Just a little positive MTH story to give credit where credit is due:
This summer I attended a Hamburg, PA swap meet and purchased an MTH Fire car (30-79090) from a private vendor. I was not observant enough and after getting it home I discovered a critical piece was missing - namely the fire hose on the top of the car. I did not know the contact info for the vendor so I decided to send an email off to Midge Wilburn at MTH asking if individual parts of this nature were available. Her prompt reply was "for rolling stock we normally stock trucks, bulbs, but not detailed parts." She added that she would check and see if a fire car was returned damaged and if the part I needed would be salvageable. About 2 weeks later she replied that she had found the small part I needed and it would cost $6.00 and Shipping & Handling would be $8.75.
I was on vacation out in Jackson Hole, WY when her email arrived on Aug 17 and I just had the misfortune of suffering a minor heart attack 5 days earlier and consequently on Aug 16 underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery in Salt Lake City. Needless to say that pretty much ended the fun part of our two day old vacation! At the time ordering the part was the last thing on my mind.
Yesterday, Oct. 13th (a Saturday) Midge sent me a followup email asking if I was still interested in the part. I replied I essentially had forgotten about the part but was still interested if I could just pick it up next week at Fall York at the MTH booth and avoid the shipping charges. Today, Oct. 14, (Sunday) she replied I could indeed pick it up at York. (Yes, she is working on Sunday getting ready for York) So, that is the plan. I am planning on attending the open house at the National Train Museum in Strasburg on Oct. 17th and hope to be able to convey to Mike Wolf what a great employee he has in Midge. Many of you know that already and hopefully he does too.
So, to Midge I say, THANK YOU for your diligence and attentiveness to an MTH customer with such a small need ($6 part) which means a piece of MTH rolling stock can now be used and enjoyed to its fullest on my layout.
By the way, Midge will be at York at the MTH booth handing out catalogs, etc. so stop by and say hello to her. I know I will!
JB
