OK, I want to say right off the bat, these are only my opinions, I am not asking for right or wrong, and I am not asking to be attacked. I just want to express my opinion, and you may too, but DO NOT tell me I am wrong, that's not what this is about. This is simply opinion sharing, not condemning. I received my Hiawatha Set today from Mike & Robin, many thanks ! I was a little disappointed with the box the set came in. It is my OPINION that I would like it much better if it were in a presentation style box much like Kato has done on some of their passenger sets. A book shelf style box with grey foam liner and vinyl outer skin, and an opening door/flap with button on it. So, please do not get me wrong !!!! I love the Trains in the Set, and the box is what it is, Matt and Fox obviously made the decision to do it this way and who knows the reasons for it, possibly cost. It is my OPINION only that a Set this outrageously beautiful would be even better in a classy high quality presentation box. Again this is just my opinion and you too can share opinions on this matter. I will NOT tell you that you are wrong and I ask the same, please. It will make for a much better thread for all of us. fatalxsunrider43
There is no right or wrong in an opinion. And we're all entitled to them. Some opinions just happen to be a a bit far fetched.....like asking for a price reduction because of a production delay.
< bemused grin > < insert extremely provocative unqualified ... > No, not really. I'm a good boy most of the time. On one hand I agree that a "bookshelf" style packaging would have been nicer. That said I have never liked "easing / prying" my equipment from the foam. With the FVM cars I love how easy it is to: Take the lid off each box Invert the box The car drops easily into my hand And reverse: Open the box Easily (for me), slide the car / locomotive in Close the box No fragile details are threatened. Still, ya, my bookcase of Kato boxes looks nicer and harder to lose. The FVM box will break down at some point. By the time it does I will have a display case where I can store it and I'll be able to take the whole train and slide it into the place on the layout. So? saving a few extra dollars works for me.
Hey Yacko, ! Why should I even give an opinion when you have to label them, even old ones, how sad. I guess you couldnt resist ! fatalxsunrider43
fatalxsunrider43, would you please provide your e-mail address so I can return your contribution via PayPal? My staff member let me see your private message and I don't like people that threaten us with statements like, "if guys like that cannot be reinged in, then I quit, lets see about stopping my $ contributions." Sir, your money will be on the way back because we do not need your garbage. And, would the next person to give us a $24 contribution please post to show this wingnut that we do not need his money. Charlie
Well, I just looked it up and you give us $2 per month and your subscription runs out April 3rd. You've probably gotten your money's worth so stop giving us money please. Charlie
Now that that is out of the way...... I like the box that Matt has come up with. My trains are to be run, not displayed in a box. When stored, they are just that, stored. I don't care if they look pretty when in storage, I want them protected and taking up the least amount of space. Also, working in a shop, I really don't like the presentation box/ bookcase box, they are hard to display and take up a lot more space than need be. There is no way to display the latest Kato Amtrak set so that is sets nicely on the shelf and you can see what is inside of it. If you don't open it up, it's just a green box.
Thank you Charlie! That was long overdue. There may be others who should be "adjusted" as well. It seems like some can't get along but act like children. Can't an Admin. "Permanently Dispatch" individuals? Carl
I'm not big on bookcase display cases.......now a nice wall display would be another matter. I'm also not big on displays with empty holes.......So either FVM would have had to do 2 different cases, one for the base set, and another if you bought the extra cars. AND a set like this really deserves a NICE case if it's going to be displayed, and that costs money. Maybe FVM can go back and offer a nice oak display case as an accessory down the road.
I think I mentioned on another thread... that... while I was disappointed in the choice of the 'brick box' versus the presentation box shown on most etailer sites... the quality of the model ifself really is much more important than the type of packaging... unless... the packaging is unsafe to ship or store the product. I was expecting to receive something similar to the 1980's ConCor presentation box sets. I can understand the savings involved by using existing plastic cases and a relatively inexpensive 'brick box' to package them in. I feel the model was very well done and that makes-up for the shortcoming (IMHO) with the packaging. In other words... I'd much rather a manufacturer focus on the qualtiy of the model... not the packaging.
I would be inclined to agree with your opinion, as I share the same. Such top-notch museum-quality pieces of art really should be packaged in a classy box for display purposes. Should the purchaser elect not to display in the box, then so be it, they can simply remove from the box and roll 'em down the tracks. Thank you for sharing your opinion!
I agree with the above two posts, you can easily buy a bookcase box later. Japanese dealers sell them from Kato, Tomix, Micro-Ace or Casco who specializes in them. Safe shipping should be the priority of any original packaging, especially since in my case most things have to cross the Pacific twice.
I agree with you Carl. Fatalxsunrider seems to use this forum as his own complaint forum and I'm kind of tired of all his whining. He joined in Feb 2010, has 832 posts, most all of them are him complaining about something like this, the stupid packaging of a set.
Anybody else remember [name withheld to protect the innocent] giving cardboard outer boxes for the earliest run of FTs that came without? And then offering the boxes for sale for what I thought was a nutty price? They're kinda tough to get open,too: pity the poor collector who won't even dare to try to pry the cardboard box open. And yes, I beat up all my Lionel boxes way back when, too.
FVM's trains, as are all model trains, are designed to be run. Not displayed. Put them on your layout and enjoy them as they should be enjoyed. Moving!
While I don't have an opinion either way on the package issue, I do wish that FVM had used a little more secure liner. When I got my set, I took the lid off the loco and as I was rotating the box to pull the loco out, it fell out before I could get a hand on it. Luckily no damage since it only fell a couple of inches into my lap since I was in my easy chair instead of being in the train room.
Just my 2 cents, but if I were buying this, I wouldn't be buying it for the box it comes in. But if you were primarily buying this set to display, I could think of many nicer ways than the Kato-type storage cases.
I don't know about everyone, but for me SPACE is important. The packaging of this set...again, for me, is really NICE. I was surprised and impressed. Good job!!!!
