Lets see what everyone has gotten in their menards Mystery Box

This was about a year ago. Always a fun surprise!

I'm so torn.  I want to try a mystery box but I just know I'll get some military related stuff which I have zero use for, and I have no desire to be a reseller.

Here's  mine that just came in.you can see the power plant is in very bad shape so it's being turned into a Coors Plant, so stay tuned.. the other items were brand new.

Cant wait to see it finished Dad!

BwanaBob posted:

 I just know I'll get some military related stuff which I have zero use for, and I have no desire to be a reseller.

Exactly what happened to me. It was an impulse buy. A gamble. It's going to take me awhile to resell or give away all of it.

I like detailed items, more o scale than o27.

Don't misunderstand me ....the mystery box is an incredibly  great value to someone who likes most of the Menards offerings.

If you only like a few specific pieces, buy those pieces.

Like a gamble?  You could possibly end up with stuff you won't want to keep, ...you could hit the jackpot.

• 3 modern-era die cast cars

• 2 Lemax figurines

• 3 pieces of rolling stock (BNSF flat, a US Military Generator car, a Lionel NYC caboose from a Lion Chief set)

•Lionel CNW 2-4-2 loco and tender with LionChief remote

• Morton Salt Factory

franktrain posted:

This was about a year ago. Always a fun surprise!

Frank, if you're not using that fire station, we need to talk! My son desperately wants that and proposed the logic that, if we keep buying Menard's Mystery Boxes, sooner or later we'd get a fire station…

redrockbill

That fire station reminds me of the fire station on the TV show in the 70s "Emergency"!

I took a chance.

I had been meaning to order something to get the free Santa Fe Truck, so I grabbed an NYC Hopper, and threw a Mystery Box in the cart while I was at it.

I always have certain amount of stuff for sale - so not a big deal to add this stuff to the mix if it ends up being stuff I don't want.

Quick question - do they give you a free truck for the Mystery box order?

In fact - I didn't see the truck added to my cart when I added the hopper.

Roving Sign posted:

I took a chance.

I had been meaning to order something to get the free Santa Fe Truck, so I grabbed an NYC Hopper, and threw a Mystery Box in the cart while I was at it.

I always have certain amount of stuff for sale - so not a big deal to add this stuff to the mix if it ends up being stuff I don't want.

Quick question - do they give you a free truck for the Mystery box order?

In fact - I didn't see the truck added to my cart when I added the hopper.

I believe the instructions say that you need to add the truck (or other free item) to your order.

Mallard4468 posted:

Roving Sign posted:

I took a chance.

I had been meaning to order something to get the free Santa Fe Truck, so I grabbed an NYC Hopper, and threw a Mystery Box in the cart while I was at it.

I always have certain amount of stuff for sale - so not a big deal to add this stuff to the mix if it ends up being stuff I don't want.

Quick question - do they give you a free truck for the Mystery box order?

In fact - I didn't see the truck added to my cart when I added the hopper.

I believe the instructions say that you need to add the truck (or other free item) to your order.

I guess - didn't that used to happen automatically?

I might have even saw that...but didn't really register.

I actually did put one in my cart - but it seemed like it wanted me to pay.

One on order!!  I love a surprise!!

I think right now could be a good time to get one since we are after the holiday season when they likely had a lot of returns, but also potentially a lot of the stuff in the stores was sent back to corporate and/or will be boxed up and sent directly as these Mystery boxes.  The fact that one person got the Lemax figures is a good clue of that.  Those probably were leftover on the shelves of a store.

I know in my local Menards, train stuff doesn't sell well as the interest just is not great in this region.  

In general, Menard's focuses on the era and themes of the hobby that are not most popular with the, ah, more senior of us (myself included).  I don't know if their focus on military, or modern structures and rolling stock appeals to younger hobbyists, or if that approach brings younger people into the hobby.  If it does, great. 

But most of what Menard's sells does not appeal to me.  I model steam-to-transition (1950's) timeframe and try for realism.  That is not always easy in O Gauge/ O-Scale.

I hope I get something I can use in MY "Mystery Box"-  if not- e-Bay here I come.

Mike Wyatt posted:

In general, Menard's focuses on the era and themes of the hobby that are not most popular with the, ah, more senior of us (myself included).  I don't know if their focus on military, or modern structures and rolling stock appeals to younger hobbyists, or if that approach brings younger people into the hobby.  If it does, great. 

But most of what Menard's sells does not appeal to me.  I model steam-to-transition (1950's) timeframe and try for realism.  That is not always easy in O Gauge/ O-Scale.

I hope I get something I can use in MY "Mystery Box"-  if not- e-Bay here I come.

I agree - and it seems like this past year - we've seen more layout buildings and not very many truly railroad items.

How about some trackside structures or stuff that was actually around a Railroad!

Im sure a trackside Starbucks might exist somewhere...but c'mon!

Probably cool for the SuperStreets crew - but no so much for train guys.

Im tending toward rural minimalism for my layout - so I want things that say "railroad."

Im not going to have a "downtown"

The furniture factory is actually a step in the right direction - that seems feasible.

American Power & Light - pretty beat up
Burlington Hopper - looks ok
Army Generator Flat - something is rattling around in there
Flat with Jeeps. - no box - windsheilds busted up on jeep.

Not sure what we're supposed to do with these Lemax figures...?

They look like they got off the same train as the Lionel Gateman!

Oh well - not sure I'll do that again!

Does anyone have the list of what you should get in one of these Mystery Boxes?

Looks like I didn't get any vehicles?

Mine had:

1 Structure
2 Figures
3 Rolling Stock

Roving Sign posted:

Does anyone have the list of what you should get in one of these Mystery Boxes?

Looks like I didn't get any vehicles?

Mine had:

1 Structure
2 Figures
3 Rolling Stock

It’s a mystery box. There are no promises.

Jim R. posted:

Roving Sign posted:

Does anyone have the list of what you should get in one of these Mystery Boxes?

Looks like I didn't get any vehicles?

Mine had:

1 Structure
2 Figures
3 Rolling Stock

It’s a mystery box. There are no promises.

Jim is very correct. I've  had many and you never know what you get. Sometimes, it's a GREAT deal !

BwanaBob posted:

I'm so torn.  I want to try a mystery box but I just know I'll get some military related stuff which I have zero use for, and I have no desire to be a reseller.

It's not that often I have gotten military items, This last time I got a Navy flat with a coast guard helo. Not really the full military in my mind as it would not be out of place to have a Coast Guard helo at any airport as a lot of time they have reserves that might use it. The flat unless your really looking it a nice flat not one of the short ones. I get some military vehicles from time to time ( mainly the van ) I give them to the grandson of my neighbor as I never had any kids so I don't have them lol ) Normally thou it non military rolling stock, and a building. And some cars. Normally there is also a Menards camo ball cap but this time it was Lemax figurines. I have done pretty good basically with the mystery boxes. Even if you got say the military jeep, it would not be out of place at someone's house as there are folks who buy the old ones and restore them for memory. I know a few who have old duce and 1/2's. 

Bottom line even if you get something military you can always make them part of a scene like maybe outside a VFW or something like that. For the little you pay for this stuff you could always give it to local train club or goodwill also if you don't want it. Usually the building is a break even point but I see some get them in a lot worst condition than I have. I even got lucky as I got a sally's restoration but it had Menards van's in and it was labeled Prototype. 

cabinet Bob posted:

Jim R. posted:

Roving Sign posted:

Does anyone have the list of what you should get in one of these Mystery Boxes?

Looks like I didn't get any vehicles?

Mine had:

1 Structure
2 Figures
3 Rolling Stock

It’s a mystery box. There are no promises.

Jim is very correct. I've  had many and you never know what you get. Sometimes, it's a GREAT deal !

I don't think so - the listing on their website was pretty specific as to what you should get.

Of course - since they are out of Mystery boxes - I can't double check - which is why I asked.

Pretty sure you're supposed to get 3 vehicles...

Roving Sign posted:

I don't think so - the listing on their website was pretty specific as to what you should get.

Of course - since they are out of Mystery boxes - I can't double check - which is why I asked.

Pretty sure you're supposed to get 3 vehicles...

The listing is still on their website, though it shows as out-of-stock. Should the link not work for everyone, the Mystery Box description copy reads:

• Slightly scratched, dented or damaged O gauge products
• No two are the same, if ordering multiple boxes some product duplicates may occur
• Mystery box contains: (1) O gauge building, (3) O gauge train cars, (1) vehicle and a bonus free gift
• Items are sold as is, no returns"

Wonder if they counted the Jeeps as your "vehicle"…

redrockbill

Mike Wyatt posted:

In general, Menard's focuses on the era and themes of the hobby that are not most popular with the, ah, more senior of us (myself included).  I don't know if their focus on military, or modern structures and rolling stock appeals to younger hobbyists, or if that approach brings younger people into the hobby.  If it does, great. 

But most of what Menard's sells does not appeal to me.  I model steam-to-transition (1950's) timeframe and try for realism.  That is not always easy in O Gauge/ O-Scale.

I hope I get something I can use in MY "Mystery Box"-  if not- e-Bay here I come.

In MY Menard's Mystery Box:

- American Power Plant- WORKS!  I will convert it into a brewery (the fantasy new addition to the 30's-era Altoona Brewery I have already)

- A SantaFe flatcar w/ bus  (new)

- A Burlington Northern coal hopper car w/ load (new)

- three Polar Express figures (new)- perfect for my son's kids- just got a PE Set for Christmas

- three diecast autos- modern- will give to my male grandchildren

- a TTX Container Flat car w/ 2 Yang Ming containers (new) - too modern for me- will sell on e-Bay

A winner!!  Very pleased- thanks for the opportunity, Menards!!

Mike Wyatt posted:

Mike Wyatt posted:

In general, Menard's focuses on the era and themes of the hobby that are not most popular with the, ah, more senior of us (myself included).  I don't know if their focus on military, or modern structures and rolling stock appeals to younger hobbyists, or if that approach brings younger people into the hobby.  If it does, great. 

But most of what Menard's sells does not appeal to me.  I model steam-to-transition (1950's) timeframe and try for realism.  That is not always easy in O Gauge/ O-Scale.

I hope I get something I can use in MY "Mystery Box"-  if not- e-Bay here I come.

In MY Menard's Mystery Box:

- American Power Plant- WORKS!  I will convert it into a brewery (the fantasy new addition to the 30's-era Altoona Brewery I have already)

- A SantaFe flatcar w/ bus  (new)

- A Burlington Northern coal hopper car w/ load (new)

- three Polar Express figures (new)- perfect for my son's kids- just got a PE Set for Christmas

- three diecast autos- modern- will give to my male grandchildren

- a TTX Container Flat car w/ 2 Yang Ming containers (new) - too modern for me- will sell on e-Bay

A winner!!  Very pleased- thanks for the opportunity, Menards!!

Check your rolling stock packing - while the seal on the top might be intact - the bottom seal is likely broken.

Look for minor issues. My flat car was missing one of the tiny truck wheel/axle caps - didn't notice that until I was prepping it for sale.

My Burlington hopper looked "new" - but once out of the packing - one truck was bent, broken, missing screws and un-repairable.

These kind of defects are "normal and to be expected" in this kind of order - that's not a complaint.

But - I doubt strongly they are sending "new" merch out in these boxes - and might resist representing them that way on eBay. (or to others here)

I guess at best you might get something that was returned for a crooked or chipped road number decal.

I'll check- thanks for the heads up.