[Doug]

I think that it's a great idea to try-before-you-buy (if you can).

The Hornby system looks like it will be a hit. A great way to expand your DCC requirements - very cheaply.

If I was to get a new DCC system today, I would go for something that is compatible with the Hornby system. So I would look for an Xpressnet system.

Remember that you can't run more than one Command station on a layout, so if you get a command station today, the Hornby Elite and Hornby Select will not work with it as they are both Command stations.

If you picked up a Lenz Set 90 with a LZV100 Command station, you could use it with the included LH90 cab controller (round knob) and then add more cabs as required for £69.00 per LH90.

No doubt hornby will release cab controllers at a leter date.

 

[Doug]

I've edited the post above that I made last night as I realised that the Hornby Select was also a Command station. For a moment there I though that it was a simple cab controller, but it is sold with the sets so it has to be a control station - albeit a simplified one.

 

[Doug]

On the Walters site, they sell the Prodigy Advance for a 'sale' price of $249.98 (regular price: $329.98) and the Prodigy Express for $129.98 (regular price: 184.98).

The UK RRP for a Lenz 90 set is about £200. At Tony's Train Exchange (in the US), you can get it for $229.95 (£130). For a German product sold in the US, go figure...

Tony's Prodigy Advance (3.5 Amp) is $229.95 (£130) List: $329.98. The Prodigy Express DCC System is $119.95 (£67.71) List: List $169.98.

I've bought from Tony's a few times. I buy all my Lenz decoders there. Very reasonable shipping and no taxes.

Just remember that the UK 'edition' is £225.00...

The Prodigy Advance system needs a power supply giving 15-16 volts AC or 16-17 volts DC, 3.5 Amps. Not too difficult to find in the UK. If you buy anything from the US - ask them to take out the 110V transformer. For one it won't work here and for two it will save on the postage. You may even get a discount for letting them have it back.

 

[Doug]

I buy plenty of 'stuff' from overseas. In France everything is more expensive - why? - don't know... iPods are $100 more expensive, slotcars and trains are more expensive, DVD's and CD's are more expensive, books, computers, software... the list goes on.

Import duties are a required tax when importing from overseas. A European country sees an import as taxable so they will charge you tax - via the transporter. The collection of tax is the issue. DHL, UPS and Fedex are well equipped to handle taxes and they will quite often bill you later for the tax. UPS less so, but DHL every time. From the States, if they ship United Stated Postal Service (USPS) then there is no tax added. If the parcel is small enough it will come through without getting checked for tax.

I'm putting my money where my mouth is - I am testing a Lenz USB PC interface and I find that it's not working with my old Arnold system. So I'm buying a new Lenz Control unit and Cab controller (Set 100). I'm getting it at Tony's after looking for a cheaper shop in Europe. I sometimes buy from Lokshop (www.lokshop.de), but Tony's even with transport is still cheaper.

 

[Doug]

As an e-commerce addict, I have developed some tricks.

I sometimes order a small item from someone to see how its handled before ordering other more expensive stuff. My recent purchase from Lokshop in Germany was a case in point. I bought some Lenz items at a good price. I didn't see the final shipping as the system said it would have to be calculated. Then they added 0.4% Insurance; they charged €8.87 flat shipping and an extra €1.16 weight related shipping, then they added 4% of the total for a handling fee. I think that a handling fee based on a percentage of the sale is just greedy. It should be packing, and cost of getting the item to the post office or transporter if any. If I had bought the items from Tony's in the USA, it would of been cheaper overall.