HornbyKiwi

I'm waiting on one of these to arrive at the moment via a box shifter near Liverpool. It's a generic sized box for Hornby and could be purposed for any number of different wagons no doubt. As Rob has noted perhaps the labeling machine was having a bad day, or perhaps the packaging dept labeled up too many boxes for the wagon immediately preceding the Christmas one and didn't want to waste those. Hardly the end of the world I would have thought. HK.

I'm old enough to remember the days of steel track, and steel track from Triang-Hornby with "Made In NZ" stamped on the underside no less. The current Hornby offering compared to when I first entered the hobby is night and day better, I think I've even commented on this previously. My main interaction has been via the occasional train set purchase, but I can't fault it in those terms. As set-track goes, it's as good as anything out there, it's only the range of pieces that holds it back. I've often wondered why it hasn't diversified the range further, you'd think they would have a decent chance of gaining some market share if they did.

Arrived in the post today, 11 pounds & change for the stamps and a couple of pounds to send my way. A nice memento of the Centenary and of Her Majesty as well.

@ Going Spare It is flat rather than tubular so I believe ntpntpntp has correctly identified it at this stage. I need to look at some photos of other people's models to be absolutely sure. HK

@ntpntpntp Thank you, I believe you're right. I've really only had a cursory look at the set so far, I will be leaving it until the weekend to properly unbox everything and get it ready for its first run. I'll assume it is a separately fitted part and hasn't snapped off the model. Should both be easy fixes with a dab of liquid cement I expect (poor eyesight willing). HK

Thank you to von Klinkerhoffe for identification of this part, which was also loose in my set. I also have a second piece which I've not worked out yet, I'll attach a photo including the two errant pieces. Any thoughts appreciated. HK

Well, my set has just been delivered by the local DHL courier. The carton has been opened at one end, but no sticker to indicate it has been opened/inspected by NZ Customs, so not sure what to make of that at this stage. I'm working from home today and have a Teams meeting in about 10 minutes, so a proper unboxing will have to wait until this evening. I will report back on what I find, though the outer shipping carton looks in good condition considering the journey length to get here. HK

Thanks Gents, hopefully we will have a good result this time around. The tracking informs me it left Heathrow last night and that it has already been cleared through NZ Customs while en route. So, unless they have a spot inspection of the carton when it arrives into Auckland, it should travel through to me without being further delayed. The 7th March does seem like quite a conservative estimate of delivery to me, but perhaps this is taking into account the transport issues surrounding Cyclone Gabrielle. HK

Great to hear you've received your set, Fishy. After contacting Hornby customer services last week and being told they would look into it, then suffering through Cyclone Gabrielle and 7 days & 8 hours of no electricity, internet or reliable cellphone connectivity, I've received a couple of emails overnight from CCL and DHL suggesting another train set has been dispatched my way. This one doesn't appear to be vapourware, went through Maidstone in less than two hours, before finding its way to Heathrow. I'm informed by DHL that I can expect delivery by the close of business on 7th March. Let's see how they do. The main highway between Napier where I live and Auckland, where the package will presumably be landed in NZ, is currently closed due to the cyclone and is not expected to opened again for some weeks while they rebuild road and bridges. If DHL do meet their estimate the set will have to be detoured via Palmerston North or Wellington and approach from the south. HK

So, as there's still been no movement on the DHL website as of midday Monday here in NZ, I decided to phone DHL NZ armed with my waybill number and enquire where my trainset might actually be. According to the CSR I spoke to, DHL have not received the package from the supplier. I said to the CSR, "But I have a ten day old email from CCL Logistics on behalf of Hornby Hobbies informing me that they have dispatched a package to my address and providing the DHL link you have just checked." "Sorry, my screen tells me the package is not yet in our system." Of course, the CSR here in NZ could be mistaken as to what might or might not be in DHL UK's possession in Maidstone, however I'm inclined to think she probably has it bang on. After all, if DHL actually had a package for me in Maidstone, they probably would have transported it somewhere ...... anywhere other than Maidstone after ten days. Quite disappointed obviously and I will be contacting Hornby this evening to see what they have to say. HK

@Fishy It was discussed in the thread "Automated Checkout", which is currently on page 7 of this TT sub-forum. Roger brings the free shipping offer to our attention on the 28th October. I provide the requested feedback by way of screenshots indicating that shipping was indeed free for me on my Easterner set pre-order. In the thread "Ordering/Shipping" on the same page of the sub-forum I indicate on the 20th December that shipping charges were back in place for orders at that time. I'm not exactly sure when they were reintroduced, as I don't believe it was highlighted by anyone prior to my mentioning it. That gives you an approximate window when it was in effect. I can confirm that the price indicated in the screenshots was the price I was charged (so freight-free) on my credit card on the 3rd February. If you have been following the "Easterner ETA" thread, you will also know my set appears to be stuck in transit. I have wondered privately if the two things are not unrelated. HK

@Bengal9 Thank you for the update. The fact you got regular tracking updates on your package does not sound promising for mine. If it doesn't arrive tomorrow, and there's still no movement on the DHL website, I think I will get in touch with Hornby and/or DHL on Monday evening our time to enquire. A little disappointing if it has been sitting in the Maidstone depot for the past nine days, hard to understand how it's managed to be ignored for so long when you'd think moving packages through their building is the core task of their business. In spite of all the identified issues, I am looking forward to seeing the product when it finally shows up. It's always hard to fully appreciate the size until you've seen it and held it in your hands. I'm sure I will still be amazed by this despite knowing what to expect in my mind. HK

Nice one Bengal! Still no update on the DHL website indicating any movement of mine from Maidstone. I got my shipping notification last Saturday as well, so I'd like to think my set has been on the same DHL lorries and aircraft as yours headed this way. Perhaps it will show up here on Monday, Cyclone Gabrielle permitting. I'm in Napier, where are you based? HK

Have any of the international purchasers of this set had any update from DHL with respect to shipping to your location? Mine is still showing as sitting in Maidstone some six days after scanning there. I'm hoping this is just an anomaly in their tracking system and the package has been on the move my way for the past week. However, just curious to know what others have experienced with their checks on shipping progress. HK

I don't recall having heard that points will be retrospectively added to orders which predate the introduction of Hornby Rewards. Would obviously be a nice bonus if Hornby were to do so. I had a TT set on pre-order and that was placed prior to Hornby Rewards coming in. Admittedly it's early days yet but the pre-order was released on Friday 3rd and there's been no points, pending or otherwise, for it. My only current club membership is the TT one. HK