Anyone have any experience purchasing Lionel locomotives from Trainz on E-Bay? Not looking for comments on E-bay, just honest feedback on your Trianz purchases.
Thanks!
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Purchased numerous times from Trainz over the years on ebay and never had a problem.
...just received a Menards o gauge building, purchased from trainz. I was curious if it would make all the way to Germany without any damage. Condition was excellent as described („used“) and really safely packed!
Can‘t speak for their engines but I was satisfied with shipping time & order ;-)
No problems with Trainz on EBay either. I always appreciate how well the pack the items.
-Brian
No problems or issues with Trainz or ebay
Always have experienced nice, fast transactions. Purchases well packed and shipping costs appropriate.
I have had great experiences with them, They have shipped the wrong item or broken, and there fast to rectify the problem. ( by the way that is rare it happens )
All positive for me!
Used a couple of times; excellent eBay seller.
Have made nultiple purchases. They were well described items and shipped fast. A good Ebay seller.
Just to make a distinction, one can purchase from Trainz directly or from their postings on eBay - I've done both, though mostly from Trainz directly. The transactions are always straightforward and quick and, at least from the direct site, they are good about giving you the 'volume discount' on shipping (i.e., the cost of shipping additional items is significantly lower). I've had one or two cases where the item that I received wasn't 'complete' - one where the controller button was missing for a 'like new in box' accessory and one where the horn on a used diesel wasn't in the shipment but appeared in the photo on the website. In both cases, they gave me a small (but suitable) rebate on the price with absolutely no quarrel. So I have no hesitation about purchasing from them (unlike some sellers on eBay or directly on the web).
I sometimes grumble (to myself) about their 18% "buyers premium" charge on their direct site (I think its too high or at least should be discounted for multiple purchases) -- but they are very upfront about it, so I know ahead of time that its gonna be baked into the transaction cost.
Purchased many items from Trainz, the one and only time I did have an issue with a part, they sent a replacement out the same day I contacted them with the issue,
just revived a set of 20th Century Limited cars from them this morning, packed well, shipped quickly, as advertised.....heck, I just paid for them Thursday afternoon....they rank up there in my book......Pat
Always had good luck with them - and their eBay shipping/handling seems to be below average. Never bought from them directly.
No problems: Trainz/e-Bay.
Positive for me buying from Trainz. Both through Ebay and their own auction site.
I purchased from them both on their site as well as the bay and have had nothing but excellent results.
Don't care much about the buyer premium on their personal auction site , but have made some great purchases nether the less .
I purchased a 671 Turbine from Trainz on eBay. I paid $54.00 plus shipping. It was stated that the loco was in VG condition. When I received the loco, I was pleased to find that it was in better condition than stated, packed well for the trip, and ran like a top.
Purchased one item from them on eBay, a Lionel Large Scale Caboose. The caboose arrived without one window (which I expected from the pics) but a completely shattered truck, which I didn't expect and which they refused to deal with. They replied to my query saying they had no parts and I was on my own. I managed to find a replacement truck and so was not out much extra, but I was not impressed by their stance behind the item.
I have not bought again, largely because nothing I wanted has come up in my price range. I'm willing to try a second time. But not a third.
[Edited to fix egregious errors.]
I've bought maybe 100's of items from Trainz over the past 12-13 years. I've had only a couple of issues which were promptly and professionally handled. They tend to grade conservatively so most of the items have been better than described. The eBay listings tend to sell high but the listings on the Trainz auction site - even with the added 18% buyer's premium tend to sell at much more realistic prices much of the time.
I have many purchases from Trainz on eBay and have been pleased with most transactions. I do have two gripes about them, inconsistent shipping fees where the cost for shipping identical items from Atlanta to Birmingham can be as much as 50% different. Second, the poor quality of the photos in their ads. Often underexposed with no shadow detail or in the case of a black locomotive it just becomes a black blob and only one or two shots not telling much of a story about overall condition. Seems that several people are making photos and some don't have a clue other than someone once showed them what button to press. No telling how much the poor photos have cost them in bids I know it does affect what I bid if I can't judge the condition of an item from the photos. I'm sure that on occasion the poorly presented items have led to some good buys. j
I bought a Williams engine from Trainz. Arrived and the e-unit was shot. They replaced the e-unit and paid shipping both ways. I was surprised and quite happy.
Anyone can sell. I judge a seller from how they handle a problem. I've purchased from Trainz and Trainz on eBay many times.
One time I had BIG PROBLEM. And they were 100% great to deal with. The engine I purchased from them didn't run correctly. They tried to fix it (they paid for return shipping). Ultimately, their repair guys were unsuccessful. I asked for a full refund and they did so promptly.
If only every seller handled problems like Trainz did! If only. Regrettably, in the two years I've been in this hobby, I've had to return a handful of new items to the leading Internet retailers of Lionel & MTH products. Most experiences were poor. Most consider this a one way street. They get to charge you retail prices and if there is a problem: talk to Lionel or MTH. Ridiculous.
Trainz stands out as an exception. Nicholas Smith was good too. The others, not so much.
My experiences with them have been great. No issues and prompt shipping. Everything packaged well and as described.
I have purchased a few items from Trainz on eBay and have never had a problem.
Pat
One thing to remember is they only have a 30 day warrantee on items even when advertised as new in the box. They say that you need to verify your purchase as soon as received to make sure it is as advertised. I learned the hard way. So don't place that new loco on the shelf unless you have tested it. Other wise I have had a good experience buying from them.
Trains is a Forum Sponsor and I appreciate their support. I made numerous purchases (spent thousands) with Trainz when I first started in the hobby. They have a very nice website. With their purchases of estate collections, they offer desirable items from years past. Some items that had never been used before. Most transactions were satisfactory.
Several years ago, three separate and significant issues resulted in my deciding to spend my money elsewhere. Nothing to be gained by my regurgitating the issues here.
Thanks for raising this thread O-Gauger.
As an MTH fan I have often been tempted to bid or out-right purchase some of their offerings on "the bay", but I wasn't too sure about them.....especially as I live in Queensland, Australia.
It isn't all that easy to send something back if it was not as described. The lack of the "zoom" feature on their photos also puts me off a little, as I can't always see details I'm looking for in the photos.
The answers submitted above by the various forum members has eased my mind, and I may be tempted to buy from them in the future.
Peter (Buco tragic) on the fabulous Gold Coast in sunny Queensland, Australia.
Never had a problem with Trainz on eBay.
I've bought little things from them before then bought a prewar switcher not too long ago.
Never had any problems, it always went well.
I would recommend buying from them.
Tom
Very good, no comp!aunts in over 50 purchases. The very few issues were addressed quickly.
PS, why does this question keep coming up? This is a good company and a forum sponsor. Why no questions on the other excellent forum sponsors? (That last sentence is a bit sarcastic, sorry!)
hokie71 posted:Very good, no comp!aunts in over 50 purchases. The very few issues were addressed quickly.
PS, why does this question keep coming up? This is a good company and a forum sponsor. Why no questions on the other excellent forum sponsors? (That last sentence is a bit sarcastic, sorry!)
I asked because I have never purchased from them before and the picture posted is not the actual item they are selling. I appreciate all the responses, most of which have been positive.
irish rifle posted:I have purchased a few items from Trainz on eBay and have never had a problem.
Pat
Same here
Received a mth passenger set that had half of the frames broken, so the trucks were just dangling by the wires. Worst eBay experience yet
I can only tell you have had poor success on ebay with person selling you the item does not always package securely. but on Trains Never had a problem there the best shipping company I have ever used really pack great!!!!!!!
TRANZ, where you must buy a listing and have it shipped to you to find out if it works.If it does not, you have to contact them and they will send a FEDEX return label to you. Then, you repackage it and arrange for pick-up at your address. When FEDEX picks it up and TRANZ receives it back, they have someone who fixes it, or they send a refund. They will not test it, even after you buy it. I was told last week that they only have a very small test track, so they can't test any trains even after you buy them: If you call them, they will tell you what I have posted here. You can't make this stuff up.
For the most part, I've had a decent experience with Trainz. I too have noticed they've reused previous photos for their new listings, so I can understand why the question was asked. Aside from the 18% "premium" (from their site), my only beef from previous transactions was the fact they've listed the same item, at times, on both eBay and Trainz Marketplace. I've been burned a few times when I thought a won an auction only to find out it suddenly was "out of stock". I've commented to them directly about this. Aside from that, they do package their shipments very well and give a deep cut on shipping for multiple items. I have grabbed a few great deals from them, even when factoring the premium.
Rob
I can't remember having any problems buying from them on Ebay, but don't think I've purchased there much. I have had some problems over the years at their auction site, like items listed as LN and actually being well used, one time having a truck/motor assembly literally fall out of the engine when removed from the box, and other problems. Sometimes it's seemed like whomever graded the item must have been asleep. Overall, though, I will use them, because the experiences have been mostly satisfactory.
They have been good to me. Fixed any problems. Shipped fast.
Ordered twice from Trainz on E-bay and both times they had to refund my money because the order was never filled.
I would not use then again.
Purchased numerous times from Trainz over the years on eBay and their Auction site, and never had a problem. Bought High End & Smalls. The few probs I did have, they corrected ASAP.
Good People!!!
