AFG

Here is my update - Some 4 weeks ago I wrote to South Ayrshire Trading Standards, outlining (detailing would have needed far too much paper) the history of my single attempted purchase from Modelmaster. I got a call today from a Trading Standards Officer, he was visiting Modelmaster this afternoon to discuss my complaint, presumably with Mr J Grindlay, he said he will call me in the next weeks ??? to tell me the outcome. On a positive note, I ordered the loco nameplates, I first ordered from Modelmaster in September 2021 (which I am still waiting for) from Fox Transfers 10 days ago, they arrived today. A couple of £ more than Modelmaster’s 2021 price and £4 more than Modelmaster is now selling them for (assuming he actually delivers them) BUT woo-hoo, high 5, I have what I wanted, £29 outlay altogether, after waiting over a year, don’t anybody dare call me a “want it yesterday customer” What is missing from the industry that supports our hobby is a standard setting association, many, many other trades and industries have them, nor do we have a critical model railway press, how often does Railway Modeller, British Railway Modelling or Hornby magazines publish complaints such as these on RMWeb, or report on R-to-R models that fail after a few hours operation? If you are modeller unaware of RMWeb or YouTubers such as Sam’s Trains, you have no chance of avoiding poor products or lemon retailers. Against that, after decades modelling, I have come across very few instances of poor products and poor customer service, but three failures have cost me a lot of money in repairs - I won’t buy Heljan steam outline again without reading positive results from long term testing.

Here is my update - Still no nameplates delivered, so after several calls to this wonderful business last week, none answered, and getting the ‘Mailbox Full’ message, and after now over a year since I placed my order I have lost patience, and am writing a letter of complaint to:- South Ayrshire Trading Standards 5/7 River Terrace AYR KA8 0BJ email:- cabac@south-ayrshire.gov.uk I suggest all fellow complainants recorded in this thread do the same - I do not know what action or sanctions Trading Standards can take against Modelmaster, BUT, at least I now feel I have taken some retaliatory action.

I ordered 61605 Lincolnshire Regt 00 nameplates on 9/9/21. After a number of calls over the first few months I eventually had a call answered by Modelmaster Jim Grindlay, assuring me the plates would be delivered, they weren’t. I missed the 120 day limit for credit card refund. After many more calls, and excuses about shortage of brass and managing an 18000 product range, in August 2022, Modelmaster Jim Grindlay said he had my nameplates ready for delivery, he had also reduced the prices on his website, and said he would refund the difference. Another 3 weeks - no nameplates - another call, “the plates have a blemish, I can’t let you have them” - “I’ll take them as they are” I replied. Another week, another call “ It’s a postal strike , there are sackfuls in Ayr Sorting Office” he said. I’m just back from a holiday hoping the plates had been delivered - nope. I’m a ‘lone wolf’ modeller, now 73, had a railway since I was 7, first time I felt angry enough to go public like this. I have never come across a more shambolic, dissembling outfit, the job is obviously beyond him. I’ll be ringing again next Tuesday (Queen’s funeral Monday) I suspect the blemished plates haven’t been posted, I also suspect he won’t send more or refund my £13.38 he’s now had for over a year. I’ll update next week.