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Are the mail order houses still shipping? Dispite the Coronavirus shutdown?

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  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, April 17, 2020 6:43 PM

If an item like a locomotive or a freight car 6-pack is shipped USPS, it typically requires a Flat Rate Medium box and the flat rate is $13.20, so $14 via UPS is not exhorbitant, I would argue.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, April 17, 2020 6:52 PM

richhotrain

If an item like a locomotive or a freight car 6-pack is shipped USPS, it typically requires a Flat Rate Medium box and the flat rate is $13.20, so $14 via UPS is not exhorbitant, I would argue.

Rich 

 

I've sold quite a few trains over the past 7 or 8 years and ship USPS all over.  So sure, I see what the charges are. 

But I'm telling you what I've been paying from shops so thats my point of reference.  MBK would charged me less on the average before the reward program and now free shipping for engines from MBK.  Call me anything you want, I don't mind! 

My wife is an even bigger mizer than I am.  Target wanted $230 for a good quality modem router.  She saved up $80 target gift cars buying stuff on sale.  Then she price matched the modem/router down to about $150, which Target honored, then used the gift card toward it.  Our final price for a $230 Modem Router was abuot $35 dollars!  She got us a $130 Bunn Heat and Brew coffee maker for about $2.99.  How?  She downloaded an app to get $10 off, then applied for an Amazon store card and got $60 credit, and then a $50 gift card.  She does stuff like this all the time saving up gift cards and working deals to get stuff for cheap, all using company promotions and deals.  She does this because it saves us money to use for something else. 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, April 17, 2020 6:59 PM

riogrande5761
 
richhotrain

If an item like a locomotive or a freight car 6-pack is shipped USPS, it typically requires a Flat Rate Medium box and the flat rate is $13.20, so $14 via UPS is not exhorbitant, I would argue.

Rich  

I sell trains and ship using medium flat rate box to the west coast.  And shipping in engines etc.  So sure, I see what the charges are.

But I'm telling you what I've been paying from vendors so thats my point of reference.  MBK would charged me less on the average before the reward program and now free shipping for engines from MBK.  Call me anything you want, I don't mind! 

Jim, shame in you, I haven't called you anything other than your first name.Smile

Seriously, though, my only point, and I am sure you get it, is that it is not comparable to put $14 shipping and free shipping side by side and then suggest that Lombard Hobbies shipping charges are excessive or exhorbitant or whatever.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, April 17, 2020 7:24 PM

richhotrain

Seriously, though, my only point, and I am sure you get it, is that it is not comparable to put $14 shipping and free shipping side by side and then suggest that Lombard Hobbies shipping charges are excessive or exhorbitant or whatever.

Rich

Regardless of semantics, for my own purposes of ordering train stuff, Lombards flat rate of $13.95 is usually higher than I have to pay from other shops.  Since I have the choice to pay overall less, of course I do it, as many savvy shoppers would do!

And I was just talking with wife about it.  Lombards shipping is flat rate.  So if you order a small envelope of Kadee couplers or fiber washers, it's still $13.95.  How crazy is that.  How many shops would charge you $13.95 to ship you something small like that?  Not many!  So Lombards probably makes a profit on some of their orders when it costs far less to ship some smaller orders.  IIRC, they added option of using USPS, which is usually cheaper than UPS.  Yet LH still charges that flat shipping fee.  

My wife was just pointing out to me that her and me are not normal.  Most are willing to pay the shipping charges and eat them.  We like to save money where we can and we do.  I was raised by depression era parent who were always looking for ways to cut costs. She was raise very poor in northern England and grew up with only one pair of shoes with holes in them.  Anyway, Nuff said.  I'll get off this merry go round - you can have the last word if you like. 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
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Posted by maxman on Friday, April 17, 2020 8:11 PM

riogrande5761
She was raise very poor in northern England and grew up with only one pair of shoes with holes in them.

She can still get them if she wants.  Now they're called Crocs.

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Posted by maxman on Friday, April 17, 2020 8:20 PM

jjdamnit
In the past two days I have received my shipments from Horizon Hobbies;

How long ago did you order from Horizon, and did you use the on-line ordering method?

I am having no luck with the on-line thing.  I entered the incorrect quantity and can find no way to edit, alter, update, or delete the incorrect amount.

No one answers the phone when I call, and no one has responded to the email I sent.

I think they are in Illinois.  Did you order prior to the stay at home stuff?

  • Member since
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, April 18, 2020 4:30 AM

maxman
 
jjdamnit
In the past two days I have received my shipments from Horizon Hobbies; 

How long ago did you order from Horizon, and did you use the on-line ordering method?

I think they are in Illinois. 

Horizon is headquartered in Champaign Illinois where it has a huge facility.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, April 18, 2020 4:34 AM

Another great online place to shop is Factory Direct Trains. In a recent telephone conversation that I had with FDT, I was told that if an item is generally available from the manufacturer, FDT can get whatever I want, in any quantity, within 24 to 48 hours. They have accomplished that for me more than once. Very competitive pricing and reasonable shipping.

Rich

 

Alton Junction

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Posted by Medina1128 on Saturday, April 18, 2020 8:45 AM

Medina1128

 

 
Medina1128

I ordered some parts from M.B. Klein and they arrived in a timely fashion. I ordered some other parts from Hobbylinc and a tool from MicroMark, so I'll keep you up to date.

 

 

 

 

I got an order update from Hobbylinc and it says that the order will ship on 4/13.

Update: I received my order from Hobbylinc, but my order from MB Klein is still in "Pending fulfillment" status, as of 4/15.

 

 

I got an email from Micromark this morning saying that my order had shipped yesterday. Yes, it's slower than what I'm used to, but in these times...

 

  • Member since
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  • From: North Carolina
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Posted by csxns on Saturday, April 18, 2020 9:48 AM

richhotrain
Factory Direct Trains.

They are great but if i order from them i have to pay tax because they are in NC and so am i but if they have something i need and the others don't i get it their.

Russell

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