIW, the minimodelshop.com. has the best prices on diecast vehicles. Especially buses. American and European.. I 've ever seen... Excellent service and shipping'..
Not meaning to start a dispute - I have bought a couple of items off the for sale posts when the sellers had priced their items reasonably. However there are many 3R items I have looked at and saw I could get the same item from elsewhere at a lower price, so I skip them. But, we all can try to sell our unwanted stuff at whatever price we choose. When I post my price is usually 20% lower than my auction pricing. On occasion, I do forget to change the list prices here when I update the auction pricing.
What I do not understand is the WTB posters that do not respond to I have what you want emails. Why post if you won't respond? I typically do not waste my time there anymore.
@Craftech posted:I never worry about purchasing anything from anyone who is a member of this forum. Not ever.
I cannot say that about ebay.
John
I second that opinion. I've sold one thing (for $0, just asking for postage), and bought one thing from here. No problems. The one thing I bought was from a 2 year old listing! I inquired about another 2 year old listing for something else, but then bought a similar item from eBay. A few days later I got a positive response from the seller with the 2 year old post on OGR, and it probably would have been a better buy than what I got from eBay!
One last thing re eBay, I never buy from an auction listing, only a 'buy now' or 'accepts offers'.
@palallin posted:Unfortunately, there is no efficient way for buyers to sort through the items for sale here. If you don't see an add as soon as it is posted, it gets lost.
Likewise, sellers do not get nearly the exposure here that they do on eBay, and cruising through the WTB posts are even more difficult than the For Sale.
the problems are both a matter of design--after all, why should a Discussion forum be designed as a marketplace?--as well as of scale (i.e. number of potential buyers and sellers).
However helpful the forum here might be to some, that help is the exception more than the rule. And this point is not criticism: it is a fact of the nature of the beast.
When I go through the FS section, I usually go for 4-5 pages deep or until I recognize a FS item I already looked at since the posts disappear quickly...if I am really not just browsing, but on the hunt for something I will use the search feature and search for "2 rail" in exact phrase match and all I get are 2 rail items...weeds out any 3 rail or anything that isn't 2 rail...but I only do that if I haven't looked in a month or so which is rare.
The WTB section is an entirely different beast...and I usually forget about it, but have had luck once or twice when I posted a WTB for either the item or someone knows what retail store has them. I can't complain about anything on this board...I enjoy it too much as I am sure most people do.
@texgeekboy posted:Totally agree in regards to selecting UPS or FedEx over the USPS.
This depends on location. Where I live UPS and FedEx have a slight nod over USPS. Where my office is, UPS and FedEx are both less reliable than USPS.
Possibly the solution to the WTB and For Sale or Trade is that the Forum suggests a specific manner items need to be listed. By doing so we can then easily search within that category. What are your thoughts?
For example:
Category: 2 Rail, 3 Rail etc
Item Name:
Manufacturer
Item Number
Date of Manufacturer
Color
Number of items
Description of item including any defects or missing parts
Contact information
Pricing (optional)
@Allegheny posted:Possibly the solution to the WTB and For Sale or Trade is that the Forum suggests a specific manner items need to be listed. By doing so we can then easily search within that category. What are your thoughts?
For example:
Category: 2 Rail, 3 Rail etc
Item Name:
Manufacturer
Item Number
Date of Manufacturer
Color
Number of items
Description of item including any defects or missing parts
Contact information
Pricing (optional)
Kazar. I think any change/alteration/modification of the computer program will get expensive. The points you make are certainly valid and anyone with half a brain would include applicable information in their listings. We get back to using common sense while creating the listing. Why list something without an Internet address in your profile? Pretty basic, but it is done. Why not specify two rail or three rail? Possibly because this forum is basically aimed at the three rail segment of our hobby. Prices are required in the For Sale but not in the Want to Buy. I think the listing should be a notification and further discussion should be between the Buyer and Seller off list. John
I agree with John...the search tool is pretty good if you drill down and are specific in what you are looking for. Here are 2 examples of searches for each section getting specific using the search tool.
For Sale Section Search looking for Sunset models. I used the following criteria Online forum, exact phrase match (Sunset), Forum (for sale forum), order by (date)
WTB Search looking for Freedom Train...Same criteria as above except changed phrase to "Freedom Train" and forum to "WTB".
I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel on the FS/WTB sections...
I got a bum CAB-1 and a bum K-Line dump car from here. More problems on eBay though.
@Craftech posted:I never worry about purchasing anything from anyone who is a member of this forum. Not ever.
I cannot say that about ebay.
John
Based on my experience (and I've used Ebay a lot over the years), I've had at least as good luck with Ebay as I have with buying things from sellers on the Forum. That's been unfortunate. I've rarely felt the need to return anything on an Ebay purchase. Aside from having had some sellers on the Forum misrepresent the condition of items for sale, I had one experience recently where I spent a bunch of time dealing with a Forum member to buy an item he'd listed for sale, only to have him then tell me he'd changed his mind and decided to keep it. Pretty irritating.
