I know we need decent packaging to get our Locomotive and wagons, coaches onto our railway, but are products over packaged and how much does the packaging cost and could cheaper packaging be used?
Stick with what we get currently would be my advice. I have seen too many companies trying to save money by cutting back the packaging to save a few cents on items worth hundreds of dollars. All that happened was that more product got damaged and customer dissatisfaction rose. This happened to a company I worked for, a large US manufacturer with on shore manufacture, so there could not be the excuse of "the factory in China/India? Vietnam let us down". Like I say, lets accept slightly more and get undamaged locos. Just my 2 bob's worth. Cheers, Bill.
The packaging issue has been discussed on other threads, but it is my experience with new stock be it rolling or locomotives, that the most damage done to it is getting it out of the box, BY ME.
I have recent experience of the difference that good packaging can make. I have subscribed to an Atlas editions collection of fire engines (another of my diverse interest). The ones made by Oxford Diecast come in a clear plastic box, with the model secured to the base by screws, and held in place in the box by a clear plastic former. Everyone of these has been received fully intact. The balance of the collection is made by Ixo and the model is secured only by screws through the base. Over 50 % of the models arrived with loose pieces, or major damage where the screws have let go. On the plus side I have a varied collection of fire engine spares from the damaged ones as Atlas send replacement models but don't ask for the broken ones to be returned.
Provided extracting models from the packaging does not cause damage I would prefer a more rather than less approach, and I would prefer added details to have locating holes and not just a spot of glue to keep them in place.
I'm not keen on the 'push through' foam that used to be used by Farish/Dapol and am much happier with the clear plastic sleeve and 'hinged' plastic container. I've not suffered damage in transit but didn't like handling the foam in case I broke something :worried:
Just my thoughts.
The Dapol packaging is certainly solid, I've had two locos sent all the way to Japan with no problems. Even though the first packet (cardboard box) was full of bubble sheet packing but the genius who packed it placed the loco box on the bottom of the packing box.
OTOH like others have mentioned, it grips the locos very tightly and needs care to take them out and replace them.
Worst offender is however Farish with their Deltic packaging insert, which is all plastic and clamps down on the locomotive and looks like it's designed to break bits off the body.
Yep, my Deltic is minus a buffer just by extracting it. My BP is also minus an exhaust pipe for same reason. And I was being extremely careful, honest, m'lud!
You'll hear me say something is rubbish from the Poole factory for the first time here ... yes, the packaging - it drives me nuts!
The old Poole boxes are a nightmare to open and get the locos out. I use either a small ruler or carefully use a knife, slipping either behind the flap to prize it open. Otherwise you end up damaging the box by trying to pick the flap open. Many you buy secondhand are like this and you can really tell the difference between those and the ones where people have been careful to get the locos out of their boxes.
I first saw someone sung the ruler to open a box in Jane's Trains in Tooting, South London.
Once you have got the flap open, you need to pull the card tray out, which has the plastic "loco shaped" tray within it. Getting this out, I again use something thin to prize it out. Using your fingers you just end up damaging the box.
Once this is open, often the clear plastic window has either come loose or folded back on the inside, meaning it's difficult to slide the tray in or out.
Transport via post often means a loco arrives that has smashed through the plastic tray (the plastic is brittle - possibly due to age) and occasionally breaks the clear plastic window, since this is thin. A good seller will place a piece of tissue or bubble wrap between the loco and window, or slip the guarantee card on to of the loco, protecting the box window.
Not really related to new packaging I'll admit, but thought some of you might be interested. Some Dapol Intercity MkIII's arrived the other day ... fantastic boxes, but boy oh boy do they take up space :doh:
Dan
Quote from: Geoff on January 06, 2015, 06:55:39 AM
I know we need decent packaging to get our Locomotive and wagons, coaches onto our railway, but are products over packaged and how much does the packaging cost and could cheaper packaging be used?
I don't know the actual cost per item, but I was told the difference between the card box Farish use for coaches and the hard plastic box used for locos was around 20p. Given the much higher value of a loco I think it is worth those few pence extra for the additional protection it gives...