AMCDave posted:I'd have the wheel gauge double checked too.....another easy on for manufacture.
Funny you should mention that, the wheels are about 1/16" too tight.
Mark,
You stated your engineers are coming next week. You might want to get in touch with GUNRUNNERJOHN, and have your engineers talk to him about these problems and what steps need to be taken tp correct them.
Already got that covered Jim, I sent Mark a description and pictures. 
SJC posted:................I might as well go to my LHS and buy a MTH/Weaver/Lionel/Whatever car for the same price or a tad more and a lot less aggravation.
I'd have to agree with that, at least with respect to these hoppers. One could repeat the old adage "you get what you pay for," but hopefully the cars will eventually see improvement. The various issues mentioned add up to quite a few different problems.
Certainly there were some significant errors in the design; it also seems that someone involved in the production should have pulled a few of the cars off the line and pushed them along a track for "testing," and noticed these obvious problems before thousands of defective cars were made. No one wishes that more than Menards, no doubt, who now will have to deal with large numbers of unhappy customers (not to mention frustrated kids trying to run trains under the Christmas tree).
I'm very glad Menards is doing their train production. As to some of these cars, though, as inexpensively as you can buy MPC and later traditional Lionel cars - which cars have none of the Menard problems - there's reason to shop the market.
breezinup posted:SJC posted:................I might as well go to my LHS and buy a MTH/Weaver/Lionel/Whatever car for the same price or a tad more and a lot less aggravation.I'd have to agree with that, at least with respect to these hoppers. One could repeat the old adage "you get what you pay for," but hopefully the cars will eventually see improvement. The various issues mentioned add up to quite a few different problems.
Certainly there were some significant errors in the design; it also seems that someone involved in the production should have pulled a few of the cars off the line and pushed them along a track for "testing," and noticed these obvious problems before thousands of defective cars were made. No one wishes that more than Menards, no doubt, who now will have to deal with large numbers of unhappy customers (not to mention frustrated kids trying to run trains under the Christmas tree).
I'm very glad Menards is doing their train production. As to some of these cars, though, as inexpensively as you can buy MPC and later traditional Lionel cars - which cars have none of the Menard problems - there's reason to shop the market.
Regardless of the issues - I'm extremely impressed with how Menard's has handled issues and I am quite impressed with the product overall, I just have issues with the trucks they use. We've seen excellent service from the Menard's representative on the forum and that they are even circling back with their manufacturers to continue to improve. All I can say is I hope some of the other "big guys" in the hobby are taking notes! Just with the way Menards presents themselves here, I am quite optimistic for future improvements to their products.
If I had any more room on my layout for another building, I'd buy some from Menards. Very nice products. I'm overall happy with the single boxcar I have. Good paint job, overall good quality. Just the trucks are, IMO, not so good.
I have had to bend the trucks in and move the wheels out. But again for the price love there stuff. As for having the time I work 10 hr days but make it
Sounds like they need to attach the trucks with a screw instead of a rivet, and use a metal washer instead of plastic. At least that way you can swap out a bad set of trucks without returning the whole piece. Interference with the steps is just bad design or a final product that is way out of spec.
Can't imagine what it must be like dealing with production in China. If I owned Menards, I'd send them back with an 0-27 circle of track screwed to a piece of plywood and tell them to check random cars off the line. If it doesn't roll, it doesn't sail. Probably would not be well received. haha
Another option would be shells from China, trucks from Korea, and assemble them in the USA. Or even just throw them in the box and we'll assemble them.
Maybe I've been lucky, but I have not had any problems with my Menards rolling stock.
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cabinet Bob posted:Maybe I've been lucky, but I have not had any problems with my Menards rolling stock.
Based on all of the Menards' rolling stock issues/defects that I've read about just here on the OGR Forum alone (not to mention elsewhere), I'd say you are VERY, VERY lucky Cabinet Bob! How would you like to pick some lottery #'s for me...LOL??
I've purchased a few of their buildings and will continue to do so...I love them! However, I've steered clear of their rolling stock. As tempting as the price may be, I certainly don't seem to have that "lucky" thing following me around!
CNJ #1601 posted:cabinet Bob posted:Maybe I've been lucky, but I have not had any problems with my Menards rolling stock.
Based on all of the Menards' rolling stock issues/defects that I've read about here on the OGR Forum alone (not to mention elsewhere), I'd say you are VERY, VERY lucky Cabinet Bob! How would you like to pick some lottery #'s for me...LOL??
Count me a super lucky too!!!! Multiple box cars and buildings....all good. Like they say I'd rather be lucky than good!!!!
(full disclosure I had one wheels set that had to be reinstalled.....so Bob is still King)
Nice review team - based on this, I will pass on these cars.
AMCDave posted:CNJ #1601 posted:cabinet Bob posted:Maybe I've been lucky, but I have not had any problems with my Menards rolling stock.
Based on all of the Menards' rolling stock issues/defects that I've read about here on the OGR Forum alone (not to mention elsewhere), I'd say you are VERY, VERY lucky Cabinet Bob! How would you like to pick some lottery #'s for me...LOL??
Count me a super lucky too!!!! Multiple box cars and buildings....all good. Like they say I'd rather be lucky than good!!!!
(full disclosure I had one wheels set that had to be reinstalled.....so Bob is still King)
I fall into this camp as well. I have several box cars, hoppers a couple tank cars, and a caboose. I've had but one issue, and that was I had to re-seat a wheel set in a truck on my Santa Fe Tank Car that got loose during shipping. Other than that, I've had no problems.
Are they very lightweight? Yes, and as such you may need to consider where you place them in a consist with heavier cars.
I buy them when they have the cool free add-ons, so I have a few flat cars, some trucks, and a tractor as well
Overall, these go great with all my smaller, non scale, postwar locos. I still buy other brand's cars in scale and semi-scale for more feature and detail to go with my higher end MTH and Lionel stuff.
I do NOT compare my Menard's stuff to Premier or Vision Line/Legacy.
Based on what I have seen, and read for the price and sometimes freebees, once I can afford it I will buy as much as I can! I already have a few of there buildings and have a box car on the way.
Love the videos Bob but not near long enough! back in college we called it teasing! LOL I try to run as much Menards stuff as I can at Christmas and so far problems are minimal and easily corrected! Believe me, if I can make it right it's minimal!!!
Here's my take on having to make repairs right out of the box. If these cars are a person's first experience with Menard's, it may be their ONLY one. If it happens to be their first experience with O gauge as a whole, that's even worse. Not everyone has the time, patience or skill to "fix" a brand new product. For a novice I am sure it would be one frustrating experience
Good Day,
My thinking....................Menards working with the Model Train engineers will come up with a new and improved hopper with all the modifications with great track performance as well as a awesome and striking appearance!
I'm hoping to see these road names in the future!
Cheers,
Frank
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Mark,
Would it be possible to let us know what your engineers talked about, regarding ways to improve your products.
Jim, he might be able to tell you but then he might have to kill you! LOL Ask Cabinet Bob, he'll probably be at the meeting!!
I agree MONTCLAIRE. Regardless of the level of the hobbyist, out of the box repairs is NOT acceptable and should not be overlooked. First impressions are key especially if we are trying to grow the hobby.
The folks on this forum would crucify Atlas, MTH, Lionel, 3rd Rail or any other manufacturer for a poor design, poor quality control, crappy packaging, etc. It would be relentless and brutal.
Why are we not treating Menards the same way? Are we giving Menards a pass because the product is cheap? Not to Scale? Poor design, poor functionality, poor quality control at a cheap cost is not an excuse to close your eyes when products are crummy.
I would send it back / return any defective unit to Menards and demand my money back - you might get stuck with the standard "store credit" response but giving Menards a pass / making excuses only encourages poor performance and reward for less than expected product quality regardless of price is flat out wrong.
All manufacturers need to be treated the same - Praise when product is good - Criticism when is stinks.
For example, the current crop of building Menards release are great, i have purchased 4 of them, great price, great quality and highly recommended. Cudos to Menards on the buildings.
WOW, talk about blowing a topic out of proportion! I bought 18 hoppers, and I still have sixteen working ones. Yes, I have to trim the steps to eliminate the interference, but that's pretty minor. I'm sure that Menard's will make good on the other two to complete the set.
For less than $20/ea, I got some scale sized hoppers with good looking graphics. I've had plenty of Lionel and MTH stuff that I had to fix right out of the box, one such product the Vision Line PFE Reefers, two of the three had issues. The sound one had the board rattling around inside loose, and the volume control was flopping around inside as well! Vision Line Big Boy, yep, had to tweak the smoke unit to get that working right.
Take a chill pill, it's not that bad. I would be a bit more upset had I paid Lionel, Atlas, or MTH prices for these hoppers and had similar issues, but I didn't, I paid $99.99 for six of them.
John,
We can agree to disagree. It's not about the price - It is about the overall quality, not just the visual aspects.
You are more qualified than most, willing to invest the time and effort to make the changes and modifications. Not everyone is willing too or wants to do that.
You also made my case with the last comment - " would be a bit more upset had I paid Lionel, Atlas, or MTH prices for these hoppers and had similar issues, but I didn't, I paid $99.99 for six of them".
It is unacceptable for any manufacturer to deliver poor performing products. If they don't perform or are damaged I return them, many times for a replacement or alternative but this thread is more than just a few minor adjustments.
PSU1980, Just one question for you. Have you bought any Menards rolling stock?
Yes, for my 14 year old nephew last Christmas, no issues. What has my purchase of Menards rolling stock or buildings got to do with this thread - it is speaking to design and quality of new hoppers???
I was just asking cause this post started as one persons simple review of some cars he received. If you go back and read from the start, you will see that everyone that has posted here has said why they like or dislike what they got. The ones who didn't like them and contacted Menards was very well taken care of. The ones who liked what they got stated so and what they were willing to fix them self. As it was said earlier You get what You pay for. It seams most people are willing to deal with what they receive in there own special way.
This wasn't a post to lecture the rest of us on how we deal with what we buy.
just my thoughts.
PUFFRBELLY posted:Just printed out a FEDEX Return Shipping Label provided by Menards. It will be on it's way back to Menards tomorrow & a replacement hopper will be sent to me (No Charge). For the money, these are nice cars! Just sayin' Chief Bob (Retired)
How will any replacement hopper be any different, though? It appears from Mark's posts, that the designs remain the same for now.
Regarding picking on some manufacturers and going easy on others. I think the common thread here is that Menards has been doing this for a relatively short time. They have a decent product favorably priced. Most of us want to see them succeed; I know I do. How many other manufacturers follow these threads AND respond. I've not seen any. A little attention to customers goes along way. And, how many times has Menards missed a delivery date? Again, none to my knowledge (granted they do have a different business model than most).
Steve
Regarding the plastic truck plate. Has anyone tried a metal plate from another manufacturer to determine if they would work?
Steve
Steve, I couldn't find a metal plate that was an exact fit. I don't fancy making plates, though it wouldn't be hard if you had the right tools to punsh and to bend them. I think many of the issues would be solved with a metal truck mounting plate.
I straightened a couple of the other lopsided ones with some heat on the mounting plate and holding it in alignment while it cooled. We'll see if that's a permanent fix for them...
Got the remaining two cars from Menard's, my fleet is complete. Ran them around for about half an hour, no issues after a few tweaks and trimming the steps.
Sounds great John, it sure is nice when you get quick and good response from a seller!
gunrunnerjohn posted:Got the remaining two cars from Menard's, my fleet is complete. Ran them around for about half an hour, no issues after a few tweaks and trimming the steps.
gunrunner,
I'm glad to hear that! Thank you for your help and all the notes you provided. We sincerely appreciate it!
-Mark The Menards Train Guy
Good news and I think they will take your notes seriously too. I am sure provided good ones. I think Menards really does try to make improvements as soon as a problem is discovered and they are aware of it.
I'll just have to buy some more hoppers from the next production run to test them out!
That's a shame you will now have to purchase more rolling stock. (Wonder if my wife would fall for that one?)
LOL I know my wife wouldn't! But I keep trying and so should you!
The only trouble I had with the 4 Menards flat cars I bought for $7.99 each was going over 22.5 Fastrack crossings. The wheels would either derail and/or short circuit. I used a Dremel tool and changed the profile of the wheel flanges to eliminate the problem.
mike g. posted:LOL I know my wife wouldn't! But I keep trying and so should you!
Unfortunately, after being married for 42 years, I think she has my number and knows all my tricks...but I won't give up!
I think I have maybe 2 more years then I'll be done, she will know all my trick by then!
Any videos of the Reading Hoppers?
