SOU Waffles Can be Ordered...

[rogergperkins]

These are nice looking cars!!  Mine with MTL replacement wheels rolled about 5 feet, but the one with original rolled about 1.5 feet.

I have not tried to squeeze the truck sides.  Just reinserted several of the wheel sets in the 6 cars I purchased.
I feel certain the manufacturer will work out any problem if there truly is one.

[lock4244]

Just received my order and wow, they are great looking cars! I haven't run them as of yet, since I'm at work and have no track handy, so can't comment on their rolling characteristics.

Still don't like the direct model, and getting dinged at the boarder for $45 in tax makes these some of the most expensive boxcars in my fleet.

[Scottl]

Ugh, the border ding is the worst.

[lock4244]

Usually when I get dinged it's still less than what the 13% sales tax would be up here on the higher prices that CDN retailers must charge. On top of that, the discounted prices of the US etailers make buying from them worth while. But no discount here.

Thumbs up to the packaging... new jewel cases are a huge improvement from the cardboard boxes they used to use. As for packaged for shipment, was like a brick sh*thouse. Please with that.

[MichaelWinicki]

Still don't like the direct model, and getting dinged at the boarder for $45 in tax makes these some of the most expensive boxcars in my fleet.

What method did they use to ship them to you?

[lock4244]

USPS. Came through YYZ, so they came via air...

[MichaelWinicki]

USPS. Came through YYZ, so they came via air...

I assume they put the full retail value on the custom's forms?

[lock4244]

Yup.

[MichaelWinicki]

Yup.

Ouch.

[Mark5]

Sucks to hear this. I want one but MSRP plus shipping makes one very expensive box car.

(resisting - must resist!)

MARK

Registered on ER site today, the shipping worked out to $7.70 for Parcel Post. So $22.95 + $7.70 = $30.65 

Hope I can catch these guys at a show some time!

Mark

[Kev1340]

I received my 6 cars here in the UK today .... ordered through my local dealer. He still receives a small discount, though less than half what he used to, which meant I ended up paying $32 a piece. That's still much better than if I'd bought direct.

As other have noted none of the cars would run when placed on the rails. ALL the trucks had been butchered by the person installing the wheel sets and had seriously splayed the truck frames outwards. I have gently bent them back so that the axles at least don't fall out now, but they have not retained their 'original' straightness.

Having defended ExactRail in the past I am less than happy. I have contacted them regarding the issue and await a response. If they cannot supply replacement truck frames I will have to replace them with Micro-Trains trucks with will make them very expensive.

Cheers,

Kev

[coosvalley]

ExpenseRail...........

[davefoxx]

I received my 6 cars here in the UK today .... ordered through my local dealer. He still receives a small discount, though less than half what he used to, which meant I ended up paying $32 a piece. That's still much better than if I'd bought direct.

As other have noted none of the cars would run when placed on the rails. ALL the trucks had been butchered by the person installing the wheel sets and had seriously splayed the truck frames outwards. I have gently bent them back so that the axles at least don't fall out now, but they have not retained their 'original' straightness.

Having defended ExactRail in the past I am less than happy. I have contacted them regarding the issue and await a response. If they cannot supply replacement truck frames I will have to replace them with Micro-Trains trucks with will make them very expensive.

Cheers,

Kev

Kev,

I appreciate your disappointment, but the effort to contact ExactRail and request new trucks is significantly more effort than just straightening the sideframes.  They're made of Delrin, so it's highly unlikely that you will break them by straightening them.  Once I realized the problem, it took me less than thirty seconds to fix the trucks and put the car back on the tracks.  I didn't even have to remove the trucks to correct the problem.  My three waffle boxcars have been running flawlessly for weeks without replacing the wheelsets or the trucks.  If the wheels don't spin freely, then bend the sideframes back out a little.  In no time at all, you will get the feel for it and have your cars running well and rolling great.

While on this subject, I must add that ExactRail has taken a beating from many people on the direct-buy issue, pricing, the roof, and now the trucks.  While these complaints may be legitimate, I'm am growing weary of the negative press and ER bashing.  I don't understand why everyone has been begging the manufacturers for a waffle boxcar for years, and then, when ER delivers, it receives nothing but flack.  In my opinion, this boxcar is one of the best looking freight cars in my fleet.  It blows away the MDC/Roundhouse cars I have, which had to be retired because they looked so poor in comparison.  Was the ER waffle boxcar pricey?  Yes, but it's a specific model that fills a void in my fleet well.  In other words, it's well worth the price to me.  Is the roof screwed up?  Yes, but ER has admitted the unintentional error and says it will provide replacements.  Is it a problem for me that I have to order direct?  No, I would have ordered it online anyway, so the likelihood of examining the model in person before purchasing was small.  So, I say let's knock off the defamatory remarks about ER.  If you don't like ER or its products, then vote with your wallet.  Otherwise, such negativity is what puts companies out of business, and that is not what I want to see happen to any manufacturer who provides high quality N scale models.

DFF

[bobdobbs]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

I agree the Waffle car is great, hopefully the roof issue can be fixed on in-the-field models, I am enjoying mine, yes it was 30.00USD, a wee bit pricey.

I think in this forum constructive criticism is a good thing, I am an SP modeler and am ignorant of the subtlties of SOU prototypesm so I am glad there are people to deliver informed opinions on such matters.

Like the road # on the upcoming Backmann SP S-4 What the heck, they will not answer my emails or on the Backmann forum why it is a bad number....

[Dave V]

Got my waffle yesterday with the door assist.