Markits - customer experiences

[adb968008]

Ive got an order for over a month now outstanding from Wizard for Markits stuff, I sent a follow up and got a diplomatic “waiting for markits” response.

 

nice stuff, but I find its best bought in person at shows.

[Petri Sallinen]

We have run the Finnish model railway company named Mestarimallit about ten years https://www.facebook.com/Mestarimallit We are using many parts and wheels made by Markits in our kits. We have never had any problems with deliveries. Sometimes delivery time might be many months if Mark does not have items in stock we would like to get. Because of our H0 scale and lighter rolling stock we are using smaller dia wheels as you are typically using in UK. Once Mark sent me samples of 12 mm dia disk wheels made in steel. These are not his normal products. He thought that I might be interested in getting these driving wheels for our new diesel locomotive kits. Very helpful service.

 

In the last Scaleforum exhibition I was hanging around in exhibition area when the strange man met me near the Roxey Models stand. He saw my name in my badge and said: "What are you doing here? Here is nothing to see. Let´s go to my factory". I have never met this man before. He was Mark Arscott. I was very self-conscious. Anyway I and my friend traveled next day by the taxi from Aylesbury to Watford to see his factory. This was very nice trip. Fortunately we had one bottle of liquorice spirit with (this is the very typical Finnish stuff) to give that for the present.

 

Mark showed us all his excellent CNC machines that are making parts 24/7 and the way he is making famous Romford wheels. We also met his very nice wife who made us the lunch. Our problem is that our English is terribly bad. We have to make hard working to understand what somebody is talking about. I think I did not understand all his jokes, stories or technical explanations but I think that was not the problem. We had very nice time with he and his wife. Mark also drove us to the nearest railway station. Later I sent him the book of Finnish steam locomotives and I think he was happy about that.

 

Petri Sallinen

Helsinki, Finland

 

 

Edited June 3, 2020 by Petri Sallinen

[chris p bacon]

2 hours ago, Petri Sallinen said:

Our problem is that our English is terribly bad.

 

Having visited Finland just once (to watch the WRC) I can say your English is way better than my Finnish.

 

2 hours ago, Petri Sallinen said:

Fortunately we had one bottle of liquorice spirit with (this is the very typical Finnish stuff)

 

And that explains Saturday night in the hotel bar....

[hayfield]

10 hours ago, Petri Sallinen said:

We have run the Finnish model railway company named Mestarimallit about ten years https://www.facebook.com/Mestarimallit We are using many parts and wheels made by Markits in our kits. We have never had any problems with deliveries. Sometimes delivery time might be many months if Mark does not have items in stock we would like to get. Because our H0 scale and lighter rolling stock we are using smaller dia wheels as you are typically using in UK. Once Mark sent me samples of 12 mm dia disk wheels made in steel. These are not his normal products. He thought that I might be interested in getting these driving wheels for our new diesel locomotive kits. Very helpful service.

 

In the last Scaleforum exhibition I was hanging around in exhibition area when the strange man met me near the Roxey Models stand. He saw my name in my badge and said: "What are you doing here? Here is nothing to see. Let´s go to my factory". I have never met this man before. He was Mark Arscott. I was very self-conscious. Anyway I and my friend traveled next day by the taxi from Aylesbury to Watford to see his factory. This was very nice trip. Fortunately we had one bottle of liquorice spirit with (this is the very typical Finnish stuff) to give that for the present.

 

Mark showed us all his excellent CNC machines that are making parts 24/7 and the way he is making famous Romford wheels. We also met his very nice wife who made us the lunch. Our problem is that our English is terribly bad. We had to make hard working to understand what somebody is talking about. I think I did not understand all his jokes, stories or technical explanations but I think that was not the problem. We had very nice time with he and his wife. Mark also drove us to the nearest railway station. Later I sent him the book of Finnish steam locomotives and I think he was happy about that.

 

Petri Sallinen

Helsinki, Finland

 

 

 

 

I used to live in watford area and on a couple of occasions I picked up some parts direct, on one occasion having a quick tour of the factory and office, quite an amazing machine he has. These visits though are very unproductive for any owner of small manufacturing businesses. Fine when they are not busy, but can be disruptive when busy

 

I have seen Mark regularly at the specialist shows in the south east, he catches up with his customer base 

[Barclay]

Ha ha the fellow certainly has a reputation and let's face it if he ran Tesco's we'd all go to Sainsbury's !

 

However, we're all different - he makes a good product and is basically a competent and honest trader so I can forgive him his foibles, and save the criticism for the ones who take the money and don't supply the goods...

[Torper]

I didn't think that his email response was all that bad.  In fact, considering that you were asking him to do much of your research work for you while he is presumably very busy, I think he was quite restrained.  Basically he was telling it as it was, and I saw no abuse, no get lost, nothing that can really be construed as rudeness.

 

DT

[97xx]

On 10/06/2020 at 15:32, Torper said:

I didn't think that his email response was all that bad.  In fact, considering that you were asking him to do much of your research work for you while he is presumably very busy, I think he was quite restrained.  Basically he was telling it as it was, and I saw no abuse, no get lost, nothing that can really be construed as rudeness.

 

DT

 

I'm sorry - let me be very clear I did NOT START the huge debate. I rang in the first place to order some things by part number using his catalogue - I HAD done my research.

 

But it was he who started a long and diversionary conversation offering a whole load of things not catalogued, some of which he confessed he did not have at present.

 

So, following that, I suggested that I drop him an email itemising this NEW and extended list of bits and let him respond as to what was available and at what cost. Which seemed perfectly reasonable - and gave him every opportunity to say "sorry am too busy for that, I'll just sell you what I have now". 

 

Which would have been entirely understandable.

 

Later, he realised clearly that he should not have opened the door and it all became my problem - including such stupid comments as suggesting I was being secretive about my telephone and address - which I was not - phone on every email and quite what an address has to do with it I do not know seeing as he'd created the additional obstacles to actually ordering the stuff.

 

The underlying issue is that he's too busy to deal with customers - but he ended up trying to hide HIS problems by making me out to be the root of problem. And that did annoy me. 

[Torper]

And did you go back to him and try to sort it out before you brought your complaints to RMWeb and did you tell him you'd be doing that?  The trouble with stories of this type is that you usually only ever hear one side and that can be damaging even if the other person involved might have a completely different take on the matter..

 

DT

[Peter Eaton]

Hi,

Just read the topic.

As a returning modeller, I see that the good bit  above is clear that like if I wished for a trade order the best advice is to ask on your RM web on advice as to the required goods to give a clear order.

I think I have asked suppliers recently :-

I have purchased a XXX kit can you please supply the required bits.  basically as just that.

perhaps typing in the magic kit details did not help at first in a search here.

 

Of note above I saw a reference to offering a good user friendly illustrated web site that can help a potential customer,

exploring their good sites can give a wealth of modelling ideas on super detailing.

 

Complimented the ''high level kits owner;; recently after an interesting visit to his web site & the wealth of information I received on his products to aid model building after seeing the name mentioned here in RM many times.

thanks

Peter

[hayfield]

50 minutes ago, Peter Eaton said:

Hi,

Just read the topic.

As a returning modeller, I see that the good bit  above is clear that like if I wished for a trade order the best advice is to ask on your RM web on advice as to the required goods to give a clear order.

I think I have asked suppliers recently :-

I have purchased a XXX kit can you please supply the required bits.  basically as just that.

perhaps typing in the magic kit details did not help at first in a search here.

 

Of note above I saw a reference to offering a good user friendly illustrated web site that can help a potential customer,

exploring their good sites can give a wealth of modelling ideas on super detailing.

 

Complimented the ''high level kits owner;; recently after an interesting visit to his web site & the wealth of information I received on his products to aid model building after seeing the name mentioned here in RM many times.

thanks

Peter

 

Peter

 

Sometimes I think we can be a little harsh or our expectations on retailers can be a little high. Our hobby relies on a vast number of small traders, many of whom are one man bands. Very few are unhelpful, infact the vast majority are quite the opposite.

 

However if we want to make use of their good nature (rather than placing a quick order) picking the right time will help them . I would say unless you have to, don't phone on Mondays, and if they go to shows leave them alone on Fridays as well. Allow them to answer the post, emails and phone messages first thing, plus don't stop them going to the post at 4pm, if they seem busy just be brief.

 

As you have said, try and do your home work first, a message on here often quickly gets a reply and you have the benefit of more than one persons knowledge 

 

 

Edited June 15, 2020 by hayfield

[Londontram]

You've got to speak as you find and I've never had a problem with him. He's always been helpfull while chatting over the phone and willingly  given advice even for small orders. 

 Only once did I chase up an order that was taking a while and he appologìsed and said he was working his way through a backlog but with out another word put my order in the post straight away.

[Tony Wright]

Just to add my tuppence worth to the debate.

 

I've known Mark for years and have always received the most-excellent service from him. Granted, he's a one-off (aren't we all?) and some might find his 'style' different. But, his products are superb.

 

We can only take as we find, and I've always found him to be a most-interesting conversationalist. And, most-helpful.

[John M]

Does anyone know if Markits are currently processing orders or experienced problems in contacting Mark by e-mail?

 

Mark is generally good at responding to e-mails, but has not responded to a number of e-mails in connection with a recent quote.

[hayfield]

John

 

Is it possible to phone, as sometimes things get forgotten or disappear into the spam folder

[auldreekie]

Mr Markits CAN be very offensively stroppy on little or no provocation.  Despite this,  much of his product is EXCELLENT. 

 

The answer may be to deal not directly,  but through an intermediary,  of whom several exist,  at least two of whom give (in my experience) excellent service also.

 

auldreekie

[jwealleans]

I had a reply to an email enquiry within 24 hours this week.

[hayfield]

12 minutes ago, auldreekie said:

Mr Markits CAN be very offensively stroppy on little or no provocation.  Despite this,  much of his product is EXCELLENT. 

 

The answer may be to deal not directly,  but through an intermediary,  of whom several exist,  at least two of whom give (in my experience) excellent service also.

 

auldreekie

 

 

I have heard this but never had any trouble with my dealings with him, in fact quite the opposite. a bit difficult to get hold of that's all

 

What I have found with all suppliers and businesses is that sometimes communication gets confused (either way) which can lead to frustration, misunderstandings perhaps sometimes annoyance.

[auldreekie]

I would not have posted as I did without good reason.  I'm glad that others,  probably a majority of others,  receive good and civil service direct from him.  I have no wish to damage his business:  far from it:  the product is often excellent.  But I'm afraid that I have known him to indulge in unprovoked aggressive behaviour for no reason apparent to me.  

 

No doubt running a cottage industry supplying the railway modelling fraternity,  like all other paid ways of life,  has its frustrating and irritating moments.   I have no idea why I was singled out more than once to receive the backwash:  he won't ever make a fortune out of me,  but I don't doubt I've spent several hundreds of pounds with him over the years,  as well as recommending several of his products to others.

 

"Be warned,  but support his product" is the message from me,  and I do not intend to resile from it.

 

auldreekie

[hayfield]

26 minutes ago, auldreekie said:

I would not have posted as I did without good reason.  I'm glad that others,  probably a majority of others,  receive good and civil service direct from him.  I have no wish to damage his business:  far from it:  the product is often excellent.  But I'm afraid that I have known him to indulge in unprovoked aggressive behaviour for no reason apparent to me.  

 

No doubt running a cottage industry supplying the railway modelling fraternity,  like all other paid ways of life,  has its frustrating and irritating moments.   I have no idea why I was singled out more than once to receive the backwash:  he won't ever make a fortune out of me,  but I don't doubt I've spent several hundreds of pounds with him over the years,  as well as recommending several of his products to others.

 

"Be warned,  but support his product" is the message from me,  and I do not intend to resile from it.

 

auldreekie

 

 

Use one of the many retailers who supply his products, they will be most pleased with your custom. Roxey Mouldings and 247 to name 2 who have given me sterling service

[cctransuk]

12 minutes ago, hayfield said:

 

 

Use one of the many retailers who supply his products, they will be most pleased with your custom. Roxey Mouldings and 247 to name 2 who have given me sterling service

 

Wizard Models too.

 

John Isherwood.

[auldreekie]

20 hours ago, hayfield said:

 

 

Use one of the many retailers who supply his products, they will be most pleased with your custom. Roxey Mouldings and 247 to name 2 who have given me sterling service

 

And Mozzer Models

 

I already gave this general advice,  but hesitated to nominate any particular intermediate supplier,  since I have had consistently good service from all the above.

 

auldreekie

[Barry Ten]

On 01/06/2020 at 21:51, Petri Sallinen said:

 

Fortunately we had one bottle of liquorice spirit with (this is the very typical Finnish stuff) to give that for the present.

 

 

Petri Sallinen

Helsinki, Finland

 

 

 

Delicious stuff!

[hayfield]

6 hours ago, auldreekie said:

 

And Mozzer Models

 

I already gave this general advice,  but hesitated to nominate any particular intermediate supplier,  since I have had consistently good service from all the above.

 

auldreekie

 

 

Mozzer Models is now closed

 

I think he may now have something to do with 247 models which has been mentioned

[spamcan61]

6 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

 

Delicious stuff!

Kiitos mutta ei kiitos; I am partial to a bag of Turkinpippuri though.

[mozzer models]

33 minutes ago, hayfield said:

 

 

Mozzer Models is now closed

 

I think he may now have something to do with 247 models which has been mentioned

you are right Mozzer Models was when i was building kits for others

I now along with Miss LMS run 247 Developments 

we do stock a large range of the Markits items  

get it touch via the Web site http://247developments.co.uk/

or https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/profile/29567-247-developments/