bis54
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Post by bis54 on Apr 20, 2018 6:53:25 GMT -8
Wow!
The original Spring Mills Depot thread was apparently deleted.
But anyway...
As of today I still have not heard back from SMD re the order I emailed to them on April 15th.
That was sent to the info@smd.cc address.
So I have sent another email with my order, also to that address, this morning.
And their web site as of this morning still links to the info@springmillsdepot.com address.
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Post by riogrande on Apr 20, 2018 7:07:51 GMT -8
Occasionally users will request a topic they started be removed for various reasons.
The OP requested the topic be removed in advance and it was stated in the topic the day before. Nothing nefarious.
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bis54
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Post by bis54 on Apr 22, 2018 5:12:13 GMT -8
OK, finally got an email back from SMD. At first I was not overly concerned about the lack of reply from them as I had talked
with them at the train show in Springfield a few years ago and knew they were a very small outfit.
The reply I got didn't include an invoice I'd requested but instead asked if I was sure I really wanted to order the N&W caboose as it
was third in line in the current projects list and the implication was it isn't coming any time soon.
I am going to pass on ordering at this time. To me this looks too much like big ambitions that may in the future overwhelm a small
operation that has bitten off more than it can chew.
I really want some N&W CF cabooses and hope this project succeeds someday.
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 22, 2018 12:00:53 GMT -8
To me this looks too much like big ambitions that may in the future overwhelm a small operation that has bitten off more than it can chew. Your perception is not reality. Talking with SMD on the phone this morning, the DODX flat car and N&W caboose projects are nearly complete. The B&O I-5/1/2/3 caboose project has really clogged the project pipelines and that project needs to get to market next. At the very least, they were honest with you and tried to manage your expectations. SMD is known for not conforming to standard industry practice. When they announced their PD3000 with 23 paint schemes and 92 road numbers, some like you said they bit off more than they could chew and were doomed to fail - such was not the case. SMD is bucking the trend of only releasing 6 road names in each run. The N&W caboose is a far easier project than the B&O I-5/1/2/3 caboose project. But if it weren't for the lessons learned on the B&O I-5/1/2/3 project, you will have never seen the N&W cabooses come to fruition. You shouldn't worry much, even though a few of the cars will be sold out before the hit the shores, you will be able to buy them on a popular auction site for double the retail price. Their B&O I-12s are selling for $100-$120 and just 3 weeks ago, one of their B&O N-34 covered hoppers sold for over $220. Those that got in early were lucky. Those that waited, paid dearly. |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Apr 22, 2018 12:10:33 GMT -8
It must be awfully tempting to re-run some of that high-priced stuff, what with the dies and paint masks and all already done. Then THEY could get a piece of those high prices.
Ed
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Post by upcsx on Apr 22, 2018 13:00:28 GMT -8
You say the DODX flat car project is nearly complete will it come complete with trucks and couplers.
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 22, 2018 13:47:40 GMT -8
You say the DODX flat car project is nearly complete will it come complete with trucks and couplers.
I just checked their website and their flyer says, "These RTR cars will feature crisp detail and sharp painting - just like our previous cars. Models will have the correct details based upon the period and paint scheme. The cars will have diecast underframes, wire grabs, metal wheels, and Kadee (R) couplers."
So with the clues of:
- RTR
- metal wheels
- Kadee couplers
....I will take a wild stab in the dark and say they will come with trucks and couplers. |
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Post by upcsx on Apr 22, 2018 14:25:57 GMT -8
darth if that is what it says a big think you.
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djh4d
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Post by djh4d on Apr 22, 2018 15:04:29 GMT -8
Darth, do you know if they're going to make extra DODX cars or are they only going to make what has been already been pre ordered?
-Dave
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 22, 2018 16:56:22 GMT -8
...do you know if they're going to make extra DODX cars or are they only going to make what has been already been pre ordered? If you talk to them at the shows, they will tell you why they do things differently than other manufacturers. When they produced the canstock car, they took verbal orders. When the cars arrived, all of the CSX guys dried up and were nowhere to be found. To this day, Bill says they still have over 200 CSX canstock cars on the shelf and the car was released over 7 years ago. That is a lot of money just sitting on the shelf. Then they tried a 50/50 approach with their B&O I-12 caboose. Some paid in full and some paid half. When the cars arrived, Bill's life was complete misery between Thanksgiving and Christmas that year trying to determine balances owed with shipping and process orders for those that paid. So they tried some very different with the PD3000 and made everyone pay up front to include shipping. Bill says that very few people balked at this new paradigm. This method worked very well for their B&O N-34 covered hopper. When they placed their order with their factory, they ordered a slight plus-up from the preorders. Bill said that having announced the car 3 years prior, everyone on the planet who was serious about getting a car, surely would have made a reservation by then. When the cars arrived, all preorders were fulfilled and no one was asked to make a substitution. Bill says he is quite proud of delivering every car that was preordered. Then the plus-up was on the website for a few months and 5 train shows later, they were sold out. Bill says that the prepaid preorders definitely give them good numbers on how many to produce as they know who is serious about obtaining their models. Since Bill and Ken are just trying to break even on a car, they simply can't afford to have a fire sale like so many other manufacturers do. I prepaid for 25 DODX flats and I am dying to see their 'surprise accessory' that will be available at a discount first to all preorder customers (if any are left over, they will be sold to the public at regular price). I have seen the exceptional quality they have delivered in the past and I am willing to wait to guarantee I will get the cars I want. So to answer your answer your question, they will most likely do a small plus-up as they have done in the past. If these cars are going to be like everything else they have produced, they will be sure to fly off the shelves and not hang around like the CSX canstock cars. |
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scaledriver
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Post by scaledriver on Apr 22, 2018 18:04:19 GMT -8
What does “nearly complete” mean?
Is all of the CAD work done? Other companies show the drawings.
Is the tooling done? Pictures? Tool shots? Anything?
Are they being produced now? When are they scheduled to ship and arrive?
I also find the concept of paying upfront includng full includng shipping ridculous. Claims of then patiently waiting year after year with nothing to see or else you will “pay dearly” also ridiculous.
Prepaid for years for 25 flatcars? You must have more money than most modelers. 25 times $50 is $1250. You sent that much money in advance to sit for years with no real information or product? Bravery.
I own two SMD cars. They are nice. This business practice is though is not something I will participate in. If that means I end up without something, I will continue living.
Thank you
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 22, 2018 22:10:30 GMT -8
Drawings are on their website. I was told the artwork is complete and individual car data (like on previous cars) will be posted soon.
They did have an early bird special so I didn't pay quite that amount but it is a chunk of money. Paying up front is a risk assessment you have to make and no one else. I get that. After all, they are just model trains.....model trains that some of us obsess about.
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Post by ambluco on Apr 23, 2018 6:19:31 GMT -8
So SMD writes an email that says the N&W cabooses are "third in line in the current projects list". Darth9x9 (is that you Bill?) writes here he called Sunday and was told they are almost complete along with the flatcars. Which is it? OK, finally got an email back from SMD. At first I was not overly concerned about the lack of reply from them as I had talked with them at the train show in Springfield a few years ago and knew they were a very small outfit. The reply I got didn't include an invoice I'd requested but instead asked if I was sure I really wanted to order the N&W caboose as it was third in line in the current projects list and the implication was it isn't coming any time soon. I am going to pass on ordering at this time. To me this looks too much like big ambitions that may in the future overwhelm a small operation that has bitten off more than it can chew. I really want some N&W CF cabooses and hope this project succeeds someday. |
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 23, 2018 8:04:57 GMT -8
Ambluco: are you trying to bait me into an argument? Isn't that called trolling? And no, I am not Bill (wish I were!). And what do you mean which is it? Why don't you ask them in a reply to their email???
From that email and based upon my comprehension of the English language, I deduce this is the order:
- B&O I-5/1/2/3 cabooses
- DODX flat cars
- N&W cabooses
I don't believe it could be any clearer.
I am quickly beginning to understand why manufacturers disregard what is said on these forums. There are so many haters on these forums. Hey, let me change my stance and I will now become a SMD hater. SMD stinks - don't buy their products. Peace, out!
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Post by riogrande on Apr 23, 2018 8:21:13 GMT -8
I've been on a number of forums over the many years and no one seems to have a monopoly on trollers or trouble makers; it just varies over time.
If manufacturers disregard any particular forum they are throwing out the baby with the bath water. It's kind of like what they say about a church, if you find a "perfect" one, don't join it - it won't be perfect anymore.
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 23, 2018 9:27:48 GMT -8
If manufacturers disregard any particular form they are throwing out the baby with the bath water. I tend to believe what ScaleTrains told me at Trainfest last year - "We don't pay attention to any of the negative comments online. People may not admit it online but they will still buy our products." |
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scaledriver
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Post by scaledriver on Apr 23, 2018 10:29:49 GMT -8
Drawings are on their website. I was told the artwork is complete and individual car data (like on previous cars) will be posted soon. They did have an early bird special so I didn't pay quite that amount but it is a chunk of money. Paying up front is a risk assessment you have to make and no one else. I get that. After all, they are just model trains.....model trains that some of us obsess about. The drawings are just basic art work of the side of a car. In no way demonstrating the cars are “nearly done”. Compare that to other companies (who do not expect up front payment) which show pre production models and still the product is a year away from that point. Is there any other company out in HO expecting full payment upfront prior to any actual product existing ? (Not counting brass production). Thank you |
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scaledriver
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Post by scaledriver on Apr 23, 2018 10:33:40 GMT -8
Ambluco: are you trying to bait me into an argument? Isn't that called trolling? And no, I am not Bill (wish I were!). And what do you mean which is it? Why don't you ask them in a reply to their email??? From that email and based upon my comprehension of the English language, I deduce this is the order: - B&O I-5/1/2/3 cabooses - DODX flat cars - N&W cabooses I don't believe it could be any clearer. I am quickly beginning to understand why manufacturers disregard what is said on these forums. There are so many haters on these forums. Hey, let me change my stance and I will now become a SMD hater. SMD stinks - don't buy their products. Peace, out! Sir, there are no haters I see so the above it a bit of an exaggeration it seems. When you get your DODX flats please post pictures of them. Thank you |
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 23, 2018 11:35:15 GMT -8
The drawings are just basic art work of the side of a car. In no way demonstrating the cars are “nearly done”. Gosh ScaledRiver, I stand corrected. You are correct, there is only side artwork of the car.    I can't wait to see them. |
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Post by upcsx on Apr 23, 2018 12:14:02 GMT -8
PD3000 made everybody pay up I don't think so I have two PD3000's and two CSX can stocks and did not have to pay before they came out.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Apr 23, 2018 12:29:10 GMT -8
Is there any other company out in HO expecting full payment upfront prior to any actual product existing ? (Not counting brass production). Interesting. I've been buying brass for years, and I've never been asked for ANY payment up front. Generally, it's been full payment (Now!) when they're at the importers. Ed |
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Post by bncascadegreen on Apr 23, 2018 13:46:26 GMT -8
Same with Bowser too
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 23, 2018 13:57:31 GMT -8
PD3000 made everybody pay up I don't think so I have two PD3000's and two CSX can stocks and did not have to pay before they came out. Do you read any previous post before typing what is on your mind? PD3000: you obviously did not reserve your cars before they arrived and took your chances as to what was available when they arrived. Any customer who wanted to reserve any cars had to pay up front. CSX canstock: as stated before, they took verbal orders on them and lost their shirts when the CSX guys disappeared. |
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 23, 2018 14:03:59 GMT -8
Apples and oranges - one makes 20,000 cars in a run, the other makes 1,000. |
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ronb
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Post by ronb on Apr 23, 2018 14:14:07 GMT -8
I've been buying brass for years, and I've never been asked for ANY payment up front. Then you have not been buying from M.B. Kleins - they make you pay up front for brass when the announcement is made. |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Apr 23, 2018 14:50:16 GMT -8
I've been buying brass for years, and I've never been asked for ANY payment up front. Then you have not been buying from M.B. Kleins - they make you pay up front for brass when the announcement is made. And I doubt I'll start, then. Ed |
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Post by upcsx on Apr 23, 2018 15:46:04 GMT -8
PD3000 made everybody pay up I don't think so I have two PD3000's and two CSX can stocks and did not have to pay before they came out. Do you read any previous post before typing what is on your mind? PD3000: you obviously did not reserve your cars before they arrived and took your chances as to what was available when they arrived. Any customer who wanted to reserve any cars had to pay up front. CSX canstock: as stated before, they took verbal orders on them and lost their shirts when the CSX guys disappeared.O really. |
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txcavgr
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Post by txcavgr on Apr 23, 2018 15:50:27 GMT -8
I just emailed them to order a canstock car, I think it is an interesting car and will add one to the collection. I'll share my experience when I hear back from them.
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djh4d
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Post by djh4d on Apr 23, 2018 18:09:15 GMT -8
Thanks Ron. I pre ordered 10 of the DODX flats and it would be great if I could get a few more. I was planning on getting a few can stock cars when the flat cars were ready to ship.
-Dave
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scaledriver
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Post by scaledriver on Apr 23, 2018 18:15:42 GMT -8
I've been buying brass for years, and I've never been asked for ANY payment up front. Then you have not been buying from M.B. Kleins - they make you pay up front for brass when the announcement is made. When did MB Kliens sell brass and require full payment up front? They currently do not list any brass engines which I can locate. Thank you |
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