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Post by atsfan on Jul 12, 2012 16:44:28 GMT -8
I for one reacted negatively to their going direct sale only. But it is what it is. So has anybody here ordered directly from them? How was the experience?  |
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Post by buffalobill on Jul 12, 2012 19:10:25 GMT -8
I bought a couple of the new Berwick 60' Boxes, ordered them on a Sunday night, they were on my door step in WNY Wednesday when I got home from work. They were very professionally packaged. Nothing broken or damaged. I pre-ordered 4 of the new 60' Center Beams. We will see how that goes. I don't like the fact they cut out the dealer network either. But it is what it is.
Bill
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Post by fr8kar on Jul 12, 2012 20:07:25 GMT -8
I ordered three of their Gunderson 5200 boxcars, which brought my total to 56 bucks or so. The free shipping brought the package to my house within a week. I'm very pleased with the experience. I love their products, so I'll buy them where I can find them. If this sales model means I can only get them direct, so be it.
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Post by upcsx on Jul 13, 2012 4:55:17 GMT -8
If you pre-order the Center Beams do you have to pay then?
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Post by drolsen on Jul 13, 2012 10:02:37 GMT -8
If you pre-order the Center Beams do you have to pay then? I'm pretty sure you don't get charged until they ship the models to you once they're released. I've ordered direct from them a number of times and always had a good experience. The items were well-packed and arrived quickly. When they released the undecorated PS 4427 covered hopper kit, I seem to remember that they took orders direct only for some reason (I think maybe to ensure that everyone who requested them got what they wanted), and they were very responsive to my email order (they used my payment info on file in my account). I also ordered the new Berwick 60' box cars when they came out. I had a minor concern about the order because I didn't immediately receive an email confirmation of my order the way I normally did, but a day or so later, I got the shipping notification, so everything worked out fine. I'd order again any time with confidence. Dave |
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Post by el3637 on Jul 13, 2012 10:11:00 GMT -8
I have ordered direct but not since they went to direct only. The first cars I got from them were direct, and I ordered my 4427 undec kits direct to make sure I got them. But most of the rest I've picked up from dealers and shows. I wanted to buy one of the centerbeams, but haven't ordered yet. Slightly too new for my era, but I want to get one just to check it out. I don't like to pre-order and then have the hit come through on a debit card (or even a credit card) months later. Don't want to pre-pay either. So it's a bit dicey. If these cars were available through normal channels, I would have already reserved one.
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Post by upcsx on Jul 13, 2012 11:05:04 GMT -8
Yes i have ordered direct from Exactrail also but what i ordered was in stock,so i just called Exactrail to find out if i had to pay for this centerbeam that has not been made yet and the lady said no but they had to have my credit card number that when they did come in that they can ship to me,she did say that i still can order the centerbeam next month if i wanted to.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2012 19:34:23 GMT -8
Ordered 3 Berwicks...MP...they were at my door in about 4 days...Free Shipping. I am ordering some Center Beams...no problems here with ordering direct.
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Post by curtmc on Jul 14, 2012 6:31:46 GMT -8
A friend ordered some E-Rail Berwicks immediately thinking they would sell quickly... They haven't. And if he had been able to see the cars in person before buying he would have been able to see how badly they botched the data lettering on the B&O Chessie car (of course, on top of not doing the correct body for either Chessie car)...
Will they pay return shipping and give quick refund on cars buyers are not satisfied with?
(And before somebody comments on the big product photos on the site, I'll comment that those online photos do not clearly show all printing on the cars, nor do they allow a potential buyer to see potential issue like parts fit - like loose wheels or details - or the weight of the cars including if the weight location is above car center and makes them tilt)
PS. I nearly bid on some of the E-Rail Berwicks in Rock from the eBay seller who was dissatisfied with them and did auctions starting at $12... None of the 5 listed went for more than $20. A prior seller had some in MP and CSX at $18 each that they did get bids on.
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Post by nebrzephyr on Jul 14, 2012 7:37:40 GMT -8
Will they pay return shipping and give quick refund on cars buyers are not satisfied with? I don't know about the "not satisfied" aspect. But a year ago I ordered 3 cars direct, 3 different road names. When I got the order 1 of the cars was an incorrect roadname (invoice showed the car I had actually ordered). Exactrail paid return postage THREE times as they kept sending the same wrong car, again and again.. After the third try I said forget it, just credit my CC for the wrong car!. And the car I wanted showed, and they said, was in stock!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2012 11:42:41 GMT -8
A friend ordered some E-Rail Berwicks immediately thinking they would sell quickly... They haven't. And if he had been able to see the cars in person before buying he would have been able to see how badly they botched the data lettering on the B&O Chessie car (of course, on top of not doing the correct body for either Chessie car)... Will they pay return shipping and give quick refund on cars buyers are not satisfied with? (And before somebody comments on the big product photos on the site, I'll comment that those online photos do not clearly show all printing on the cars, nor do they allow a potential buyer to see potential issue like parts fit - like loose wheels or details - or the weight of the cars including if the weight location is above car center and makes them tilt) PS. I nearly bid on some of the E-Rail Berwicks in Rock from the eBay seller who was dissatisfied with them and did auctions starting at $12... None of the 5 listed went for more than $20. A prior seller had some in MP and CSX at $18 each that they did get bids on. Friends...Don't let Friends order cars that they think will sell quickly!! Especially if they haven't.  |
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Post by KIM on Jul 14, 2012 12:57:29 GMT -8
I've ordered direct from them, but it's been awhile. I was shocked when the order came four days later, and that's to an island in Alaska. The order was correct, and well packed.
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Post by atsfan on Jul 14, 2012 18:46:29 GMT -8
Interesting. The Pre Order thing will be tricky. But it can be tricky from anywhere. I am not in the market for any center beams.
I kinda find it interesting that they want away from a dealer network to keep prices low. And now they advertise a full price but sell them at a discount to themselves? Free shipping is nice.
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Post by umtrrauthor on Jul 17, 2012 15:57:19 GMT -8
My understanding is that the "full price" is what ER believes the car would have to retail for (list price at least) were they to keep selling through the dealer network.
I view it as an attempt to illustrate how much the prices would have had to rise under the dealer model. Your mileage may vary on this, but seeing the current state of everyone else's prices I think they may have a point here.
To answer the original question, I have not ordered anything directly from ER but I did grab the last two N Scale cars that a local dealer had on his shelf. He was more than happy to sell them to me as he indicated that ER had thoroughly burned the bridge with him.
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Post by riogrande on Jul 17, 2012 17:19:37 GMT -8
I did grab the last two N Scale cars that a local dealer had on his shelf. He was more than happy to sell them to me as he indicated that ER had thoroughly burned the bridge with him. I imagine ER has "counted the cost" with the effect this would have on dealers and their sentiment toward them, and seeing as how the LHS is truly a dying and quickly outmoding outlet for MR products, there probably isn't much fear and trepidation. I imagine the manufacturers feel partly that they are holding the ace and also figure they hold the key to the survival of the hobby, all at the same time. After all, if ER ends up returning to the traditional sales model, the hobby shop needs them more than visa versa, because what is a shop without merchandise to sell, and lets face it, ER has very quickly become a MAJOR player in the US model train world. I'm not saying it's going to be easy to adjust to the new sales model - I have yet to order my first order with ER, but eventually I expect I will. |
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Post by el3637 on Jul 18, 2012 10:57:30 GMT -8
I imagine ER has "counted the cost" with the effect this would have on dealers and their sentiment toward them Oh I'm sure they've considered it, quantified it, analyzed it, and heard the opinions of anyone they solicited and plenty they didn't. That doesn't mean they came to the correct conclusion or took the correct action. Normally when a business makes such a radical decision that affects so many, it's either to resolve a crisis or to avert one. I don't know that EXR was in a crisis, but if they did this to avert a crisis, then one also has to wait and see if they were correct that a crisis was indeed pending. Major mistakes are made in business all the time. ALL the time. Businesses which learn from their mistakes - and most importantly - correct them - will succeed. Those who deny their mistakes, or blame others (usually it falls on the scapegoat, the ingrate customers) well end up failing. Andy |
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Post by Rockin' Rick on Jul 20, 2012 17:01:58 GMT -8
I ordered one of the MILW ribsides directly from Exact when they first came out. They were an absolute pleasure to do business with. Came in a couple days with no damage etc. Same with Tangent. They are excellent.
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Post by atsfan on Jul 20, 2012 17:26:25 GMT -8
I did grab the last two N Scale cars that a local dealer had on his shelf. He was more than happy to sell them to me as he indicated that ER had thoroughly burned the bridge with him. I imagine ER has "counted the cost" with the effect this would have on dealers and their sentiment toward them, and seeing as how the LHS is truly a dying and quickly outmoding outlet for MR products, there probably isn't much fear and trepidation. I imagine the manufacturers feel partly that they are holding the ace and also figure they hold the key to the survival of the hobby, all at the same time. After all, if ER ends up returning to the traditional sales model, the hobby shop needs them more than visa versa, because what is a shop without merchandise to sell, and lets face it, ER has very quickly become a MAJOR player in the US model train world. I'm not saying it's going to be easy to adjust to the new sales model - I have yet to order my first order with ER, but eventually I expect I will. I would say that "had" become a major player.  Whether they stay that way or not will be seen over time based on actual reaction to their new sales model. I for one have not ordered anything, although I am sure I would have purchased one or two of their new boxcars in my travels to stores that used to carry them. |
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