Q: Why are so many items out of stock so often?
A: Simple, the demand for the products we make are off the charts. We cannot keep up with the production of items because they sell out soon after they are produced and released. If you are on the waiting list for an item and you get an email notifying you that the item is back in stock, place your order within a few minutes because that item may sell out fast and you will have to wait until we produce that item again, which may be weeks sometimes months. (Here is the key to getting your hands on high demand items: Do not wait for the back in stock email. When the release day and time are announced on the production page, inventory will updated 2 hours prior to that time.) Putting an item on the "Waiting List" is NOT a guarantee you will reserve that item when "back in stock" notifications get emailed out. Accumulate those orders as they get released if you are gift giving.
Q: I have been sent an email that says an item is back in stock, but when I click on the item it still says "out of stock"?
A: You sometimes have to "Clear your browser History" on your computer in order to populate new information sent to your computer from servers around the country. A better workaround is go to the SEARCH BAR and type in the item, that will bring up the new updated info that will probably not already be in your computer's stored memory and should then say "in stock". Also make sure you are clicking on the item to bring up the detail page on that product to add it to your cart.
Don't send us a nasty email like some people do, be nice about it and we will help you, this is not our fault, blame the automated world! "There is no crying in wooden trains".
Q: I know I have signed up on the wait list for a item, but when I log into my account, the wait list item does not show up on my account, why?
A: You CAN sign up items for the wait list without logging into your account, BUT if you want to see them listed on your accounts' wait list, you have to be logged in first, THEN add the items to the wait list. IF you sign up for an item without logging in, you can't go back and view that item on your account. You will have to call us to delete it off of the list, THEN log in and re-sign that item up on the wait list. Then you will be able to view the item on your account. Some advise: If you are doing anything personal on this site, log into your account first that way YOU can view it on your account.
Q: Why do my wooden trains derail?
A: There are a number of reasons why wooden trains derail, and believe it or not, 90% of the time, it is not fault of the train cars.
- Wooden track works best on a flat, hard surface. Carpet can cause bumps in the track connections.
- Connecting different brands of track can also cause bumps in track connections due to differences in track height or the width of the grooves.
- Very long trains can add extra weight to the train causing the train to want to pull inwards when making a turn.
- Running your train too fast can cause derailments.
- While derailments can cause frustration, they also are an integral part of using wooden trains as a learning toy. Your child will learn more from mishaps than if everything always goes smoothly. = )
Q: What other brands is "Choo Choo Track" compatible with?
A: Thomas Wooden Railway, Brio, Imaginarium, Chuggington, Maxim Enterprise, Circo, Melissa & Doug, Nuchi, Ikea, Maple Landmark, Kidcraft, Bigjigs, Heros, Eichhorn, Hape, and many others.
Q: Does this website charge sales tax?
A: Since we are based in Missouri, only Missouri residents are charged sales tax. All other states, NO sales tax. For example, many states residents will now pay sales tax if they purchase something on large websites. NOT HERE, not yet. SAVE MONEY shopping here instead of those large websites.
Q: When I put items in my cart that are in stock and want to increase the quantity, why won't the cart allow me?
A: All the items on the website are controlled by an inventory system. If you enter a number in the quantity higher than the inventory on hand for that item, the cart will not allow you to order something we don't have or you will be upset that we can't ship it to you. Sometimes, I repeat sometimes the inventory count is a little off, if the quantity is really important to you, give us a call, we may be able to help you.
Q: Is my personal information secure on this website?
A: Yes! Look at the website URL at the top, and notice before the URL a couple lines with circles, click on that, if it has a little "padlock" icon displayed then all your personal information that you enter on this site is secure. Be cautious of websites that do not have the "padlock" icon. We purchase a security certificate each year so that your personal info is safe. And we do not share ANY info with ANYONE!
Q: If I add items to my cart, will your system reserve them for when I'm ready to check out?
A: No. For example, lets says you put an item in your cart that is the last of that item in inventory, and you don't check out until later. Then someone else comes along and puts that same item in their cart and checks out before you do. When you go and check out, that item will now say "out of stock". Hint: If you really want an item, don't wait, that's how fast items sell.
Q: Do you make your products after an order is placed and then ship it out when its done?
A: NO! We don't hang on to your money for weeks like another company we know. What you see in inventory is what we currently have on hand. When you place your order, it gets packed up within minutes and 99.9% of the time a label is printed that evening, and it ships out the next day.
Q: Do you make one of a kind custom products or promotional products?
A: We wish we could, but we are not set up for that kind of production, sorry. This also includes no sales of unpainted trains, again sorry. We also do NOT wholesale our products.
More to come as we think of them, or email with your own question and we will consider posting it here.