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Post by atsfan on Jul 8, 2012 7:08:03 GMT -8
There used to be a mail order and train show dealer called Eastern Classic Models. I got emails from him but those stopped and I cannot find him anywhere. Does anybody know if he has retired/quit? Thanks  |
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Post by curtmc on Jul 8, 2012 8:38:54 GMT -8
Last I heard from Al he was trying to restructure his business... His email was very candid on the issues he was having with everybody from manufacturers, distributors and customers (most of those customers whom he can't blame because they should get what they pay for from the manufacturers). It sounded to me if he was on the verge of just getting out of selling trains (and he did say he would be dropping particular product lines) because of the frustrations of getting stuff and having to deal with distributors and manufacturers. He was tired of the lying, the incorrect shipments, the double charging, the stuff arriving damaged...
The rising prices, pre-order fiascos, and supply/shipping/defect ordeals are pushing dealers like him out of the hobby business.
For those who think these are the best days of the model railroading hobby and look at it with a glass-half-full view (based upon perceptions of product variety), the reality is that glass is a quarter-full and evaporating quickly... That's not to say that the hobby will not be here in 10-20 years, it will just be more limited, much more of an everything advance ordered ordeal, and much more expensive... Few hobby shops, fewer mailorder/show dealers like Al was, shrinking hobby shows... etc... the writing is on the wall for those who open their eyes to read it.
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Post by drolsen on Jul 8, 2012 9:20:38 GMT -8
Curt - When did you last hear from Al, and was this an email he sent out to his list, or a response just to you? I'm just curious - I've tried calling him several times in the last couple months (I need to update my payment info with him so he can ship some things), but I always get his voice message. He should have at least a dozen or more items waiting to send me, but it's been difficult getting a response from him for the last couple years, as you and I discussed offline. I hate to say this, but I probably need to close out the remaining orders I have with him and call it a day, after about 12 years of ordering from him.
Dave
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Post by curtmc on Jul 8, 2012 10:09:00 GMT -8
Dave,
Direct email to me on 3/27. Haven't heard anything since.
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Post by atsfan on Jul 8, 2012 11:30:11 GMT -8
Hmmm. Does not sound too promising.
I think the hobby has changed rapidly in the last few years, and not for the better. Looking at is selfishly, I have plenty of stuff and not as much time as I would like anyway, so if I get fewer new models I will be fine.
But overall, I think the rapidly disappearing train stores and shows, the limited availability of products, the pre order only model, the quality issues of may, the rapidly rising prices/lack of discounting, and massive wait times for new products, and the short shipping of orders you do bother to get, make for a not too much fun shopping and hobby experience.
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Post by drolsen on Jul 19, 2012 7:22:04 GMT -8
Dave, Direct email to me on 3/27. Haven't heard anything since. Well... I've tried to call about 6 times in the past few weeks between about 10 AM and noon, Alabama time, with no luck. I emailed him a few days ago and will wait a few more for a response. After that, not sure what I'll do. Now that I think about it, I believe he has about 15 or 20 freight cars held for me, and I'm pretty sure I've paid for most of them. I'd really like to see those eventually, and I also hope Al's doing ok. As I said, I had years of great service and prices, so I hate to see him go out this way, if that's what's happening. I hope that it he's calling it quits, that he'll at least close out his remaining orders and let everyone know that ECMR is closing shop. Dave |
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Post by atsfan on Jul 20, 2012 11:45:21 GMT -8
I got an email finally that he has a new job. He says he is working to ship out orders but has a bunch of people who haven't paid for pre orders or something like that. Looks like the days of ECMR are over.  |
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Post by drolsen on Jul 21, 2012 4:03:46 GMT -8
Thanks a lot for the update. Hopefully I'll hear back from him soon too. I guess I haven't been able to reach him by phone because he's out at his new job. I really have no hard feelings - this is a hard business - I just want to close out my remaining orders and then wish him the best.
Dave
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Post by Mike Ranck on Aug 2, 2012 12:01:11 GMT -8
Can anyone send his email or phone. I had it but the computer died and lost everything. I have several things ordered and want to find the status
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Post by umtrrauthor on Aug 2, 2012 12:24:18 GMT -8
The last address I have for him was on AOL-- but that's years old and may not be valid.
I don't think you can get a PM if you're a guest, and it wouldn't be fair to just post his e-mail and/or phone number in a public forum where spam-o-matic harvesters can easily grab it.
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Post by atsfan on Aug 2, 2012 16:50:13 GMT -8
His email is
ecmr51@aol.com
I just got a Kato engine in the mail from him today so I know he is still around. He said he is filling the last orders he has and the model train business is impossible to stay in and make a living in, so I don't know what if anything he will be offering in the future.
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Post by drolsen on Aug 2, 2012 21:08:30 GMT -8
That's strange - all of my emails from Al over the past few years have been from a Yahoo address.
Dave
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Post by atsfan on Aug 4, 2012 8:04:59 GMT -8
That's strange - all of my emails from Al over the past few years have been from a Yahoo address. Dave I have emailed him for year and never used a yahoo address. It was ecmr1 but changed when he moved. |
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Post by Mike on Aug 4, 2012 8:48:14 GMT -8
It used to be ecmr2 at one time but changed when he moved. I've dealt with him for years and have items on order. If some of you have contacted him recently have him contact Mike Ranck from Pa.
Thanks
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Post by drolsen on Sept 17, 2012 11:29:15 GMT -8
Hi folks,
I hate to drag up this topic again, but I was just wondering if any of you have heard back from Al at Eastern Classic lately. I've been trying to call him since April to give him my new credit card number so I can close out my orders with him, and recover the several hundred dollars worth of items that he already charged me for last winter but hasn't shipped (he was always waiting for one or two more items to put in the box). He hasn't answered his phone or responded to my emails. The last email I received from him was on Mar 27 (from his Yahoo address). I understand that he's had personal issues, but this is rediculous. This is not something I need to be dealing with while I'm deployed overseas, so I'm at the point of contacting my credit card company to try to recover the charges. Sad, after so many years of ordering from him.
Thanks,
Dave
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Post by drolsen on Sept 18, 2012 4:57:28 GMT -8
OK, as soon as I sent Al a message saying that I was going to have to have my credit card company recover the charges, he wrote back within a couple hours saying that he hadn't received any of my previous email messages (that were all included below my most recent one). He said he has been going through some rough times but will be home on Friday so I can call him. Hopefully I can wrap up my outstanding orders with him and then move on.
Dave
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Post by atsfan on Sept 21, 2012 18:25:19 GMT -8
Al does not answer his phone anymore and is out of the train business.
If you have credit card charges and no product, do what you did. I had not heard from him and wrote him the same type of email and he responded.
I did the same thing. I got my last engine and since he won't answer me any more, no longer deal with him. Kinda sad way to end it...........
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Post by atsfan on Sept 30, 2012 5:38:32 GMT -8
The phone number I had for him now is disconnected.
If you did not get yet items you paid for and you have no contact I think your options are clear.
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Post by drolsen on Sept 30, 2012 7:05:41 GMT -8
The phone number I had for him now is disconnected. Did you get an actual voice message saying the number was disconnected, or did you get a fast busy signal? I've been in touch with him several times over email in the past two weeks but have not been able to get him on the phone. Most of the time, I get a fast busy signal, but it occasionally goes through (but I haven't caught him at home during those times). He says his cable/internet/phone provider keeps having problems with his service. It's one disaster after another over the past two years. It looks like he never got most of the items in that I had reserved and only has a couple items on hand for me. It's going to be a matter of determining what he already charged me for in advance and getting a refund for those items. Wish me luck... Dave |
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Post by atsfan on Sept 30, 2012 16:43:22 GMT -8
It was the number that always went to voice mail.
Now it does not connect and I get a message saying the number you have dialed is not in service.........
Last I heard he had a day job now. Overall Al was always a stand up guy so I would bet he would either deliver stuff you paid for, or not charge you. But too bad it ended as it did...........
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