Lionel Parts Sale Tip Sale Ended (9/24-26/2021)

Great tip for this first time buyer this year!  Thanks!

-Greg

@Greg Houser posted:

Great tip for this first time buyer this year!  Thanks!

-Greg

Hopefully it could cut down on some of the angst we've seen in the past about whether an order got through, shipped, or what have you.

To reiterate what @MartyE said above:  LIONEL WILL NOT SEND YOU AN EMAIL CONFIRMING YOUR ORDER!

Yes, the website says such an email will be sent, but it isn't sent.

Good tip, Marty.  Lionel does not send an email.  They also don’t answer the phone or respond to “talk to us” emails.  But, they have been shipping parts with incredible speed.  I ordered parts on a Saturday night and had them on Tuesday.  That means they came in on Monday, picked the order and shipped it the same day.  I wouldn’t expect that speed after the sale weekend.

One more thing, if you use My Lionel, as Marty suggested, be sure to write your password down where you can find again.  While their website gives you the option of having your password emailed or reset - neither work.  Ask me how I know.

@Danr posted:

Good tip, Marty.  Lionel does not send an email.  They also don’t answer the phone or respond to “talk to us” emails.  But, they have been shipping parts with incredible speed.  I ordered parts on a Saturday night and had them on Tuesday.  That means they came in on Monday, picked the order and shipped it the same day.  I wouldn’t expect that speed after the sale weekend.

One more thing, if you use My Lionel, as Marty suggested, be sure to write your password down where you can find again.  While their website gives you the option of having your password emailed or reset - neither work.  Ask me how I know.

Recently I have been having decent luck with the "Talk to Us" route.  Then again I always have.  Sometimes it takes a while to get a response but I usually do.

@Danr posted:

One more thing, if you use My Lionel, as Marty suggested, be sure to write your password down where you can find again.  While their website gives you the option of having your password emailed or reset - neither work.  Ask me how I know.

Good advice on writing down your password. I forgot mine and used Lionel's link for them to email it to me. Needless to say I never received an email. I then tried to register again and it came back saying my user name was already in use. Trying again I changed my username but kept the same email and it came back saying the email was already in use. I wound up having to re-register with a different user name and email - that worked. Also I wrote all this down so I don't have to go through this again.

Like all the problems trying to get Lionel on the phone and lack of email responses to just about any question, to me its just another example of Lionel's lack of attention to customer service.

Ken

@MartyE posted:

Recently I have been having decent luck with the "Talk to Us" route.  Then again I always have.  Sometimes it takes a while to get a response but I usually do.

That's because you are on the Lionel's payroll.   And, don't call them for parts, you'll save tons of time and you know what.

@superwarp1 posted:

That's because you are on the Lionel's payroll.

I’m sure the recent events isn’t helping anyone. I imagine staff shortages and other factors isn’t helping.

As for being on the payroll, never have been. I just try to be nice when emailing.  I go through the same Talk to Us that anyone else does. 

@kanawha posted:

Good advice on writing down your password.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecu...t-password-managers/

@kanawha posted:

Good advice on writing down your password. I forgot mine and used Lionel's link for them to email it to me. Needless to say I never received an email. I then tried to register again and it came back saying my user name was already in use. Trying again I changed my username but kept the same email and it came back saying the email was already in use. I wound up having to re-register with a different user name and email - that worked. Also I wrote all this down so I don't have to go through this again.

Like all the problems trying to get Lionel on the phone and lack of email responses to just about any question, to me its just another example of Lionel's lack of attention to customer service.

Ken

I think the problem is the same as many, many businesses are facing today - getting people.  Between covid, quarantines and the government paying people more to stay home, it is next to impossible to get the help needed to provide a decent level of service.  I live in a beach town in North Carolina and every shop and restaurant has a help wanted sign.  The local supermarket has had a list at the front door for the past month with, at least, 10 openings.

Since this thread is about parts and using “my Lionel” I just wanted to point out the quirks.  Please note that I did complement the parts department for filling orders as quickly as they did.  I would rather they ship the parts and not tell me in advance than spend time on the phone and not ship.

@MartyE posted:

I’m sure the recent events isn’t helping anyone. I imagine staff shortages and other factors isn’t helping.

As for being on the payroll, never have been. I just try to be nice when emailing.  I go through the same Talk to Us that anyone else does.

It was a JOKEand the lack of staff been going on at the lionel service center long before COVID so please don't give them a pass on this.

@superwarp1 posted:

It was a JOKEand the lack of staff been going on at the lionel service center long before COVID so please don't give them a pass on this.

I'm not giving them a pass but the reality is the recent events isn't helping either.

I know it's a joke but others may not so I wanted to clarify that.

I've seen several folks mention that they add parts to an ongoing list within the "My Lionel" and then when ready just checkout.  I am assuming you are not clearing you cache' between adding parts and or signing out?  I haven't been able to retain parts in the shopping cart but have cleared my cache' between trying so I'm assuming that maybe why?

BTW the sale starts tonight at midnight.

HI MARTY,

  Yes you are correct on  both parts.  I have not logged out of my MY LIONEL a site and have not cleared my parts cache list.  It has been on since July.  Tomorrow I will submit my list.  Hopefully all will be available.  

PS I did notice that the R2LC08 boards went up in price dramatically.  From $40 to $75.  

@laz1957 posted:

HI MARTY,

  Yes you are correct on  both parts.  I have not logged out of my MY LIONEL a site and have not cleared my parts cache list.  It has been on since July.  Tomorrow I will submit my list.  Hopefully all will be available.  

PS I did notice that the R2LC08 boards went up in price dramatically.  From $40 to $75.  

Thanks Laz!  Staying Frosty!

Only speculating here, but my guess as to why the almost double the price is due to the chip shortage world-wide.

They are using R4LC boards to replace the R2LCs. Just make sure to program them using TMCC feature codes vs Legacy. R4LCs have always been more than R2LCs though not quite this high.

Pete

So how many others are sitting here reading the forum just waiting for the sale to start?

First time ordering during the sale for me.

Order placed successfully, now just to see if everything is actually shipped.

I ordered this morning when I got into the office.  Nothing I needed felt like it was on the high volume list so why worry.

I logged into "My Lionel" so I could keep track of my order.  It is currently pending.  Nice to be able to see where it is in the system.

Now waiting for all the "Where is my confirmation email" posts.