Pre-Order - Advanced Reservation

Policy & Information Page!

Since we launched our new web-site in August 2007 we have had 2 different areas on our site that allow for on-line "Pre-Orders" and talked about our pre-order policies and also provided industry information, delivery dates, delays, cancellations and other items related to upcoming items.

While it is still our goal to have a area that offers "All" announced new items by manufacture to allow our customers to purchase directly on-line this project has taken on a life of it's own.

Currently we are taking "Pre-Orders" from all the major manufactures that total a unbelievable 2000+ New Items!  These items are due anywhere from next week to 9 months or more down the road.

Also the manufactures faced with a slowing economy and other business issues are delaying and canceling projects faster than the dealers can sometimes keep up with.  (us included)

It has always been our goal (and continues to be) to provide as much information about new items to our customers and make

it as easy as possible to buy or reserve new items.

 With the holidays rapidly approaching we sat down with our staff and decided that we needed to make a couple of short-term changes to our "Pre-Order" system and the related information.

First we have "Removed" our "Pre-Order" Category.  Product that was available on our site as a pre-order items have been moved under their manufactures section by scale and type of item.

Second we are combining our Pre-Order Policy Page & Advanced Reservation & Information Page into one.

Below we have provided industry information that relates to

"Pre-Orders"And New Products.

Under that you will find our "Up-Dated" Pre-Order/Advanced

Reservation Policies.

As always if you have any questions, suggestions or comments please feel free to drop us an email or give us a call.

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We receive many inquiries about manufacture delivery dates.  A number of our customers ask how Model Train Warehouse seems to have more accurate delivery dates than other companies.

Well we don't have a crystal ball nor do we have all the answers and we do miss dates, but here is something we do differently from some of the other dealers in our industry.

First, the date shown on a manufacture web-site or flyer is the "Arrival Date" TO THEM - once they receive it they have to go through a series of checks, add it to their inventory, place it in the warehouse, fill pre-orders, fill backorders, package and ship it to the dealers.  This process can and does take several days!   Then once it is shipped to the dealers it should arrive to them within 1-10 days.

That means that from the day it actually arrives at the manufacture warehouse, the dealers probably won't have it for another 1 to 2 weeks!   Now that is NOT always the case but you can figure that it seems to be the best rule to follow and seems to be correct 90% of the time.

We in turn based "OUR" projected arrival dates on the above formula!   That is why our dates are generally closer than a company that just takes the manufactures arrival date and uses that.  Also we would rather exercise on the side of caution, that way if the product arrives sooner

it is a win win situation for our customers.

Currently just about all of the major manufactures are continuing to experience delays in the delivery of product.   Here is some additional information about this issue.

The major manufactures are indeed experiencing delays with their new product delivery schedules.  This is due to a number of factors, some information about these delays has been provided to the dealers, others parts have not.   Here is what we do know > Rising costs of oil, transportation, reductions in manufacturing work forces causing a slowdown in production, higher than normal cancellation of dealer orders due to customer cancellations, the economy and shop closures are all effecting our industry.

These issues are also causing some of the manufactures to "Re-Think" announced runs.  Look for "Some" cancellations of announced items over the next few months.  Also a couple of the manufactures have announced that they will "Slow Down" new product announcements.   Which we have now seen with at least 3 companies.

If you have items on "Pre-Order" with us and the manufacture does cancel the item/s we will provide a full and prompt refunds for paid Pre-Orders.   

Because of these delays and questions about up-coming new items we are now moving towards a "Due Late In 4th Quarter 08" "Due In Early 1st Quarter 09" - Instead of "Due 8/15/08" (as an example).

This applies to "Pre-Order" items.

If you need a more exact date, please email or call us and we will do our best to provide you with what information we have, but please keep in mind that the information could change at any time.

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Pre-Orders/Advanced Reservations!

We are currently accepting orders for over 2000 New items!

Currently to place your "Pre-Orders" please contact us toll

free at: 1-866-939-5777 Option #2.

Phone hours are Monday-Friday 10am-4pm Mountain Time. 

If you reach our voice mail it means all of our staff is currently on the phone serving other customers.   You may call us back or please feel free to leave us a message with your telephone number and one of our staff will get back to you just as soon as possible.   Please note that our phone system does not allow for messages to be left outside of our normal business hours or on the weekends.

Pre-Order/Advanced Reservation Policies

As many customers are aware many of the model train manufactures are moving towards a more strictly enforced BTO (build to order) policy for many of their new releases.   This started in early 2007 and is becoming the industry norm with tighter controls as we move towards 2009.

Presently, most of the major manufacture will announce an item, then give the dealers and distributors a set period of time (usually 30 to 45 days) to put together their orders.   The manufacture then takes these numbers and produces the product (if the total number ordered warrants moving forward).  

In most cases once the product order date has been closed (usually after the 30 to 45 days) no additional orders will be accepted by the manufacture.  Their distributor/s may continue to accept additional orders but those orders would be filled only if dealers cancels or reduce orders that were already placed.

Along with this the major manufactures have been putting pressure on the dealers and distributors to come up with the "Right" numbers.   Due to past over ordering some of the manufactures take that final number requested and actually cut it back!   This is to help prevent the manufacturers and distributors from being left with product that the dealers placed on order but when the product is finally available the dealers lower the actual number they had on order or even cancel the entire order.

Unfortunately the BTO program coupled with the above has started to cause shortages of product, especially if the customer waits and tries to fine product well after the order cut-off or when it is finally released to the dealers.

To avoid "Missing Out" some customers have even started to pre-order/reserve item/s from more than one dealer to increase the odds that they will really get the item/s they want.  This falsely inflates the numbers turned into the manufactures.  When the product is finally delivered if too much is left on the manufactures or distributors shelves (or for too long) the manufacture simply cuts back production on future new products.

This effects us all!

Due to these changes here is our companies

Pre-Order/Reservation Policy Effective August 2007

When you place your order for a "Pre-Order" item with an advanced due date you will receive a LOWER Pre-Order PRICE.

(this is the price shown on your order).

Payment in FULL is REQUIRED when you place the order. 

Your credit card will be charged when the order is placed or payment will need to be made at the time of order through PayPal.

What if I change my mind?

You may cancel your order up to 2 weeks before the manufactures official release date of the item/s and 100% of your money will be refunded.

In the event the manufacture cancels the project we will refund

100% of your money.

In the event the manufacture delays the project over 2 months and you wish to cancel (due to the delay) we will refund 100% of your money.

Anytime 2 weeks or less from the release and up to 7 days after you receive the item from us, you may cancel or return the item.   At that point our companies’ standard RESTOCKING FEE will apply.   

This fee is 20% of the price of the item/s (with a $7.50 minimum). 

If the item has been shipped to you and returned to us with a Valid RA# the restocking fee will apply PLUS we do not refund your shipping charges and you are responsible for getting the item back to us post paid.  We do not issue call tags or pay for return shipping.

 When your pre-order item/s arrive at our warehouse they will ship to you automatically. 

If you see that an item that you have placed on pre-order with us and it has gone passed the due date, please drop us an email or give us a call.  We will be happy to give you the latest information we have.

We understand as a business and as consumers ourselves, no one like to pay for something and not take it home or receive it in a few days of placing the order.   Please keep in mind that for many things in life, a "Reservation" requires payment up front.   There are many examples of this such as airlines or Amtrak tickets, vacation packages, video games and even for new computer software.  In these cases payment is required when the order or "Reservation" is made.

Another reason for this policy is that many customer have relayed their frustrations with other dealers when item/s they ordered months ago comes in and their credit or debit card is charged without warning causing unforeseen issues for the customer.   Or the on file credit / debit card information is out of date causing a delay or possible missed order altogether if the dealer can't contact the customer easily (or does not have the time to do so)

Our paid pre-order policy avoids these issues.

Lastly please note that we consider "Pre-Order" Item/s as Special Order Item/s hence by ordering you are acknowledging that you have read understand and agree to our policy as outlined above AND that you understand that this is considered a SPECIAL ORDER and that your credit card will be charged at the time the order is PLACED or payment has been made through PayPal.

Thank You For Your Understanding.

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This Page Was Last Up-Dated On May 3rd, 2009.