Did you know this about Menards Buildings ?

Thanks Dad, I never knew this! What a great idea! I am so glad I know this now before I start my layout, Hopefully next week sometime!

Good tip.

If Menards is so big, why are they not all over the country like Lowes and Home depot

eddie g posted:

If Menards is so big, why are they not all over the country like Lowes and Home depot

Menards is a family owned, regional , big box home improvement store. They cannot be compared to the national big box home improvement stores such as Lowes and HD that are on the New York stock exchange.

   Bill T.

eddie g posted:

If Menards is so big, why are they not all over the country like Lowes and Home depot

Who ever said Menards is "so big?"   I don't understand the point of this question.   There are plenty of businesses that are regional in nature, in all sorts of business types, & many fully intend to stay that way.  With Home Depot & Lowes having the nation fully saturated, it may be impossible-to-foolish for Menards to go up against them nationwide. 

eddie g :  Lowes & Home Depot are big and national.  But the don't make and sell rolling stock & innovative buildings for out train layouts.   

Tony

LOTS & TTOS up on the "D & H Bridge Line"

eddie g posted:

If Menards is so big, why are they not all over the country like Lowes and Home depot

eddie g strikes again! Right on topic as usual   

If Lowes and Home Depot are " all over the country", why don't they sell trains?

eddie g posted:

If Menards is so big, why are they not all over the country like Lowes and Home depot

I would guess at the very least, it takes a couple of million to open a store. There working on it thou. By the way, do you have a few spare billions to lend them so they could do it a little faster?

Eddie G,

The reason Menard's get's a lot of press time here on the forum is because they sell TRAINS. Lowes and Home Depot do not sell trains. Eddie, I no longer own any trains, but I'm very happy to read about Menard's. I look forward to read about their new buildings and freight cars. I think its great. 

I am not happy with them, I buy products, ship them to NJ, can't use the rebates they offer. Can only use them in stores. Crappy policy otherwise I might buy more. 

PSU1980, You would think they're ridiculously low prices on O gauge would make it worth your while.  It sure works for me and I am 400 miles from the nearest store.

POTRZBE posted:

PSU1980, You would think they're ridiculously low prices on O gauge would make it worth your while.  It sure works for me and I am 400 miles from the nearest store.

IT has worked for me too with their unique and innovative "Action Packed" buildings!

PSU1980 posted:

I am not happy with them, I buy products, ship them to NJ, can't use the rebates they offer. Can only use them in stores. Crappy policy otherwise I might buy more. 

All you have to do, as some of us have, is find someone in the area of a store. Put the rebate in there name and there address once you get it. Send it in, they get the rebate, then you have a deal with then where they send you a check for 1/2 the amount and you both make out. Works fine for me. I don't get the whole amount, but then I don't have to worry about losing it either. 

Now back to the original topic of this thread. 

Thanks Cabinet Bob, that is great to know. 

PSU1980 posted:

I am not happy with them, I buy products, ship them to NJ, can't use the rebates they offer. Can only use them in stores. Crappy policy otherwise I might buy more. 

The last rebate they offered was a mail in with a return of a check, so things may be changing for the internet buyer who does not have access to a store.

I thinks that's why they offer a free item now instead of a rebate, As some of their train customers are not local.

DaveP posted:

I thinks that's why they offer a free item now instead of a rebate, As some of their train customers are not local.

they have done both since I have been seeing them, Which I'm guessing is better than 2 years now. One week it's free, then next maybe a free-be or the rebate. I think on average they do the rebate about once a month. 

Cabinet Bob, thanks for the info.  Sorry about the tangent your thread spun out on.

Bob Severin posted:

PSU1980 posted:

I am not happy with them, I buy products, ship them to NJ, can't use the rebates they offer. Can only use them in stores. Crappy policy otherwise I might buy more. 

The last rebate they offered was a mail in with a return of a check, so things may be changing for the internet buyer who does not have access to a store.

I missed that. I always seen with a return of a rebate check that has to be used in the store. The return of a check wouldn't make sense. Now if they let us use the rebate on line, then it would help us. 

I think Menards is doing a great job! They offer train stuff at a much lower price the most if not all others! I don't have one near me, but still buy there items, and the nice thing is when I buy from Menards I know I am also going to get great customer services if needed! 

I went to Menards 1500 miles from my house last summer, and they took care of me and my wanting some items. Went there and all was packed up in storage till winter, Let Mark know here on the forum, went back the next day and all the stuff for trains was out on the second floor! Now that's customer service!

Keep up the GREAT WORK Menards and Mark!

There was a time Home Depot was not "everywhere". Ace ruled as the big name, mostly franchised I think.

Lowes crept in slowly after.

I miss my old lumber yard and quality hardware stores, Ace fell short of quality even then, but wasn't as bad as they were forced to become because folks failed to support the better ones to save a quarter. (Kinda like the hobby shops huh?)

Menards hasn't raised the general quality bar , they jump the same bar, BUT the service when local management is 'right', has the traditional feeling of the old school businesses vs an average big box.  I traveled many thousands of miles for near a decade, to many of big names mentioned to form this opinion. I'm most likely to see a real smile and bear a real hello at a Menards. No attitudes, no B.S, and a real sorry if they fail... Were do you think I'd want to shop today?

    The twin port is a good idea, but I'd be hard wiring it as those plug locations dont do it for me, and I'm no rivet counter normally.  I can't believe I hadn't noticed it before... Out the bottom is that hard? Even a female extension off the side would be better. I like Menards stuff, including the look of the buildings, but I have to call a strike when I see a pitch bounce.

That's a great tip, thanks.

Also, You can put a Y connector under the building and run 2 items with that too if you don't want to use the side port. Its an accessory that Menards sells on there website.

cabinet Bob posted:

The outside power port can be used to connect  another building or the plug and play vehicles  if you connect  the main power to the bottom power  plug of the building

The gals may get a shock from Harvey Hotwatts if you run above ground.

cabinet Bob posted:

Also, You can put a Y connector under the building and run 2 items with that too if you don't want to use the side port. Its an accessory that Menards sells on there website.

What is the product number for the "Y" connector or any connector to plug 2 building.  Currently I buy a AC/DC connectors.

I have 5 Menards building and planning to buy the new "Train Station"

Thanks

Brent

About Menards not expanding nationwide ...

There's some corporate wisdom in "growing where you're planted" -- i.e., the Midwest for Menards. Some regions aren't Menards-friendly. For example, in Arkansas (home of Walmart's HQ in the small town of Bentonville), state legislators passed legislation to protect Wally World from competitors: Costco, Menards, etc.  I'm not holding my breath for the opening of a Menards store here anytime soon. When I travel to Illinois to visit family, I stop at the Mendards store in Efffingham at an I-57 interchange and cruise to their Train section.

Mike M.    (ritrainguy)
Conway, AR

It would be nice to have a Menards near where I live but that will not stop me from buying train items from them. I have 8 buildings and will add more in the future. I also have many freight cars. 

Menards has filled a niche and for me it is great. I also buy from the other train mfgs. but Menards has items at a great price that nobody else has. 

Dave

PSU1980 posted:

I am not happy with them, I buy products, ship them to NJ, can't use the rebates they offer. Can only use them in stores. Crappy policy otherwise I might buy more. 

I have two of their building that are literally falling apart. I moved one on my layout and four pieces fell off. the other building has tape marks where they were glued together, the adhesive from the tape stuck to the building. they need to make their building like  Woodland Scenic  in plastic. The pressed paper is not working.

BReece posted:

cabinet Bob posted:

Also, You can put a Y connector under the building and run 2 items with that too if you don't want to use the side port. Its an accessory that Menards sells on there website.

What is the product number for the "Y" connector or any connector to plug 2 building.  Currently I buy a AC/DC connectors.

I have 5 Menards building and planning to buy the new "Train Station"

Thanks

Brent

Here is the accessory bundle.

https://www.menards.com/main/h.../p-1493187863820.htm

t

Tony H posted:

BReece posted:

cabinet Bob posted:

Also, You can put a Y connector under the building and run 2 items with that too if you don't want to use the side port. Its an accessory that Menards sells on there website.

What is the product number for the "Y" connector or any connector to plug 2 building.  Currently I buy a AC/DC connectors.

I have 5 Menards building and planning to buy the new "Train Station"

Thanks

Brent

Here is the accessory bundle.

https://www.menards.com/main/h.../p-1493187863820.htm

 

Tony

Thanks, will order the kit and train Station

Brent

Since they are connected I'd guessed this. My question is can the internal wiring handle the load caused by daisy chaining additional buildings onto it?

BobbyD posted:

Since they are connected I'd guessed this. My question is can the internal wiring handle the load caused by daisy chaining additional buildings onto it?

At the Menards expo, they had at least 2 buildings hooked up this way.. Bob

FYI, for Mike H. Mottler...there's now a new Menards a bit closer to Conway...in Mt. Vernon, IL, first exit north of the I-57 and I-64 interchange, and quite close to the interstate.  They're new, and may not have any train stuff in stock until closer to the holidays...but after that, give them a try.  I'm happy to be just 30 miles from the new store.

                                                                                                                              Logan

PSU1980 posted:

I am not happy with them, I buy products, ship them to NJ, can't use the rebates they offer. Can only use them in stores. Crappy policy otherwise I might buy more. 

Then don't buy from them. The prices are great compared to other in the market as it is. They use the rebate to drive foot traffic into the stores. 

BobbyD posted:

Since they are connected I'd guessed this. My question is can the internal wiring handle the load caused by daisy chaining additional buildings onto it?

I have and it works well, remember the load is light when using LEDs 

cabinet Bob posted:

At the Menards expo, they had at least 2 buildings hooked up this way.. Bob

david1 posted:

I have and it works well, remember the load is light when using LEDs 

Thanks for the info guys!

I was in the store in Belleville Michagin last week...really nice place compared to the Home Depot's and Lowes around here in NJ.

The employees were very helpful...the trains of course weren't out this time of year but we picked up some useful stuff for our truck camper.

Bill T posted:

eddie g posted:

If Menards is so big, why are they not all over the country like Lowes and Home depot

Menards is a family owned, regional , big box home improvement store. They cannot be compared to the national big box home improvement stores such as Lowes and HD that are on the New York stock exchange.

   Bill T.

Of the top 100 businesses in the US Home Depot is 4th with around 800 million, Lowes, 9th, 600 million, Menards, 43rd,100 million. Walmart is #1 at 350 billion.

Dick

We don't have Menards where I live, but my local hobby shop has starting stocking their products and they look very nice.