I bought the following From Scale Trains back on March 28th.... EN50415-3 ExactRail N Scale Pullman-Standard 5277 Waffle Boxcar, Family Lines System/GA/1980 As Delivered / 55467 / 1 EN50408-4 ExactRail N Scale Pullman-Standard 5277 Waffle Boxcar, Southern/CofG/1976 As Delivered / 528562 / 1 EN50408-3 ExactRail N Scale Pullman-Standard 5277 Waffle Boxcar, Southern/CofG/1976 As Delivered / 528537 / 1 EN50408-2 ExactRail N Scale Pullman-Standard 5277 Waffle Boxcar, Southern/CofG/1976 As Delivered / 528523 / 1 EN50410-2 ExactRail N Scale Pullman-Standard 5277 Waffle Boxcar, Southern/GS&F/1977 As Delivered / 530381 / 2 PROBLEMS: The axles fall out ! The cars run like the brakes are on! The cars 'wobble' as they run down the tracks ! I have tried to contact Scale Trains 2-3 times a week since I received them about the problems. It seems Scale Trains has locked their doors and everyone is out attending Model Railroad Conventions ! Someone needs to learn how to run a business because this sure isn't the way ! Rant over !
I saw the same problem with my Southern Box Cars and made them aware of it as well. I did reach a human and was offered a choice for different trucks. I will say that the trucks on these are very flimsy, and that is why the wheelsets misbehave. Not all of the cars from Scale Trains act this way. It is the attempt to use an old style truck that is very flimsy and can not hold the wheels in place. This was a problem with ExactRail several years ago, and Scales trains just used the design documents from the past. Maybe should have looked a little closer. I have a lot of ExactRail cars in my collection, these were the only ones that ever gave me any issues.
That makes me wonder if these are actually from the original stock when Exact Rail had them made that S/T got when they purchased Exact Rail?
I have had this very problem with the cars I purchased from ExactRail. It was intermittent - some cars had this problem, some did not. Ultimately I had to put new trucks on the cars with the problem. Not the end of the world, but something I probably should not have had to do. I'll have to check the recent ones I bought directly from Scale Trains. I am kicking myself for not getting more of them while they were available - I see they are sold out now. Not that I need more - but I have a weakness for these and was trying to get every one of the Southern cars.
Yea Joe...me too. Maybe whenever Scale Trains answers their phone I'll see what solution they offer. I just know I am NOT buying brand new rolling stock and then having to pay for new trucks and axles !!!
Depending upon when the referenced cars were purchased, all of the remaining waffle sided boxcars that were acquired in the ExactRail acquisition were recently liquidated at 50% off (i.e., $35.99 Retail Price - $29.99 Our Price - $15.00 Closeout Price). Intending to replace the factory installed trucks and wheel-sets, the heavily discounted price caused me to finally acquire a bunch of these cars.
If I had bought these cars I wouldn’t be happy about the poor trucks but I’d be willing to spend the $7-8 per car to install MTL trucks and couplers. I would give Scale Trains a chance to make it right but you’ve already been trying for a month to contact them and I think that’s long enough for someone there to answer the phone or to return the call. That is really lousy customer service. Have you tried sending them an email? Sometimes an email is more effective than a phone call.
Just don't pay your pre-order within 10 minutes of getting the email telling you that it's arrived and they'll call you every 5 minutes....
I will today. I find talking to a person is faster and more reliable then email or text. It usually takes 2-3 emails or texts to convey what one can get say on one phone call. Email replies from businesses are usually 'form' copy and paste replies and don't specifically cover your problem. Just my experience.
I agree, George, I’d much rather talk to a person but sometimes an email will get a response while a phone call won’t. Some businesses prefer to, and sometimes will only, deal with customers through email. Maybe that’s the case with Scale Trains. I’m hoping you can get this resolved to your satisfaction.
Although the delivery dates on the ones that you purchased are a bit newer than the Clinchfield era that I am modeling, might be interested in taking you up on your offer. If you are unable to get the issues resolved with ScaleTrains and you still want to get rid of the lot, send me a pm.
OK...I gave a phone call one last shot before emailing. John @ Scale Trains finally answered !! He is sending out Fox Valley wheelsets for the 6 cars. He informed me they have had numerous complaints about the original wheelsets and when the new wheelsets are sent out the complaints stopped. They are sending them out Monday. I will see how long they take to get here and how well they work. I told him the truck design is rather 'flimsy' but he said the new wheelsets seem to work OK in the trucks. I'll update later.
Rather than reselling these wonderful (i.e., albeit with poor quality factory installed trucks and wheel-sets) models at a potential loss, I am really glad you were able to work things out with ScaleTrains. Planning on using Eastern Seaboard Models wheel-sets for my upgrades, I am looking forward to hearing about how well the Fox Valley replacements work out for you.
Not making excuses for ScaleTrains not answering their phones (personally, I've not had that happen to me) but I have noticed many manufacturers producing freight rail cars where the axles are rubbing against the body mounted coupler box and/or screw. I have to fix that by "carefully filing down the coupler box and/or screw BUT I shouldn't have to with the price that we are paying. Sometimes you can add a washer under the truck but you have to be careful as the body mounted coupler may be too high. Slop in the wheelsets/trucks usually requires truck replacement and that's aggravating. I have a lot of ExactRail cars that I've had to tinker with. The details of their shells were great. I have held off on getting any new ones from ScaleTrains to see if those issues have been fixed....... I can tell when the railcar has an issue with the axes grinding against the coupler box as you get that lovely squeeling sound as the car goes around the layout or it doesn't roll freely when you push it. QC can and has been an issue when they are not made here and samples are not the same as production. Brian
I think THE WIFE summed it up perfectly during breakfast this morning... "Isn't that like buying a new car and when you go to pick it up it has 4 flat tires and you say 'No problem, I'll just drive down to the tire company and pay to put 4 new tires on it !'"
George, YOR WIFE, is a vey wise person, she is right on. I am at a point of quitting the MRR game, as I am tired of the stupendous prices we are asked to pay for crap with the real possibility that we will have to massage the item to make it perform.
