Flex Track

[maczimb]

A few weeks back I bragged about getting a great deal from Hobbylinc on Flex Track.
Received same today. Much dissapointmen,. I got 3' lengths of rail, not track.
I re read the on line advert and, yup, they only mentioned rail???
With tail between legs, I will return RAIL when I receive instructions from them on how???
Mac

 

[UP2CSX]

That's a new one on me, Mac. What was the part number? I've never even seen them selling just rail. Hobbylinc is good about returns so that shouldn't be a problem but I'd sure like to read their description of the sale item.

 

[Selector]

I would hang on to it and use it to make handlaid turnouts! If you can learn, or teach yourself by watching Tim Warris' video at www.handlaidtrack.com you can make dozens of turnouts that will be head and shoulders above almost all other commercial ones.

 

[maczimb]

Rail

The description read- Weathered Nickel Silver Rail- Product # MCE16100
I'm sure I will have no problem returning same, just a small cost for freight and insurance.
I did view the video on making your own turnouts. You must be kidding??? 20 years ago when I was a die maker, yes! but now I don't have that kind of patience or eyesight, nor are my fingers that nimble and I have 200', that's a bunch of turnouts??
Thanks for the thought anyway.
I will now have to pay a bunch more for flex track, I have found it at Hobbylinc for a bit over $1.00 per ft.
Next time I will make sure I understand what I am buying.
Mac

 

[UP2CSX]

Mac, I can see why you were confused. This a good lesson that rail means rail and track means track. A buck a foot is still a decent price for flex track. I wasn't even aware that Hobbylinc had rails, probably because I always searched with the term "flex track". Lesson learned for next time, I guess.

 

[cg51]

I would hang on to it and use it to make handlaid turnouts! If you can learn, or teach yourself by watching Tim Warris' video at www.handlaidtrack.com you can make dozens of turnouts that will be head and shoulders above almost all other commercial ones.

I bought the Fast Tracks System a few months back, best money i ever spent, I have built 12+ turnouts in the last week and ever one came out great, I just finished the first of 6 #5 double crossovers for my layout, now next week i can start installing some of them. If your going to use a lot of turnouts its well worth the cost of the system.

 

[RexHea]

Mac, don't feel bad. I had an order complete for 1stPlace Hobbies, when I reread and noticed....RAIL! I too, thought the end of the rainbow was in my hands.

 

[loco]

Yup, did that same thing myself. But caught it quick enough before they shipped it. It was no problem and they where very helpful. Guess from this thread it's happened before.

 

[Airslide]

I bought a conveyer belt kit once. in the description it included a gravel pit and workers shed. i ordered it from internet model trains. not only did it take about a month to arrive, but there were no instructions, no worker shed, and it was nothing more than a little baggie with what appeared to be a conveyer belt and shaft. when i tried to re-read the description, naturally, that item is no longer available - neither was the description. I only lost 14 bucks, but that experience pretty much turned me off of shopping online for model rr stuff. If my LHS dosent have it, ill try to scratchbuild it. if the only place i can find it is online, well then i really dont need it that bad.

 

[jtudor]

As long as you purchase from reputable online retailers, or at least do some research you should be OK to buy stuff on the internet.

I recommend that if you only find an item in one place that you check the reputation of the retailer, and print the item page too,
just to prevent problems like described above.

 

[UP2CSX]

Internettrains is part of MB Klein and had a very good reputation. I've ordered from them many times. Sounds like somethng went wrong with either the ad or what was expected. At any rate, I've never had a problem doing a return.

 

[RexHea]

The only problem I have had with InternetTrains was Time. It may be a week (or longer) before they would ship an order and then it would take the maximum UPS, 4 working days, to receive it here, in Alabama. I started using 1stPlaceHobbies and if I order on Monday, I will receive it by Friday. Also, their prices are as good or better than any I have found.
Airslide: They are in Indiana, so the same would apply to you time wise. Don't give up on online stores. As said, there are many that give very good service and will stand behind their merchandise.

 

[Selector]

Jim, are you saying that internetrains.com and modeltrainstuff.com are one? That would be news to me, very surprising news.

I have heard nothing but praise for M.B, Klein's modeltrainstuff.com, and nothing but vilification for internetrains. The fellows "over there" are almost universally condemning of internettrains because of the horrible service, their practise of billing your card immediately and then waiting for three or four weeks until you twig and actually ask them if they have shipped or are awaiting stock. They have almost nothing on hand, except for your money.

I ordered only once, very recently, from M.B. Klein's and was gratified for quick service. They had the item and shipped it two days later.

-Crandell

 

[UP2CSX]

Whoops, cancel everything I wrote. Crandell, you are absolutely right - internettrains.com has nothing to do with MB Klein and I've had several bad experiences with them. My mind apparently became disconnected from my fingers. Modeltrainstuff.com is part of MB Klein and I have never had anything but excellent service from them. Thanks for pointing that egregious error out since I'd never want any to think internettrains.com is anywhere near the the league as modeltrainstuff.com and MB Klein.

 

[Selector]

No worries, Jim. I have fouled the air between my ears once or 56 times.