C&L deliveries

[ianb3174]

Has anyone received a C&L order in the last few weeks? I have one from 31st March but no updates. Emails not answered and phone ringing out. 

EMGS order on the same day came within a few days. 

 

[Alan Kettlewell]

Yep.  Got two deliveries last week, one was delayed due to a problem with the laser cutting machine ( I ordered some mdf timbers).  But, all good.  The chap is rather run off his feet due to excessive on-line orders and is limiting post office visits to minimise risk.  

 

I suggest keep trying his phone, he does answer or calls back when free.

 

Cheers ... Alan

 

[ianb3174]

Give a few more days then

[hayfield]

Had a text from Phil last week and it seemed all was fine, if Phil is missing something he tends to hold on to orders if he thinks new stock is due in

[Stephen Freeman]

I am hopefully waiting for a small order later this week, after placing it with him last week. He is understandably limiting trips to the Post Office. He is, as has been said very busy, perhaps that will make up for no shows, who knows he might even find doing more online is more profitable?

[down the sdjr]

I made an order just over a week ago,arrived today, and i must say how well packaged it was.

[Stephen Freeman]

On 15/04/2020 at 15:23, Stephen Freeman said:

I am hopefully waiting for a small order later this week, after placing it with him last week. He is understandably limiting trips to the Post Office. He is, as has been said very busy, perhaps that will make up for no shows, who knows he might even find doing more online is more profitable?

Sadly not turned up yet. Mind you deliveries from elsewhere are also a bit hit and miss at the moment. now 28 April nearly 3 weeks for a couple of products in stock. I think he must be getting a bit over-whelmed at the moment.

Edited April 28, 2020 by Stephen Freeman
update

[Stephen Freeman]

That did the trick! arrived this morning!

[StuartMc]

I spoke to him on the phone today sorting out an order. He is very busy but he sounded like he was managing to methodically get things done and even had time for a short chat.

 

(You know that thing like at shows when you're chatting to the guy on the stand and you don't know whether to continue your pleasant chat or let them do some actual business

 

My wife used to work for a small on-line retail business and we need to bear in mind there is a lot to do to run a enterprise like that - it's not just the fulfilling of orders - so everyone should try their best to be patient with businesses large and small.

[Derekstuart]

It's a bit disappointing to see this C&L issue is still rumbling on. Yes, Phil might be running a 'cottage business', but it's still a business. It is either viable or it is not viable.

 

If a business has more work than the available workforce can handle then it needs more workforce; this might be in the form of a part timer for X hours. Yes, there is a cost and either the business can generate the funds for this or it cannot. If it is busy but still cannot generate those funds then the prices need looking at. I have no idea what his % profit margin is, but he looks to be running it so inefficiently and that's a shame as he put his money where his mouth is when it looked like the range was going to be lost.

 

As a potential returning customer, every time I type in 'C&L' it is the same story- intermittent deliveries and poor communication. After something like 3 years coming back to the same stories is pretty grim.

 

(standing by for the inevitable backlash).

[Joseph_Pestell]

Given that the previous post dates from April, is there any truth in the statement that the issue is "rumbling on"?

 

Indeed, was there even an "issue" in April? As Stephen pointed out, postal services have been a bit flakey throughout the virus lockdown.

[hayfield]

5 hours ago, Derekstuart said:

It's a bit disappointing to see this C&L issue is still rumbling on. Yes, Phil might be running a 'cottage business', but it's still a business. It is either viable or it is not viable.

 

If a business has more work than the available workforce can handle then it needs more workforce; this might be in the form of a part timer for X hours. Yes, there is a cost and either the business can generate the funds for this or it cannot. If it is busy but still cannot generate those funds then the prices need looking at. I have no idea what his % profit margin is, but he looks to be running it so inefficiently and that's a shame as he put his money where his mouth is when it looked like the range was going to be lost.

 

As a potential returning customer, every time I type in 'C&L' it is the same story- intermittent deliveries and poor communication. After something like 3 years coming back to the same stories is pretty grim.

 

(standing by for the inevitable backlash).

 

Derek

 

The only way companies like C&L can survive is in a cottage industry, If it were not for Phil C&L would be no more. Exactoscale has shown profitability is hard to achieve, they shut down their retail side and now rely on Societies to supply their goods

 

Phil is sending out more stock than ever before and has had new dies built and is bringing out new products. This has not happened for many years

 

It is a one man band, he closes down for the odd day a month just so he can visit his suppliers, mainly to discuss new product developments. Has to be done

 

Secondly he clearly stated his own ordering system which works for him, just read the website

 

As someone who has been shielding, he only posts once a week, and has made arrangements with his local Post Office for a Covid safe system

 

He has shut down for a well earned holiday which has been well publicized

 

I on the rare occasions am happy to contact Phil about orders, usually there is a different other side to the story. (I have ordered some stock from Peco, I had to chase them up after a week, its not just C&L that is working differently). Just phone Phil up if you have an issue and read the updates on his website. Sorry but in this case you are spreading miss information 

 

Derek you know if you have an issue with C&L you can PM me, when Phil is back just give his service a try, but he posts on a Thursday and may be a few days behind with orders. I think you have expectations of the older next day service which had to close down as it was not profitable

[hayfield]

C&L are closed until 7th of Sept for holidays

 

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Office closed"Holiday"

 Office will reopen on the 10.00 am on 7th September 2020

Website will remain open during this time card payments will be taken from the 7th September 2020

Please note no payment within the website, select payment type and submit order.

 

Just place your order on the website then on/after the 7th phone up and pay, details are on the website. You place your order, but there is no online payment facility, you phone up and pay over the phone. Not as sophisticated as some online websites, but works for Phil and I find it easier to use than many sites, may not be perfect but works for Phil. 

 

But if you feel there is a problem phone Phil rather than getting annoyed 

[Derekstuart]

Hello John

 

I have made a legitimate criticism, which far from being 'mis-information', it seems to be quite a common theme. I don't know where you get the idea that I am 'annoyed' and I am not sure that's terribly helpful to write.

 

I am happy to continue this by PM, but I don't think it wise for either of us to do so publicly.

 

Derek

[chris p bacon]

4 minutes ago, Derekstuart said:

I have made a legitimate criticism,

 

But it wasn't legitimate.

 

You re-started a 4 month old thread about slow deliveries during a period of what can only be described as 'exceptional circumstances' and ignored the 4 out of 5 posters who had received their items in good time and were pleased.

 

These 'Themes' are only common when posters keep bringing them back up when there is no recent evidence.

 

[martin_wynne]

The previous C&L ownership employed staff, ran a slick mail-order service, but appeared to know very little about railway track. And ultimately failed.

 

The present ownership is a one-man band, runs an endearingly cranky mail-order service, but seems to know about railway track. And is doing well enough to be making investments in new products and tooling.

 

Spot the significant difference.

 

Martin.

[hayfield]

 

21 minutes ago, chris p bacon said:

 

But it wasn't legitimate.

 

You re-started a 4 month old thread about slow deliveries during a period of what can only be described as 'exceptional circumstances' and ignored the 4 out of 5 posters who had received their items in good time and were pleased.

 

These 'Themes' are only common when posters keep bringing them back up when there is no recent evidence.

 

 

Chris there are times Phil is his own worst enemy, however he does care and tries to do his best. Thankfully most of the time doing it reasonably well

 

In his favor he is investing heavily in new tooling. New 00 flexitrack, New 4mm scale 2 7 3 bolt chairs, both with additional L & J chairs and fishplates. A new 7mm 3 bolt chair is nearly there and more new items in the pipeline, but I cannot say further

 

16 minutes ago, martin_wynne said:

The previous C&L ownership employed staff, ran a slick mail-order service, but appeared to know very little about railway track. And ultimately failed.

 

The present ownership is a one-man band, runs an endearingly cranky mail-order service, but seems to know about railway track. And is doing well enough to be making investments in new products and tooling.

 

Spot the significant difference.

 

Martin.

 

Martin

 

How dull our hobby would be without the character's. Both traders and customers. Many of the "Cottage Industry" doing it part time just for the love of it.

 

I must admit I am missing the shows, as well as the layouts, the traders and customers. I even enjoy being insulter by Crispy Bacon and co. To be quite honest whilst the normal customers are a pleasure to deal with, its those who are a bit different from the norm who brighten up the day

 

As you say the next day service actually made its owner losses, with no money to invest into the business. They cannot compete with the very large online companies, but these companies do not cater for the interests that these small traders serve. 

[Derekstuart]

Chris, I really do not want to get dragged into a debate about this.

 

Having re-read this thread and others elsewhere, I do not believe my comments anything other than legitimate. Initial issues were one thing, but that was several years back.

 

However, by PM I have been persuaded to try and order some stuff and I shall see how I get on. If it works, I shall report that it did. If it didn't, I shall report that it didn't.

 

I do love this about RMW- I browsed this section of the forum specifically to see what progress, if any, had been made with the various suppliers and was disappointed with the reports I have seen from others. Please do let me know what I can and cannot ask/ state in the future.

 

I was going to ask what it's like to order from EMGS/Scalefour, but I suppose someone will get offended by that too.

 

[hayfield]

EMGS has been very good in the past, I ordered some items on Sunday happy to report back

 

Amazon has a lot to answer for, we get used to next day deliveries. Most companies cannot match this even some quite large ones. The sole trader has no chance

[chris p bacon]

4 minutes ago, Derekstuart said:

I do love this about RMW- I browsed this section of the forum specifically to see what progress, if any, had been made with the various suppliers and was disappointed with the reports I have seen from others. Please do let me know what I can and cannot ask/ state in the future.

 

The most recent thread is this one,  and yet with 4 out of of 5 posters saying they received their goods and were happy with packing and timescale and yet "you're disappointed"  ......

 

As for seeking permission to post. Post away, but don't be surprised if someone picks up a comment and questions it. 

[Derekstuart]

7 minutes ago, chris p bacon said:

 

The most recent thread is this one,  and yet with 4 out of of 5 posters saying they received their goods and were happy with packing and timescale and yet "you're disappointed"  ......

 

As for seeking permission to post. Post away, but don't be surprised if someone picks up a comment and questions it. 

 

I'm not getting involved in further debate. I am only noting what I see on several sites when I typed in C&L (and other similar suppliers). I have been out of this hobby for a few years and it is quite reasonable for me to research what has changed. If I am confronted with negative comments when I type questions into search boxes, what do you expect?

Let me suggest an alternative comment you might make in the future if anyone writes something you dislike:

"Hello
I've read your comments about [subject] and [yes you are right but that has been resolved// no, that is not the case because...] so go ahead and [insert task], it will all be fine. Please report back here afterwards to let us know how you got on."

I see some things here really never change. Anyway, I'm done here. As I've said already, I will place an order and report back; hopefully all will be OK.

[hayfield]

27 minutes ago, chris p bacon said:

 

The most recent thread is this one,  and yet with 4 out of of 5 posters saying they received their goods and were happy with packing and timescale and yet "you're disappointed"  ......

 

As for seeking permission to post. Post away, but don't be surprised if someone picks up a comment and questions it. 

 

Dave

 

I think its more of a perception, rather than the situation now. The trouble with many sites only the bad experiences

 

Last year we stayed in a hotel on Lake Garda, our room included lake views and a 2 piece suite. The food was to die for (the pack lunches were like a weekly shop) very similar to what's available on a luxury cruse, free wine & beer was drinkable. It was a lake side hotel (long lake side frontage) at the end of a road, so no traffic going past (except boats), short walk to the lake ferry stop off point. All in all one of the best hotels we stayed in, certainly the best value.

 

Had we taken the trip adviser comments at face value we would have missed out on one of the best holidays we have ever had. Sometimes going by others experiences is not necessarily a true reflection on reality. But helps keeps providers on their toes   

[ianb3174]

Perhaps I should point out the order did arrive a few days after my post. The post was only meant as a question, not a criticism. It's good that specialist suppliers and societies exist to feed our habits, else we'd all be buying Peco 00 from box shifters and bemoaning the lack of realism in trackwork. 

[chris p bacon]

53 minutes ago, hayfield said:

Last year we stayed in a hotel on Lake Garda, our room included lake views and a 2 piece suite.

 

A 2 piece John......which one was missing..or was the bidet one of the 2 

 

Stayed in Sirmeone a couple of years ago, very nice as was traveling around the lake by ferry. 

[hayfield]

2 hours ago, chris p bacon said:

 

A 2 piece John......which one was missing..or was the bidet one of the 2 

 

Stayed in Sirmeone a couple of years ago, very nice as was traveling around the lake by ferry. 

 

The second armchair, as it happens the shower was not in the same proportion as the room but still very accurate. Having said having a lake view being on the top floor the windows were quite low so the vies was best when sitting down. Even had a local vineyard which held a tour ending in a splendid tasting session, not a drop was spat out !!!