Online Product Announcements/Requests...

[modeltrainstuff]

Alright Guys... There has been much debate over how hobby shops and etailers deal with product requests and reservations.

Currently we take a request for a product and then email you when the item becomes available. In its current state you fill out a form and have to already know the item number for what you would like to be notified about. I am working on a new system and would like to get some input from some of you.

HO Scale Beta (http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/HO_Scale_Product_Announcements_s/2521.htm)

N Scale Beta (http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/N_Scale_Product_Announcements_s/2522.htm)

I understand that this is somewhat of an impersonal system. It will require that you check your email often to check if anything has become available. There are a lot of pros to the systems as well. You are not obligated to buy anything. The pages will give you a chance to see what is coming from several manufacturers in one place.

We have not made any permanent changes to our current system at this time.

Please send feedback to Ryan at rthoman@modeltrainstuff.com

Thanks Guys, I appreciate your input and look forward to any suggestions and criticism!

[jbaakko]

Awesome! I'm adding a number of intermodal kits cars now!

[riverotter]

Kinda like a "Wish List" or "My Favorites". I like the idea!

I wouldn't worry about "It will require that you check your email often" - most email programs have some kind of notifier widget that let's the user know if new email has been received. Besides, this is the kind of happy email I would look forward to receiving!

Please let us know when this goes live on your site if you decide to deploy it -- I have a lengthy Wish List I'd like to submit! :D

[modeltrainstuff]

We have always had the add to wish list link under the add to cart button on each item page. For the past year now we have always had a product request form available on our future release section. It allows you to enter the item number for any product that has been announced and then receive an email from one of us letting you know that it has arrived. The only real difference in what I am currently working on that is I am adding products that have been announced directly to our site (ie: BLMA TopGon Hoppers). This allows you to use the Email me when in stock link that had been on every product page since we have had our current website up.

So for the items that you would like that are not yet listed on the New Announcement Page you can continue to use our manual product request form found on the HO, N, O future release page.

Also with our current product request form we email customers before the product goes live on our site. Giving a day or so to let the customers who requested one first crack at the items. With the new announcements being listed months ahead of the time that they go live they will never be hidden. Thus giving anyone a chance to buy them when we add stock, and then those who requested to be notified will receive an email letting them know its available for purchase.

How do you all feel about reservations? Do you want to be able to put money down on an item and be guaranteed one? Or is simply being notified when items are available satisfactory?

I really appreciate the input on this topic. It is a tough one for us to decide on. Many online train shops have different approaches to this and I would like to get some input on what you the customers would like!

Thanks,
Ryan

[riverotter1948]

How do you all feel about reservations? Do you want to be able to put money down on an item and be guaranteed one? Or is simply being notified when items are available satisfactory?
Thanks,
Ryan

Ryan, It's customer engagement like this that gets your website put at the top of people's Web Favorites list (like I've done! :D).

Personally, I don't do reservations anymore, especially ones that require a deposit. Too many "this month, next month, sometime, never" experiences -- even with reputable manufacturers.

I've even gotten to the point that I don't like to order products that are supposed to be in stock (because their release date has passed) that actually haven't arrived yet.

I guess my philosophy is "If you can't deliver it, I won't order it." Maybe that's because I'm a olde farte and don't want to run the risk of something arriving after I've been cremated. :rolleyes:

Keep up the good work -- you guys deserve success!

[modeltrainstuff]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I was hoping for more negatives so I can fine tune my proposal to the rest of the staff!

[UP2CSX]

Hi Ryan,
I'm kind of torn about reservations. I don't mind putting down something like 25% if it's from a company like Atlas or Athearn that I know has a pretty good chance of delivering what they say and the item is really going to be a limited run. I hate this reservations thing only and paying full retail only to see it show up on e-bay for 20% less than I paid for it. For other companies that don't have a good reputation for delivering on time (or at all, as shown by the Tower 55/T55 debacle of late), I refuse to give a cash deposit. If the company is looking for an expression of interest, I'd be more than willing to do that but no money is going to change hands until there's a firm delivery date with a full refund if the delivery date isn't met. There are far too many small MRR companies that think schedules are just a suggestion and they we don't mind waiting an extra year because the wife had a baby...or whatever. So, big reliable companies, I'll put down a deposit for something I really want. Small, vaporware outfits won't get a dime.

P.S. Any word on getting those HO NJ Crossing Gates yet? :) For the rest of you here, we had a small mixup in my order the other day that was totally my fault and Ryan is trying to get me the crossing gates I really needed, even though they aren't in his regular stock. A really nice and helpful guy to deal with.

[NYSW F45]

You wouldn't be able to find any Atlas U34CH's painted in the EL/NJDOT blue with silver/red stripes and the ones painted in NJT silver with disco strip on the long hood would you?