NGS The Thompson BGs have at last arrived

[Snowwolflair]

Got the please pay now email a few minutes ago.

Just paid for my two and looking forward to see how they have turned out.

[Topcat]

Not had an email, but the NGS man at tings said if you prepay then you can pick up at Warley.

[middlefour]

Just had my email which shows the wrong one! Sent off my cheque with a copy of the deposit invoice so double check what is states on the email.

[Newportnobby]

Yeehah!
Need to pay the balance on my BR lined maroon version then.

[RailGooner]

Just had my email which shows the wrong one! ...

Just paid the balance on my Teak, which was correctly described in the email.

I wonder though if Gill and co. have created unnecessary work for themselves by billing online payments as 'sundry items'. I didn't find a box to enter my original order number, so I imagine a manual process to link my order for 'sundry items' with my 'deposit' order. A manual process which would need to be repeated in volume.

[Shiney Sheff]

Paid for mine too, but do wonder when they will arrive, as it says the shop is closed for the first 3 weeks of October

[Snowwolflair]

Paid for mine too, but do wonder when they will arrive, as it says the shop is closed for the first 3 weeks of October

Not sure they are on holiday, they have probably gone somewhere quiet, dark and soothing while they figure out the ordering chaos.

[zopadooper]

Before the comments get really vitriolic let us put this into perspective.

This is the first time that the Society has used bulk email to advise members that a long awaited product is available.  One of the reasons for the advance email was to check out the orders, some of which were placed to a previous incarnation of the Shop over 3 years ago and have been transferred onto the current system from a dubious spreadsheet.

Rather than slag the Society off on this forum we would ask that if your email suggests that the order is incorrect that you contact the Shop, just like it asks in the email.

If you haven't received an email then it is probably because you have failed to advise the Society that you have changed your email address since joining.  We have had hundreds of bounced emails from incorrect addresses.

Both the email and the announcement in the latest journal state that distribution will not start until early November.  You may choose to think that we deliberately  booked our holiday to coincide with the distribution of the model.  When we booked our holiday even the manufacturers could not predict when they would arrive.  As recently as June 2016 they were unsure!!

We also know from the comments we read that many Forum members believe they could a better job of running the Shop.  Please feel free to apply (providing you are a member of the Society).

Gill Reed - N Gauge Society Shop Manager
Alan Reed - N Gauge Society Treasurer

[Snowwolflair]

Before the comments get really vitriolic let us put this into perspective.

This is the first time that the Society has used bulk email to advise members that a long awaited product is available.  One of the reasons for the advance email was to check out the orders, some of which were placed to a previous incarnation of the Shop over 3 years ago and have been transferred onto the current system from a dubious spreadsheet.

Rather than slag the Society off on this forum we would ask that if your email suggests that the order is incorrect that you contact the Shop, just like it asks in the email.

If you haven't received an email then it is probably because you have failed to advise the Society that you have changed your email address since joining.  We have had hundreds of bounced emails from incorrect addresses.

Both the email and the announcement in the latest journal state that distribution will not start until early November.  You may choose to think that we deliberately  booked our holiday to coincide with the distribution of the model.  When we booked our holiday even the manufacturers could not predict when they would arrive.  As recently as June 2016 they were unsure!!

We also know from the comments we read that many Forum members believe they could a better job of running the Shop.  Please feel free to apply (providing you are a member of the Society).

Gill Reed - N Gauge Society Shop Manager
Alan Reed - N Gauge Society Treasurer

Please don't be so jumpy.  I think we are all aware of the mess you inherited, and you have all our sympathies.

[Mark]

Dear Gill and Alan,

£16 per year.  And what do we get for it?   

An excellent range of Society kits.

An excellent and growing selection of ready to run models (probably none of which would otherwise exist) and many of which grace my layout.

A shop with an enormously comprehensive range of stock run by helpful, reliable people (who are clearing up what was clearly one hell of a mess).

An email helpline which in my experience responds within 24 hours with helpful, useful advice that I haven't been able to find elsewhere, including online forums.

A bi-monthly magazine packed with interesting, useful, n-gauge focused features which is at the least the equal of the mainstream monthly magazines.

A competition with excellent (that word again) prizes (not that I've ever won one of them).

A healthy number of Area groups up and down the country.

A mouthpiece for the hobby, a lobby group, a pressure group, even.

I'm sure I've missed other benefits, they're just the ones that immediately spring to mind.

Modelling consumes many hundreds of my hard earned pounds a year and the very best 16 of them is spent every year renewing my membership.  Where else would you get all this for such a small sum? 

I'm always bewildered when I hear criticism of the Society, although I don't think the above posts were meaning to be critical, just making observations.  Clearly, though, on the eve of your previously announced break, Farish, or their Chinese manufacturers, could not have picked a more untimely moment to deliver several thousand boxes.

Go on holiday and don't worry about it for 3 weeks safe in the knowledge that most, if not all, of us are profoundly grateful for the time, effort and support that you and all the Society's officers volunteer.

Thank you,

Mark

[dannyboy]

I can only agree wholeheartedly with the comments made by Mark.  Well said that man! 

[Stuart7358]

Totally agree with what Mark said, membership of the society is the best £16 I spend and I appreciate all that those who run the society do. I look forward to receiving my Thompson when they have had their break.

Stuart

[Topcat]

Here!here! for the n gauge society , love it!

[Roy L S]

I couldn't agree more with Mark's comments.

I received an e-mail for one, the lined maroon one, but not the second unlined maroon I ordered at the same time. I paid £36 i.e. the balance due for each plus postage and e-mailed Gill to tell her what I had done. Even though off on hols tomorrow she still replied to confirm that if payment had bee made for two I would get two, so they have clearly thought about how they will reconcile payments to orders.

I think that Gill and Alan have done (and continue to do) an absolutely amazing job of getting the NGS Shop sorted out and back up and running as they have. They do this for nothing, I too am very grateful that they are willing to do so.

I am looking forward to receiving my BGs and hoping against hope that this will be the catalyst to kick off a Farish range of Thompson coaches too.

Keep up the great work Gill and Alan and enjoy a well deserved break.

Roy

[RailGooner]

Ditto what @Mark said.

I'm filled with wonder, and gratitude for the great job done by all the Officers of the Society.