MTH CP XMas Train Pre-Order & Legacy Station

TrainGuyMcGee posted:

To all, I just received my MTH CP Premier Line XMas Train Boxcars (with LED's).  This was the first time I've ever bought anything via pre-order and my first time buying something new from MTH.  So, here's some issues/questions I have for the community:

* Is it normal for the pre-order items to show up nearly 2 months late?

* Is the retailer supposed to let you know when they get them?  Legacy Station had mine for over a week.  I just happened to call them about another item and I asked them if the box cars were in and they said, oh yeah, they came in last week.  Why would you not tell me after I've been waiting for nearly 2 months after the promised delivery date?  Not cool in my opinion (especially after you put 10% down upfront).

*  When the package arrived, each of the 4 train cars came in their own purple box (which is normal).  All 4 purple boxes were stuffed into one shipping box.  Is there not one big purple box to put the set in?  I own a couple of other MTH sets and they all came in a big purple box for the set which goes into the larger shipping box.  Am I missing something here?  Please see pics below.

*  Each one of the 4 boxes is damaged.  I really think these are used product that someone returned.  See the pictures below and please chime in and let me know if you think these are factory new.  The boxes themselves are scratched, bent etc...  The flaps on the end of the box don't even close all the way. 

So ultimately, is this on Legacy Station or MTH?  Either way, this was a terrible experience for a newcomer to this hobby.  If this is the "norm", you can count me out on buying any other new products from the retailers or manufacturers. 

Your thoughts?

if you would have opened the items at legacy station you would have been given an explanation on why they looked damaged.

I can not answer why they did not call you again I would have asked legacy station.

as far as stuff being late in the model train business nothing is really ever on time.

I have been dealing with Legacy Station for almost a decade and always got great service. Tell Brian what went wrong and I am sure he will make it better.

As for the packing I always got my items in great condition.

A good deal of the time items come by the truck loads and it take time to ship it all out. They don't make money with the trains sitting in the back room.

As far a when it gets there that is up to the manufactures, There is an old saying in this hobby.

"When it gets there it gets there."

Thanks guys.  Shouldn't these boxes have come in some type of "set" box?  Or do these Christmas Cars just come individually? I'd find it hard to believe that the Premier Line XMas "Set" doesn't actually come in a set......

TrainGuyMcGee posted:

*  When the package arrived, each of the 4 train cars came in their own purple box (which is normal).  All 4 purple boxes were stuffed into one shipping box.  Is there not one big purple box to put the set in?  I own a couple of other MTH sets and they all came in a big purple box for the set which goes into the larger shipping box.  Am I missing something here?  Please see pics below.

*  Each one of the 4 boxes is damaged.  I really think these are used product that someone returned.  See the pictures below and please chime in and let me know if you think these are factory new.  The boxes themselves are scratched, bent etc...  The flaps on the end of the box don't even close all the way. 

Your thoughts?

Shippers do not take care with boxes, they often get dropped on corners, etc.  I can certainly see the damage to the one box "D" pictured (though not if it was originally in the position shown, since it is inboard among the set) happening if the shipper was dropped on the corner.  I assume it's "D" in your second picture in the upper right position of the 4 (and not maybe the other end of one of the other 3?)

Regarding an outer box, the shipper may be it.  Does it have a master 20-92133 number marked on it?

I've had some 6 car sets that had outer boxes, but also (from many years ago) had a 3 car log set that I am pretty sure is just the 3 boxes inside the shipper, with the shipper having the master number printed on it.

-Dave

Update:  Just got off the phone with Brian.  He explained the pre-order process in detail.  I now know why the boxes arrived in the condition they did.  For those of you that are wondering, the retailers take them straight off the pallet and ship directly to you.  This blooper was on MTH. 

Ps.. Brian is a good example of someone who understands customer service.  He took 10 minutes of his time to explain the process to me and genuinely was concerned about my issue.  He and his shop (Legacy Station) will continue to have my business. 

Psss... Does anybody have Mike Wolfe's number?

Update to the update: 

I wish it wasn't so bright in my room right now.  These cars look amazing. 

Dave45681 posted:

 

TrainGuyMcGee posted:

*  When the package arrived, each of the 4 train cars came in their own purple box (which is normal).  All 4 purple boxes were stuffed into one shipping box.  Is there not one big purple box to put the set in?  I own a couple of other MTH sets and they all came in a big purple box for the set which goes into the larger shipping box.  Am I missing something here?  Please see pics below.

*  Each one of the 4 boxes is damaged.  I really think these are used product that someone returned.  See the pictures below and please chime in and let me know if you think these are factory new.  The boxes themselves are scratched, bent etc...  The flaps on the end of the box don't even close all the way. 

Your thoughts?

 

Shippers do not take care with boxes, they often get dropped on corners, etc.  I can certainly see the damage to the one box "D" pictured (though not if it was originally in the position shown, since it is inboard among the set) happening if the shipper was dropped on the corner.  I assume it's "D" in your second picture in the upper right position of the 4 (and not maybe the other end of one of the other 3?)

Regarding an outer box, the shipper may be it.  Does it have a master 20-92133 number marked on it?

I've had some 6 car sets that had outer boxes, but also (from many years ago) had a 3 car log set that I am pretty sure is just the 3 boxes inside the shipper, with the shipper having the master number printed on it.

-Dave

Dave, I think you're correct.  That pic was right after I'd taken the boxes out and put them back.  So yes, they were shuffled around a bit.  Looks like it was dropped during shipping.  Besides that, my main issue is if you look closely, it looks like each box was opened by somebody with hotdog fingers.  It's possible that the trains were made at location A and boxed, moved to location B and unboxed so somebody else could install the LED lights and then put them back into the boxes (and in a hurry).  And I confirmed with Brian that apparently, MTH is no longer using the "set" purple boxes.  The shipping box is now your "set" box. I guess they thought dumping the set box and saving that extra fifty cents was worth it.  I would have been more than happy to add fifty cents to the price to have MTH keep the nice set boxes. 

I think the bottom line here is that those cars look amazing and all work as they should.  Nice set for sure.  Unfortunately the boxes don't always arrive perfect, but as long as the contents do they did their job. 

TrainGuyMcGee posted:

Thanks guys.  Shouldn't these boxes have come in some type of "set" box?  Or do these Christmas Cars just come individually? I'd find it hard to believe that the Premier Line XMas "Set" doesn't actually come in a set......

Part of today's cost-cutting moves. I recall getting another MTH "set" a couple of years ago... might have been the UP solid rocket booster 5-pack or a UP locomotive with 5 Gunderson cars.  No "set box" per se, just the shipper.

David