All the locomotives and train cars I have mail ordered... there has been tons of them... only ever had poorly packed items twice, both from ebay sellers, and in both cases the locomotive packaging saved the model.
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The BEST packaging, by far, is done by Brasstrains dot com. I would give MB Klein the number two position, and Walthers number three.
Nothing has ever been damaged by the Post Office, UPS, or FedEx.
Maybe I am just very lucky.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I had just the opposite packaging from "tall firs", Aaron. My order arrived in a large, flat type box with the contents very well protected in sheets of bubble wrap. All of this for a small plastic bag with some gears! It could have been sent in a regular envelope. Go figure.
Russ
Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ. Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/
I agree with the senseless packaging methods some shippers use. Amazon has been using those little air-pillows for a while and they are worthless, IMHO. I often get damaged packages from Amazon
Ordinary bubblewrap is being phased out due to storage and shipping costs but there is a new "self-inflating" type bubblewrap coming into use that seems OK.
I get a charge out of shippers that place the item flat on the bottom of the box then place all the cushioning material on top, with NO protection at the bottom where the impact will take place.
I DO like the methods that MB Klein uses, rhymes with Model Train Stuff. They seem to spare no expenxe in the shipping room. They even tape the inside-bottom of the box for extra security, items are wrapped in bubble wrap then surrounded by foam peanuts.
Rapido mentions in their user manual that it is certainly possible for little details to break off. They will gladly repair anything but caution that the return trip may be worse than what condition you have now! I've had very few problems, fortunately, but the manufacturers were all willing to stand behind their products.
If I can help it I avoid purchases anytime near the Holidays. Often there are temporary workers, the order filling system is stretched thin and the shipping agencies are all taking shortcuts to speed up delivery, like tossing your package the last twenty feet of a 500 mile journey. Sometimes I have asked Ebay sellers to delay their shipment for this reason.
There is a double-edged sword here. Many more fine details on the rolling stock and locomotives + fewer B&M hobby shops where you can see what exactly you are buying.
Like Wayne, I shop often at the site he mentioned and have visited as well. Good people there.
Good Luck, Ed
Rhymes with Boy Grain Seven often has sales on those locomotives. I get notices from them at least once a week and many times, it's more than once a week.
Their SITE is closely associated with the maker of those locomotives, and you can subscribe to get similar updates.
The latter is also one of my favourite hobbyshops to visit, and I've often made the 250 mile trip to shop in person or to pick-up pre-ordered stuff.
Wayne
Very unsual for ''tall firs'' to send out a package packed like that.....I would have surely given them the photo of how You got it. Been dealing with them quite a number of yrs. and never had a package sent lacking proper support like that one......never got one that rattled or had any movement in it. You could have even complained to Bowser on that one.
Take Care!
Frank
rrrrrgh, time to vent my frustration.
I ordered a Bowser C636 from a rather large outfit, whose name I shall not mention because it might violate policy. Let's just say it very nearly rhymes with "tall firs".
When it arrived, this is how it was packed:
Yes, that's two wee little air cells (one of which is deflated), some paperwork, and a reasonably expensive locomotive otherwise loose in a great big box, for the entire trip from Milwaukee or thereabouts to Los Angeles.
Needless to say, this was not good for the reasonably expensive locomotive, which arrived with several pieces broken off. (I didn't bother test-running it.)
OK, crap happens, and it could be worse; a club-mate showed me pics of a Genesis loco she bought which arrived with a hole through the outer box, the loco box, and the manual (whatever pierced it stopped mercifully short of the loco itself).
Still, buying this thing has been the most frustrating experience ever. To wit:
-- My first attempt to get one was from another vendor and was deeply marked down (I won't name them either, but it rhymes with "vain curled") It arrived damaged as well; it was well packed but looked like it had been dropped before it was shipped (I've heard of "drop shipping" but this is ridiculous!). Two pieces broken off (funnily enough, those pieces were also broken off the second one). Vendor was great about the return, but found that the only other one they had was also damaged. They refunded my money.
-- Tall Firs had a 10% off sale that brought the price within $20 of Vain Curled. OK, close enough, but I placed my order on Dec. 24th and had to wait three days for the order to be processed.
-- When I opened my package and discovered my brokomotive, it was half an hour after customer service closed... on a Friday.
-- I'm traveling like mad this month, so I have to resolve all this via remote control on Monday, and I only have a tiny window Wednesday evening to pack and ship this thing back (assuming they process the RMA, which, being mega-big, I'm sure they will.)
No one's fault, really -- well, except whoever broke the first one I ordered and the dunce who packed this second one -- but it seems like I just was NOT destined to own this locomotive!
I was tempted to give up but... mmmm, big Alco, mmmm, Bowser, mmmm LokSound, lurrrv. And besides, my Rivarossi U25Cs will get lonely.
OK, glad I got this off my chest. I feel marginally better. Not much, but a little.
Aaron