I know little or nothing about them, except their price, which seems to be unbelievably low. Are they a REALLY GREAT DEAL, or is it 'the usual'....You get what you pay for?
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I think, you are getting a pretty nice item for not much cost. Considering the alternatives and their respective costs, the Menards cars offer a very nice alternative.
I have yet to have a complaint by what I have gotten from them. I did have one car come in with a broken coupler. they told me to keep it and sent another one. the only thing they asked was a picture to show it.
If you consider the handling and shipping charge and look at some other places that show a shipping charge the two charges Menards show come either real close or under for the same type/amount of items. They just break it down and show the charges where other companies don't. The others list it as shipping and Handling, Menards show it as shipping then another for handling. If you buy from a store ( because they are out on line) you will also have to pay sales tax. It's as if you went to the store. But then I didn't have to pay handling.
To me there a good value. Now if your pure scale type person or look for perfection don't buy you will be disappointed. These are basically O-27 items. But to get the same from Lionel in O-27 I would say you will pay a lot more. Right now lionel has listed some in a 6 pack I think that are close to Menards in price but I do not know how the quality are between the two companies as which is better or are they close.
IMO, not that great of a deal. I have 2 boxcars - Western Pacific and C&O.
As mentioned, you pay a processing fee on top of shipping. That $20 boxcar is going to be at least $30 shipped to your door.
I quickly discovered the trucks do NOT like my Ross switches. LOTS of sparking and shorting. Overall, I felt the quality of the trucks is rather sub-par. I replaced the trucks with MTH trucks. Once all said and done, that $20 boxcar is now approaching $60 with new trucks, screws/washers and mounting supplies, etc.
I also have found that the brake detail (?) seen on the boxcars likes to get hung up on the slightly raised center rail on tubular track.
I tried 'em twice and have no interest or intention to get another. For $60, I'll go buy a MTH/Lionel/Atlas/Williams, etc car and save the aggravation not to mention support my LHS.
Above descriptions are pretty spot on. As mentioned above, several of the cars I got do not like going over my switches, causing sparks and shorts.
There must be 25 threads with this exact topic.......a search will yield more opinions than ever needed.
Have you actually tried to do a search for Menards using the forum search engine? You will get more threads than ever needed but good luck sorting out which ones are relevant to the original poster's question.
I think some of them look pretty good.........
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jini5 posted:I think some of them look pretty good.........
I agree. Although I don't own any of their cars YET. I have them on my short list of future purchases. That UP covered hopper and the Great Northern boxcar with the big goat on it are two of the best looking freight cars I have ever seen.
Hello Guys and Gals.........
About 2 weeks ago I purchased a MTH premier # 20-98105 Northern Pacific flatcar with 20 foot trailers from a OGR forum member and I got burned. I was told the car was in like new condition and even sent picture of one side but he was not too honest about it after I received it because he didn't even mentioned about the glue damage. The flatcar has some glue and one corner spray damage on one end so I tried to remove it but of course I made it worse trying to clean it up. I paid 35 dollars for it includes shipping. I am able to save the trucks, 2 trailers and the posts that the trailer sits on one end but the flatcar body is far beyond repaired. Guys, how good are the Menard's 14 inch flat car and is it possible to buy just the flat car body as I would like to use the MTH trucks and 2 trailers on the new body . The prices on Ebay is going up so I am looking to fix the problem. If I mentioned the name of the person, this post might get deleted so I didn't "name" that person. Any ideas ?
"True love is God's love for us.. He sent his Son as a way to take away our sins." 1 John 4:10 ERV (Easy to Read version)
Tiffany
I have only bought a few cars so far. The UP and Canadian hopers and a New Haven boxcar. I like the way they looked and for the price they are worth it. So far I have not had a problem with them but their service department is next to none for solving any problem. I'm also lucky to have a store not too far from me so I had things shipped to store free. The 11% deal is only good at a store. But sometimes they add free items to your purchase. Mostly I have bought their buildings and they are pretty darn nice for the price. ....Paul
Tiffany posted:Hello Guys and Gals.........
About 2 weeks ago I purchased a MTH premier # 20-98105 Northern Pacific flatcar with 20 foot trailers from a OGR forum member and I got burned. I was told the car was in like new condition and even sent picture of one side but he was not too honest about it after I received it because he didn't even mentioned about the glue damage. The flatcar has some glue and one corner spray damage on one end so I tried to remove it but of course I made it worse trying to clean it up. I paid 35 dollars for it includes shipping. I am able to save the trucks, 2 trailers and the posts that the trailer sits on one end but the flatcar body is far beyond repaired. Guys, how good are the Menard's 14 inch flat car and is it possible to buy just the flat car body as I would like to use the MTH trucks and 2 trailers on the new body . The prices on Ebay is going up so I am looking to fix the problem. If I mentioned the name of the person, this post might get deleted so I didn't "name" that person. Any ideas ?
"True love is God's love for us.. He sent his Son as a way to take away our sins." 1 John 4:10 ERV (Easy to Read version)
Tiffany
Sent you email with info
Phil,
I was leery too about buying Menards rolling stock for the first time. Now I own 33 cars from them them ranging from boxcars, flatcars, hoppers, cabooses and tank cars. I've only had one single issue with a truck on a flatcar that wasn't riveted down hard enough. It was quicker to fix it myself than to email Menards. I'm very happy they've put out a good product at a reasonable price and It's always fun to look forward to the steady flow of new releases and know they won't be $80 a piece. Lol
I have about 8 cars now. All boxcars except for one hopper. I really like them, no problems with them, just lube the wheels and you're good to go. I am practicing some weathering techniques on them, if I mess up, no big loss.
Hi There
I own 7 box cars , 4 $7.99 flat cars & 1 $24.95 flat with truck ! All of them are great runners . Please note the lower cost flat cars are lite weight . (just add some weight to them !
To Tiffany , sorry to hear your bad luck . You should buy the Menards $24 flat cars ! They run great !
Tiffany, you can go to Menards.com and get into their list of trains with prices. I do believe they make at least three lengths of flat cars the largest being 14 3/4 inches I think...............Paul
rtraincollector posted:Tiffany posted:Hello Guys and Gals.........
About 2 weeks ago I purchased a MTH premier # 20-98105 Northern Pacific flatcar with 20 foot trailers from a OGR forum member and I got burned. I was told the car was in like new condition and even sent picture of one side but he was not too honest about it after I received it because he didn't even mentioned about the glue damage. The flatcar has some glue and one corner spray damage on one end so I tried to remove it but of course I made it worse trying to clean it up. I paid 35 dollars for it includes shipping. I am able to save the trucks, 2 trailers and the posts that the trailer sits on one end but the flatcar body is far beyond repaired. Guys, how good are the Menard's 14 inch flat car and is it possible to buy just the flat car body as I would like to use the MTH trucks and 2 trailers on the new body . The prices on Ebay is going up so I am looking to fix the problem. If I mentioned the name of the person, this post might get deleted so I didn't "name" that person. Any ideas ?
"True love is God's love for us.. He sent his Son as a way to take away our sins." 1 John 4:10 ERV (Easy to Read version)
Tiffany
Sent you email with info
Hello Bill
replied , Thank You........
Tiffany
paul 2 posted:Tiffany, you can go to Menards.com and get into their list of trains with prices. I do believe they make at least three lengths of flat cars the largest being 14 3/4 inches I think...............Paul
Hello Paul 2
I am just looking for a 14 3/4" flatcar body and Menard's Flat cars looks good but didn't care for the problems with their trucks and wanted to use the MTH trucks I have to put on the Menard's flat car.
Tiffany
Tiffany posted:paul 2 posted:Tiffany, you can go to Menards.com and get into their list of trains with prices. I do believe they make at least three lengths of flat cars the largest being 14 3/4 inches I think...............Paul
Hello Paul 2
I am just looking for a 14 3/4" flatcar body and Menard's Flat cars looks good but didn't care for the problems with their trucks and wanted to use the MTH trucks I have to put on the Menard's flat car.
Tiffany
Tiffany, I just received the 4 pk of the 14 3/4" flat cars (military) and they are very well done. The trucks are sprung w/metal couplers. The deck has simulated planking which looks pretty **** good. Once I complete them with tank loads I'm ordering another 4 pk. I like the fact that the deck can be removed which is great for me in securing the tank loads. It's attached with 6 tiny screws. BTW I agree that the truck/van loads on the shorter flats leave room for improvement as do the shorter flats w/plastic trucks and couplers.
Here's a few quick Cell phone pics of the cars, 1 w/load and the sprung trucks'
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AMCDave posted:There must be 25 threads with this exact topic.......a search will yield more opinions than ever needed.
And please do such a search, as Dave alluded to.
The problem with someone starting a thread of the same nature for the umpteenth time is that previous posters get tired of repeating themselves, so you only hear from a small sampling of naysayers who skew the thread toward the negative.
This topic has been covered in depth, and the overwhelming consensus is that people feel they are a great bargain.
Just go to search and type "Menards cars."
rtraincollector posted:Tiffany posted:Hello Guys and Gals.........
About 2 weeks ago I purchased a MTH premier # 20-98105 Northern Pacific flatcar with 20 foot trailers from a OGR forum member and I got burned. I was told the car was in like new condition and even sent picture of one side but he was not too honest about it after I received it because he didn't even mentioned about the glue damage. The flatcar has some glue and one corner spray damage on one end so I tried to remove it but of course I made it worse trying to clean it up. I paid 35 dollars for it includes shipping. I am able to save the trucks, 2 trailers and the posts that the trailer sits on one end but the flatcar body is far beyond repaired. Guys, how good are the Menard's 14 inch flat car and is it possible to buy just the flat car body as I would like to use the MTH trucks and 2 trailers on the new body . The prices on Ebay is going up so I am looking to fix the problem. If I mentioned the name of the person, this post might get deleted so I didn't "name" that person. Any ideas ?
"True love is God's love for us.. He sent his Son as a way to take away our sins." 1 John 4:10 ERV (Easy to Read version)
Tiffany
Sent you email with info
Hello rtraincollector........
I hope to hear from you soon, thanks
Tiffany
Best way to find out, is to purchase a few cars and judge for yourself. Please be sure to let us know how you liked them.
Well, I received my 1st Menard's purchase on Monday, 5 UP weathered boxcars. Take them to the club on Tuesday night and they ran just fine. Oiled each truck and wheels spin fine. No drag. You may not get all the add-on details they some folks desire, but if you plan on just running them and don't care about the additions, their rolling stock is for you then.
For an average price including shipping and sales tax from a store since they are sold out online, they cost me about $30 each. Mailed in the rebate which amounts to about $14 which I plan on ordering other rolling stock and have a friend buy them for me at a Menard's with the rebate.
All in all, quite happy with the boxcars.
I own 35-40 or so Menards pieces.
I have yet to find a Menards boxcar, flatcar, tanker or hopper that didn't operate fine out of the box. Generally I lubricate the wheels and inspect the couplers but that is all.
Like any mass produced item, there are bound to be some mistakes- perhaps I have been lucky?
The worst that can happen IMO is that you don't care for them and sell them on eBay for what you paid for them or a profit. People seem to want them and they sell fairly well.
Gentlemen,
Although Menard's did have a problem with their initial rolling stock trucks, IMO they corrected their truck problems and the newer made rolling stock works just fine. I did replace the trucks on the 1st US Army Box Cars with high Grade MTH Trucks to fully eliminate the problems. All my newer Menard's US Military Nose Art Box Cars and Flat Cars, run and operate perfectly. I would not run them on the 2nd and 3rd levels of my Christmas layout, if I had any problems with them. Further when the foreign manufacturer accidentally delivers something not quite right, Mark and the Menard's train staff make the problem right, in my case the newest US Army Nose Art Box car was delivered without mounting clips on the trucks, Mark advised me to keep the original Box Car and Menard's would send me a perfect brand new one, which they did. I then purchased mounting clips from Lowes, and now have two beautiful (Time to Take Off) Nose Art Box Cars from Menards. Menard's has been standing behind their O Gauge product 100%, simply a great company with great employees. Give them a try, for the money you can't beat their product.
PCRR/Dave
A US Army Consist with great Meanrd's rolling stock, the Cobra Copter being one of my most favorite pieces, and Of Course the incredible WWII Nose Art Box Car complete set, with unpictured double add on, Time to take Off Box Cars make a serious Military Train.
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I bought some for the first time a couple weeks ago. The paint and graphics are quite good. All roll and track very well. The only problem is one flat car lost a truck. I haven't looked closely, just pushed the truck back on its rivet. It's not steady but it does run that way, I'll fix it when I get a little time.
Bogie
Their boxcars are not O27, please see the early reviews which show them to be full scale size, slightly larger than certain real PRR box cars even. They have O27 levels of applied details, meaning little to none, unlike the premier cars from MTH or full scale Lionel offerings, however those details come at price -- about double the price in fact.
Two weeks ago, Menards included a $14.99 box truck with each $19.99 car purchased, while I didn't need the trucks that is heck of deal. With their 11% rebate check coming soon (I hope) from a bunch of home improvement projects and garden center stuff my wife wanted, the next set of cars will be FREE, can't beat that.
Yep, Menards has bent over backwards to make things right when there's a problem, and they do so quickly. A refreshing change from what you usually see with train manufactuers. 
Wouldn't you think the other manufactures would catch on? Customer Services is number #1
I have bought a lot of US Amry stuff, boxcars, And Flatcars. Had issues with them, Menards took care of my problem and did everything to make the product to my liking.
