Caveat Emptor: Subway Stamp

Phil Banser is a long time philatelic literature dealer who also deals stamps and postal history.

@rogdcam: thanks for the link to Bansner. Saved me the time of looking it up. I checked a few of my specialty countries out of curiosity (Angola, Poland, Mexico). I see I'll be spending some time there later this month.

His web site, by the way, seems pretty up to date and I found it easy to navigate.

I know they are well liked but a couple years ago I placed a sizable order with Potomac Supplies (Maryland Stamp & Coin). Not only was there no indication or notification of out of stock items, but I received no notification that in-stock items were being held until the out of stock items were available. It took a month to get my ordered cancelled due to non-responsiveness.

Since then, I check.

On July 16 I emailed Subway about items they have listed to ask if they are actually in stock. They are White Ace album binders and given the status I don't want to risk it. No response to date. I just don't feel like chasing someone down to give them my money.

Thanks for the link to Banser.

ecmorgan, you may already know this but White Ace is no longer publishing so those White Ace binders might take quite awhile to get!

As for Subway Stamp Shop, I'm now into month 5 or 6 in trying to get them to replace some damaged album pages I bought from them - which they promised to replace, but haven't. I know there's a pandemic, but a reply would be nice. What's going on with all these unresponsive companies? Is everyone who sells stamps and stamp supplies just completely checked out?

DrewM:

That's part of my gripe about some of these dealers (other than lack of response). He has (or had) them listed on his website, but having ceased publication, I emailed to find out.

It is interesting that SOME dealers seem to make it a tad hard to give them your money!

Thumbs up from me for Phil, too.

I ordered some 107 dealer stock cards (can't remember what to call them... sorry) from Subway on May 23, knowing full well that it would be delayed due to COVID. While I was there, I decided to have them throw in a stockbook into the order, too. 5 seconds after sending the order, I got the robo-confirmation e-mail. Good! They got it. Wait. Wait. Wait. I e-emailed about a month ago. No reply. I called on August 16 and found out that the order was held up because the super-duper special on the stockbook was out of stock. I had requested them to ship the order complete. The stockbook was some European thing and they were just not making it across the ocean. I asked them to remove the stockbook from the order, and I received the stock cards about a week later. I was expecting a delay, just not 3 months worth. And without any word on the status of the order. Anyway, I am all good now.


ETA: I think for Subway, if you are looking for info or status on an order: don't e-mail them. Call on the phone.

In the age of Amazon you would think that these small legacy shops would recognize that pretty much their sole selling point is quality personal service. Maybe they are just waiting for the end to come at this point or believe that carrying stuff that nobody else does will be their niche even though that stuff will never be enough to keep the lights on.

Note: Bansner's son is a very good IT person that built Phil's excellent website and helps him organize and keep up to date a very fragmented, populous and dense inventory successfully. Always nice to have a doctor, lawyer or IT professional in the family.

As the long-time owner of a small professional services
business I understand the importance of quality customer
care, effective and timely communication, and the value of a customer.

No question that COVID-19 has presented many new challenges.
But it has also presented opportunities.

Have been an occasional Subway customer for at
least 20 years. Often for the "close out" philatelic literature
as well as basic collecting supplies.

My most recent (and likely final) order was placed in early
June. Before placing the order I called Subway to verify it
was open and processing orders. Was advised the
desired items were in stock. And to expect a two-week
processing time as staff has recently returned to work
and was clearing the prior backlog of customer orders.

After 6 wks and no shipment began to make queries as to
order status. With little success. My order was received c 8
wks after placement. For items supposedly in stock.

During the same period (this summer) also made
purchases from at least three other philatelic dealers. Without
incident or delay.

This is an unfortunate development for a legacy
company. But clearly Subway has failed to keep up
with the times.

A couple days ago I sent an e-mail to Subway asking on the availability of a couple items. I figured I'd give them a couple days in the hopes of getting a response.

With nothing in my inbox or junkbox I decided to give them a call. For both their customer service line and the toll-free order line I received a recorded message telling me the number is "restricted from incoming calls."

Has anyone tried calling them and been able to get through recently?

Dale

Per my post of 8/28, I called a few days before that and got through. I think I called the non-800 number. I got answered right away. I haven't called since then, though.

I have had -0- luck e-mailing for info.

I have experienced a lot of difficulty when dealing with Subway. Actually, I tend to avoid them unless necessary.

Jack Kelley

Statesman that can happen if you don't allow your called ID to be seen. But it can also happen if your number has been blocked, or for no reason at all. If it's persistent it's possible Subway blocked your number.

shermae,

In this case the issue is definitely on Subway's end. I don't bother hiding my number and have done nothing that would lead Subway to block me. It's been about five or so years since my last order with them.

No matter. I went ahead and ordered the album pages I was inquiring about from Nola Stamp Shop. Problem solved. Subway's loss.

Dale

I just read a slew of recent negative Google reviews that all are centered around the same types of issues discussed in this thread. This business has all of the classic indicators of an enterprise about to bite the dust suddenly.

https://www.google.com/search?sourc...89467ac1,1,,,