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Menards Q&A

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Menards Q&A
Posted by Menards on Thursday, July 21, 2016 10:59 AM

Hi Everyone,

I'm sure many of you have seen our ads in Classic Toy Trains before and we would like to take this opportunity to become invoved in the Classic Toy Trains online community. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask and I will try to respond as soon as I can.

Thank you!
Mark the Menards Train Guy

Visit www.menards.com/trains to see our full selection of O gauge train stuff!

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, July 22, 2016 12:57 PM

Welcome Mark.

There's not much traffic here but I will be happy to follow along.

Will you be showing Menards newest offerings as well?

S.J.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by Firelock76 on Friday, July 22, 2016 1:41 PM

Welcome aboard Mark, stop in and "chew the fat" with us anytime, or just look in from time to time, you'll be amazed what you can learn here.

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Posted by Menards on Friday, July 22, 2016 1:58 PM

sir james I

Welcome Mark.

There's not much traffic here but I will be happy to follow along.

Will you be showing Menards newest offerings as well?

S.J.

 

Thank you, Sir James I!

Currently, we are releasing 1-2 train items each week and there is always an element of excitement that builds for release days. I would love to share that excitement with the CTT community!

I also know Bob Keller does a great job sharing our newest products via his blog as well as Bob's Train Box. We love watching his videos and reading his articles.

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

 

 

 

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Friday, July 22, 2016 2:40 PM

Welcome 

Mark, I have been wondering if you would come over here.

I have several of your items. Nice stuff and at a good price!

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Posted by Penny Trains on Friday, July 22, 2016 6:49 PM

Welcome aboard!

Any truth to the rumors that Menards is considering opening a store in Brooklyn Ohio?  (Suburban Cleveland)

Becky

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

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Posted by Menards on Saturday, July 23, 2016 9:17 AM

Penny Trains

Welcome aboard!

Any truth to the rumors that Menards is considering opening a store in Brooklyn Ohio?  (Suburban Cleveland)

Becky

 

Hi Becky,

That is a good question. Unfortunately, I dont have an anwer for you.

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

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Posted by cheapclassics on Sunday, July 24, 2016 7:38 PM

Mark,

Thank you for joining this group as well.   I appreciate your ads in CTT.  Probably you may or may not be allowed to answer this question, but I will ask anyway.  Are there any plans down the road for Menards to sell any motive power or even RTR sets?   You have rolling stock, track and buildings.  Thank you for whatever attention you can render on this matter.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by Menards on Monday, July 25, 2016 9:08 AM

cheapclassics

Mark,

Thank you for joining this group as well.   I appreciate your ads in CTT.  Probably you may or may not be allowed to answer this question, but I will ask anyway.  Are there any plans down the road for Menards to sell any motive power or even RTR sets?   You have rolling stock, track and buildings.  Thank you for whatever attention you can render on this matter.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

Hi Mike,

We appreciate your support!

We typically have a couple O and HO gauge ready-to-run sets in our stores during the holiday season. We've been selling train sets from Lionel and other distinguised companies for years and the response has always been great.

I feel you may be asking if we intend to produce RTR sets ourselves. Unfortunately, we do not have plans to produce our own at this time. Thanks for asking though!

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

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Posted by robmcc on Monday, July 25, 2016 1:27 PM
Hi Mark. Thanks for joining us! I've purchased several pieces of rolling stock from Menard's (even though I work for your "Orange" competitor!) and I look forward to the new releases. Being a Canadian, I especially appreciate the CN items. Aside from the NS and BNSF flatcars, will there be any plans to release more modern era road names to compliment the Fallen Flag ones? Also, I've always been curious if the Menard family has a personal interest in toy trains,since it's a rather unique product for a home improvement retailer to get into.
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Posted by Menards on Monday, July 25, 2016 2:16 PM

robmcc
Hi Mark. Thanks for joining us! I've purchased several pieces of rolling stock from Menard's (even though I work for your "Orange" competitor!) and I look forward to the new releases. Being a Canadian, I especially appreciate the CN items. Aside from the NS and BNSF flatcars, will there be any plans to release more modern era road names to compliment the Fallen Flag ones? Also, I've always been curious if the Menard family has a personal interest in toy trains,since it's a rather unique product for a home improvement retailer to get into.
 

 

Thank you, robmcc!

 

I don't expect the orange store to make model trains anytime soon but if they do, good luck to them! J

 

While you are you are correct, trains are a unique item to be sold in a home improvement store, it makes perfect sense when you discover our history. Our owner, John, has been a life-long hobbyist and it’s that passion that drives our endeavors within the model train hobby.

 

I think we can all agree that this hobby is becoming very expensive for the average person and we aim to provide quality items at a reasonable price and the buying power of Menards helps us accomplish that feat.

 

We do have a few Canadian items that are close to completion, so keep an eye out! I’m sure you will also see more modern era road names pop up shortly. The Fallen Flag road names have been our bread and butter but I agree that modern era has a large following as well.

 

Thanks for asking!
-Mark the Menards Train Guy

 

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Posted by phillyreading on Friday, July 29, 2016 10:46 AM

Hello Mark, I have ordered a few Menard's cars and they look very good. Maybe you can expand the roadnames some but otherwise you are doing a good job.

 

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, July 30, 2016 11:49 AM

Hey Mark, I recently purchased two of your US Army tank cars, the sound effects are a gas!  Has me in stitches every time I push the button!

Of course, being a former Marine I have to confess those US Army markings on the products are no more.  Gotta root for the home team ya' know! 

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Posted by rtraincollector on Saturday, July 30, 2016 11:51 AM

Hey Firelock being a retired Navy I also would like to see Navy and Marine Corps markings on some items. 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, July 30, 2016 11:59 AM

If Menards gets enough feedback I'm sure they'll get around to it.

Hey, how about a Parris Island boxcar with a push-button that triggers R. Lee Ermey quotes from "Full Metal Jacket?"  

Uhhhh, now that I think about it, maybe not. 

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Saturday, July 30, 2016 1:19 PM

I would love to see Menards buy out all the RMT stuff and start making Bangs and Beeps.  It would be perfect. Yes

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, July 30, 2016 2:10 PM

The Beeps will probably show up again sometime, from somebody.  RMT was the last outfit to make them, the first was (I think) an outfit called KMT.

I've got six Beeps, two of them are the special run Marine Beeps (with caboose) and I have to say RMT did their homework on those two.  The first engine was numbered 1775, the second 1798, which correspond to the founding of the Continental Marines during the Revolutionary War, they were disbanded when the war ended, and then the date of the re-establishment of the Marines.

All the Beeps are good pullers.  Seem like you put two or more together and they'll pull anything!

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Posted by rtraincollector on Saturday, July 30, 2016 6:50 PM

Firelock76

If Menards gets enough feedback I'm sure they'll get around to it.

Hey, how about a Parris Island boxcar with a push-button that triggers R. Lee Ermey quotes from "Full Metal Jacket?"  

Uhhhh, now that I think about it, maybe not. But if you must go with quotes how about General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller something like "All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us…they can’t get away this time

How about push a button and it fires a rocket like the old 3665 

Life's hard, even harder if your stupid  John Wayne

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, July 30, 2016 7:23 PM

How about General Oliver Smith's statement during the Chosin Reservoir campaign?

"We're not retreating, we're attacking in another direction!"

Or, and no-one knows who came up with this one, but it's deathless...

"WHAT?  It wasn't like that in the Old Corps!"

Or even a riddle...

How many Marines does it take to change a light bulb?

NONE!  Marines ain't afraid of the dark!

I'll go quietly...

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Posted by Menards on Monday, August 1, 2016 8:26 AM
I love the ideas! Keep them coming! -Mark the Menards Train Guy
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Posted by Penny Trains on Monday, August 1, 2016 6:42 PM

We didn't lose.  We just failed to win?  Laugh

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

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Posted by SotaPop on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 11:04 AM

Hi Mark.  I have a question for you about your online ordering and product availability.  Today (8/3/16) Menards shows a "Goodyear O Gauge Boxcar (Blue)", but it is "Not Available Online".  Being that it's still listed on the Menards website, will you be getting more of these and then making them available online again?

One thing about trains: It doesn't matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.

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Posted by Menards on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 11:24 AM

SotaPop

Hi Mark.  I have a question for you about your online ordering and product availability.  Today (8/3/16) Menards shows a "Goodyear O Gauge Boxcar (Blue)", but it is "Not Available Online".  Being that it's still listed on the Menards website, will you be getting more of these and then making them available again online?

SotaPop,

From the looks of it, the Blue Goodyear Boxcar is sold out and has now been removed from the website. It must have sold out pretty recently before you saw it online.

Unfortunately, I don't forsee us running these boxcars again in the near future.

 

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

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Posted by SotaPop on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 11:36 AM

I would be interested in the blue one.  I'll contact you via a Trains.com conversation.

Thanks for the quick reply!

UPDATE:  Trains.com conversation has been sent to you. Smile

One thing about trains: It doesn't matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.

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Posted by joe323 on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 9:52 PM

I wish Menards was closer to Staten Island but I hav been to your stores on my midwest trips.

Joe Staten Island West 

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Posted by SotaPop on Thursday, August 4, 2016 11:24 AM

I really enjoy the US Army rolling stock!  They run great behind a Lionel WWII Troop train! Yes

One thing about trains: It doesn't matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.

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Posted by sir james I on Friday, August 5, 2016 10:13 AM

Just a heads up on "not available on-line" really means Sold Out.

Some of us thought that meant you could buy them in the store. Not true, they only carry train stock in stores at Christmas time. just trying to clarify their choice of wording.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

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Posted by robmcc on Friday, August 5, 2016 2:37 PM
Sir James, I see you're in Michigan. Which store do you shop at? I'm close to the Port Huron one and they usually have some stock all year round. The Chesterfield store usually does too. They do expand the in store assortment leading up to Christmas. I know the Port Huron store did have some items still available in store that were sold out on line.
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Posted by sir james I on Friday, August 5, 2016 3:25 PM

Mt Clemens and Warren. Last time I checked they had a couple pieces left over from Christmas in the upstairs out of season floor.

"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks 

  Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC)   - Detroit3railers-  Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Friday, August 5, 2016 3:41 PM

Same thing at the Morris IL. store SJ, Even at Christmas they don't have much, don't know how they decide what store does what.  I think every store should have an area where they have a working layout with all of the  O gauge things they sell in action and a row of product, It would draw the kids into that area and also help them have more people see them for what they are. Heaven knows they waste enough floor space on stupid stuff.

It worked in the old days in the big box stores. As a kid I could not wait to go to Sears and watch the running layout.

 Heck all you got to do is watch the adds on TV, everything from glasses to sofas look like they are from the 50s &60s.  Smile, Wink & Grin

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