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Offline mike c  
#1 Posted : 13 May 2010 08:03:11(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,244
Location: Montreal, QC
Today, I picked up my Maerklin 37320 Re 10/10 Set and my new ACME 55033 Treno Notte Night Train Set at my US Office.

I got home just in time to watch the Montreal Canadiens eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 of the NHL Hockey Eastern Division Semi Finals. WooHoo.BigGrin ThumpUp
As soon as the game was over, I came into my home office to inspect my new items.
I was very impressed with the packing job that Schweickhardt did on my 37320.ThumpUp The Set was packaged inside a box that was wrapped in bubblepack and then placed in a larger shipping carton. The box looked to be in good shape when it was delivered.
Unfortunately, when I opened the actual box and removed the Re 6/6 from the box, I immediately noticed that on the motor end of the lok, a small antenna on the roof had broken off.
It looks like the lok shifted in it's box during shipment. There were two cardboard inserts set into the ends of the styrofoam. One was loose and the other was bent and the styrofoam was a little pushed in. This allowed the lok to shift and likely caused the antenna to shear off.Sad
I sent off a quick note to Simone at ETS and I hope to hear back from them soon.
I then opened the second item. Upon inspection, I noticed that the handrail of the sleeper in the Night Train Set was not sitting right. It was bent to the right and broken at one point.
The side of the coach on the top of the box (with no padding under the cardboard box top) had apparently either shifted or been pressed against the coach, either during shipping to the dealer or in delivery to me. I wrote another quick note and then decided to put the boxes away and will await a response from the dealers tomorrow.
I was in a great mood, but discovering that both items that I had ordered were damaged and not in their desired condition has sapped a lot of the enthusiasm out of me.
Why can't the companies find a way to make packaging that can withstand shipping? If ACME would have made the package with deeper styrofoam and a cover so that the box top wasn't pressing directly against the items, or if Maerklin could design a packaging that is more reliable than either the plastic inserts or foam reinforced with cardboard, there would be no need for this post.

I don't like the idea of returning either Set because of one small plastic piece. If I was more skilled, I could probably remove the broken part and insert a replacement, but I am afraid of damaging the paint or other part of the models if I try to fix it myself. I already had a similar problem with my 37546 RABe EC and am waiting for ETS to send a new antenna for that one.

Any suggestions on how these companies could improve their packaging so that this type of problem occurs less frequently? I would much rather report on how thrilled I am and how nice the item looks in my collection or in my display.

Regards

Mike C
Offline Bigdaddynz  
#2 Posted : 13 May 2010 09:40:53(UTC)
Bigdaddynz

New Zealand   
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 18,778
Location: New Zealand
Did the locos have the white felt pieces wrapped over the top of them? That often helps to protect the locos inside the box.
Offline river6109  
#3 Posted : 13 May 2010 10:06:08(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,879
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
I'm quite happy they way Roco wrap their locos.
there is'nt any movement at all and they fit tied into the styrofoam.

When I've shipped Märklin locos overseas, I've stuffed styrofoam around the loco so it had less room to move.

With Roco you fit the handrails afterwards.

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline mike c  
#4 Posted : 13 May 2010 12:29:04(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,244
Location: Montreal, QC
@bigdaddynz: Yes, the lok had the white felt and the ubiquitous two sheets of plastic foil around it. It was lying in the styrofoam cradle with two small pieces of cardboard adjacent to the buffers and other set underneath the bogies for added support. It appears that the two cardboard pieces at the lok ends were either displaced or bent, allowing the lok to shift in it's cradle and thereby damage the small piece on the roof.

I have had very few problems with Roco loks. I have seen a few that were quite a challenge to reinsert into the box after details had been added, but I have not had any Roco loks with broken parts upon delivery.

Regards

Mike C
Offline H0  
#5 Posted : 13 May 2010 13:15:06(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,466
Location: DE-NW
Hi!
river6109 wrote:
I'm quite happy they way Roco wrap their locos.
there is'nt any movement at all and they fit tied into the styrofoam.

I did have trouble with that sort of packaging. But normally they are safe if there's enough filling material around the Roco box.

Some Roco locos come inside black foam (not styrofoam). This foam stuff is flexible and allows the loco to move around. I've head more trouble with this kind of packaging.

IMHO the typical Märklin PET packaging is better than the Roco styrofoam packaging.
Too bad that it didn't work for Mike's locomotive.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
UserPostedImage
Offline gachar001  
#6 Posted : 13 May 2010 17:31:12(UTC)
gachar001

India   
Joined: 29/04/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,391
Location: Chennai
It may be that the box was dropped and the weight of the loco bent the cardboard piece which then allowed the loco to move inside the box.
It is difficult to design packaging that absorb a lot of shock because then it would be too stiff and may end up causing damage to the paint etc.
I have noticed that shipments from Europe tand to be damaged more often than the ones that I get from the US. I am guessing that US postal workers are more careful in handling packages.
Gautham
Atlanta, GA USA
Offline dntower85  
#7 Posted : 13 May 2010 19:57:01(UTC)
dntower85

United States   
Joined: 08/01/2006(UTC)
Posts: 2,218
Location: Shady Shores, TX - USA
One of the problems with marklins fine detail is that it is very fragile, wile it makes me sick when something breaks if it is not very bad I try to live with it or fix it.
For instance I had gotten the Porsche transporter set and I didn't get it out of the package without breaking a handrail.
DT
Now powered by ECoS II unit#2, RocRail
era - some time in the future when the space time continuum is disrupted and ICE 3 Trains run on the same rails as the Adler and BR18's.
Offline grnwtrs  
#8 Posted : 13 May 2010 23:43:18(UTC)
grnwtrs

United States   
Joined: 18/06/2005(UTC)
Posts: 669
Location: El Sobrante, California
I had the same problem with that set. I think it was the top rail. From then on with the new car sets, etc when I want to take items out, I turn over the set on something soft and lift the box/packaging away from the model.

I feel bad for not posting my sad experience sooner to help out. I just marked off my experience to my innately clumsiness!!

Fortunately I don't think it is noticeable. Just think if you did not have that fine model.

Blink
Offline TimR  
#9 Posted : 14 May 2010 02:49:39(UTC)
TimR

Indonesia   
Joined: 16/08/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,752
Location: Jakarta
Some antennas on E-loks seems to be particularly fragile.. had the same problem quite a few months ago. The box looks intact, but antenna had come off.

Funnily enough, I've received a supposedly more fragile Marklin steamer in a box that was almost completely crushed - yet the lok survives without a scratch or missing pieces..
Now collecting C-Sine models.
Offline mike c  
#10 Posted : 14 May 2010 03:57:32(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 8,244
Location: Montreal, QC
This morning, I had a chance to take a good look at the loks and the box. I was extremely impressed with the care with which the parcel was packed. ETS went out of their way to send the item in a box that was filled with popcorn. This inner box was wrapped in bubblepack. That box was then inserted into a larger box, which was filled with popcorn. The large box was then sealed, with tape and with two plastic straps.
The box must have been tossed, dropped or otherwise mishandled, as it seems that the impact caused the Re 6/6 to shift inside the box, compressing the styrofoam, dislodging the cardboard piece that was inserted in front of the buffers. This displacement was big enough to allow the lok to move forward a few mm, which caused the antenna to come into contact with the styrofoam. Perhaps, if a greater amount of popcorn would have been used, this might have limited the motion of the inside box, which could possibly have reduced the transfer of momentum to the contents of the inner box and the set at the moment of impact.
I feel ridiculous having to return the Set to Germany for a broken plastic antenna, but there is no remnant extending above the lok shell, and there is no way to tell whether the hole extends all the way to the underside of the lok shell, as this would require removing the light channels and the cab interior. In his day, my Dad probably would have tried to remove the remnant using a heated needle, but I do not have his patience and dexterity and would be worried about damaging the paint or the shell itself. So, I have no other option but to send the item back.
It is very unfortunate that Maerklin did not have the forethought to design a package that could withstand the pressure of the contents pressing against the inside of the cradle, and frustrating that I have another problem with mail order items.

Regards

Mike C
Offline river6109  
#11 Posted : 14 May 2010 07:58:30(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,879
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
H0 wrote:
Hi!
river6109 wrote:
I'm quite happy they way Roco wrap their locos.
there is'nt any movement at all and they fit tied into the styrofoam.

I did have trouble with that sort of packaging. But normally they are safe if there's enough filling material around the Roco box.

Some Roco locos come inside black foam (not styrofoam). This foam stuff is flexible and allows the loco to move around. I've head more trouble with this kind of packaging.

IMHO the typical Märklin PET packaging is better than the Roco styrofoam packaging.
Too bad that it didn't work for Mike's locomotive.


Roco has packed locos into a black foam cushion but also wrapped the loco itself with a clear loco imprint mould with a cover sleeve. US Y3, (2' 4' 4' 2') and the same method is used for the tender.

Box with black foam insert.
UserPostedImage

Faom cover
UserPostedImage

moulded inserts with sleeves
UserPostedImage

open mould insert
UserPostedImage

closed mould insert (with sleeve)
UserPostedImage


UserPostedImage

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline H0  
#12 Posted : 14 May 2010 11:22:54(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,466
Location: DE-NW
river6109 wrote:
Roco has packed locos into a black foam cushion but also wrapped the loco itself with a clear loco imprint mould with a cover sleeve.

The Swiss Croc comes with a small plastic mould, German steamers (01.10, 24) come without any plastic mould.
With all those, the black foam allows locos to move left and right under pressure.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
UserPostedImage
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