MTH parts

I know just before and after Christmas they are very busy. I made an order two weeks ago and recieved my parts last Thursday, about 10 days.

FWIW, MTH parts are always pretty much like that.  If I were to get parts within two weeks, I'd faint dead away!

 

I orderd a chip for a proto 1 loco a week ago and its still not here. I sent an email for the tracking number. They use that high priced Fedex company.

I ordered some things from MTH around the fall York event, I think it was just before. That's not a very good time to order either. Took a few weeks to get the order. When the order finally arrived it was all correct, so that was good.

Besides the goofy web ordering that won't let you do certain thngs and if you goof up, you have to open a new account, and actually finding the correct part # for my repair, I get notice the part is out of stock after I enter my CC, billing info and such. I get confirmation EMail from MTH (robomail) that my order was placed. The list was blank, though. lol. Chalk it up to experience and those bridges really don't have to blink.... 3 weeks later I get a pleasant voice mail from Midge telling me that the parts are ready to ship, and call her back with updated info. huzza! So call, get a hold of her, "They are going out tomorrow's shipment" and 2 weeks later they finally show up in my mailbox, and they are the correct boards! Double Huzza!  
So, My experience was overall pleasant, a positive ending, Will I do it again? Yes If I have to, but I can't help thinking it was a like a ride in a micro minicooper with 3 clowns, a giraffe, and an orangutan driving. You'll get there eventually, but you'll veer all over the place and bounce off a couple of curbs along the way. lol.

My complaint is using fedex $10 shipping for a $10 part. You know maybe usps will probably bring it so why do they use fedex when the post office is cheaper.

Lionel does the same thing. A 50 cent spring is $9 (maybe $10 by now?) shipping. The $9 was a couple years ago. Forgot who their shipper was, maybe UPS? I don't believe it was the USPS.

Last parts order from lionel was UPS originated and had a UPS tracking #, but was delivered USPS. They have a shipping partnership.  I call it collusion.....

 

Yes, I have had things shipped by UPS (and I think FedEx too) delivered by the USPS.

 

The ones that boggle my mind are electronic parts I sometimes order on ebay for a dollar or two (some even less than a dollar), paid for with Paypal with free shipping from China included. Don't see how they do that, unless the Chinese government is footing the bill? Those come by USPS also and usually within about 8-10 days or so, pretty fast too.

Always call Midge, x516, she's the best!  She's overworked, but have patience, she'll get to your order.

You do have to wonder how we can get complex electronic boards from China for $4-5 with free shipping, and we can't get parts in the US without paying twice that just for the shipping!

Hi Gunrunnerjohn,

I was thinking this exact thing and then it hit me.... When we mail overseas, we pay for shipping to a US carrier, but we don't pay anything to the foreign carrier.

So obviously, stuff in china gets on the boat for next to nothing, but then there is no charge from the US carrier to make it more expensive!!!

(correct me if I am wrong!)

Ben

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...ap-stuff-from-china/

I'll also add that it get's to the house sooner than MTH parts.

Mot really sure what Mike's whole philosophy is on service, but you alway's

read a lot of frustration here. Heaven help us all is Midge ever retires.

If MTH does not want to deal with parts. Then why not sub contract it out ?

 

Even taking that article into account, how can the Chinese sell me two small circuit boards, a remote control transmitter and receiver and ship it to me, all for $1.26?  I can't even make one of the circuit boards for less than around $2-3!

Because they are happy with a bowl of rice and a bicycle.  But the employee in the US (Lionel or MTH, or even other US small companies) are not.  So they have to account for the packaging, paper work, billing and delivery of the items.  Trains manufactures are not going to accept losses in any area.  Market and margin is too small.  G

John, George,

 

That's exactly what put many PC Board manufacturers out of business in the US. We supplied chemistry to those shops and watched them dwindle to a handful in the US from over hundreds years ago.    Joe

My parts finally arrived after about four weeks.The Fedex shipping charge was $9.00.Invoice said fedex ground but box had a parcel post label on it.Box weighed about one pound.

 

 

I'd love to order parts.   But first one of my 15+ emails and 20 or so phone calls would actually have to be answered.   At this rate I wonder if MTH is still in business?

Did you try calling Midge or emailing her directly? I have always gotten a reply from either a parts phone call or email I have sent to them. Takes a while sometimes, but they have never passed me by, always gotten back to me.  

 

It would help if they would fix their website with the parts information like they have been saying for so long now.

FWIW, my Super-Chuffer boards are manufactured and assembled here in the good ol' USA.  Of course, that ends up costing more, but I do get quick turn-around.

 

Midge is a wonderful person and is always very help. I wish that MTH would get her some help so they could turn around these orders faster. I called in July one year and still took MTH two weeks to fill my small order.

Another woman had called me about the parts I ordered its jst that a new web site with parts diagrams would help everyone.

I think Midge has an assistant, but she is the one that knows the parts. Someone else called me about my order last fall to clarify what I was looking for. Midge called back with the correct part info and pricing a week or so later and I placed the order with her. Then 2-3 weeks later my order arrived.

Midge may be on vacation, I emailed a couple parts inquirery a couple weeks ago and no reply yet.

Having a parts department so dependent upon one person is a recipe for disaster. Everyone that works there should be able to perform as well as the other person

My repair person has waited months for one part. My patience has limits you know...

I would hesitate using USPS.  I ordered a part from Va. to Mi, and the post office thought it cheaper to ship it through Wa State!!!  No wonder they keep loosing money.  And this was the 3rd or 4th time they have shipped way out of the way for me.  6000 mile round trip to travel less than a thousand miles.  HELLO!!!! 

You might be surprised, given airline schedules, that may have been the most cost effective route to get it there.  Much of the air USPS mail goes by commercial carrier along with passengers.

 

A couple years ago I ordered from Nicholas Smith and UPS must have put my order on the wrong Pallet, it finally arrived in Tampa but the route was Philly to California then to Tampa lol. It was around Christmas so you have to consider they use Temps.