Fellow train guys, I am posting this update in the hope no one else will get burned by this outfit. The following is a log of my dealings (one and only) with the Hobby Circle of Brooklyn, N.Y.
26 Feb 04 - I mailed an order for $62.26 (Walthers Catalog & 3 Athearn trucks). I paid by check.
03 Mar 04 - Hobby Circle cashed the check.
05 Apr 04 - 39 days elapsed, have not heard from or received anything from H.C., placed call (not an 800 number) to them. Voice mail informed that they were closed till 16 Apr. 04.
16 Apr 04 - Called H.C., got voice mail stating they were closed till 15 (!) Apr. 04.
23 Apr 04 - Called H.C. (2:40 PM), man who answered asked me to tell him what I had ordered, said he didn't recognize order & since they were closing for the weekend, could I call him back Monday.
26 Apr 04 - Called H.C., got voice mail, left message to call me.
27 Apr 04 - Having not heard from H.C. decided to fax copy of order & canceled check, fax is busy through-out day, fax does not answer after business hours.
28 Apr. 04 - Mailed copy of order & canceled check, and asked them to call.
04 May 04 - Having not heard from H.C., placed call, got voice mail, left message to call me.
06 May 04 - Called H.C., got answer, started to explain situation, he wanted to know what I had ordered, at this point I realized we had been here before, so I asked him if received my letter of 28 Apr. He asked me where I had mailed it, I told him the one on their Web sight, 543 Bedford Ave, P.M.B. 248...., he told me they were having problems with that Post Office Box and it should be cleared up in a day or so, give him another week or so. He did not ask me to complete telling him what I had ordered.
07 May 04 - I re-mailed copies of order & canceled check to Bedford Ave address, and one I found on MSN yellow pages (34 Franklin Ave).
15 May 04 - Having figured out what is going on, I sent a certified letter requesting a refund, I enclosed this log, order, & canceled check.
26 May 04 - Found out that the post office attempted to deliver certified letter at 12:38 pm May 20, 04. No Joy!
Please excuse the rambling, but I felt it important to get this out to community. The same day I placed this order I placed one with Trainworld under the same conditions, they called me, kept me informed, sent me a partial refund and the merchandise months ago. I hope this save somebody some money.