The WWW (woo woo woo) Black Friday Sale had some screaming deals. Micro-Trains for under $10 each, Atlas Sound Equipped locos (just released ones!) for $150, etc. I had $700 in my cart before I put it all back. If it seems too good to be true...
I hit that same thing on the Black Friday sale but managed to reduce my cart down to 5 items that were the best deals and that wouldn't break the bank or upset the CFO. Funny thing is, I had ordered a good bit from them over the years and packing and shipping was always done well by them. Wasn't always fast but was dependable. On my 5 item Black Friday order, I got a bit of a surprise though. I got one package with 2 items and the 3 more packages of 1 item each all over the course of 3 weeks. I'm sure they were getting volume discounts on shipping but that still had to cost them more than what they charged. There are still a lot of good places out there to shop including many TB advertisers. Just kind of sad to see one of the bigger options go away.
Ongoing topic here for a three weeks now.... https://www.trainboard.com/highball...rld-famous-uk-train-shop-closing-down.153888/
I always like when they showed what was in stock. I pre ordered one time elsewhere. I guess I did not put order in time. Missed out when found out was to late.
When they had their fire sale at the end of last year, I bought an Atlas N scale MRL SD-9 with sound for $98.00 !!!! I couldn't believe that it was on their site for that price. Even more surprising was when I received it (3 weeks later). Brand new, never been run and runs great! I will never find a deal like that, again. I had an idea that something was up with all the steep discounted pricing. I support a non Trainboard contributor vendor as well as a previously mentioned direct manufacturer/distributor. It's important to keep as many of these guys in business as it benefits us all. I know prices have soared but prices have gone up on EVERYTHING and I don't see this trend changing, which is very troubling - long term. We all know where most of this stuff is manufactured; other than KATO and MT. (I better not say anymore) Enjoy this fantastic hobby; it has given me many, many years of "escape from reality"! Brian
The news I heard about the woo woo shop in Maryland is the owner passed and the family didn't want to be in the hobby shop business, so they sold to the highest bidder. Per the woo woo shop in the UK, they stated many reasons for their closure, but said one of them was not because they were insolvent. My last two woo woo Maryland order shipped directly from a woo woo supplier in KS. So the question now, will the woo woo shop from the UK reappear here in the US in a new location? According to some insiders at the Amherst show, there is more info to come.
Just found out that MBL sold for and some of the other deals. As for the price (was asked not to tell) I was in shock it went that low. sounds as the family just wanted out and too the first low ball offer. And yes, most of the orders are shipping out of the Heartland Hobbies Wherehouse in Freemont KS.
Kansas, Nebraska.......just a couple of "fly over" states that many folks confused in middle school geography.
So, how long have we been discussing that they closed up shop now, a few weeks? Oddly enough, I got an email from MTS today asking me to review my latest purchase (which was in November) so I guess someone forgot to turn off the automated emails?.............
Something about this whole scenario just seems off. Who acquired it and their shutdown. The rumors as to where it would be re-located. The total closure, with what seems to be a liquidation.
I read recently that Intermountain wanted to acquire woo and but the UK shop out bid them. Anyway, it's a gas that we all know them that should not be mentioned due to forum rools. Play the game!
If I recall correctly-- and someone will be around to correct me if I am wrong-- the rewording to "woo woo woo" was to avoid, let us say, "difficulties." https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/policy-trainboard-posts-about-retailers.40760/
I can understand wanting to provide some support/protection for the dealers who advertise on, and thus support, this site. Yet, I can't recall ever seeing a "wanted" post for some item where one of those advertising dealers responded that they had that item available. So, why should they be upset if someone posts a link to a dealer that does have the item in stock? Second, if a customer does post about an issue they have (been unable to satisfactorily resolve) with a given dealer, then why doesn't that dealer post about how they are going to make the matter right for the customer, instead of having their "suits" send a takedown notice or other threat to the forum? No retailer is perfect, but it's how they manage to resolve problems - or not - that separates the preferred dealers from those to whom we won't give repeat business.
I am sure any advertiser would just click the 'report' link and tell admin as opposed to raising questions on an open post. JMO