MisterBeasley Sometimes I wonder if a lot of shippers are simply not bothering with good service but blaming everything on Covid.
Sometimes I wonder if a lot of shippers are simply not bothering with good service but blaming everything on Covid.
Maryland would still have been under heavier restrictions in the period mentioned in this thread, which has been impacting things more than some other states. Here in Northern Virginia, a lot of packages we get are routed through Hagerstown or Baltimore and you can see them slow down when they hit those points.
Shipping? What is that?
I joined their rewards club and have spent enough to get free shipping for orders $99 or more thru the end of 2021 (at present). Most of my orders exceed $99 so I haven't paid for any shipping for the past year at least. I don't need stuff shipped fast anyway. That is one of the perks of shipping MBK assuming they have what I need.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
ROBERT PETRICK MisterBeasley Amazon Prime, supposedly one day delivery, is typically running 5-7 days here. Sometimes I wonder if a lot of shippers are simply not bothering with good service but blaming everything on Covid. My Amazon-dot-com-slash-Prime free guaranteed two-day delivery (outback Wyoming) is minimum five days, more often seven or eight days. Same as PC (pre-covid). Any sort of packaging standards are non-existent. Oh well . . . Robert
MisterBeasley Amazon Prime, supposedly one day delivery, is typically running 5-7 days here. Sometimes I wonder if a lot of shippers are simply not bothering with good service but blaming everything on Covid.
Amazon Prime, supposedly one day delivery, is typically running 5-7 days here.
My Amazon-dot-com-slash-Prime free guaranteed two-day delivery (outback Wyoming) is minimum five days, more often seven or eight days. Same as PC (pre-covid). Any sort of packaging standards are non-existent.
Oh well . . .
Robert
Yep, my Amazon Prime orders are taking extra time these days. I figure there are a lot of people like me ordering a lot more from Amazon. But they do come.
Packaging is usually pretty good, but sometimes leaves a little bit to be desired. But I have never had anything damaged so far.
Paul
I have recently ordered twice from Model Train Stuff. They seem to be reasonably quick.
But then I'm not in a hurry. I always take the cheapest shipping. With the pandemic, I let my packages sit a few days in the garage anyway.
What counts for me is that the order is correct and I've never had a problem with that.
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Sorry you've been having issues. I ordered two of the new Bowser D&H C-628s from them online late last Friday afternoon. They were picked up on Monday by UPS and they left Richmond this morning at 5 am heading South to where I live in the Atlanta area.
I always just go with the least expensive shipping and have always been satisfied with their service.
Doughless Why not call them and explain your issues. I have been less than impressed with the way they (and TrainWorld) pack their items.
Why not call them and explain your issues. I have been less than impressed with the way they (and TrainWorld) pack their items.
Hey Douglas -
I kinda agree with your comments regarding TrainWorld packing: flimsy outer cardboard box easily mangled in transit, and insufficient internal stuffing to help mitigate said mangling.
But I've always admired MBKlein's shipping department's attention to detail: sturdy outer box cross-reinforced with genuine packing tape, and contents completely wrapped in bubble wrap nestled in more than plenty peanuts.
Shipment from MBK has been usually about 10 days (even most recent order) at the standard low-cost (USPS) rate.
I never pay extra for premium ultra-fast delivery, but if I ever did I would expect premium results.
At one time or another I've done business with all the other shops mentioned with similar levels of service. I've never had any particular bad experience from any online dealer.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
These are strnage times - was everythign in stock when you ordered it, or did they have to wait for something? Their inventory is pretty much spot on accurate, so that should eb obvious. But they also probably have fewer people actually picking orders these days, to maintain a safe workign environment. Faster shipping methods do not equal rush order picking.
As for swapping with USPS - in many places, USPS service has been especially poor. They may just be covering for package losses, though if they switched to a cheaper method, the difference ought to be refunded.
I have placed many orders with them over the years, and never had any issues. But I am in what amounts to 2 day delivery distance even with ground - I could drive there in less than 2 hours, which is why I frequently go to the Timonium trains how. I also have never made one single order that large - my budget does not allow for giant mass orders, instead I spread this out in several orders over time. That is to say, I COULD make a giant single mass order, but it just works out better for me to spread that out. It works for me, my reserves have gone up considerably, so I see no reason to change my spending habits. Plus if I make one giant order and then a month or two later something comes along that I would like, too bad, I already spent the hobby budget. But whatever works. That may be a factor - such a large order may have required excessive time to pick and package, compared to ordering a recently released loco and a couple of car kits or case of track.
I would say something about the order that was supposed to be Priority Mail that came UPS Ground, if only to have the shipping charges adjusted. But the other one - AFAIK, they don;t have a rush order option, so even if you pick a 2 day ship method, that doesn;t mean you get the stuff 2 days from the order date, it means the delivery service gets it to you in 2 days after it ships. If it took 5 days from the ship date to get to you, and you paid for 2 day, and it was sent via 2 day, your beef is with the carrier, although these days they will simply say "covid" and laugh at you, I suspect. Most all shippers have notifications for California because of the fires, but Baltimore down to Florida - there's no excuse, unless there was a hurricane at the time.
Edit: Since there were a whole slew of posts in the time it took me to type my book (there were NO replies when I started!), I will add this - we've become WAY too spoiled by Amazon. And even they are slower than usual these days - there are at least 3 Amazon warehouses within an hour or two of me, and something I ordered Saturday with Prime, in stock and fulfilled by Amazon, so not coming from some third party , is MAYBE arriving today. Partially because they used UPS for this one - it went from an Amazon warehouse less than 2 hours from me, to a UPS distribution center 2 hours away on the OPPOSITE side of me, before coming back in my direction. My order from Sergent arrived today, first class mail, after shipping Friday from wherever they are in TN. Just outside of Knoxville it appears - also noted a small town north of there where a NS rail line runs through a town named Disney, TN. No, it's not where Disney World is, that's in Nashville.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I did contact them after the first order, and accepted their response.
It was during the beginning of the Covid lockdown, and they said that caused the delay in processing. Then when they shipped it, they did send it UPS second day air, which is what I paid for. I just let that one go.
This one really had me grinding right now. Not only was there a delay in processing again, but they did not ship it with the service I paid for.
I will contact them.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Benjamin,
I would hardly call Kevin's post a "vent". He was just stating the facts and asking what he should do.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Your first step should be to reach out to them instead of venting to the public about your problems. Let them try and explain the situation and perhaps attempt to make it right.
Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/
I've heard of shipping problems from various vendors or ebay sellers, but I have bought quite a bit of stuff in 2020 and have not had any problems at all. But I have not bought anything from MBKlein this year.
The mail I get goes through the ATL hub, so I don't know if "big city" post office problems are universally a problem just because the hub is in a big city.
Stuff from TrainWorld probably has been taking a couple of extra days to get here. I think they only ship on Tuesdays and Fridays.
No problems with Lombard Hobby, and I assume they go through CHI.
Just bought an item at Spring Creek Model Trains on Thursday. They had it packed and shipped from Deshler NE on Friday. Darn thing got to my house in Middle West Georgia yesterday (Monday)...but my local P.O. runs two deliveries daily just for packages. Got here at about 7pm. USPS Priority.
- Douglas
Yes, contact them! I would have contacted them the first time - especally if you paid $50 for 2-day shipping. Why pay extra if you are NOT going to get the service you requested. MB Klein may even offer to refund you the $100.
FWIW, most of the orders I've gotten from MB Klein over the past few years have taken ~5 days to get processed and in the mail. I only paid the minimum so it was no big deal for me. I hardly ever pay extra for shipping.
I have had problems with my last two orders from Model Train Stuff, AKA M. B. Klein.
I made a huge order (huge for me, over $1,000.00) earlier this year and paid over $50.00 for 2 day shipping, and then they took ten days to get it in the mail. That was very disappointing.
My order I made two weeks ago finally showed up. This time I paid for USPS Priority 2-3 day. Again, they took over a week just to get it into the mail, but this time they shipped it UPS Ground even though I paid for Priority Mail service.
This makes nearly $100.00 additional I have paid for preferred shipping services and still had to wait and wait for my orders.
I did get every physical product that I paid for, but I was way overcharged for service, and I come from the service industry. I hate paying for services not received.
Should I do anything? Should I just let it go?