I am tempted by some of Micro-Mark’s offers in the January and February issues of MR. Some of their prices seem to be quite good, even with the currency exchange rates (I am in Canada). However, I have no idea if Micro-Mark is a reliable store with which to do business. So, before I go risking my hard-earned money (what little I have), I’d like to hear about your dealings with Micro-Mark.
Can those of you who have had dealings with them answer these questions … ?
Do they ship in a timely manner ? Or are they prone to making you wait for months with stories of items being on backorder ?
Is their after-sales service reliable ? If I have a problem with an order or the item(s) I buy, how difficult is it to get a satisfactory outcome ?
Micromart is very reliable. If items are out of stock they will put them on backorder but don’t charge you for them until they are shipped and you will be notified.
Never had a problem with their service ever. Promt help. Access via phone or web. Imediate refunds. Promt shipping. Located in New Jersey.
Everything I’ve heard about them has been positive. Sometimes there prices are high on certain things but they specialize in quality hobby related tools so there’s bound to be some higher priced items. They are a very large comapany that has been around for quite awhile. Once you order with them you will probably start recieving there color catalog in the mail. It well over 100 pages and has some really neat stuff.
Finest kind! I just received on Friday one of two Bachmann On30 rail trucks I ordered from them a while ago (one is for a friend). I’ve ordered from them quite a few times in the past with great success, haven’t had any reason to go back to them for adjustments.
I’m also in Canada, and their US$24.95 shipping can be a bear, so I make sure I’m ordering enough to make it worthwhile or join in with someone else to share the costs.
How did things go with Canada Customs ? Did you have any duties or taxes to pay ? If so, did you have to deal with a customs broker (and their extortionist fees) ?
I’ve ordered from the US (California) before. A couple weeks after delivery, I got a “final notice” bill in the mail from a Vancouver-based customs broker I had never heard of before insisting I owed them money. Since I had never heard of them, I just ignored it – I mean, why pay someone I don’t know for something I didn’t ask for?. Then a collection agency got involved. The problem stemmed from the fact that the customs broker had neglected to attach their invoice with the shipment, so I never knew they were involved. It was resolved quickly with a phone call; but it was still a pain. That hassle often makes me think twice about ordering from other countries (not to mention the currency exchange rates).
PS: I’m still hoping to get to Halifax for the train show in May. Fingers crossed. [:)]
[:)] Ditto to the above ! Except I’ve lost track of how many times I have ordered
from them. Never any problems. Prompt shipping. Lots of cool tools ![8D]
No big deal at all, just have to pay the 15% GST (here in NB anyway) plus the $5.00 collection fee. On the US $79.50 sihpment it was CAN $18.88. I didn’t have the exact change with me, but the mailman accepted my credit card for payment. And Micro Mark listed the price of the item only in the value space, and did not include the shipping charge, which I appreciate so I won’t have to pay GST on the shipping. Some places indicate the whole charge, and you end up paying tax on the shipping costs.
I plan to be at the show in Halifax in May too - look me up!
i’ve also purchased from micro-mark . they delivered quickly and as previously posted i simply got a notice for the GST . i had no problems with my order so i can’t comment on their customer service , but just for fun i looked in a few old MRs and they’ve been advertising there since sometime around 1985-86 . i don’t think a company doing mail order (and now internet) could exist that long if their CS was bad
Yes, they ship in a timely manner… Most stuff has been here within a week (USA).
Yes, in my experience it was… I ordered one of thier A-B 50/50 RTV kits to make some molds for casting details… The package they sent me had 2 part B but no A… I didn’t discover this until a couple months after I had recieved the order… All I had to do was call them, prove that I had made the purchase (save your reciepts) and they sent the part A at no extra charge.
One note of caution though, if you call to place your order, make sure you are ordering from a sales flier or ad otherwise they’ll charge you full price.
[#ditto] what everyone else has said. Very, very good company to do business with. They carry so many items that are not available anywhere else and their products are of the highest quality. I have ordered from them several times and will again (just as soon as I replenti***he Maintainence Fund Account for the RR).
Mirco-Mark is good. I’ve never had any problem witth them. Their prices aren’t always the lowest, but they probably have any odd tool you are lookling for.
I recommend them as well. My only caution would be not to buy every day items such as #11 replacement blades, standard clamps and other comon tools. You will find them in your local hobby or hardware shops much less expensive.
Now for the specialty tools - Mirco Mark is awesome!
I have ordered from them several times, (on line) and I receive emails from them for Item that they are selling at 50% off and have bought several of these specials. They had their Digital Scale on sale, and I ordered one of them. I received it Two days later (I’m in PA - They in NJ). It didn’t work… I emailed them and later the same day, received an answer to pack it up and send it back. Received a new one (that worked) in less than a week. I think they are a very good company to bye from, and still get their special emails.
Over the past several years I have ordered from Micro-Mark severa times. The items were always as advertised and have proverd very satisfactory. I do however oreder from their sales list, either in Model Railroader or from a sales flier as their merchandise can be expensive But it is good merchandise. Not to long ago the owner of the company was in an article on Model Railroader about his own layout. I did not realize the cost of taxes on getting merchandise into Canada was so bad. What ever happen to free trade. Good Luck. Phil
I ordered a Shay and a table saw–both items over $100. I told them that I needed the table saw for a project for my daughter’s school project and they put a complimentary rush on it and it arrived in the nick of time.