How can we, as Maerklin customers, convince Maerklin to resume the sale of the boxes and plastic liners as parts?
For the past decade, Maerklin no longer sells replacement boxes or liners. As of a few years ago, it is once again possible to buy generic boxes (sleeve and drawer) without item number in three different sizes.
I have a number of loks from the 1990s where the plastic liners are starting to discolour at the folds, including at least one where the plastic has cracked at the fold.

I understand that a number of people were using the replacement boxes for improper purposes, like selling loks from Start Sets as the regular catalog item, or as in the case of the 37343 Re 4/4 TEE, taking the shell from a Trix 22744 and putting it on an AC chassis from the 29859 Start Set or other Re 4/4II and passing it off as a valuable 37343. I am sure that this also occurred with other models as well. This was one of the reasons why Maerklin stopped selling the boxes.

As a modeller/collector, I want to make sure that my models can be safely stored. For these older models, the plastic liner can only be opened and closed a number of times before the plastic starts to weaken. It would be a great help to me if I could replace the damaged liners.

Another use would be to facilitate the shipment of loks from Start Sets and larger packages for repairs. I have a 26730 Krokodil that needs servicing and it would be much cheaper if I could find the liner from the 3756 and a generic box rather than shipping the box from the entire set.

I am thinking of writing to Maerklin and suggesting that they resume the sale of the packaging as parts, but only with generic outer box, so that the item cannot be misrepresented for resale and would be clearly identifiable as a replacement box. I urge all of you to do the same.

Your comments and questions are welcome.

Regards

Mike C

Hi Mike

Do you know if they were just selling replacement boxes for HO, or for Z scale as well? I've got quite a few unboxed items.

Maerklin has, as I stated, generic box trays and sleeves that are available as spare parts. What is not available individually are the plastic liners that cradle the locomotives inside the box. Anybody looking for a box for a model from a Start Set or for a model bought second hard w/o box would also probably want to be able to get the liner as well.

I have been trying to keep an eye out for certain boxes on ebay. I managed to find boxes and liners for a few of my Re 4/4s. I like to keep all my loks together and I do not have room on those shelves for the bulkier Start Sets and Train Sets (consists), so for example, my 26557 Re 4/4I TEE loks now sits in a generic box with a liner taken from a 39421 box that I found on ebay. The same goes for the loks from my 37320 Re 10/10 Set. I have Re 4/4 boxes from the 37342 Set in use with my 29859.2 and 37356 Loks. The original larger boxes are either used just for the coaches or stored in a separate closet where I have room for the Start Set and larger boxes.

I am hoping to get my hands on the appropriate spare box for a 3756-39560 type Krok as I need to send it for maintenance and I don't want to send the large box that the train came in.

Regards

Mike C

I don't care about the boxes, but I have one insert that completely crumbled away and at least three others that are in poor condition..

I can't see how the insert would aid fraud..

I agree - that way "after market" boxes can be clearly identified as replacement boxes..