Action Jaxon posted: Rather than complain about the rebate, I’ll gladly wait for a freebie in the future.
That 11% rebate is just a come on to get you into their store and I get that. If there was a Menards in the Baltimore area I'd be delighted to have an 11% chit to spend in their store but I don't. Not being able to use the rebate it's like an 11% tax.
MG Brown posted:Would it be fair to say that anyone with a color printer and a reasonable degree of computer savvy could make custom signs for this building?
I have little computer savvy and I was able to take some freeware, find signs, flip them backwards, size them, print them a nd apply them as ghost signage on two buildings.
Good to see a corrugated building. Nice!
If you look closely and with a little imagination you can see the outside bar to the right where the table in in the gravel! That way there is no harm if spill a little! The back is the drive threw for orders to go, like 6 packs! Its all there just have to open your mind and let it in! Great Job Menards, Mark, Bob aka DAD, and the whole staff at Menards! What great people!
mike g. posted:If you look closely and with a little imagination you can see the outside bar to the right where the table in in the gravel! That way there is no harm if spill a little! The back is the drive threw for orders to go, like 6 packs! Its all there just have to open your mind and let it in! Great Job Menards, Mark, Bob aka DAD, and the whole staff at Menards! What great people!
Yeah just get some scale bar stools and put some scale glasses there with customers in the stools and a server behind the table
Thanks... i like it
mike g. posted:If you look closely and with a little imagination you can see the outside bar to the right where the table in in the gravel! That way there is no harm if spill a little! The back is the drive threw for orders to go, like 6 packs! Its all there just have to open your mind and let it in! Great Job Menards, Mark, Bob aka DAD, and the whole staff at Menards! What great people!
I just showed this building to my wife .... she said ... "It looks like a bar" lol
Rusty
Awesome thanks I’ll be getting one!
Rusty, your wife has great taste! LOL
Not quite what I expected but very nice. Now I can see why a Salvage Yard sign is included.
Mark,
This is yet another great offering from one of my favorite stores (even if I don't have one within 200 or more miles of me) with tremendous customer service.
For those of us who model cities (or city-ish), I am hoping more city like buildings are on the horizon - similar to the large and very grand hotel you offered maybe two years ago? I think they were a big hit? I have two and can always use other buildings that would look apropos in a cityscape. Hoping there are more to come? Thanks!
Mark,
Wow, what a great multipurpose building. Definitely will be getting one. I guess my only problem is what I will use it for. I will have to think about that. I like the variety of signs included, though may make up my own. I just got the American Materials at my local Menards and put it to use immediately.
Great buildings for our layouts, keep em coming !!
- Tom
I just love seeing all these new buildings from Menards. Menards, please don't take your foot of the gas pedal. If anything, push it a little harder.
It would be fine for a small town freight terminal, but not a larger city.
AMCDave posted:VistaDomeScott posted:Goodyear Blimp with lighted side advertising.
Revell did one........you could make custom signs too!!!!]
Wow! I forgot all about that kit. I built it when I was a kid. I remember it was a cool idea,but didn't work very well. Maybe it did work well and my modeling skills were the problem.
I love the buildings Menard's creates but can't fathom why Menard's either can't or won't accept their own rebate coupons to be used for online purchases from their company. It can't be too great a bookkeeping difficulty or hassle since many other, both large and small, brick and mortar stores who have an online presence offer and allow their own discount off coupons to be used for online purchases on their .com sites, so why won't Menards?
I've never seen you address this topic, Mark the Menard's Train Guy, but am nevertheless optimistic and hopeful that one day you will.
Anyway, keep creating such great structures, and offering those rebates so at least some of your customers can benefit from them.
ogaugeguy posted:Mark, the Menard's Train Guy, I love the buildings Menard's creates but still can't fathom why Menard's either can't or won't accept it's own rebate coupons to be used for online purchases. It can't be a bookkeeping difficulty since many other, both large and small, companies who have an online presence offer and allow discount off coupons to be used for online purfchases, so why won't Menards?
I've never seen you discuss this topic but am nonetheless optimistic that one day you will.
Anyway keep up creating such great structures, and offering those rebates so some of your customers can benefit from them.
I would sure go for it!
PJB posted:Mark,
This is yet another great offering from one of my favorite stores (even if I don't have one within 200 or more miles of me) with tremendous customer service.
For those of us who model cities (or city-ish), I am hoping more city like buildings are on the horizon - similar to the large and very grand hotel you offered maybe two years ago? I think they were a big hit? I have two and can always use other buildings that would look apropos in a cityscape. Hoping there are more to come? Thanks!
I agree, it's been a long time since I purchased any buildings. Would like to see some more modern city buildings. Also an electric substation to go with the power plant would be great.
The Menards rebate policy has been discussed many times and the Company has explained it several times! The explanation makes less sense every time it is given but it is what it isn't! LOL That being said it is the only thing Menards does that I really dislike but I just wait for the freebies and I'm happy! Not ecstatic but very happy!!!
It would interesting to see just how much of their train business is from those outside the Menards geographical area.
GLENN L. TAYLOR posted:PJB posted:Mark,
This is yet another great offering from one of my favorite stores (even if I don't have one within 200 or more miles of me) with tremendous customer service.
For those of us who model cities (or city-ish), I am hoping more city like buildings are on the horizon - similar to the large and very grand hotel you offered maybe two years ago? I think they were a big hit? I have two and can always use other buildings that would look apropos in a cityscape. Hoping there are more to come? Thanks!
I agree, it's been a long time since I purchased any buildings. Would like to see some more modern city buildings. Also an electric substation to go with the power plant would be great.
Maybe I'm alone in my thinking, PJB and GLENN L. TAYLOR, but for me not living anywhere remotely close to a Menard's store,tremendous customer service requires equal treatment for all customer purchases, both in-store and online. By Menard's not allowing its customers to use Menard's 11% discount coupons to be used online but rather only for instore purchases does not make its customer service worthy of being referred to as "tremendous".
Why provide an online buyer a rebate coupon that can't be used towards a future online sale? Sorry, Menards, but IMO, I fail to see the logic, common sense, customer good will, or tremendous customer service in doing that.
ogaugeguy posted:GLENN L. TAYLOR posted:PJB posted:Mark,
This is yet another great offering from one of my favorite stores (even if I don't have one within 200 or more miles of me) with tremendous customer service.
For those of us who model cities (or city-ish), I am hoping more city like buildings are on the horizon - similar to the large and very grand hotel you offered maybe two years ago? I think they were a big hit? I have two and can always use other buildings that would look apropos in a cityscape. Hoping there are more to come? Thanks!
I agree, it's been a long time since I purchased any buildings. Would like to see some more modern city buildings. Also an electric substation to go with the power plant would be great.
Maybe I'm alone in my thinking, PJB and GLENN L. TAYLOR, but for me not living anywhere remotely close to a Menard's store,tremendous customer service requires equal treatment for all customer purchases, both in-store and online. By Menard's not allowing its customers to use Menard's 11% discount coupons to be used online but rather only for instore purchases does not make its customer service worthy of being referred to as "tremendous".
Why provide an online buyer a rebate coupon that can't be used towards a future online sale? Sorry, Menards, but IMO, I fail to see the logic, common sense, customer good will, or tremendous customer service in doing that.
So, don't buy anything from Menards. That'll show 'em... I wonder how many folks actually stopped buying Menards train stuff because of the rebate policy.
What about when Menards runs their "everything that fits in the (standard paper shopping) bag is XX%: off sales? Online buyers can't take advantage of those, either.
The same policy is in effect for non-train purchases. I haven't heard the masses readying the torches and pitchforks because folks outside of Menards' service area doesn't get 11% off on a drill or tool set.
Rusty
And the rebates are transferable.
And actually, if the train items are a good deal, 11% or not, then what’s the harm?
ogaugeguy posted:GLENN L. TAYLOR posted:PJB posted:Mark,
This is yet another great offering from one of my favorite stores (even if I don't have one within 200 or more miles of me) with tremendous customer service.
For those of us who model cities (or city-ish), I am hoping more city like buildings are on the horizon - similar to the large and very grand hotel you offered maybe two years ago? I think they were a big hit? I have two and can always use other buildings that would look apropos in a cityscape. Hoping there are more to come? Thanks!
I agree, it's been a long time since I purchased any buildings. Would like to see some more modern city buildings. Also an electric substation to go with the power plant would be great.
Maybe I'm alone in my thinking, PJB and GLENN L. TAYLOR, but for me not living anywhere remotely close to a Menard's store,tremendous customer service requires equal treatment for all customer purchases, both in-store and online. By Menard's not allowing its customers to use Menard's 11% discount coupons to be used online but rather only for instore purchases does not make its customer service worthy of being referred to as "tremendous".
Why provide an online buyer a rebate coupon that can't be used towards a future online sale? Sorry, Menards, but IMO, I fail to see the logic, common sense, customer good will, or tremendous customer service in doing that.
I'm not going to get in the middle of this gripe, as it has zero to do with my post. My post is purely to ask Mark if more city like buildings might be on the horizon - and still hoping Mark posts an answer.
In terms of my customer service comment, I stand by it. For someone who lives 1,000 miles from the Menards from which I ordered - customer service was stellar. The gas station showed up smashed. I called, they got the right people on the phone. They were apologetic, asked specific questions about how it was packed, and immediately sent me a replacement with a return label for the smashed one. And then followed up with a call a week later to see if the new one arrived, well packed, and was I happy with it.
To me, while I always look for and like a good deal, there is a whole lot more to life than saving a buck.
Very well said! The best thing about Menards besides the deals they offer is that they stand behind what there selling! More companies could learn from them!
PJB posted:........................To me, while I always look for and like a good deal, there is a whole lot more to life than saving a buck.
When you are retired and on a semi fixed income saving a buck is a big deal!!!! I'm saving my extra train $ for the BREWERY.
wild mary posted:PJB posted:........................To me, while I always look for and like a good deal, there is a whole lot more to life than saving a buck.When you are retired and on a semi fixed income saving a buck is a big deal!!!! I'm saving my extra train $ for the BREWERY.
I determined years ago before I retired to carefully weigh the costs/benefits on purchases (I'll admit, there have been a few exceptions, but I don't go out on a limb.)
In other words, my "gotta have" and "nice to have" lists shrunk considerably.
Regrets? One or two, but I manage to move on.
Result: The process has saved me more money that any discount program and I still enjoy the hobby.
Rusty
Rusty Traque posted:wild mary posted:PJB posted:........................To me, while I always look for and like a good deal, there is a whole lot more to life than saving a buck.When you are retired and on a semi fixed income saving a buck is a big deal!!!! I'm saving my extra train $ for the BREWERY.
I determined years ago before I retired to carefully weigh the costs/benefits on purchases (I'll admit, there have been a few exceptions, but I don't go out on a limb.)
In other words, my "gotta have" and "nice to have" lists shrunk considerably.
Regrets? One or two, but I manage to move on.
Result: The process has saved me more money that any discount program and I still enjoy the hobby.
Rusty
My "gotta have" list was satisfied well before my retirement and my "nice to have" list is like the weather.
One more time on this rebate debate.
First, carefully absorb these points of fact:
1) All Menards customers, online or in-store, get a rebate check that must be used in store for additional merchandise.
2) Menards stocks only a small portion of its train line in stores, usually only from October to December, and has a scattering of lower demand items held as leftovers at other times.
3) Menards is a multi-million dollar home improvement chain, not a hobby shop. The train line is a sideline that is not a strategic part of the company’s business. It exists because founder John Menard, who is still associated with the company but is not its day-to-day business manager anymore, is a lifelong Train Guy and a member of the TCA who was granted his wish to market a toy train line as long as it did not interfere with Menards main business plan. He has made it clear he merely wishes to promote the hobby.
Here’s the sum effect of those points combined:
A train enthusiast living within shopping distance of a store can use rebate coupons only on select merchandise and only during that narrow window when the most popular stock is on hand. So the rebate program doesn’t significantly favor anyone living close to a Menards when it comes to every hot new train release.
By bringing customers in the store, Menards promotes sales on its core merchandise, which includes lumber, tools, hardware, appliances, bathroom fixtures, plumbing supplies, paint, kitchen cabinets and sinks, light fixtures, electrical supplies, shelving units, storage equipment and structures, roofing materials, siding, groceries and seasonal merchandise (a large garden center in the summer, patio furniture, lawnmowers, snowblowers and Halloween and Christmas decorations). That’s what Menards is trying to sell. Not more $19.99 boxcars or $100 O gauge buildings to guys who think the world revolves around $19.99 boxcars or $100 buildings.
The rebate program isn’t intended to generate train sales. Everyone who buys items during the 11% rebate promotion weeks knows that it’s an in-store deal, in the end, so no one buys items during those promotion weeks with anything else in mind except buying what they need in store. If you don’t live near a Menards, don’t buy anything during those promotional weeks. Pretty simple. Or buy stuff knowing you can give the rebate to someone who does live near a store, for their use or yours.
If you don’t stand to gain anything during the 11% percent rebate week, you’re like the vast majority of Menards shoppers, who don’t order merchandise online because, frankly, that’s not how home improvement stores do almost all of their business, given the cost of shipping on bulky items.
This has been stated repeatedly. Yet there is someone in some future thread, maybe in a week or two in an announcement about the next new Menards train release, who will say “I don’t know why Menards doesn’t offer an online 11% rebate redemption.”
If none of this makes sense to you, it’s probably because you care nothing about Menards’ success as a company and only care about their trains. Since you account for a fraction of 1 percent of Menards sales, you might want to consider that fact before you reopen the debate about the rebate program, yet again and again and again and again.........
Very well put Jim. Time to move on and quit kicking a gift horse. We are lucky to have Menards offering trains at such a low prices. ...........Paul
paul 2 posted:Very well put Jim. Time to move on and quit kicking a gift horse. We are lucky to have Menards offering trains at such a low prices. ...........Paul
Agreed........the rebate thing.....I sent one in....used it next time I was able to go to a store. BUT it does not affect weather I buy or not.
Having Menard's in the model train hobby is a HUGE asset. Having been involved in the hobby at a level from a five year old with a Lionel train set, hobby shop owner and then a manufacture of hobby products.......I fully understand how tough the biz is. Thanks Menard's.
Hey guys,
Just a reminder that we also give away "freebies" quite often for our online shoppers. In fact, here's the current offer! Click here to shop now!
Now through November 10, 2018 (or while supplies last), buy any O gauge train item $19.99 or higher and get a FREE blue lighted Hummer!
Important: You must add (1) blue lighted hummer (SKU# 279-4476) to your online shopping cart for every qualifying O gauge item you wish to purchase. The free truck price will be subtracted during the checkout process.
Have a great day!
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
Nice Building
Menards posted:Hey guys,
Just a reminder that we also give away "freebies" quite often for our online shoppers. In fact, here's the current offer! Click here to shop now!
Now through November 10, 2018 (or while supplies last), buy any O gauge train item $19.99 or higher and get a FREE blue lighted Hummer!
Important: You must add (1) blue lighted hummer (SKU# 279-4476) to your online shopping cart for every qualifying O gauge item you wish to purchase. The free truck price will be subtracted during the checkout process.
Have a great day!
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
A very good point. What's better, a 11.00 rebate or a 29.99 plug and play Hummer.. no brainer in my book..If you can't use the rebate, wait a week or so....
Rebates -
Freebies - 
ENOUGH SAID!!!
Personally, I don't worry about the "rebate". Menard is not a train store, rather a Home Improvement store. But for Menard to produce so many one of a kind items, and so many rolling stock to fill rosters on a layout at unbelievable price is unheard of in todays retail market of Model Trains. Then to top it off they offer so many freebies for the Model Railroader and now also in HO gauge have they entered. They come out with so many new items each month. Unheard of by the Big 3 were sometimes catalog items take months or even years to be introduced. I don't fuss the rebate coupons, rather when I do get them, send them to a friend to use. As to damaged items, a quick call or E-Mail gets almost instant result. Compare that to other, (had a damaged Atlas Kit that took 3 months to get replacement).
No, I don't buy every Menard item, many not in my Era, but enough to know the company stands behind their offerings without a hassle.
We should rather then complain, praise that there is someone producing low cost items for the Hobby, and their exposure has surely added some that pass through their stores flickered some interest and maybe started new hobbyist into our folds. Heck, I even bought some low priced cars to practice weathering rather then one triple priced.
Thanks Menard.
The 11% rebate doesn't really help me living out of the area. The vehicles don't help me. If there going to offer a free lighted vehicle that retails for $29.99 then they should let you pick and single vehicle at that price or less. Personally if they brought back the 60's mustangs I would probably find a couple items I needed. Now buying a $19.99 item doesn't really make sense if your giving a $29.99 item with it, But that's what they are doing right now. I wish they would develop and have more cars from the 50's to early 70's even older ones would work. There's enough of us on here that model that era.
I like that era as that's the ending of steam and the beginning of diesel and use of electric for like GG1's .
JOSEF, Well Put! I have a few high priced cars, but since I have learned of Menards, that's where I get my rolling stock from! You cant beat the price and the customer service like they offer anywhere else! I just wish there was one near me, but that's ok. Cause they are here on line!
William, you might think about getting there free stuff! Then you could turn around and sell it to offset the cost of buying the cars you want from a high priced dealer! Heck if you can get a $29.99 car for free, sell it for $20 or so, then you would have the extra cash you never had to buy the era you want!
So.....um.......there's this Taco Bell building that Menards just released.....but it's only for HO ?
Are we getting an O Scale Taco Bell in the future?
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