Model Railway Forum

I always like to praise good service when it's provided as too many people only mention it when it's bad! I ordered a model plastic kit from Track Shack (Isle of Man) at 13.42 yesterday and it was delivered pre noon today in Norfolk. So thank you Track Shack and thank you Post Office.

Anyone else received brilliant service during the lockdown?

Nothing as quick as that but did get some screwdrivers from China via ebay that arrived about 3 weeks before their predicted time.

Yes same for me with Trackshack, Hattons and several other smaller retailers.

Trackshack are quick because the mail from the IoM is flown out every evening to East Midlands where it is distributed that night.

Have to agree, Track Shack have been good, but I also have to give a shout out to Rails of Sheffield who have also been superb the last few Months.

I've used Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Kernows, The Model Centre and Hardy's Models during the lockdown, and in all cases the service has been first class. I think the only problem many suppliers have had, is getting physical supplies. Kadee Couplers, Peco Track and Metcalfe Models are virtually non existent. In the Hornby Mag. this month (August), the Metcalfe advertisement featured a message from Metcalfe, saying that they had prepared themselves with plenty of stock, but unfortunately there was some "panic" buying and stocks were soon exhausted - so not only loo rolls!

My local'ish shop The Hobby Shop in Faversham had a delivery from Peco arrive yesterday (Saturday 4th July), I have a box of SL-100 track and other track fixing items from Peco that I pre ordered, in the post on their way to me now!

Just checked my emails and I have purchased from 12 different retailers, some several times, during the lockdown. The longest I have waited is 5 days and that included a weekend.

One retailer said there might be up to a 3 month delay. The item arrived next day. When I thanked him for the speedy delivery he said he put that on the site to stop whingers if things took too long.

Not railway stuff but I ordered some garden hardware from a firm in Thetford (26 miles away from me). They are mail order only, so no customer facing facilities to collect from - I did ask.
The parcel was despatched to DPD local next day, then it went to Peterborough, then two separate hubs in Birmingham before coming back to Norwich depot for despatch to Dereham. 3 days on the road for a practical half hour each way journey. No wonder the postage was £6.

Ah but they do things in strange ways in Norfolk.

I've ordered things from Amazon that have had a similar roundabout journey.

From Doncaster, over to Birmingham before over to Leeds and then to Newcastle the nearest hub.

The route made no sense for an individual item, but if it is combined with hundreds of smaller ones each time then the it maybe does.

It was a Prime delivery so cost nothing other than the fee per year and it came next day, late in the day, but next day.