Isn't Roco's 'insider' item the Airport Express?

p.

Got my German language Märklin Magazin today. First impression is that it's bit better than the English, but still fluffy and light on content. Since it's paid for through '05 I'll continue, but wait to see how the new look develops over the year.

Not thrilled though.

p.

So how many of our "Crocodile" enthusiasts will be going on the Gotthard trip?

Ira

It looks like I am going to be part of the Outsider club after all.
I got a renewal notice today. Like others, it asks me to renew by Feb 18th, although today is March 16. The envelope shows a postmark of Feb 2, but the postage indicated showed that they did not put on overseas postage. I live in New York-it should not take 6 weeks for a letter to reach me from Germany.
My real gripe is that I started my membership in October of 2003, and renewed in Oct of 2004. Why do they want me to renew in Feb.? If the membership is on a calendar year basis, then either they owe me the issues from early 2003 or they needed to prorate my membership. This was not clear when I joined, and I am not a stupid person.If it was a calendar year membership, then why was last years renewal based on the month I had actually joined?
Further, they want $85 US. I am pretty much done with this company as far as any feeling that they have any concern for the customer.

Ira,
My renewal came in the mail on Monday in a seperate mailing from M. I also received the same day my "Insider"
Stephen

George: Receive it every New Years Day - the notice for the Outsider Club [:p]

Best Regards,
John

Hey Ira, did you get a response yet? Has anyone? I sent a second email and got a mailer demon saying it was undeliverable. Posted my rant in another topic, but I am basically done with the company.

Yep... Nothing down here and cyclone Ingrid faded away a week ago.... But the dealer did get some stock of the catalogue...

Wer's glaubt ist selig.

p.

I sent them my message in German and I haven't recieved a response yet. Das ist unverschämt. However feel free to add my name to the letter.

Ira

Thanks Johann.. I will wait a little longer to see how many others in this group have received nothing or just a renewal notice (or two).. I also don't want to upset Marklin if it is just (say) Australia and New Zealand, as it might only be a shipping problem (8 weeks is normal [:(] for sea freight down to here and absolutely everything that comes into this country is scanned, sniffed, shaken and sometimes even openned..) Makes it slow, but at least we are bomb free, pest free and we seem to be winning the drugs war (so far!).. [^]

Although I did finally receive my insider package and several weeks later received my Insider invoice (several weeks after the due date), I did weaken and renew online through Marklin.com. I am, however, interested in expressing my displeasure with the way this matter was handled by Marklin. One would hope that a group complaint from this forum would carry more weight than individual complaints. Count me in.

EUROPE RECIVED THE MAGAZINE AND USA RECIVED MAGAZINE FOUR WEEKS LATER![:0]

Hey Ira (and others),
I also finally received a response last week to my email (sent March 17th). It is so absurd that I just have to laugh. I will post the response; the gist of it is that they are totally clueless.
They apologized for the delay in the renewal notice, but offered no explanation.
They said that the increase in Insider dues was in part to improve customer service. This is where I began laughing (almost 2 months to reply to an email?)
Regarding the renewal notice sent even though I am paid through October 2005-the person stated a) that they were changing systems, and b) they think I might be in error...The implication is that I am trying to get over on them by claiming an extension that they do not have records to support.
These f****** pissants just don't get it. I am paid through October, I can prove it, and NOBODY questions my integrity and gets a free pass.I would have let this drop but for the last point. Any lawyers out there?
Here is the text of the reply and my original inquiry:
Dear Sir,

1) We are sorry that you recieved the mailing too late. We underestimated the mailing delay. Of course, we honor payments arrived later than this payment deadline. You won't miss any issue. Thank you for your understanding.

2) Additional services are the DVD and the annual car that are now included in the membership. We will assure that future mailings arrive in time.

3) Did you renew in October 2004 for an other year? We are right now just in transition of systems and therefore may have missed this information, altough this seems strange.

We hope to fulfill your expectations in the club services in 2005.

Mit freundlichen Grüssen / Best regards
Märklin-Insider-Team

Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH
D 73037 Göppingen
Holzheimer Str. 8
Telefon +49 7161 / 608-222
Telefax +49 7161 / 608-308
E-Mail: insider@maerklin.de

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: *********[***********]
Veröffentlicht um: Donnerstag, 17. März 2005 01:28
Veröffentlicht in: Posteingang Clubs
Unterhaltung: Club renewal-have you lost your minds?
Betreff: Club renewal-have you lost your minds?

Dear "Your Marklin Insider Team",

I received an invoice today for renewal of membership. You have apparently changed my membership number. The new number is listed as *******. My old number is *****.
I request that you respond to the following:
1) I received the notice today, March 16th, and I can prove this. I am directed to respond by Feb 18th. How am I supposed to respond in this manner, and why did you put so little postage on the letter so that it took 6 weeks to arrive in New York City?
2) Why have the dues increased so much given that you are incapable of ensuring that the magazines arrive in reasonable time? Issue 1 (2005) arrived on March 9. Dues have more than doubled and I see no improvement in service.
3)I joined the Club in October of 2003, and renewed in October of 2004. By my calculation, my membership still has 8 months to go before renewal. Why are you asking me to renew now? If you are converting to a calendar basis, then you owe me either the back issues for Jan-Sept 2003 or a prorated refund with interest. Alternatively, you can continue my membership until October of 2005. I paid my membership in good faith and the principles of good faith contracts apply in the EU as well as the US.

[:0]Take no note!