--- In yardbirdtrains@..., "Denis Long" <avanti78@...> wrote:
Some good points here. I wasn't trying focus on Athearn, specifically, but
on the use of plastic gears. I like Athearn's customer policies. For
instance, I had a Challenger that had been in its box since 2005, when I
took it out the sound did not work. I wrote them, they told me to send it,
the DCC company is still in business, they repaired it at no cost. They
have done similarly for me, in the past.
I consider their response reasonable, and prudent. After all the model is
twelve years old, the builder is no longer around (I didn't know this).
This is a business, in difficult times.
Bachmann had a lifetime warranty, that I thought was insanely generous.
Send in a junker, you just purchased at a show, and get a new DCC Northern.
Send in your 2-8-2/2-8-0 standard line, with that fabulous pancake motor,
and get a Spectrum Mike. Thousands must have taken advantage of this
policy, fairly or not. Bachmann has given up this warranty, I note that
their new 2-4-4-2 ON30 has a one year warranty.
The reason that our old die cast producers 'always had parts', was that
modelers were willing to pay for, and able to repair, AND their basic parts
never changed.
I do recall a response for the continued use of plastic gears --- noise.
If the noise is so intrusive, then we have an unsolvable situation,
especially concerning DCC sound units. We have become enamored with how
"smooth and QUIET" our locos operate. As though any honkin 2-8-0, FEF, or
diesel whispered down the track--(only coasting on a decline).
Anyway, we have NWSL and others that have stepped into the breach to supply
obsolete, or improved parts.
Denis
** Now with Me I bought a Athearn pacific. Bad drive gear new. They never replaced it. always said they were out of stock. Stupid me I bought the Mikado. Gee bad drive gear new. Not replaced either. Not one to waste I have been stripping them for parts. I am no little kid. I am 67 year sold. I have 100's of Athearn cars and locos. since this happened I have bought NONE. I HOPE THEY GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
