I am just now going through my own torturous experience with Model Tech Studio - poor quality control, missing parts, and absolutely the worst customer service I've ever encountered. Does any one else have recent experience with them - pro or con?
Model Tech Studios produced an HO scale version of the Point of Rocks train station in Maryland, but it was a limited edition in late 2005 and is no longer available. It wasn't cheap either with a retail price of $265.
I was interested in acquiring the kit, but I couldn't find it anywhere, so I contacted Model Tech Studios by phone to discuss its availability. They were courteous but adamant that the kit was discontinued and no longer available.
My sense is that it is a small operation.
Rich
Alton Junction
Right, one man operation, no one else to complain to when there is a quality control or customer sevice problem. I will never deal with them again. Caveat emptor.
Not a one man operation but some of their stuff is of questionable quality.
I'm not offering a defense here, just another perspective. I had a nice conversation with the ModelTech people at the national train show and they seemed like most of the folks who are running small, though not necessarily one-person, operations. They're interested in knowing what modelers want, they're proud of their products, they recognize that their size limits their responsiveness (not that they seem to do much more than recognize it). This line in particular offers, as far as I can tell, products that no other has available. On the whole, I'm prepared to give them a little more slack.
Well, erosebud, post again after you receive your order. I got 15 small boats. 10 could be brought up to somewhat acceptable use after hours of careful filing and filling, 5 were not salvageable - truly poor casting job. And none included the seats shown (advertised) in their photos. Offering products no other has only works if they actual delivery. And everything would still have been okay had they offered the missing parts, or an apology. Instead they were rude and crude (much like their product.) I plan to christen one of the boats "Never Again" and another one "MT Promises".
I bought a lumber schooner from them. The main castings were fine but the metal castings were second rate. The instructions were very bad and even their model did not follow exactly what the final ship was. It was unbuildable as designed as far as the masts details were concerned, I made it all work by drilling and inserting metal pins to hold the booms. They have glorified paper for parts which I replaced with plastic.
After reading all of these replies, I am glad that the Point of Rocks train station was discontinued.
I saw their stuff at a show in Timonium MD ......I was not impressed.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Any updates on this? Was looking at some N scale vehicles and people and such. Pictures look good. Perhaps something has changed over past 6 years?
I reluctantly ordered an HO scale lineman figure a couple months ago and it was spot on. I noticed it was 3d printed so maybe that made a difference from the older stuff.
I've had some bad experience in the past with out of scale stuff from them. Seems to be a common thread if you look at their reviews and Ebay feedback.
Andrew
to the forum. Your initial posts are moderated and therefore delayed. That goes away with a few posts. Some people take a decade to make a few posts, but that is their choice.
Newbies have a penchant for finding old posts. I believe in Caveat Emptor, and this is the best place to put your post. Companies go out of business, but their websites live on. I don't now that is the case here, but it never hurts to ask.
Realize the OP hasn't posted in 6 years. Many old threads have links that are dead and participants that are no longer here. Knowing that, have at it.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I have collected a lot of cast resin scenic parts from Model Tech Studios to use on my next layout. It all looks good enough to meet my needs.
I cannot comment on their figures or ship kits.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
oldyardie I am just now going through my own torturous experience with Model Tech Studio - poor quality control, missing parts, and absolutely the worst customer service I've ever encountered. Does any one else have recent experience with them - pro or con?
Even though this is an old thread, just wanted to add that 6 years later, apparently customer service has not improved. I ordered a few items from Model Tech Studios for the first time this month and when a couple of somewhat minor shipping issues came up, the unprofessional demeanor in which they responded made a simple request a very difficult one. Their responses were not just condescending, but they seemed defensive and annoyed that a customer was seeking some help on a matter. If it was the owner that replied, I highly recommend he hire somoene else to deal with customers directly. I've been ordering online for 20 years, and while not all were issue-free, I can at least say things were generally handled in a professional manner, unlike this experience.
I can only Second this....same issue here and when I complain about no words about the shipping the owner just started a rant, insulted me and gave me crap....ended up by blocking me email to avoid answering.