Evening All,The day went kind of slow till early evening, #1 son and family stopped to see us as they could not be here on grannys birthday. So us guys spent some time running trains and of course the usual chit chat. Grannys real happy, her gift is a trip to a Red Wings game April 2nd. So that was my day I hope your tomorrow is great.
Had my banilla and some kind of lemon cake so its here if you want to partake. OK Brutus fire up the Thingy....S.J.
"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
8ntruck This is my first post on the Coffee Pot. I've read it from time to time, guess I'll join in. Thanks for the invite, Chief. I'm currently living in Sedalia, Mo., but grew up in Lansing, Mi. Lived in Bowling Green, Ky. for 9 years in between. Yup - another Yankee, though tempered somewhat by my time in Bowling Green. Still, real gravy is brown, dirt is black, and grits is the grading system for sandpaper. Weather has been hovering in the mid 50's to mid 60' here this week. Sunshine most of the week, rain forcast for the weekend.
This is my first post on the Coffee Pot. I've read it from time to time, guess I'll join in. Thanks for the invite, Chief.
I'm currently living in Sedalia, Mo., but grew up in Lansing, Mi. Lived in Bowling Green, Ky. for 9 years in between. Yup - another Yankee, though tempered somewhat by my time in Bowling Green. Still, real gravy is brown, dirt is black, and grits is the grading system for sandpaper.
Weather has been hovering in the mid 50's to mid 60' here this week. Sunshine most of the week, rain forcast for the weekend.
Glad you dropped in. Hope you make it a "home". Need a new Yankee army member. The old Yanks are boring. Same old same old. Then the scalawag in CA is a Blue Bellie hiding in the dried up part of the USA.
Back from the lake house. Was chilly and windy. Was a Ranger boats tournament going on. Lots of the best boats in the world [Ranger] there. Went to the Old Place last night. Had fried shrimp [not popcorn size either] and two large catfish fellets. Did not get to use the laptop and wireless. Went to Clarksville VA today to get some things. Then finished a bedroom. Hung kitchen curtains. Now all complete but beadboard around the kitchen above the countertops below the cabinets.
Time for popcorn and TV.
PS: almost forgot. RT, did you get that engine to run??
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
I want to disconnect Smoke element first befor I try again I think there might be a short there as rest looks fine. I don't trust myself with a soldering iron tonight witht he meds I'm on I feeling a little goofy they wanted to make sure I didn't have any driving or anything like that for the next 2 days as they said it had codine in it and something like morphine I was like whoa there . and I'm a little goofy tonight ( yes I know I'm normally goofy ) but if I can see it then I really must be lol
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
chief got brave and unsoldered the smoke unit and engine ran fine so it was my short.
Good evening all,
IIABSDISEI with temps near 60. Got parts for the John Deere mowers. Finished the housework. Watched "Dollhouse" last night. Almost a flashback to Buffy and Angel as Elisha Dushku had a "Mr. Pointy" with her for a while. Did not feel too good this afternoon and so did not do much. Did go to the YMCA. Wife not feeling all that hot either. Watched Greensburg lose in semi-state on the internet after losing best player for a "school violation". Go figure. Lucas and his girlfriend did go to the game. Ran standard gauge in the attic for over two hours with NO pileups. Had both the 10E and the 384E running. Turned the sound up full tilt for a while on the 384E. It sure is loud. Worked on a 210 switch to make sure all the equipment tracked thru it ok. Other than feeling puny for a while it was a good day. Buckeye you had to enjoy the Purdue game. I had bacon and waffles on the dining car for breakfast this morning. Beacon is lit. Wild ride last night. IHEHAGD.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Mike - yeah, I think that Laz was wrong, that Bear never had any driving lessons or a license either!
Well, my outlook is locked up. If it opens, it tries to send this email and the email won't send?
I tried everything including safe mode etc. Oh well, if it doesn't clear itself tomorrow or something then I will have to uninstall outlook and then reinstall it I guess.
Guess I was pretty tired from getting little sleep last night and then working 6 hours without a break this morning. Reclinerized and then hung out with family watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Miss Congeniality, and now just finished watching the remake of The Italian Job, which ends in a train yard and then the good guys go off on an Amtrak.
Tardis is ready and beacons are on the screen. See ya soon!
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
I'm late tonight but still up for the ride....
Charlie a.k.a. MichiganRailRoad714 (Charter Member TTC)
8N,
RT,
Wow. You bought a lot of stuff. What version of the 2026 did you get?
Chief,
Thanks for sending me into panic mode this week! I was so confused/upset that I emailed Shake and Bake looking for answers!
88,
Did you get the PS3? If so, you need to get GTA4. I've got a feeling that Fife would find it very interesting.
Not too much else to report, except that my Sager Place observation arrived Monday. Nothing like getting a new toy that you can't play with because your layout is torn up. It is a very nice car, but the drumhead seems a bit odd. They should have made it look like the emblem on top of the early ZWs.
jimtrumpie 8N, RT, Wow. You bought a lot of stuff. What version of the 2026 did you get? Chief, Thanks for sending me into panic mode this week! I was so confused/upset that I emailed Shake and Bake looking for answers! 88, Did you get the PS3? If so, you need to get GTA4. I've got a feeling that Fife would find it very interesting. Not too much else to report, except that my Sager Place observation arrived Monday. Nothing like getting a new toy that you can't play with because your layout is torn up. It is a very nice car, but the drumhead seems a bit odd. They should have made it look like the emblem on top of the early ZWs.
later version no grab irons on engine. now need to get smoke chamber and put it back together again lol all the parts are in my desk draw pen/pencil holder lol
Before getting another element, check you current one for turns that are touching, missing insulation on the lead where it passes through the cover, or the nichrome wire touching the cover or bowl. My 2026 gave me fits when I first got it due to a short.
Evenin Dudes & Dudettes.
Doug M, Hmmm, 15ft diameter spot.... Sounds like maybe a good spot for a "G" trolley or 0-4-0 passenger run with a village and farms.
RT, Sounds like you done gooood !
Crazy day at the museum yesterday, must have had the "outhouse touch" seems like everything I touched turned to manure. Two of four engines failed while cleaning track. But the really goofy part was using DCS. Since I wasn't feeling to chipper, sinus stuff again, I took both of my RK 4-6-0's to run. Put first one, DRG, on the tracks, right away "engine found" all good. Take first engine off and put second engine, ATSF, on tracks "engine found right away. Wow everything seems good so I put the first one, DRG, back on the tracks with passenger cars and freight cars on the ATSF. Scroll to engine #1, DRG, push the "start up" button, NOTHING. Scroll to engine #2, ATSF, and push start up button, ENGINE STARTS.....But not eng #2, ATSF, eng #1, DRG. So for the rest of the day, until my sinuses sent me home early, adjustments to engine #1 were done thru engine #2 registration engine #2 adjustments done thru #1 registration.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
I replied to your email, but I am not sure that it went through.
Evening all,
Observation: When the chief is at the lake, and wireless, the pot takes on a whole new personality. Serene, logical, informative, etc., his post is much more subdued, and consise. (Maybe Lucy is a bad influence, or most likely OD'd on grits.
Doug M, Spring is here, how about a pool ???
Patrick, As a merchant, credit cards and debit cards are a BIG pain in the neck. I can understand why their is so much reluctance with the dealers, not want to take them. Here's why;
- First dependent upon the card holders card the transaction fees are anywhere between 2 to 5% that the merchant must bear. In addition, at a show using a wireless card scanner can cost as much as $300 t0 $800 dollars to have. If the merchant calls for a verbal authorization, there are additional fees that can be as much as $8 to $15.
-Now keep in mind the vendor is NOT allowed to ask for a drivers license #, telephone number, or address, and is still expected to verify validate card holders identity. AND, the authorization center is NOT obligated to guarantee the transaction, that is the merchant's responsibility.
- IF the cardholder were to loose the card later in the day, and notifies the bank issuing the card, the transaction is nullified. AND then the merchant faces a "Chargeback", which typically is a $25 processing fee in addition to reversal of the transaction amount.
- IF the card is a Debit/ATM card then the transaction fees are even higher, another 2-3%
- American Express and Discover are even worse.
We have discontinued taking ANY card at our shows for the above reasons. We have lost less than 1/2% of sales as a result. Usually people just pull out the cash, whereas before "Since you take the card, I'm going to save my cash for the other guy". It is NOT to far off that cc will be the primary form of transactions, and then watch the rates go up. Imagine the banks are getting approx 3% of all transactions made in the US in ONE day, and then the benefits received by interest rates! CC will only hasten the economic downfall of this country. SORRY FOR THE RANT !
Brutus, Kay and I went through that situation. We ended up resolving ourselves that that was just the way it was going to be. Then 10 years later, we got Chris!! Just can't give up hope.
Ray, I'm hoping I can get up to TCA next week. I have a show I have to work in Torrance until 12, wouldn't get up to Arcadia till about 1 or 1:30. Maybe too late by then.??
Went to the Great Train Expo, today. Was a really good show! Lots & Lots of O Scale stuff, quite a bit of new stuff too. Even a BullFrog Snot booth. I didn't buy much some picket fencing, (MTH & other), a Lionel Box truck, (will look good on the G scale shelf). Then stopped by LTS on the the way home, and they were having a 10% off sale. Picked up a building and a couple of traffic lights. I'm sure most of you have seen the Casino sign by Miller Engineering, wanted to get that and mount it on a building. Got the MTH Pawn Shop today, a corner building that fits right in, then will get the sign for top. Also got the traffic signals, from MTH, they really are cool. Signals go Green-Yellow-Red, with pauses, long at Green & Red, short for yellow. Controller has a seperate plug in for 2 lights, then opossing signals have the opposite light lit. Can connect 4 traffic lights to each controller. Signals if set at intersection switch realistically, if they are situated in a straight sequence, they can be syncronized to work together or opposite. Good looking lights to, and $22 for the pair. (Arnie reordered them as I bought them, said the price just went up to $30, inflation.)
Doug (NG), Simple solution, just repaint the engines
All in all a good day, Rain, Nascar and SPF tomorrow.
Don
Good night. Reclinerized again. BTW: RT, I think the meds are helping. "Goofy" is an improvement for you. Shake and Bake, I do NOT do business with anyone that does NOT take my debit card or my credit card. I do NOT write checks. Debit card is free and no fee with SECU. Checks cost [unless you are retired and then you get one box per year free, I don't use a box in 12 months]. Lets see? Lost of business is 1 1/2 percent. That means you have lost 11/2 customers. Couldn't!!! You only have 2.
Good night.
For YOUR benefit use Credit Card, Debit cards are bad for consumer. Ask your Banker. They actually evolved from the secured credit card of years ago. Debit cards are more favorable for the merchant, (no consumer recourse). Transaction costs are being added to the product cost in 99% of the applications. I made a decision not to raise the product cost, but reward the cash customer. Our typically transaction is relatively small, less than $100, so don't have as much as an issue.
Seriously, as long as you pay the Credit Card off monthly, recheck the benefits and exposure of the Debit card.
dbaker48 Observation: When the chief is at the lake, and wireless, the pot takes on a whole new personality. Serene, logical, informative, etc., his post is much more subdued, and concise. (Maybe Lucy is a bad influence, or most likely OD'd on grits.
Observation: When the chief is at the lake, and wireless, the pot takes on a whole new personality. Serene, logical, informative, etc., his post is much more subdued, and concise. (Maybe Lucy is a bad influence, or most likely OD'd on grits.
A very astute observation. It is even better when he is in say, Pocatello, Idaho with no Internet service.
Mike C.....Is the State Basketball Tourney going on at the same time as the NCAA Tourney? If so, someone in Hoosierland has a screw loose. Probably the same guy that decided to go to class basketball. Sweet sixteen....How sweet it is living in Buckeyeland today.
Brutus.....Outlook is a pain. The web has all sorts of documentation about Outlook problems.
Chicago Doug.....You mean you sent the family to the warmth of Arizona so you could stay home and trim trees and fix the toilet? Too much green beer again this year.
WES.....Where are you? Need car from Iowa.
SD Doug.......How can anyone living in Southern California have sinus problems? You must be allergic to fruits and nuts.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
8ntruck! Count me as another Yankee!! We used Grits instead of spackle here, just to do the drywall.
Business was brisk at the LTS. Might have been the last day, depending on the landlord. We'll know more by the 24th.
Made a nice haul yesterday, (not as good as RT'S!!!!) got the K-line signal bridge, some people and the milk loading platform to complement my milkcar. Also got the MTH Wanderer from the Wild Wild West movie.
Jim Phish - I think the car came in, I couldn't pick it up for USPS as they were closed when I got there.
More stuff to inventory, so later on I'll be doing that and the e-bay or choochoo auctions thing.
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
Morning all. Beautiful day but cooler. Fam got in safely last eve. Sure is interesting to learn about credit from a merchant's view. I use one CC and pay it off ea. month. The bride has dozens of specialty cards. Drives me nuts. I've gone through some money classes that discourage CC but I've interpreted that to mean those who run up balances. I don't know...Not working at church today so tried to sleep in a bit - woke on the dot of the 0-dark-30 I've gotten up for the past dozen years - sigh.
Buckeye sez "You mean you sent the family to the warmth of Arizona so you could stay home and trim trees and fix the toilet?."Yeah, that sure doesn't look right in print. But I'm going to find a hobby shop or two to visit. There must be a train show within 100 miles somewhere today?
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Mornin' boys. Sunny & 30 here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Need to post some pics of anjdevil's tank car on SPF later on. Got my copy of the V&O Story autographed by Mr Carstens yesterday at the NRHS banquet. He looks well (gotta be in his 80's) and had a power point with a few hundred pics he had taken over the years. Very dry wit.
Trump - Never got into GTA. My oldest used to play it. I thought it rather dehumanizing.
Ole Timer - Sent you a PM.
Morning. Buckeye, I think Texicans can now spell DUKE. That is while LSU fans love CAROLINA blue. You know, there is agrumpy old guy in CA who does not like CC and DC and send good new copy paper back to its manufacturer. Off to Sunday School. Later
Thanks chief knew I could count on you for suport of my mental well being well made my order with jeff this am but haven't sent yet as you know that feeling theres still something else you need lol. So will got Walmart this am then come home and get back on my meds. supose to take every 6 been 12 so need to get going and get back here. Will talk later and oh yeah Jim T. I got both emails thanks .
thanks all on congrats on my haul
HI GYZ,
33 here going to 54? Got to run 4 to 6 miler today depends on how I feel? Went to GUN SHOW yesterday, wow lots o people. Must be the Obama effect? People were buying, guns and lots o ammo. I just picked up a few clips for my Socom.
Came home and watched movie on HBO. Went to bed.
Stay frosty,
laz57
dbaker48 Evening all,Patrick, As a merchant, credit cards and debit cards are a BIG pain in the neck. I can understand why their is so much reluctance with the dealers, not want to take them. Here's why;- First dependent upon the card holders card the transaction fees are anywhere between 2 to 5% that the merchant must bear. In addition, at a show using a wireless card scanner can cost as much as $300 t0 $800 dollars to have. If the merchant calls for a verbal authorization, there are additional fees that can be as much as $8 to $15.-Now keep in mind the vendor is NOT allowed to ask for a drivers license #, telephone number, or address, and is still expected to verify validate card holders identity. AND, the authorization center is NOT obligated to guarantee the transaction, that is the merchant's responsibility.- IF the cardholder were to loose the card later in the day, and notifies the bank issuing the card, the transaction is nullified. AND then the merchant faces a "Chargeback", which typically is a $25 processing fee in addition to reversal of the transaction amount.- IF the card is a Debit/ATM card then the transaction fees are even higher, another 2-3%- American Express and Discover are even worse. We have discontinued taking ANY card at our shows for the above reasons. We have lost less than 1/2% of sales as a result. Usually people just pull out the cash, whereas before "Since you take the card, I'm going to save my cash for the other guy". It is NOT to far off that cc will be the primary form of transactions, and then watch the rates go up. Imagine the banks are getting approx 3% of all transactions made in the US in ONE day, and then the benefits received by interest rates! CC will only hasten the economic downfall of this country. SORRY FOR THE RANT ! All in all a good day, Rain, Nascar and SPF tomorrow.Later ALL
All in all a good day, Rain, Nascar and SPF tomorrow.Later ALL
Hello Don:
Looks like we found a topic for debate. Before I try to answer your points, let me say to you and Doug M that I am a merchant also with an internet business. 99% of my sells are credit card.
First - There is no need to have the scanner at a show or to obtain authorization if you are willing to take checks. As I see it, an unauthorized credit card sale is the same as taking an unauthorized check. You can use the old paper swipe machine to record the credit card sale.
The two vendors that accepted credit cards at yesterdays show did ask me for a phone number and a zip code. I can't say if that was legal or not, because all our sales, CC and checks provide the name, address phone number.
If a card holder looses their card resulting in a canceling of my sale (a rare event I think), I have proof of purchase and can have the charge reinstated, even if the card holder's card is canceled and a new card is issued.
Our card processer "First Data" doesn't charge extra for Debit cards.
We do not take American Express. We do take Discover, as well as VISA and MasterCard, all processed by "First Data". No extra fee is charged for Discover. We pay a 1.75% fee on all three.
Please don't take this the wrong way, but I have to ask how you know you only loose less than 1/2% in sales?
You have sales of less than $100, but what if you were selling train sets or engines from $400 - $1500. Would you expect people to carry that amount in cash?
In our current economy, I would think a merchant would want to do what ever is need to increase sales, including accepting credit cards. At yesterday's train show I would have spent twice as much if more merchants had accepted credit cards.
I don't consider any of this to be a Rant. Just a good discusion.
On an entirely different note, I am glad to see some one else considers a rainy day to be a good day!
Patrick
RFD-TV --- Rural America's most important network!
Good Morning
If I use CC pay when the bill comes.
Overcast but clearing later into the 50s. Chating With Brutus as I write this. No plans for today at this time anyway. ran trains last nite. Have a great Sunday...S.J.
Got a big Northern Tools catalog. Lots of die cast CAT 1/50 construction equipment.
Patrick, Your right a discussion. Would really enjoy setting down and comparing stories and experiences.
We did exactly the same as you suggested. When at a show would run the card on the old knuckle buster, get a phone #, signature, and zip code. (Got .5% discount for correct zip code, part of address verification.) Then the next day would "key" in the transaction in our machine. Did that process for 6 or 7 years at the shows. And, I agree with you, risk is not much different than a check. And I can only recall 1 or 2 times we were not able to resolved the transaction. There were many times couldn't get auth. initially, but would call customer and usually resolved.
Then with the economy, I was thinking and concerned since we are running "bare" at the show, the potential for declines could dramtically increase. So decided to "try" a show and see what happened. For a two day show we lost 3 sales, and the dollar amt was less than $20 total. Typically we would get between 25 and 35 cc xactions. So that was no loss. In the other instances cash appeared. On our website we accept Visa/MC, but there too we do NOT do automatic processing. I'm concerned for customer security. We have 12 levels of encryption, and then have a system on subsequent orders the cusomer only has to veryify last four and expiration date. That process has been good, no problems.
Our service is through Costco, and I just went through Friday reviewing the summary statements and rates for various card types. Really difficult to unravel, 10-12 different CC NCRD type codes.
I (I can understand a dealers concern, potential 3.5% transaction fee for a $1000 to $1500 sale, If I had to take an "unathorized CC, I would just as soon take the Check. Here, DL #, is acceptable, and if the customer provides it and the check is declined for NSF or anything, the state Atty Gen., had determined that since the DL was provided it is an "intintional" effort and the customer "could" be charged with fraud.
I'm sure this is boring a lot of people, this isnt the place. SORRY EVERYONE.
Good Morning from Blueberryhill....
It is a sunny, clear skies day. Going up to 65 today with lots of sunshine.
Today is a relaxing day. Big Nascar race today from Bristol. I may watch it in the train room. Good place to relax. Not much else new here.
Dining car was here and then departed for " Points West ". Breakfast was the usual....... Cheerios.
Y'all have a great Sunday.
Chuck
Good morning!
Yeah, Outlook is not very good. Currently I have that email stuck in the outbox, but now it's not locking up my whole computer - I deleted outlook access to that email account. But, it's bothering me that it is just sitting there, lol -- Guess I have a little OCD.
NORTHERN Tools is a good company, I've bought from them before!
You are right. I am sure we are boring a lot of people, but I am going to do it again, only a shorter post.
We did craft shows for 17 years taking credit cards and checks (and occasionally cash) exactly the way you use to. I usually obtained authorizations from the Motel room after the show.
Had more trouble with checks bouncing than charges. However, here in Virginia, the County Commonwealth Attorney will go after the writer of a bad check if I can't resolve it with the buyer.
You make an excellent point about more declines (and bounced checks) in a down turned economy. And you are right about a high dollar item. I also would prefer a check with a DL # at a show.
Anything further we probably should use email. I did enjoy the discussion though.
Good morning Chief:
I have to agree with Don. Debit cards are not the way to go. You are fully exposed if your card is lost or stolen. The perpetrator (do you like that word fife) can take it all and you are out. Not true with a credit card.
I have an outdated Northern Tools catalog. They haven't sent me one for a while, probably because I haven't purchased from them in years. I forgot they have 1:50 CAT equipment. Need to request a new catalog. Thanks.
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