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Considering a purchase, need a hive check

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  • Member since
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Considering a purchase, need a hive check
Posted by crossthedog on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 7:36 PM

Has anyone had any bad experiences buying from or dealing with MODEL RAIL ROAD HQ.COM (sic)? How about good experiences, or even really good experiences? Please share, and remember, this is for posterity, so... be honest.

Thanks,

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

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  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted by selector on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 9:16 PM

Just a cursory glance tells me they move old stuff.  Not necessarily used old stuff, maybe a lot of NIB old stuff they acquired over time, maybe from estates as well.  Unless they have an expressed warranty/return policy that works for you, and they have something of strong sentimental value, I'd be careful. 

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Posted by hjQi on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 10:27 PM

It seems to be a legitimate website. If you are concerned, you may give them a call...

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Posted by Trainman440 on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 11:10 PM

Seeing how ridiculously high the prices are, I assume theyre legit.

A fake site would actually want things to "sell", and have more reasonable prices.

Charles

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO

Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440

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Posted by snjroy on Thursday, April 14, 2022 7:05 AM

Yes, these prices make me feel old. I could buy these things at half that price less than a decade ago. Better deals can be found elsewhere.

Simon

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Posted by rrebell on Thursday, April 14, 2022 9:51 AM

Some items overpriced, some at high price but one or two bargins in there too.

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Posted by crossthedog on Thursday, April 14, 2022 10:16 AM

Thanks guys. Some good thoughts here. I wasn't really that worried about it being a fake site -- I have a good sniffer for that sort of thing -- but more that the quality of the merchandise would be lower than claimed, or that they were unresponsive or uncommunicative, which is something that drives me bonkers. If the stuff is in good shape and tuned up in the shop, I think the prices in a lot of cases are right in there. At least, I've seen things like these old Mantuas and Mehanos go for a lot more on the Bay, sometimes even for untested stuff. More to the point, there are a few steamers there that I don't see anywhere else... ever. I like the idea of buying older high quality steam that fits my budget, even if some detailing is lacking, since the newer offerings are so high priced and in some cases (so I hear) that higher price is no guarantee of better running quality.

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, April 14, 2022 11:17 AM

Well...

They seem to have that Roundhouse NYC 4-6-0 kit that I had heard about but never actually seen for less than $150.00 for sale.

If I had not already bought a brass ten wheeler, I would have jumped on that.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by doctorwayne on Thursday, April 14, 2022 2:58 PM

Here's one of the Roundhouse 10-wheelers...

I'm not sure, but I recall its cost was somewhere around 40 bucks.

I also had one of the MDC Consolidations, at about the same price...

I also had a Mantua Mikado, which was a little more expensive, mainly due to the additional detail parts and the modified MDC oil tender which I converted to coal.

Wayne

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, April 16, 2022 8:38 AM

What is a "hive check"?

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by maxman on Saturday, April 16, 2022 10:32 AM

riogrande5761

What is a "hive check"?

 

 
If the forum is the hive, then he wants to know what all the worker bees think.
 
Or it is a misspelling.
  • Member since
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, April 16, 2022 10:41 AM

riogrande5761
What is a "hive check"?

The OP would need to answer about exactly what he meant with the term.

In general... a Hive Mind is a group with shared knowledge or a collective intelligence, and a Hive Check is seeking advice from that group.

In this case, the forum would be the Hive Mind.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2021
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Posted by crossthedog on Sunday, April 17, 2022 12:52 AM

SeeYou190
a Hive Mind is a group with shared knowledge or a collective intelligence, and a Hive Check is seeking advice from that group. In this case, the forum would be the Hive Mind.

Spot on, Mr. Parsons. My playfulness with language gets me in trouble.

@Wayne, how does your Mantua perform, and is it an old pre-Tyco Mantua or a new post-Tyco Mantua? The MRRHQ site has a lot of Mantua and IHC, but the only Mantua I've ever owned is my dad's noisy 0-4-0 booster from the early '60s. I like my Slovenia-made IHC Mehano Consolidation; it's smooth and unbelievably quiet.

Thanks for the comments, all.

-Matt

Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.

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