BLUE BOX fans:
At the Athearn homepage is a new PDF file with the kits that they will produce in 2004.
http://www.athearn.com/Media/NewKits.pdf
BigBoy4015
Went to the site, but there is a “We’re sorry” type of message. Apparently Athearn is having diifficulties with the website. They’re working on getting it back on line though.
Looks like the thing to do is to check it every now and then. When the site is back up, one of us should post it on this thread so everyone else can take a look at it.
Thanks!
Still out as of 4:00PM forum time.
kitskitskitskitskitskitskits!! WOOHOO!! 
Before the Horizon takeover, Athearn had an excellent website – it was particularly strong in showcasing new products.
Apparently the IT people at the new parent company are in the process of revamping the Athearn site to make it just as incomprehensible and annoying as the Horizon website. (Ever look at it? I defy you to find any product you’re interested in without wading through pages of stuff that couldn’t possibly interest you.)
I don’t know if the IT people know anything about marketing in general, but they sure don’t seem to have a clue what the Athearn product line is (or was)(?) about.
I truly HATE the new Athearn site! It used to be if I wanted to look for, say, a GP60 I could click “HO” then “locos” then “4 axle units” then “GP60”. Now to find the same loco I have to click “HO locos” and wade through HUNDREDS of locos to find what I want! [:(!][:(!][:(!]
I’m recalling an old adage…“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
I send them my suggestion for how their site should be arranged (or should I say deranged, as that is a more accurate term for their current site?). The Advanced Search looks like a part of it. They said in their news letter that are not finished yet.
Still out as of 2:12 am forum time [:(!][:(!][:(!]
It’s alive!
Do they take December off?
I am glad to see some kits listed that I want to get.
Perhaps I’m a little slow.
But can someone please explain to us: WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE WAY THE SITE WAS BEFORE?! I know fully well that people are often irritated when changes occur, but as long as it’s for the better they get used to it. So where’s the silver lining in this change? The old site was not “perfect” (what is?) but it was fairly easy for even a “klutz” like me to navigate.
A friendly suggestion from a customer to Athearn/Horizon managers:
Next time do a little more marketing research before “zipping ahead at full throttle on rough track!” [:0] All you had to do was study your competition’s websites and basically “duplicate the one that seemed the easisest to use”. Businesses do this very often to attract and keep customers! ( LifeLike, Atlas, Kato and even Broadway Limited are very Klutz Friendly".)
IMHO - When it comes to ease of navigation; LIfeLike’s website wins hands down!!
Peace out!
W00T! They have a GP60 in SP!! [tup] [:D]
They list a GP7 that is due to come out in October. I wonder if it will be a new scale width hood or the same old crappy wide hood that Athearn has had for eternity…
On that GP7 hood, do you have to be close and measure it, or can you tell it’s too wide from 5’ away?
Hey enduringexp,
When an Athearn GP7 and an Atlas or LifeLike GP7 are coupled together, the Athearn is grossly oversized (widthwise). The same thing with their GP35 compared to a Kato GP35. Once you see it, you notice it for the rest of your life…even from 5’ away.
BC
Precisley why I replaced mine with Atlas and Front Range(Trains Unlimited) units before P2K even did thiers!