I bought 4 of these off eBay and I guess they all got damaged in shipping from the way they were packaged. It looks like the container was shipped on end during the entire trip and the track slid down to the bottom because they were only damaged on one end. I was planning on using them in a staging area and I guess I could just cut off the ends, but I was just curious as to how to fix it if I wanted to.
I'm not so sure that's shipping damage . Looks more like it was taken apart by a gorilla . You can probably straighten out the rails , but I doubt that the plastic locks will work correctly .
If this was new track, it must have really been whacked to do that inside any decent packaging. Have you contacted the seller? If you keep them, I say just carefully examine the sections, and trim them back behind the damage.
Well at first I was sure that it was pulled apart by a gorilla, but changed my mind after I put on my glasses and I think it is new track. There doesn’t seem to be any wear on the rails and the joiners look unused except for one end. The package was an open ended tube with tape closing it off. There were peanuts inside to keep it from bouncing around, but not to hold it in place. I haven’t contacted the seller, because I did intend to use it as an end piece of staging and don’t want to go through the hassle. Anyway I was just sitting here thinking I could cut the plastic road bed off at least 2 tracks and possibly 3 to add a short piece of roadbed from a short piece. The rails on one track are too badly damaged and I would have to cut the rails for sure, but I don’t know if I could solder new rails to end without a joiner. I’m also not sure if I can cut the plastic road bed clean and straight enough to glue a piece on to it.
Have a look at Mike Fifer's video about making custom length Kato track. You might be able to do something similar. I also vote for the Gorilla. You would have to make a concerted effort to do that much damage. Good luck Trey
The rails are probably embedded, so cutting roadbed from underneath, neatly and then building back might be a bit interesting.
Thanks, that brings me back to my original staging idea and why I bought the track in the first place. I will have to tie them in to my Unitrack through Kato turnouts. So I’ve been looking for 8 – 30” pieces of EZ track to make 4 – 60” long staging tracks. It just drives me crazy to use a lot of 10” Unitrack when I can buy a 30” EZ track. I’m not in any hurry so I just wait for a deal to pop up before buying and one 30” piece has to be less than what I can get 3 – 10” Unitrack pieces for.
The only reason I'm interested is that now that I see this, I’m worried that I may be taking a chance on more tracks showing up like this and I need to be prepared. I can live with 4 tracks cut short but no more. I know it is probably not even worth fooling with it
From your description of the packaging, it was clearly inadequate. Perhaps if you are thinking of buying again, cross this source off the list. And if trying another seller, ask them about their method of packaging and explain your concern, using this batch as the reason/example.
That sounds like some good advice. I have had a few disappointments because some people just don't know how to package. The track was tied together with two thin rubber bands with the foam peanuts stuffed in around the sides, but nothing on the ends to prevent the track from sliding from one end to the other.
I never skimp on anything I package. The few moments and pennies extra are great insurance. I've had people really compliment me on doing so. When someone cuts corners, I figure they are any of lazy, careless, or somehow believe they're pocketing money by gambling on safe delivery. I'd rather find another source than deal with that way of thinking. Confidence and peace of mind are so much better than stress.
You could add a note about packaging in your Feedback for this purchase. Doesn't need to be anything nasty. Just say 'packing could have been better' or some such.
I just took a look at his eBay store and he doesn’t have any more long track pieces for sale, but I might just send him a message about the poor packing and maybe offer some advice on how to do it properly just in case he gets more. Well I got to get off the computer and protect my home. It sounds like a war outside and I'm afraid of fire. I have to arm myself with a hose and a fire extinguisher. God I hate 4th of July
If the damage was sustained/incurred when the track slid to the end of the package - as you speculate - shouldn't the locking tabs have prevented the rail joiners from contacting the end of the package and getting bent? Also, the rails on one piece of track appear to be twisted out of the ties, as though the track was stepped on or otherwise crushed. What was the condition of the outer packaging? By which carrier was it sent?
It sure does show signs of crush damage. Did you actually sign for this or was it dropped off at your doorstep? After working 20 years in the transportation business I've pretty much seen it all and been in the middle of it way too many times. Tubes are supposed to have 2 end caps. A mailing tube is fine but if one end of it was taped, that tells me that the product has spilled out of the tube at some point. Probably on a trailer and another carton crushed or a package handler stepped on it possibly. The package was then "recouped" by closing the open end with tape and sent on its merry way. If this was just dropped off at your door, which I despise mind you, then what a great way to pass the buck to the consignee. I cannot understand how Brown, the Ex or even the USPS can drop off a package at an addressee's door step and get a signed delivery receipt. They've no proof they actually delivered anything really.
Well I think if you look at the plastic from the bottom, you can see where the rails were sliding against it. There were 4 pieces of track stacked up on top of each other and held with rubber bands. Two very small rubber bands I might add and hardly strong enough to keep the track from rubbing against each other. The top track rails were undamaged but the tracks in between were damaged. If you look at the photo of the plastic from beneath, you can see where the rails had dug into the plastic causing the actual damage. The plastic connectors didn’t have enough force to break them. It was shipped in a 3” dia x 37” long Scotch Mailing Tube with very thin plastic plugs on each end which means that the 30” track had 7” to move back up and down. The thing is that the tube is round and it would unusual for someone to lay it down flat because it would roll. We get these tubes at work all the time with plans & drawings in them and they are always standing on end. I myself would most likely stand them on end if I were loading a truck. To me it just does not make sense not to stand them on end because it saves space. The package came halfway across the country by plane and no telling how many trucks which provided plenty of vibration for the track to make its way down to the bottom of the tube. I’m sure the tube was picked up from the top and tossed to the next vehicle to land on the same bottom as it was picked up. I can’t imagine it being flipped over each time it was moved. Actually when I picked it up at my door it was on end leaning up against the wall. I liked the shipping tube, but, I would cut 2” foam plugs for each end to keep the track from working its way down to the end if I ever use it to send track.
It was shipped USPS and they usually set it on the porch and ring the door bell before leaving. Its kind of along walk from the street to the door so they don't hang around. I'm fine with it and really don't want to pay extra for shipping to have to sign for things unless its realty high value. Oh I originally said it was taped, but I didn't remember the plastic end piece while pulling the tape off. I found the plastic piece when i was trying to recreate the packaging for a photo.
I would hope there were more foam peanuts than in the picture above. If not, incredibly inadequate packaging.
