Ripped Off by ModelBuilder.Info

[Red Oak & Western]

Notice to all:

Use extreme caution in dealing with ModelBuilder.Info! I ordered their CD of clip art and received a BLANK DISK. It took three months and over a dozen emails to get a disk that actually had data on it. In reviewing the disk, there were many duplicates and lots of just plain garbage. I sent the disk back the next day under their "30-Day Money-Back GUARANTEE!" and have been waiting over a month to receive a refund. I also noticed that they have switched their advertising from Model Railroader to RMC. I have to wonder if MR got enough complaints about them that they dropped their ads.

Kevin Johnson, General Manager
Red Oak & Western Railway Company

[modelbob]

I've never dealt with them, but I can't imagine why they'd rip folks off like that. They're asking $25 (OK, 24.95) for a CD with clipart on it. Once they put the disk together, it's almost pure profit, as blank CD's are very cheap in bulk.

The product they offer sounds like it would be useful and reasonable. I'm sorry to hear they're not following through on what they promise.

> they have switched their advertising from Model Railroader to RMC...

I don't know about RMC, but ads in MR are VERY expensive. Back when I started the forum, I gave the ad department at Trains a call and said "I'm thinking about running some ads in your magazine, can you please send me a rate sheet?" They sent me a beatiful package, lots of info, sample issue of the magazine, and the rates. I can't recall exactly what they were, but it was definitely in the hundreds of dollars (or thousands, depending on size and location) per month. Obviously they're the premier magazine in the field, but it's certainly not cheap to run ads there.