Hatton's Model Railways Reviews 160

Always extremely efficient with my orders and prices are some of the best around. I am always checking what they have in stock. Best seller I have found, will be buying again soon

I’ve used Hattons for several years.
Recently traded in some unwanted models.
Took almost 3 weeks to receive the funds. Complained service not per the advertisement in December Model Rail magazine.
No response from Hattons.
Very poor service I will take my future business elsewhere.
Shame after all these years

They are an excellent company to deal with. Great stock levels, always quick delivery. My last order was ordered on Saturday and arrived on the Monday. Everything is so well packed.

MONTHS OF EXCELLENCE
My grateful thanks to Hattons for the delivery of my orders going back to early August 2021. Whether they be OO rail items or 1:72 aircraft the items always arrive quickly and have been received in "As New" condition. Protective packing has been to high standard. I definitely recommend them for all your diecast and plastic model requirements.

Richard Hannam

I have bought a number of items from Hatton’s. Never had a problem. Two weeks ago i bought an item, that arrived damaged. I contacted them & we exchanged a number of emails. Give credit, where credit is due. They were quick to answer all of my questions. I decided to return the item for replacement. Not only did it arrive three days after I returned the broken one, they also refunded my return postage. Excellent service. I will definitely use them again.

I buy new and second hand item from Hattons and every time it has been efficient and good value.
good packaging,secure and good timings on delivery
[ odd courier problem ] other wise very good service.

I have been shopping with Hattons for some time now,for both new and pre- owned items. All pre-owned models have been as described and delivery very quick, usually within two to three days. Would recommend Hattons without doubt. Thank you all .
G J Kane.

Over past year I have bought many locomotives some new but mostly used form Hatton's and have had no problems at all.
In several occasions I have bought 2 locomotives and 2 days later they have been delivered. Amazing delivery and as regards used locomotives first class descriptions. I have had no surprises or disappointments.
Long may they keep up this service.

Over the last few months I have bought a lot of second hand items but Hattons have a big problem with the computer system which allows more than one customer to buy the same item even though there is only one for sale, then 2-3 days later you receive an email saying sorry someone else bought the item. I have complained many times over the last few months, always the same sorry and I know it must be frustrating, well if you know, then fix the problem. Last night I bought 5 second hand items, chased Hattons today but someone else bought all the items. I have been a customer for 30+ years, they are like Tesco they have got so big they lose sight of the customer. Thank goodness there is plenty of other model shops around the uk that do look after the customers and don't have the same computer problem.

I ordered many months in advance a model that I had been looking forward to, a particular model that held particular personal interest to me, as my late father had been involved in the development of the real train in the 1970s and 80s.
I was contacted and told “sorry we can’t supply you this pre order, order cancelled.
Of course by this point all were pre ordered from all retailers, so my only option will be to wait, then pay 2-3 times as much off eBay.

Bought nothing from them since and will not again.

Poor customer service, I'll no longer deal with Hattons and recommend that you don't either.

Selling to Hattons was a great experience. From 1st time contacting them to see if they would be interested in our rolling stock they ask us to complete a list of trains to sell. Once they had gone though the list they came back with an offer we were more than happy with. Their commication throughout the process with Hattons was fantastic with very quick responses to emails. I would highly recommend Hattons for the sale of your unwanted trains.Thank you Hattons for all your help.

Shop is not really a shop - More expensive than smaller local model shops - staff do rock, paper scissors to work out who will get up to greet you. Review of Hatton's visit after travelling 248 miles.

Not as good as they used to be years ago. Definitely not worth visiting the supposed "shop". I entered the premises to be greeted by the finishing of rock, paper, scissors by the two fellas behind the counter, to which the one that lost stood up and greeted me.

They have a small basic number of scenic buildings on display you could count on one hand, some corgi cars in the middle of the empty looking room and a limited number of branded locomotives around the outer edges of the "shop".

If I wanted the basic online experience, I would not travel all the way up the country.

So gone have the days of being able to see what you’re looking for up closely, finding those little extra's and getting idea's from being able to visualise buildings and scenic items in person.

I write this review knowing I am not the only person to feel this way after speaking to another model rail enthusiast at the making tracks event in Chester, funny enough, or rather not, it was the visit they planned on making to Hatton's being a main reason of travelling the length of the country to see this layout. What a huge disappointment. I suggest Hatton's make it clear on their website that they are only interested in online sales and the "shop" is not actually.... a shop!

All hornby orders cancelled over a period of a few months even though they were made aware by hornby that they will no longer be allowed to make preorders, thus making us hang on in hope we’ll get it, only to cancel at the last minute when we have no chance of getting it elsewhere other than paying 20% more or hornby a site. Still to this day there has been no info or announcements on hattons site, they are playing this as if nothing has happened. You have lost my 25 years of custom.

Once again Hattons have grossly over sold on their pre orders... literally hundreds of cancelled orderers... again and again... - no other retailers affected. Yes manufacturers may cut back allocations... well simple solution = don’t accept so many pre orders and actually have items in stock for a change? You cannot keep doing this to customers as it is very quickly destroying what’s left of your reputation.

Any potential customers out there - please be advised many other retailers will happily match Hattons price - and the best bit? They will actually fulfil their contractual obligations!

AVOID AVOID AVOID

Had a email cancelling a pre-order to the value of £440. Yesterday received another email cancelling 3 more pre orders to the value of £865. Total loss to Hattons £1305 as I have now reordered with another retailer who is much more customer focused. Hattons, you should be ashamed. I have been a customer with you for over 20 years but no more. You can't treat people like this. In future I will not use Hattons and go else where for my orders. Shocking way to run a business. Do NOT use Hattons.

Yet again a pre-order has been cancelled by Hattons today. So disappointed. This is a despicable way to run a business. I've trusted Hattons with my custom for many years without problems but something is going so wrong in recent months. Appalling customer service. Just not good enough. If you cannot meet an order, don't offer it!

Previously I have had good experiences. However I have now had pre orders from early 2020 and all Hornby orders cancelled. I will use other retailers from now on.

Poor service, Don't care about their customers at all, Pre-ordered HST blue midland & the 9 coachers to go with them got email say order had gone thru than some weeks later had email saying am not getting it so I called them they could not get me off the phone quicker nuff & put the blame on Hornby well if that's the case Hornby have broke there contract to hattons & hattons should have them in court, Next pre-order 2 NWR MK3 coachers the week they came out hattons sent email saying am not getting them let say I was MAD, Pre-order 2 NWR class 37's day before class 37 came out got the email of them to say not getting it joke. I still have one 37 & 66 on order with them but think I will be cancel them now. Don't use this shop many other shops out their. Its sad as they are my local shop & I always stuck by them even thru the Class 66 mess up but that time has gone they are killing a great model shop.

Don't go there, for any pre-orders as all 4 of mine have now been cancelled, some made years ago and now cancelled, with no other place to get the item as they are all now sold out. Absolute shambles of a business not to be trusted at all.