I dropped one of my spectrum engines, and I got some bent axles, and prolly a bent frame. The shell was off when I dropped it. So I swapped all the bent axles with the my sd45 that I already had sitting aside for binding problems that I could not fix and all the drive shafts were wallowed out.
I have heard all of you guys say great things about their repair service, even though out of the box they maybe junk.
Just how good are they
I would love to have any all input.
the sd45 had binding problems out of the box. and now drive shafts wallowed and will not stay on.
the c-40-8w was dropped on the floor, bent axles and such.
I do not have the warrenty card.
I figure at least it will cost me 10 dollars per loco per their website.
Well first of all I think the newer spectrum diesels are actually pretty nice, and the price is right. Anyway I had a 44 tonner a couple years ago, one of the 2 motor ones. Long story short one of the motor’s windings came undone while running and wrapped round and round and it was a big mess. I shipped the engine back to bachmann with a $10 bill and waited. and waited… and waited…
I figured they werent going to ever send it back, but about 8 months after I sent it in, I recieved a box from Bachmann, inside was a brand new single motor 44 tonner. Of course I was happy about that and that engine still runs on my layout today.
So basically, if you can wait, thier customer service is great, but if you are in a hurry to get a repair you would be better off buying replacement parts.
My experience was with a G scale 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler. A gear had cracked causing the drive mechanism to bind and a few other smaller details had broken. I sent it back and got a replacement in a month or less. I give them high reviews.
I would wait for a few more responses, I just thought as I was reading your last post that since I sent in a dual motor and they sent me back a single motor there could have been a reason for the wait, a couple months after I sent mine in I remember seeing that they were going to make one with 1 motor and I was considering buying one, so it could be that instead of repairing mine they waited until they had stock of the new ones and sent me one of those, I dont know if they would be faster on a true repair. But if the frame on yours is bent they may end up just replacing the loco anyway.
I’ve sent back two diesels at different times for repair / replacement. They were under warranty. I contacted their customer service department by email to tell them the problem and they emailed me back instructions on where to send it.
Both times I received the replacement within two weeks.
I had a Bachmann engine on which one of the motor bearings had gone south. They replied to my email/web form query within a day or so. They unfortunately no longer made the motor but would replace the entire engine for the “processing fee” (which, I think, was about 15 bucks in this case).
I have heard all of you guys say great things about their repair service, even though out of the box they maybe junk.
Just how good are they
Well i did get a new Spectrum after calling 3 times on the squeek i had in my SD 45. BUT i was told by Spectrum Service themselves The only thing you can really do to these without voiding the warrantee is to lube (do not overlube) the gears. If you open the diesel in any way and they realize it u will be out of luck. Be especially careful of the bottem gear case cover, if u try to remove it it will crack. (not made to come off like others) You will need the reciept (not the warrantee card) to get any help from them.
I already got a response from them, and I told them that I dropped it and that I know there are bent axles. I know the warrenty is voided, and they told me as such, but they said send a 10 dollar fee, and they would replace my locos.
My Heavy Mountain fell of the track smacking into a wood bird perch then to the floor. My grandfather gave it a temporary fix, and it ran a good month or two. Then it died, I sent to Bachmann, four months later there is a package for me. Inside, A brand new Heavy Mountain.
My Connie bound up and the rods popped out and shredded themselves. I sent it back to Bach and recieved a new Connie 2 months later (I live in Canada so the extra time is justified). The only problem I had was that my loco was a CN limited edtion from PWRS and they sent me back a Rock Island with my old CN tender. It seems they were unable or unwilling to get the shell off the KO’d unit. Unfortunately the black is not the same so I’ll had to do a repaint. At least I would have liked a reason.
Well from what I am hearing, it is worth the chance to buy a junk or non junk loco, and then just send it back. The way I see it now, I do not feel as bad with dropping them, they well be better than new or maybe even new when they come back.
My wife had already gave me premission to replace my brothers loco, but this way seems better for the value of the buck.
and I say permission cause she grounded me from ebay. and 20 bucks plus shipping for both seems like a real good deal.
If this goes well when I get them back I will post my results, that seems fair since you all have set my fears at ease.
I tell you what, when I dropped them last night, it felt like I just ran over my dog.
It sounds like the evening was grim and the model has suffered major damage.
The Bachmann Customer Services sound decent from all of the replies, but even is it was not great, the model must be sent back to get it repaired correctly.
I had a real noisy GP40 that I purchased from a show in April. The receipt did not show separate items only the grand total for the purchase which was more than just for the GP40. I emailed Bachmann’s customer service and told them about the receipt and the problem I was having with the new loco. I had sent in the warrantee right after purchasing it so they had that. A month had passed before I contacted them and I thought they would still require the receipt. However, the person that replied gave me the address where it should be shipped, he said to send it to his attention and that not having the receipt wasn’t a problem.
They sent me a new unit within 2 weeks. Unfortunately the brand new unit had the same problem. I emailed them immediately to let them know the new unit had the same problem. Again they said to send it back and they would correct the problem. The third one arrived within 2 weeks again and it did work ok.
The only problem is I had to pay for shipping back to Bachmann 2 times. Something like $4.50 each time.
I have 12 Bachmann standard diesels, 1 Spectrum 44 ton switcher and 6 Specturm steamers. Out of all of them I’ve had problems with two steamers and the two diesel
BACHMANN service is “so good” - because they seldom repair anything. It’s cheaper for them to just ‘EXCHANGE’ the product for a modest fee - rather than pay local technition hourly rates.
I just sent them off today. They will be there thursday.
I also sent an email to them stating that fact. I also wrote a very nice letter to them telling them how tey have now a brand loyal customer. I did not take all the credit for being brand loyal. All of you have that have supported me in this event over the last 24 hours has played and equal role in me becoming brand loyal.
I also posted the link to this thread in the email and requested it be reveiwed by managment.
I am just afraid they do not get the praise that we give. I think sometimes the praise for a company may very well stop here with the forum.
I again felt like it was only fair to give you all credit where credit is due.
I intend to find this post again when they come back and let you know how it went.
I think this a good stuff.
Oh, and also I new to the forum.
I was reading post the other day that it is proper to have an introduction thread, but at this point I am not sure that I am going to start another thread.