So I recently tried to book tickets Madrid to Seville and back.

Loco2.. Bombed out... site could not process sale
TrainEU cost more

Best price, easiest experience... Amazingly RENFE. Tickets were cheaper and buying them was no problem!

I left out that a few years ago I had to buy late tickets due to a trip planned at the last minute... Guess which site was cheapest? Rail Europe! So check everyone!

PQ - can you site cases where RE, including fees, is ***CHEAPER*** than other sites? Because if it is never cheaper, why would I ever bother to check it?>

again I always say to go to national rail sites first but if you cannot get them to work - oft the case then check other sites, including RE - why if they are never cheapest (they have been IME and have sold Swiss Passes cheaper than the same exact pass in Switzerland often the last several years - sometimes significantly so) - why would folks want to pay a little more thru RE - well you're dealing with a domestic company in case something goes wrong or refunds, etc and it can take a lot of time and frustration to get some national rail sites to work.

I agree with you if national rail site or alternative train company sites like ItaloTreno work no need to search -the will most likely be the lowest price (though at times sudden currency fluctuations may make this an anomaly at times).