Z-Stuff for Trains

I have always had success reaching both firms by phoning them.  The phone numbers should be on their websites.  NH Joe

Did you email or call Ross?  That’s weird for them not  to respond.  Zstuff on the other hand that’s the norm.

Hey there Superwarp1, I emailed both of them and neither of them answer my calls when I leave a message, looks like I’ll have to visit them at York, if we have one. I’ll give Ross another try, I’ve given up on Z-Stuff.

Greg:

Try contacting Dennis Zander at -
drzander@aol.com
585--377-0925

The 1090 is advertised with up to 4 signals on each side but I have a suspicion one needs to order them with extra signals attached.

I can only speak to Z-Stuff issues.  After my initial communication, which required both email and phone calls, I had no success in contacted them by any means - even snail mail.  Dennis was in the process of retiring and his daughter had taken over order processing but Dennis continued to handle the tech end, admitting vocally that he wasn't happy doing so.

After any number of unreturned emails, calls and letters, I gave up.  I'm sorry you're having the same type of experience but you're not alone.  I would look elsewhere for your signaling solutions.  I'm a fan of Atlas O because they use the prototype "shunt" to detect track occupancy.  Atlas adopted, then absorbed Custom Signals.  Custom would do all kinds of "custom" work but that was before I discovered them.  In recent months, I have seen ads for a new "Interlock Control Module" that will do all the fancy stuff at a reasonable price that I had been trying to "reverse engineer", using the original system boards.

Eric of Eric's Trains did a nice pair of tutorials featuring the original Atlas O equipment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y31p1AiPaWA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...WymTNBHo&t=3156s

As for signal bridges, Atlas has them in other gauges but O requires more ingenuity, as usual.  In your position, I'd use the Z-Stuff signal bridge and then adapt/modify the Atlas signal heads to suit.  Atlas isn't cheap but the best never is.  With Atlas you really get into the "meat 'n' potatoes" of prototype signaling and what could be more fun or challenging?

You are correct.  I needed 6 signals and placed a special order through Dennis. It did take some time to latch up with him but once contacted it went smooth.    JP

Sorry about the situation that you're in.  There have been numerous threads over the past several years regarding Z-Stuff's legendary "service".

Thanks again guys, for now since I have 2 signal bridges, I’ll set them up so that the signals are in opposite direction and move onto the next situation. Thanks again for chiming in and helping me out - MARSHELANGELO

Maybe the Ross folks have not yet returned from Holiday travels.

Hopefully Ross CS will return your e-mails & calls next week

@marshelangelo posted:

Hey there Superwarp1, I emailed both of them and neither of them answer my calls when I leave a message, looks like I’ll have to visit them at York, if we have one. I’ll give Ross another try, I’ve given up on Z-Stuff.

Amherst train show is at the end of the month. I know Ross will be there.  You could hop on a train to Springfield ma and Uber to the show.  Worth your travels

Hi from Z-Stuff!

We are still here and have just finished updating our website and more importantly our shipping system. So, I can now keep track of what has been ordered and importantly what has shipped. While shipping questions were previously a problem, anyone that called my number got an answer either immediately or a few days latter. My phone is answered 10am to 10pm CST seven days a week. Not sure you can find better response than that. Was on the phone for over a hour yesterday trying to debug a customer problem. Our product turn a rounds on returns is generally a couple days. New orders are only a problem when we are out of stock or with the shipping delays like a shipment meant for NJ that went to Canada TWICE before finally heading to NJ. Sorry for the grief anyone has had in the past. My rule is if you've spent more than 20 minutes trying to get something to work, CALL ME PLEASE or e-mail. 585-377-0925 drzander@aol.com.

@Z-Stuff For Trains posted:

Hi from Z-Stuff!

We are still here and have just finished updating our website and more importantly our shipping system. So, I can now keep track of what has been ordered and importantly what has shipped. While shipping questions were previously a problem, anyone that called my number got an answer either immediately or a few days latter. My phone is answered 10am to 10pm CST seven days a week. Not sure you can find better response than that. Was on the phone for over a hour yesterday trying to debug a customer problem. Our product turn a rounds on returns is generally a couple days. New orders are only a problem when we are out of stock or with the shipping delays like a shipment meant for NJ that went to Canada TWICE before finally heading to NJ. Sorry for the grief anyone has had in the past. My rule is if you've spent more than 20 minutes trying to get something to work, CALL ME PLEASE or e-mail. 585-377-0925 drzander@aol.com.

Dennis:

I hope this finds you well. Appreciate the update and I am sure many other colleagues on the Forum do as well. Happy New Year!

Pat

From my experience Dennis is very helpful and a pleasure to work with.

I just ordered a three track signal bridge with semaphores.

Did not have any trouble reaching them.  Mr. Zander returned my call promptly.

Z-stuff is basically a one-man-show, like Ross Custom;  not like Lionel or MTH or Atlas.

Dennis lives nearby so it was not too hard for me to bother him when I needed to replace some DZ-1000s.

He is retired and Z-Stuff is his after-retirement business.

Dennis is the best!

@AlanRail posted:

Z-stuff is basically a one-man-show, like Ross Custom;  not like Lionel or MTH or Atlas.

Well, MTH is maybe a 1.5-man show now, but try getting them on the phone.

I have NEVER had a problem reaching Dennis or Steve.  :-)

Dennis at Z-Stuff has always been willing to help me. People get busy and forgetful. I know I do in my own business (especially with my age). Zstuff has been a wonderful addition to my layout.