Hi: I got my 37363 SBB Ae 6/6 "Erstfeld" from Zuba-Tech in Sankt Gallen a week ago. It was badly damaged in transit , and I called them and e-mailed them to inform them about this. The person who normally handles this is out on vacation until next week. But the person whom I spoke with told me that they would reply to my e-mail, and tell me what to do. Well, after many e-mails no reply.

I have had good experiences with Zuba-Tech, but this seems to be very bad form. What is your opinion, and what do you think I should do?

Thanks.--MM

Hi Michael,

sad to hear this (almost now well known) story. Can you describe what's all damaged or even post a/some picture of the damage?

It is almost unbelievable if that kind of business has been going on for some time already. [:0].
Anyway, I hope that MM's case turn out to the better. He seems to have a good contact to the dealer and has had good experience with them in the past. Let's not even think that MM's good contact is on permanent vacation!

Hi Kurt,

I absolutely agree with your observations on the way parcels are handled,these days.
Don't put anything that can break easily in your luggage.Even at automated baggage handling facilities such as on large airports you won't believe from which heights suitcases are dropped sometimes1

Secondly I'm sorry if I gave the impression of trying to put blame on the dealer.On the other hand I think if anyone had seen the way my locos were packed one wouldn't be surprised that the boxes couldn't withstand any further impact.

And let me stress that in my case the boxes could definitely have been packed in a better way!!!

Kind regards
Guus

David

could well be that they package the same way for Switzerland and the rest of the world which is probably not good enough. Maybe i'm lucky with postage here as its travelling only about 90km from St. Gallen.

I think someone should let them know that it seems to be a recurring problem although i'm sure they did notice with this particular engine that it might of required a little bit better service than just flogging them off in a normal parcel!! They are fragile locs and need to be cared for :-)

Kurt. Could be that they probably sell more HAGs than Marklin and the HAG boxes may well withstand the postal service better as the locos are well protected in the box.

David

Crossing posts are fun, Guus
Seriously - two bad cases can happen, even three. But six of them !!! is intent ...

My service from Zuba-Tech was good. My only damage was 1 broken off UIC connector. The package had been opened by Canada Customs so I can't say for sure if the way it was packed, was the way it left the shop. I emailed them when the item arrived about the small damage and within 2 weeks I had 4 replacement UIC connectors.

I was also happy the GST pigs at the border didn't lift the 'Denner' chocolate bar from the box before they closed it back up!! [}:)]

originally posted by David:


There are several reasons why I bought the Märklin version.

When I compared the first pictures of both the Märklin and the HAG model I was delighted to see there were only minor differences in detailing.
I hasten to admit that the HAG model still surpasses the Märklin model when you have a closer look,but given the considerable price difference the Märklin variant is very good in my opinion.

The other thing I liked was the fact that its a limited edition Märklin product.
Although HAG will produce far less than 999 copies of one particular model,for Märklin this is quite extraordinary.

Last but not least, it's a Märklin and that's my first love in MRR.

Kind regards
Guus
P.S.:I must say I couldn't resist a HAG Ae 6/6,so I ordered an Uri at my other Swiss dealer

I would have to agree with Guus and Lutz above for my reasons to buy this item. Also, I have all the previous "Cargo" Märklin released items. And it goes well with my 37361!! [:p][:p]

I am really enjoying these items on my layout!! I am hoping to see another variant or two of the Ae 6/6 for 2008

Any chance we could arrange a 'drop' of sorts the next time you fly over western Canada? Call me up on tower frequency 119.6 and let me know!!

BTW, I've got 7300' of runway waiting for you, soon to be extended to 9000'!!


[size=1]side note for webmaster: Thank god for this site. This is my only day off this week and I've got a mound of 'pink' girls laundry to go through today while the wife is at work. I can't get down to the 'train room' so this is my ONLY diversion! That is until my next package arrives any time now laden with more track, switches, lights, etc. Then the laundry will just have to wait I'm afraid.
Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou......!!

Yes, Brian.

Same/similar motor charactistics is another possible reason to buy, if there are already models of that same type (which is the case for me) . It would be worthwile testing if a HAG and Märklin Ae6/6 can be fully synchronized.


YES! YES! YES!!!


Oh No!!! It was already 3 new models this year and one of my "biggest challenges" (or should I better say pleasures? ) to be able to add them to my collection - which was really not that easy but so far I succeeded. Yes, a new Ae6/6 every year is fully ok with me!



From left to right, top to bottom:

#3636 - 11425 Kanton Genf
#37361 - 11422 Kanton Vaud/Waadtland
#3736 - 11417 Kanton Fribourg

#28505 - 11432 Stans
#37362-1 - 11520 Langnau im Emmental
#39361 - 11463 Göschenen

#3739 - 11426 Stadt Zürich
#37363 - 610 492-1 Erstfeld
#3650 - 11439 Frauenfeld (older model)

#29680 - 11404 Kanton Luzern
#3738 - 11414 Kanton Bern
#37362-2 - 11403 Kanton Schwyz

#37366 - 11428 Stadt Luzern (also #26532)
#3737 - 11437 Stadt Basel
#29850 - 11453 Arth-Goldau (also #29851)

originally posted by Brian:


No problem,although 9000' is more comfortable.

Kind regards
Guus

Thanks Lutz!! Nice display!![:p][:p][:p]

Magnificent collection!

Very nice collection, Lutz!

By the way, you never mentioned how many locomotives you really have. I suspect that it is very many

Hi Svein,

when the talk is about ZUBA-Tech, whch is the case in this thread, then it relates to this company (with two shops in St. Gallen and Zürich). See also: http://www.zuba-tech.ch/

BARP-Tech is a different company and located in Winterthur. See at:
http://www.modellbahn-shop.ch/

The only historic linkage between the two is indeed Roger Barp, who used to be one of the two owners of ZUBA-Tech, but runs now his own business since 2007.

As one can see both of them are Märklin Shop-in-Shop dealers and thus two of the 15 who were eligible to sell this nice model. See: http://www.maerklin.ch/

I would send it back and either get one which is in perfect condition or a full refund.
If the damage was there before despatch then dont buy again from a dealer who does not give a second glance at what is being despatched. Same should be said if the packing was poor.
In model rail we accept far too much poor service and then praise a dealer for getting it right later. My view is buy from those who pack properly and at least have a quick look at what they are sending us.
Surely Marklin would not despatch models in this state. Interesting to note how HAG pack their models which I think gives more protection and should not cost more in materials.
Hope you can get in touch soon Michael and everything works out in the end. I know just how annoying it can be.

David

originally posted by David:


I fully agree with that David.The foam material in their standard boxes is an excellent protection in itself.

I've had HAG locos sent from Switzerland by Roundhouse in Zürich, which were excellently packed.The locos boxes were wrapped in foam material and then put in a box which was prefilled with other dampening material.

Kind regards
Guus

After hearing all the stories and reading what Michael is going through right now, I'm feeling more lucky as the days go by.

Gasp[:0], It is quite shock so send back for replecement. The package not strong enough for heavy. The E18 39190/39680/39681 do have two wooden under inside package to avoid damage. Why Marklin do not use the wooden for 37361/37363?

The problem with many modern loks is that they now have very fine detail parts. The Maerklin Ae 6/6 (and Re 4/4II) models now come with UIC connectors and lateral handrails which are a challenge in terms of packaging.
If you compare the packaging of a 3737 and a 37361, you will note that there are a few extra cutouts (for the UIC socket and the antennae). The problem is that there is very little protection for the handrails other than the foam paper.
I had a 39361 arrive from Germany that was completely destroyed. It was sent back. The replacement arrived, but needed new buffers, UIC sockets and all of the handrails needed to be straightened out. It was sent back again. They refused to replace it. It was finally replaced and sent by Maerklin directly. That one arrived in perfect condition.
Newer loks (Am842, Re 4/4I) have similar plastic inside liners, but there are two pieces of foam at each end so that Maerklin can now use standard length cartons for all models. This does not increase the protection for the loks, and if the styrofoam is worn, this creates even more potential for the lok to be thrown around.
As far as styrofoam. I ordered a 29850 Set from the a dealer in the States. When it arrived at my US address, I found that the Ae 6/6 had dropped through the styrofoam and had spent the whole trip bouncing around the inside of the box. They did not have another set, so the whole thing went back and I got my money back.
I have never seen this kind of problem with a Hag box. I once had a Lok arrive with the box totally damaged, but the foam and lok inside were 100% OK. What I would like to see on Hag models is to see the antennae included as an add-on part, as I would rather install it myself than have another broken one on arrival. They used to include spares with each lok.
Ensuring that the lok box is packed in such a way that it does not bounce around in the shipping box, and that any shock is absorbed before it is transmitted to the lok will help your lok arrive in good shape. There is one dealer who seems to always use flimsy cartons that feel recycled. I specify each time that they should use a stronger carton and I insist that each item they ship be wrapped in bubble pack. Voila, problem solved.
If your dealer won't repair or replace a unit that arrives damaged, contact kundenbetreuung@maerklin.de and make them aware of your problem. Spare buffers, UIC sockets and sliders can be had at ersatzteile@maerklin.de.

Regards

Mike C

Hello to all, one more update, damaged Lok has arrived at Zuba-Tech, they have informed me of same and that they have ordered parts to replace it. I cautioned Zuba-Tech to replace everything that was damaged, and to package it very carefully. BTW, I do not think the original box sent to me was damaged, I think the train was shipped damaged.--MM