Iʻve just started buying track for my new layout. Iʻm buying from a company many of you probably order from now. But Iʻve made 3 orders of six 30" flex tracks. The first 2 orders were fine. In the 3rd order all 6 tracks were broken in the same place and the box was also bent in the same place indicating somewhere during shipping someone bent the package. I just got the replacement order for these 6 broken tracks and ALL 6 WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME AREA! So of the 24 pieces of track Iʻve received so far half came broken.
Is this a common thing nowadays? Do I have a 50/50 chance of getting usable tracl?
I ordered six pieces of Micro-Engineering code 55 weathered HO flex track from a major online seller.
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The track was packaged in a weak cardboard tube with no additional packing.
It was not damaged, but I was very disappointed in the package quality. It was only good luck that resulted in no damage.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I havent had that happen luckily. Then again. I havent ordered flex in years. I have been hand laying. But the rail does come in 36 inch lengths packaged the same way. I have noticed packaging from a few places has become quite poor in recent months
How bad is the damage? Can it be salvaged?
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
LION has not bought track in years... But him buys traccks in 100 track boxes. The tracks kinda protect each other. Back in thlse days those tracks cost me about $300.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
If I was the dealer, I would want to know... why not give them a call?
Simon
BroadwayLionBack in thlse days those tracks cost me about $300.
Code 83 Atlas will set you back just over $400.
30" is this N scale track?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
kenben I just got the replacement order for these 6 broken tracks and ALL 6 WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME AREA! So of the 24 pieces of track Iʻve received so far half came broken. Is this a common thing nowadays? Do I have a 50/50 chance of getting usable track?
I just got the replacement order for these 6 broken tracks and ALL 6 WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME AREA! So of the 24 pieces of track Iʻve received so far half came broken.
Is this a common thing nowadays? Do I have a 50/50 chance of getting usable track?
No one can answer that question difinitively but in my experience no.
As most know, you pays your money and takes your chances. If you get something broken and defective, ask for a refund or replacement.
What is the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and expecting a different result.
If this shop keeps repeatedly sending you broken track, get it resolved and order from somewhere else.
/solved.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I have contacted the dealer. They sent a replacement on the first 6 broken pieces only to find these replacements were in the same exact condition... defective or broken.
On close inspection all 12 pieces of these Peco 36" code 83 wood tie flex tracks are defective from the manufacture. On each track the ties are detached from each other 12" in on one side and the ties disconnected fro the rail 6 to 8 inches in each direction. ALL 12 PIECES in two different orders. So I canʻt be the only one who has received these defective pieces.
If I knew how to post a picture I would.
... or, someone dropped a stack of track in the reseller's warehouse.
The more pressing question is, why is the reseller putting such obviously defective track in boxes or tubes and shipping it to you? Twice? And why didn't the reseller return it to the distributor or manufacturer when it was received instead of keeping it on the shelf and then sending it to you?
PECO has a well-deserved reputation for quality, so a manufacturing defect would be quite a surprise.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
kenbenOn close inspection all 12 pieces of these Peco 36" code 83 wood tie flex tracks are defective from the manufacture. On each track the ties are detached from each other 12" in on one side and the ties disconnected fro the rail 6 to 8 inches in each direction. ALL 12 PIECES in two different orders. So I canʻt be the only one who has received these defective pieces.
My hunch from the uniformity of the damage is it that this is packing/shipping/ handling and not manufacturing per se (although the damage may have been done at the plant in the shipping department). If you ever get to Walthers's showroom in Milwaukee and see the "as is" bargain shelves of the damaged items/damaged packing, you often see everything from delicate strip wood snapped in pieces to rolling stock with crushed or waterlogged boxes to track with rail ripped from the ties being sold, with every example damaged in the exact same way. That is an indication the carton was damaged at some point in the process (or the person unpacking it was at fault) so that everything in the carton got the same treatment, and not the way it was made.
Still, if the manufacturer elects to ship things in a way that cannot withstand what is now, regretably, "normal" (mis-)handling I'd say it is their fault. But that view may not be shared by manufacturers!
Dave Nelson
Anybody buy from Model Train Stuff? Good? Bad? So-so?
It appears they were real good in 2008 but reviews from 2018 are just the opposite.
kenben Anybody buy from Model Train Stuff? Good? Bad? So-so?
Probably 75% or more of my on-line purchases are from M.B. Klein or ModelTrainStuff.
Never had an issue. Recently they changed their packaging method from lots of foam peanuts to inflatable cushioning and bubblewrap to conform to MD regulations.
Sometimes there is a delay in the fulfillment process, i.e. it may take several days before an order is shipped. I'm usually in no hurry. You can track your orders and refer back to previous orders if needed. Lately they have added promotions such as earning "points" for purchases and loyalty, occasionally discounted shipping or deals on certain product lines.
Overall a very good on-line retailer.
Good Luck, Ed
MBK is my go-to place for orders. I have had zeros problems with them since 2011. But I have not been ordering as much lately so I have not noticed any trends in performance it there are any.
The only critique I can think of is that the time to ship can vary somewhat but I figure if it gets sent within 5 days it is not a problem for me. And I think their prices and shipping costs are reasonable.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
I order mostly from Trainworld since living on Staten Island they are my “local” HS. Anyway to make a long story short in may they sent me a long awaited MTH NS First Responders box car with a broken truck. So I called them and sent it back. Three days later a new car arrived with a note saying that it was hand inspected. Guess it pays to speak up.
Joe Staten Island West
PECO TRACK UPDATE - Peco Code 83 36" wood Flex Track
Recap: Bought online 6 pieces from Tonyʻs Trains Exchange. All six were defective. Got replacement order.... all 6 of those were defective. All 12 exactly in the same defective condition. Tonyʻs is sending another replacement.
Ordered 25 pieces online from Amazon (seller Unbeatablesales.com otherwise known as Heartland Hobby). FedEx lost this package. Replacement order arriving on Tuesay. Today FedEx delivers that MIA package. I check out all 25 pieces.... 6 are defective. But slightly different than the Tony shippments. On these the rails are detached at the END and extend about 6". Only detached on one side though.
I can only hope the Tueday shipment will be all intact. Bottom line? I will not be buying anymore track from Peco unless I can get to a brick & mortor hobby stone and hand pick my tracks.
I though Peco was a good brand. Nobody said their track was so fragile and the tie are often not connected to the rails.
I've never held a piece of Peco flextrack in my hand. Can it be coaxed back inside the tie plates or is it ruined?
It would be nice if they would just "snap" back in. I havenʻt tried using force with any tool... yet.
Surprising. I've never heard of issues with Peco flex until you. You seem to have bad Peco karma.
I'm planning on using Peco code 83 on my next layout but I might have to drop in to MBK and buy it there - maybe it doesn't stand up well to shipping?
As for turnouts. Peco are considered bullet proof by many layout builders and I've heard nothing but good things over and over. I have bought a bunch of Peco turnouts, both code 83 and 100 (for staging) and they all looked fine.
Iʻve seen no problems with the Peco turnouts I have. They look well built and solid. But their flex track seem very cheap and fragile. But I have yet to lay a single piece of track down at this point.
UPDATE: Iʻve gotten my 50 pieces of Peco code 83 flex trank in, and the 6 that were slightly "damaged" I was able to reconnect the ties back to their rails. On these 6 pieces the ties were not connecter to the rail on one side, 6" inches in on one end.