$51+ shipping charge for Light Bulbs at MTH?

Try Town and Country Hobbies for light bulbs.  (http://stores.towncountryhobbies.com).  they have lots of bulbs, including direct LED replacements.  They may have what you need, and their shipping charges are reasonable.

Wish I knew how to help, I don’t.  But I feel your pain.  Parts: Axle bearing/plastic $0.80 x 2... Shipping $10

Can't be right.Use BOB SEV's option or call MTH Nick

Bob Severin posted:

Try Town and Country Hobbies for light bulbs.  (http://stores.towncountryhobbies.com).  they have lots of bulbs, including direct LED replacements.  They may have what you need, and their shipping charges are reasonable.

Thanks Bob, 

Unfortunately, I need the sockets (shown as a #12 below).  These are all broken,  the plastic did not hold up over time.  I did not want to rewire them, but I may have to, using Lionel style sockets that I can get cheaply from Jeff the train tender. 

MTH has a flat shipping rate, a couple years ago it was like $9.00.  I'm sure if you call it will be much  less. 

Hi Dave 

can you post actual photos of what you need. I just might have them. If I do I'll just ship them to you. 

Alex 

which car is this for?

I may have some I removed when changing to LEDs. Trouble is I usually throw them in a baggie and they maybe all mixed.

I don't recognize that picture of the sockets matching what I have removed so far?

Other option would be to switch to LED's using Gunrunner Johns hook up system! I have 5 cars I still have to do!

He is showing the socket used in subway cars. That shipping number is a mistake.  Call MTH and talk to a live person.

Call them and ask......I needed a boiler emblem, thought $9 was too much...called they sent it for $4.....Fair...it was smaller than a dime and weighed less. 

I wonder how they came up with 51.00 for shipping?

Chuck Sartor posted:

I wonder how they came up with 51.00 for shipping?

Human error.....web shipping calculator set up wrong......see it all the time. 

Call MTH as others have suggested - sounds like an error in computation of the shipping fee - maybe next day instead of ground? Call to clarify!  

Try eBay. I have found every light bulb I have ever needed on eBay. Once you figure the out the proper ID for the bulb you can usually buy them by the hundred cheaper than buying a dozen from MTH.  However I would look into buying a couple hundred LEDs and convert while you have things apart.        J

I just bought a new thumbwheel for the remote. $16 for the wheel, $15 shipping. Didn't have much choice.

I have heard of many complaints about MTH gouging prices on shipping. Many times if you call, they will ship for less, but if you just simply pay their outrageous listed shipping charge, they will happily take it!

Bill in FtL

I'd upgrade to LED lighting, a much better option.

Sometimes the shipping charges are outrageous, I agree.  And the $51.98 you mentioned is downright criminal.  I'm sure the lamps you want can fit into the small USPS priority box that costs less than $7.00, including insurance.  

I buy alot on Evilbay and always weigh the cost of shipping.  There are way too many "O" gauge offerings there, so it's an easy task to "shop around".  

I have acquaintances in Australia.  Those poor guys down in OZ pay through the nose for shipping.  And most of what they buy for their layouts comes from Europe or here.  

 This just seems WRONG. Call MTH

I've called MTH a number of times for parts/service and NEVER have gotten a live person...only recordings and they don't return my messages. If anyone has a direct number of someone who does return calls kindly share it so we can also get semi-prompt service. Thanks.

Paul, I never heard of that one. 

Email Midge Wilburn at midge@mth-railking.com and ask her to figure out the shipping. The computer or someone else had a brain f--t. She is a pleasure to deal with and responds promptly.

I have always gotten a li be person or callback from MTH. Midge is awesome by the way and goes out of her way for people. Even searching for parts for locos out of production for 17 years.  They have always helped me by phone or email. 

Must be a lot of people that have these left over from LED upgrades, I get them all the time.

I have heard of many complaints about MTH gouging prices on shipping.

Gouging? Oh, come on! Really?

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Paul, I never heard of that one. 

I'd appreciate if you'd share a phone number with extension for a good contact at MTH.

Paul,

AFAIK, MTH's only phone number for Tech Support is 410-381-2580 and follow the prompts. Calling anyone directly at their extension that you don't know personally, for a favor, I would classify as being rude.

I can assure you of 2 things if you call during support hours (M-F, Noon-4:30 pm):

• If you select Parts, you'll have to leave a voice mail. The parts people, including and especially Midge, are constantly working to get parts orders filled and do not typically answer the phone. However, if you leave a voice mail on the consumer parts line, Midge will respond.
• If you select Service, you'll get a live person.

If you want to order parts and you cannot use the automated process because yo lack a part number or need more information, you are better off communicating directly with Midge via E-mail. Use the address midge-at-mth-railking.com (remove the dashes and change "at" to "@".

Leave a detailed message with as much information as you can. This is what I do when I need parts that I cannot order without assistance.

Thanks everyone for offers of assistance.  I was able to locate an online source for the parts, Brasseur, which only charged me about $12 for shipping, using  their low cost shipping option.  I work full time and don't have time to call MTH to see what is going on with their web site for parts.  

I personally have seen this before. I almost ordered 2 pairs of red LEDs for marker lights, and they wanted $24 to ship it. I said hell no and now I'm hoping the Proto-3 upgrade kit has 4 pairs of red LEDs.