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Post by healey36 on Dec 7, 2023 13:28:15 GMT
There's an unsubstantiated rumor out there that Model Train Stuff, the former M. B. Klein's, is closing on December 15. It has appeared on a number of sites, including that of the NMRA. I just got a holiday sale flyer from them two days ago, so I guess we won't know for sure until the 15th.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Dec 7, 2023 22:01:34 GMT
Word has it that they were sold to Hattans of the UK. The location in Timonium Md is to close and the operation is moving out west somewhere.
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Post by healey36 on Dec 8, 2023 14:49:36 GMT
The sale to Hattan's took place a few years ago. Moving an online/warehouse sales operation makes sense if the bulk of your inventory comes from Asia. To be honest, I haven't missed them since they shuttered the store 3-4 years back (perhaps coincident with the buy-out by Hattan's). It was a nice shop to visit; online, not so much.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Dec 8, 2023 15:18:53 GMT
This is the recent FB announcement. The WAREHOUSE in Maryland is closing next week, but it sounds like some folks are reporting orders have shipped from a location in Nebraska. Hattons is the owner of the Model Train Stuff "brand". The MB Klein "brick and mortar" store in Baltimore closed some time ago. So this is essentially a warehouse move.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Dec 8, 2023 18:31:17 GMT
This is the recent FB announcement. The WAREHOUSE in Maryland is closing next week, but it sounds like some folks are reporting orders have shipped from a location in Nebraska. Hattons is the owner of the Model Train Stuff "brand". The MB Klein "brick and mortar" store in Baltimore closed some time ago. So this is essentially a warehouse move.
Unfortunately not if you had a job there and didn't want to move to Nebraska is my guess. But for the inventory, just a different place to hang out.
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Dec 8, 2023 22:08:12 GMT
O.K., quick update: I just got off the phone with MTS, and gleaned a few nuggets:
Yes, their Rewards program *is* going away in a few days, as reported and noted in their recent announcements/emails. Also, their ban on earning *new* Rewards points during recent sales has been extended through the end of the program, so whatever points you currently have is all you'll ever have.
I was stuck at a little over 1,000 points, short of the 1,500 needed to get to the $15 certificate, the lowest they offer, so I called in to see what I could do about that. The very pleasant person I spoke to said I couldn't add any more points, but offered to give me a "manual credit" for $10 instead, which I immediately applied to a small purchase. So, if you have too few points for their smallest "certificate", don't despair -- call in . . . before the 14th!
In that conversation, I bemoaned the recent demise of their COVID-era curbside pickup option, whereupon he said they'd let me pick up my current purchase, the only difference being I'd have to ring the buzzer at the door, rather than text when when I arrived, any time M-F during business hours. So, if you're in the area, ask, and they may be willing to let you pick your order up . . . at least for the near future!
OTOH, he did confirm that the Cockeysville location *would* be closing soon, and that their on-line business would continue from their two other locations, in a manner that he characterized as ultimately being "better for the customer." He wouldn't answer a direct question about whether the Cockeysville staff was either being laid off or relocated, but did say my two proffered options sounded "reasonable", which I took as a "yes". I offered my condolences and wished him and his colleagues all the best, and hastened to pass on the info I'd gotten!
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Post by firewood on Jan 9, 2024 19:15:35 GMT
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Post by Craignor on Jan 9, 2024 20:08:22 GMT
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Post by healey36 on Jan 9, 2024 20:28:38 GMT
...or perhaps this is a case of combining two imploding businesses into one larger imploding business. They seem to be liquidating the UK operation while still solvent, which would suggest the move is voluntary.
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