 Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,243 Location: Montreal, QC
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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
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 6 users liked this useful post by mike c
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 Joined: 08/09/2010(UTC) Posts: 214 Location: Bowral, NSW, Australia
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Hi Mike
One of the great benefits of Marklin over most brands is the availability of the spare parts. The whole concept of Marklin is, its a quality item that is not just bought and used like a household appliance and disregarded. The locos are bought and run with servicing for many years in mind by most. Also they always retain some resale value if it ever the time comes to pass them along. If you want model trains which are not like this then you buy brands like 'Throw away Hornby' which start deteriorating once you have taken them out of the box and breathe on them. The packaging and supply of Marklin service boxes to store and replace broken ones for Marklin is a must really. It amazes me, Marklin pride themselves on the quality and history of their brand, why do they not support the long term survival of their products by making these boxes available. They could just be another spare part supplied, generic labelling of course to appease the collectors.
Cheers
Bryan
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Joined: 23/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 1,828 Location: Sydney, Australia
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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. |
Gary
Z Scale
"Never let the prototype get in the way of a good layout" |
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 Joined: 18/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,404
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Originally Posted by: mike c  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 i saw some boxes on ebay.de They were of SNCB locos but i am sure SBB ones might just be found, hope this helps |
Marklin and Piko era 4 SNCB , Marklin wagons
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Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,243 Location: Montreal, QC
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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
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 Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,778 Location: New Zealand
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Originally Posted by: mike c I am hoping to get my hands on the appropriate spare box for a 3756-39560 type Krok....... I was lucky enough a few years ago to win an ebay auction for a 3756 box for my 3300 Crocodile - I don't have either the 3300 E94 'Gator' or the 125 year anniversary box that they both come in. They can be had on ebay from time to time. You should also check Bear11's website - Henk has lots of Marklin boxes available there. www.bear11.be
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Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC) Posts: 9,603 Location: Australia
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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..  |
Adrian Australia flag by abFlags.com |
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Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,243 Location: Montreal, QC
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I think that we should propose that Maerklin produce an extra number of inserts for each model and that those be made available through dealers so that customers could replace damaged ones or use them with generic (no number) outer boxes should they prefer to store their loks together (i.e. loks from Start Sets, Train Sets, Double Packs, etc).
They could even just have one size of outer packaging and provide the styrofoam liners needed to fit the small inserts
Regards
Mike C
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1 user liked this useful post by mike c
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Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC) Posts: 9,603 Location: Australia
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Originally Posted by: mike c I think that we should propose that Maerklin produce an extra number of inserts for each model and that those be made available through dealers so that customers could replace damaged ones or use them with generic (no number) outer boxes should they prefer to store their loks together (i.e. loks from Start Sets, Train Sets, Double Packs, etc).
They could even just have one size of outer packaging and provide the styrofoam liners needed to fit the small inserts
Regards
Mike C I agree - that way "after market" boxes can be clearly identified as replacement boxes.. |
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