Computer says yes - person says no...

[Paul B]

Wasn't too sure where to post this, but here seemed the best place!

How many other people have had this happen?

This year I have ordered quite a few bits from numerous internet shops and sellers, and will say that I have mostly had no problems. However, three shops (one in the UK, one in Malaysia and one in Germany - I am not mentioning names as I am sure that it is just an occasional problem) have let me down...

First, the UK shop. They showed on their website that they had stock of a Polish PKP goods truck that I had been after for a while. I duly clicked on the item, completed my order, and put my card details to pay for the truck. The following day I received an e-mail from them, apologising, but the website was not updated, and they were out of stock of that truck. They did say that they had not taken any money from my card, and did offer me a German DB similar truck - I declined... 

Second, the Malaysian shop. I was trawling the internet for any supplies of the Fleischmann Berlin-Warszawa Express coaches (anyone here sees any please let me know!) I found a shop in Malaysia whose website showed that they had 3 of each coach in stock. However, when I tried to order some of them, the site would only send to Malaysia and nearby countries, so I emailed them, to ask if they would post to the UK. They replied that they would, and asked what I wanted - when I told them, they replied that the site had not been updated and they had no more stock... (Just checked - their website still shows them as having 3 of each in stock...  )

Third - they German shop. I found on their website another Polish modern diesel loco that I wanted. While browsing the site, I also found that the shop was showing that they had stocks of the new Kuehn-Modell PKP double-decker PKP coaches - I had seen these in Continental Modeller some months ago and was keeping an eye out for them. I therefore ordered both the loco and coaches! I got some e-mails in German, which online translators made a passable job of deciphering. One (seemed to me anyway) said that the order was despatched, so I waited a couple of weeks. When it didn't arrive, I e-mailed the shop - they advised that their e-mail actually said that they were waiting for stock of the coaches, and would send both items together...  It has now been a month since that e-mail, and I haven't heard anything else. (Their website shows that the coaches are now 'on order'...  )

Now I will say that I have ordered from the German shop a few times before, and never had any problems, but this idea of showing tems 'in stock' when they aren't is annoying. I know that these shops quite often have large amounts of stock, and I can only imagine that keeping the website up to date can be a full time job. However, it doesn't help the customer with their trust of the shops when this happens!

Anyway - that is my angry rant over - over to you! Am I the only one to whom this has happened - and does it annoy you too?

[MJKERR]

I placed an order for a large number (45) of PCA wagons a long time ago
The website claimed they had plenty in stock, such that it meet my requirements

The following day I noticed my Credit Card had been charged the full amount
The next day I received a parcel with just 6 wagons in it and the receipt
On the receipt a hand written note, "Sorry we do not have enough stock but will order these"
I sent an eMail requesting a refund, but no response
A further week went past, then a letter, "Sorry we do not have enough stock, we have these on back order and will process payment when they arrive"
The next day I received a credit on my Credit Card

Three months went by and noticed another charge on my Credit Card, and the following day the parcel arrived
Just as well I remembered this was due
Throughout this whole time the stock level on the website never changed

A few months later they were the cheapest for some more rolling stock
Instead of placing an order I sent an eMail enquiry
Oddly, this too was responded by letter advising they did not have sufficient stock

I have never used them since