Z Stuff ... are they still in business?

I'm not sure if Z-stuff is run separately from Gargraves who I thought owned the brand name now.  But not sure.   I recently got some new signals via a local dealer who orders from Gargraves was able to get Z-stuff within the last 6 months.

 

Who knows though,  maybe they are gone too,  they are dropping like flies these days.  The dealer friend I got the Z-stuff from is now out of business......

 

Mark

I was told by 2 of our Sponsor Vendors that product should be available sometime in September.  Just passin' along information I received from what I believe to be reliable sources. 

 

Chief Bob (Retired)

Website is alive and well. Don't be wishing on a black cloud!

 

Z-Stuff

I just bought some DZ-1000 switch machines from Ross Custom switches website about two weeks ago. So I am guessing that Z-Stuff is still in business.

 

Lee Fritz

My LHS recently got some DZ1000's in. Not sure if they came from Z-Stuff or a distributor though. Z-Stuff website is up and running and no announcements about any changes. They still have a store you can order from.

Skip:

If you haven't already done so; try going direct to Dennis Zander.  I've had better luck reaching out to him than trying to get a response from their customer service.

Curt

Thant makes 2 of us. They sent me half of my order and I cant get in touch with them about the remaining of the order. This will most likely be the last time I deal with them.

they were having supplier issues a while back that was affecting some products (wig wags and crossing gates come to mind).  don't know if that is still the case.  

 

was dennis at york?

Dennis was at York. I was able to pick up a pair of the crossing gates from him. 

Definitely still around. Dennis visited the club last month (I used to work with his brother-in-law). Nice guy. Really stands behind his products and has been expanding the line into H.O., N, and S scales.

 A few years ago when building my rather large layout, I had an issue with a couple of the Z-1000 switch motors on my Ross switches.  Ross had me email Dennis.  Dennis replied within 24 hours...and several times thereafter, including detailed pictures of the innards of his Z-1000 motor, instructing me on what to check for, how to correct.  He kept promptly communicating to my questions until the problem was solved....and never to return!  I consider that EXCELLENT communication!

 

Second, a couple years ago (maybe more?  Time flies when.....) Dennis was NOT at York...but his wife was, instead.  I recall that he had experienced an emergency health problem while travelling to that particular York meet and had been admitted to a hospital en route.  His wife was doing yeoman's duty under the circumstances, and very capably as I observed.  We're all only human....and busy, dedicated people like Dennis who ARE the business....design, sales, international vendor search/communications, travel, travel, travel, customer communications, etc., etc.,etc...often take a hit on the health for their tireless effort.  They need rest.  They need to have some slack cut.  And, I'm sure his family...et al...is doing the very best they can under all circumstances.

 

Finally, I bought my Z-Stuff Wig-Wag through Gargraves.  Immediately as I read the announcement I phoned my order into Gargraves (This was several years ago).  Well, as is well documented/discussed, I (we) waited, and waited, and waited.  However, when I would talk with the Gargraves folks, they had nothing but the highest support for Dennis' effort and the sourcing problems he (and other China-sourcing biz in our hobby.....like Atlas O!...still are!) was encountering.  I, for one, certainly would not be of the same mind or perseverance as a chap like Dennis in trying to get sourcing problems resolved 10,000 miles distant!!  Eventually the first batch of Wig-Wags came, I received my order.  Wholly worth the wait! 

 

All of his sensors, signals, switch motors on my layout work flawlessly.  I'd give Z-Stuff the highest rating among our hobby's providers!

 

KD

I ordered something some time ago from them online. Quick to charge my card. A few weeks go by, no order. Call and call and call, AND CALL leaving messages each time. Never a call back. Finally got some guy on the phone who was incredibly rude and said "his daughter ran the online side of the business and stop calling me, call her". Right then, it had been two months since I placed the order. Then called one last time and told them if I don't get my order by the end of the week, I will fight the charge on my card.

 

Guess what....my order showed up the very next day under priority overnight service!

 

Last time I would ever order from them. The products were good but I don't support businesses that operate the way they did for me. Ross does/did stock their stuff. If I were to ever purchase another item from them, I'd order from Ross only if Ross had it. Steve is the best when it comes to service and quality. 

Granted I have not had to to contact them recently, but when needed, I have never had any issues with Dennis in getting my problems addressed in a timely manner.

I have contacted Dennis Z a couple of times with Z-Stuff problems and he responded quickly with solutions.

 

I know he's busy but, believe me, he'll fix your problem.

Business often incur a chargeback fee -- usually $25 - $35 -- whenver consumers open a case with their credit card company.  And that's regardless of the outcome of the credit card investigation.  So smart businesses often act quickly when you tell them you plan to  hallenge the credit charge.

 

David

They may not be forum sponsors, but thet have ads in the OGR magazine so they are advertisers with OGR. Personally I think their products are great.

I have had several dealings with Dennis with problems that were mostly my fault.  Always go by his booth at York to say Hi.  He has always been helpful and responded quickly.  I can tell, at times, that he must be having a bad day which we all do at times.  Personally I would not want to be in his business and have to deal with what must be a great deal of stress which adds to his health problems, my opinion.  I have a few of his signals on my 9'X 10' layout and they add a lot to the action.  I also have the Z-1000 switch machines on my turnouts that work real well.  Dennis is a good guy you treat him right and he will treat you right.  

Dennis was one of the founding sponsors of the forum ,but dropped out to grow his business in other scales. Let's show him his due respect.

 

Brad

Page 4 of the Ross parts website has a DZ material list with prices.  Maybe the biggest DZ customer?? 

Why? Because he was a founding sponsor? I don't think so. If he can't respond to his customers in a timely manner then I go somewhere else. 

 

Not answering my emails and phone calls for weeks at a time just shows me he does not care about his customers and that included me several times. I learned my lesson and will never order from them ever again. 

I guess that happens when a hobby  turns into   a business and is only a part time business. Not good.

Maybe he is on vacation?