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Frequently asked questions

Question - Does Train Sets Only ship internationally?

Answer - Yes, we ship quite a bit internationally.  You can checkout following the same process as our U.S. customers.  After entering your address information, our system will provide you with shipping options and rates.  For further information regarding international orders, click here. 

 

Question - How quickly will my order be processed?

Answer - All of our inventory is listed with an Inventory Status indicating how quickly it typically ships.  The item with the longest wait time typically determines when your order will ship out from our warehouse.  Occasionally, we will break orders apart and ship in-stock merchandise immediately. When we do this, you will not be charged any additional shipping.

 

Question - Are the products you sell lead-free?

Answer - Train Sets Only only sells products from reputable manufacturers and takes product safety very seriously.  In light of the recent lead-paint scare, we have requested statements from all of our manufacturers regarding product safety.  These statements can be found here: http://www.trainsetsonly.com/page/TSO/CTGY/ProductSafety.

 

Question - The item I want is listed as On-Order or has an expected availability date listed.  Can I still order the item?

Answer - Yes, you can still order these items.  These items will then ship when they become available.  Your credit card will not be charged until your order is prepared for shipment and you can cancel your order at any time.

 

Question - How will my order be shipped?

Answer - At checkout, you will be provided with a number of shipping options.  Our normal ground ship method is FedEx Ground/FedEx Home Delivery.  On occasion, we may ship your order via the USPS when it makes more sense to do so.  There are also some circumstances when your order will be directly shipped from one of our suppliers and the ship method from them will be Ground (usually FedEx or UPS).

 

Question - How is shipping calculated?

Answer - During the checkout process, and before you enter any credit card information, you will be provided with your shipping options and the associated costs.  Shipping, with some exceptions, is based upon weight and distance.  Shipping rates are based upon real-time interaction with the carrier's systems.  And, remember, orders over $200 receive free ground shipping within the continental US (PO Boxes excluded).  Also see the next Q&A.

 

Question - Can I see how much shipping will cost without starting the checkout process?

Answer - Yes, you can.  Simply add the appropriate items to your cart and click on the Shopping Cart link.  Right below the list of items in your cart, there is a link labeled "Calculate Shipping".  When you click on this, you will be asked for your ZIP Code, State, and Country.  After entering that data, you will be given a list of shipping options and costs.

 

Question - What if I cannot find what I'm looking for?

Answer - Simply email us with your inquiry at custserv@trainsetsonly.com.  If you know the Walther's part number, you can order it directly from us from this page - Walther's Catalog Item Order.  Normally, we'll knock 15% off of the Walther's non-sale price.  If Walther's has the item on sale, we will honor their sales price.  Additionally, we are an Athearn dealer and can obtain any of their products as well.

 

Question - Who is Train Sets Only?

Answer - Train Sets Only is a family owned and operated, Internet based store that deals in model railroad and BRIO Wooden Railway items.  Train Sets Only was founded in 2001 and prides itself in offering outstanding customer service at great prices.

 

Question - I've never heard of Train Sets Only.  How do I know it's safe to purchase from you?

Answer - We've been in business since 2001 and have been building a loyal customer base ever since.  Our #1 goal is to provide great service.  Unless specifically stated, all items listed for sale have been purchased new from reputable manufacturers and distributors.  Visit our testimonials page, which shows what our customers have had to say about us.  If you ever have a concern with your order, simply send us an email at custserv@trainsetsonly.com or give us a call.

 

Question - Is trainsetsonly.com secure?

Answer - Yes, when you begin the checkout process, you will be using our secure web server.  When entering this information, you will notice that there is a padlock icon at the bottom of your browser window which indicates that you are in 'secure' mode and all data entered at this point will be encrypted.  We also comply with credit card issuer established best practices to ensure your personal information remains secure.  We also subscribe to the ScanAlert Hacker Safe program.  They scan our server on a daily basis to help ensure there are no security holes.  Their logo at the top-right-hand corner of our website indicates that we've passed their tests.  You can click on the logo for more information on their service.

 

Question - Does Train Sets Only use cookies?

Answer - Yes, cookies are used to keep track of your Shopping Cart items.  It is not used to collect any information other than what is necessary to keep track of what you have added to your Shopping Cart.  If cookies are disabled on your browser, you will not be able to properly use our web site to purchase items from our store.

 

Question - What does Train Sets Only do with personal information entered at the time my order is placed?

Answer - We use it to validate the purchase via the credit card companies' address verification systems.  And, we use it to properly process your shipment.  For further information, see our Privacy Policy.

 

Question - What are track 'codes'?

Answer - Track is made in different codes (80, 83, 100).  These numbers represent the height of the rail in 1/1000th of an inch.  In HO Scale, code 83 is often considered more prototypical than code 100.

 

Question - What is the difference between #4, #6, and #8 switches (aka turnouts)?

Answer - The number represents the distance from the point to the frog.  Therefore, the higher the number, the more gradual the turnout will be.  Typically, you should use the largest switches you can fit on your layout.  Unfortunately, we are often forced to use smaller ones due to space constraints.