Has anybody been able to get in touch with them, web site isn't working right and the phone number has been disconnect . Old number was 610-3538585
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Website appears to work fine for me. I didn't try the phone#. Possibly a service provider issue on your end?
Website is working fine on this end
I was able to view the website and the listing of 2023 Vision Line Locomotives.
Last person that I know of to go there was Sean of Sean's Trains. @Sean's Train Depot, could you assist on this Sean?
I always use the sponsor link from the forum. No problem today.
I know there isn't a problem going to the Web site but its calling and placing an order through the web site .
You can't seem to move from the shopping cart to the payment .
This is what happen when I went through the link
This page isn’t working
secure2.nitrosell.com redirected you too many times.
I am well involved with NST, I am there weekly and will let them know of the concerns.
@Lionel1666 posted:I know there isn't a problem going to the Web site but its calling and placing an order through the web site .
You can't seem to move from the shopping cart to the payment .
This is what happen when I went through the link
This page isn’t working
secure2.nitrosell.com redirected you too many times.
I have no issues pulling up the checkout page.
Note they open at noon weekdays now and close at varying hours as listed on their website.
See I have two preorders that I received a cancelation notice on , twice . The second notice I was surprised because they explained to me their why they canceled the first time . Their pre order method .
If you call their number its disconnected , the train and toy store .
I might go there tomorrow .
But thank you all for answering my question .
@ZWPOWER13 posted:I am well involved with NST, I am there weekly and will let them know of the concerns.
Please as I too have had no luck with the web site?
@Lionel1666 posted:See I have two preorders that I received a cancelation notice on , twice . The second notice I was surprised because they explained to me their why they canceled the first time . Their pre order method .
If you call their number its disconnected , the train and toy store .
I might go there tomorrow .
But thank you all for answering my question .
Please let us know
Hmmmm. I am also waiting two pre-orders. Both were released in January. I called a week or so ago and was told that one had not been unpacked yet and the other would be picked up next time they made a run to Elkridge. Hope the orders come through.
More important, I hope Chris is OK. I haven't seen him in the shop in a few years and I know he is getting on in years.
I heard that Chris sold the business to his daughter and son-in-law and they have hired a manager to run the business.
I believe one of his daughters is now running the store . Nice to see it stay in the family .
They did have some phone issues and the web site problem could be because I am ordering pre-order items or my computer .
But everything is ok
@Lionel1666 posted:I believe one of his daughters is now running the store . Nice to see it stay in the family .
One can hope. Bussinger’s was left to one of Charlie’s daughters. When Charlie was around, the place was packed with MTH stuff. The new place is packed with Melissa and Doug stuff. Just about the only MTH stuff now is NOS.
Their Facebook page is active. There were three posts this week alone. I drove by the other day and the parking lot had several cars in the lot. Perhaps the NS online team is down in Clearwater with the Phillies this week. 😎
The website worked for me as well.
I wish Joey would come back
The phone number was working fine when I contacted them last week about a layaway I had with them. Earl G
Just talked to them on the phone on the 28th.... all seemed fine.
What is Melissa and Doug stuff?
This discussion seems to come up every 6 months or so. I think the issue may be that they have two domain names. I've never had a problem finding the correct one.
@Reading RR posted:What is Melissa and Doug stuff?
I know that when I have ordered online I've had no problems at all. This was a few years ago, I think last one may have been 2020 which since I'm in NJ fairly close to the PA border, they drive my item out instead of normal shipping. I was pleasantly surprised at that.
Other than that, I don't know as it has been some time since I've ordered. I haven't ordered anything new just because most stuff I've been looking for or ordering has been through my local train store.
I talked to a few people there today. Chris still owns the place, but he is retired.
Their phones were out for a few days recently.
@Lehigh74 posted:One can hope. Bussinger’s was left to one of Charlie’s daughters. When Charlie was around, the place was packed with MTH stuff. The new place is packed with Melissa and Doug stuff. Just about the only MTH stuff now is NOS.
As unfortunate as that may be for us train guys, the Melissa and Doug stuff does draw people into the store. And might be the difference between surviving and closing. These days, you can't have all your eggs in one basket.
George
@Cmontagna recently posted a video of his visit to Nicholas Smith trains - I think the visit was in late January. Looked like the store was very much open and well stocked, although Chris expressed some frustration about having gone there recently and finding the store to be closed.
@G3750 posted:As unfortunate as that may be for us train guys, the Melissa and Doug stuff does draw people into the store. And might be the difference between surviving and closing. These days, you can't have all your eggs in one basket.
George
Although I've bought a lot from them at York, I've only been to the store once. As I recall, they also had a toy store at that location, so Melissa & Doug stuff wouldn't be unusual.
Does it really matter what else they sell, as long as they have trains? I visited a train store in Dunlap Indiana a few years ago. In addition to trains, the store also sold gaming stuff, guns, and cigars. If the owner had a liquor license, it would have been one-stop shopping.
@Mallard4468 posted:@Cmontagna recently posted a video of his visit to Nicholas Smith trains - I think the visit was in late January. Looked like the store was very much open and well stocked, although Chris expressed some frustration about having gone there recently and finding the store to be closed.
Yeah, I have to watch that. Sean of Sean's Trains had posted a video I think of last year where he went all over the store. I was hoping he'd comment as he pops by there once and a while.
@Alabama Joe posted:I wish Joey would come back
Spoke to him 2 weeks ago, never again.....
@Mallard4468 posted:Although I've bought a lot from them at York, I've only been to the store once. As I recall, they also had a toy store at that location, so Melissa & Doug stuff wouldn't be unusual.
Does it really matter what else they sell, as long as they have trains? I visited a train store in Dunlap Indiana a few years ago. In addition to trains, the store also sold gaming stuff, guns, and cigars. If the owner had a liquor license, it would have been one-stop shopping.
No, it doesn't matter to us, but it might be important. I think one of the major reasons for Hobby Express' success has been their diverse offerings. As well as trains, they carry R/C cars, ships, and planes (as well as service them). They also carry plastic models (planes, cars, military vehicles, ships, Gundam), glue, paint, tools, die-cast cars (1:64, 1:43, 1:25, 1:18), puzzles, science stuff, model rockets, slot cars, stuffed animals, small toys, Bruder, and the aforementioned Melissa and Doug.
Oh yeah, and a lot of N, HO, O, and G trains, track, and scenery supplies. 
They are not dependent on 1 or 2 things to stay financially afloat.
George
"No, it doesn't matter to us, but it might be important. I think one of the major reasons for Hobby Express' success has been their diverse offerings. As well as trains, they carry R/C cars, ships, and planes (as well as service them). They also carry plastic models (planes, cars, military vehicles, ships, Gundam), glue, paint, tools, die-cast cars (1:64, 1:43, 1:25, 1:18), puzzles, science stuff, model rockets, slot cars, stuffed animals, small toys, Bruder, and the aforementioned Melissa and Doug."
Hobby Express recently expanded its store. I have family near Cranberry and I always stop in and make a purchase. Mark
Just to update I placed a web order yesterday and received an order confirmation email.
Today I received a FedEX tracking email. I would say it’s business as usual.
@Mallard4468 posted:Although I've bought a lot from them at York, I've only been to the store once. I recall, they also had a toy store at that location, so Melissa & Doug stuff wouldn't be unusual. Does it matter what else they sell, as long as they have trains? I visited a train store in Indiana a few years ago. In addition to trains, the store also sold gaming stuff, guns, and cigars.
The "Melissa & Doug" reference was originally made regarding Bussinger's Train store. It seems that some are mistakenly transferring it over to Nicholas Smith.
I haven't been backup to the Philadelphia area since my mom passed away 2017 and was planning to 2020 but Covid 19 sealed the fate of that trip but hopefully will get up there sometime this year. I have known Chris since he had his K&G Speed Shop on Darby Rd in Havertown around 1969.
Interesting information about the speed shop , wondering if he was a racer also? Another expensive hobby of mine!!!
I've probably said this on other threads, though it's worth repeating for the simple reason that younger people who are accustomed to online shopping may not be aware of the vast and incredible experience of visiting a train/hobby shop in person - and without exaggeration Nicholas Smith is above and beyond what a constitutes a usual train/hobby shop. If you can picture floor to ceiling shelves of "train and hobby" stuff, you can get an idea.
The history of the original center Philly store is likely well known; it was one of the earliest, or the earliest, Lionel dealers in the country (there's a newspaper article on the front counter of the current Broomall, PA store that describes the history). My only connection with that original store was visiting John Wanamaker's department store at Christmas time, where the original Nicholas Smith and staff would set up a holiday train display, and it was quite amazing. Part of that display had been transferred to the Broomall, store, and was taken down about 8 or so years ago. Nicholas Smith passed away in 1973, I recall, and at some point afterwards, the store and/or name was purchased and moved to Broomall. I discovered the Broomall store in the mid 1990s when I was more into diecast cars than trains.
Online shopping is great and convenient, but the "experience" doesn't hold a candle to visiting a well- stocked and "atmospheric" train/hobby/toy shop like Nicholas Smith. I am glad to read that the store will go on; I imagine it is a tradition for many people to shop there...kind of is for me, too, though it's a little hike...plus my dentist in only 20 minutes away, and makes my 2/year dental checkup not so bad 
, remember the days when the dentist gave kids a lollypop , now I stop at Nicholas Smith and buy some figures, at least 
