Perhaps others have pointed this out, but I still like Bachmann for their customer service.
True, the product is not the top of the line, and one might argue that a generous return/replacement policy is necessitated by products that arrive with more flaws than top line models, but…
I still am impressed with a company that mails me back a brand new USRA 2-10-2 (after-the-fact correcton: my wrong of course: should read 4-8-2) Heavy Mountain for $20 (they spent the full amount on postage sending it back too!) when what I sent them was a quite dismantled version that never worked right from new, but which was far out of warranty.
It wasn’t a DDC-equipped model. I had installed a decoder to make the darned thing run (no luck) so Bachmann mailed me back my decoder and one of their own as well…even if it is a very basic decoder…the fellow just thought it would be easier than me hardwiring another in.
Well, I have several Spectrum steamers, and I am not afraid to get more.
Just a small correction, Gerome. If it is a 2-10-2, it is called a Santa Fe type, and if it is a Mountain of any description, it would have the 4-8-2 arrangement.
I don’t disagree with your assessment of Bachmann, but I would say all manufacturers have had their share of attaboys from appreciative product users who have had problems…every one of them. In fact, Tom White will tell you that the much vaunted brass, the supposed pinnacle of railroading in scale, has many issues historically. I don’t know if it is true across the brass board, but I haven’t heard otherwise.
-Crandell
P.S.- I sent you a PM some time back…did you see it?
Thank you. My silly mistake. I know better. I have 3 of each.
BTW, are all USRA 2-10-2s called Santa Fe’s? I have one of those IHC CN Santa Fe’s that has different detailing on the top than my 2 Spectrum 2-10-2s and it has that condensing or expansion tank at the top front of the boiler. And while the IHC was designated as Sante Fe on the packaging, the Spectrums are not.
The generic name of the 2-10-2 wheel arrangement is “Santa Fe”, as the ATSF was (I think) the first road to order and receive one. This practice was used frequently - the 2-8-2 is called the Mikado, after the title of the Emperor of Japan, whose railroad ordered the first of that wheel arrangement, and the Northern (4-8-4) was named after the Northern Pacific, which ordered the first ones of that wheel arrangement. The list goes on… Some roads would, however, rename their locos to differentiate them from those of other railroads. The NYC Niagara (4-8-4) and Mohawk (4-8-2) are prime examples.
That “condensing or expansion tank” is the top of the heat exchanger for a Worthington feedwater heater - it preheats the water going into the boiler so not as much heat is lost by cold water entering the boiler.
Oh, and I agree with you regarding Bachman’s customer service. I had a Spectrum 2-8-0 go bad with disintegrated motor brushes after I’d had it more than a year. I had never sent in the warranty card, so I wrote and asked them what the price of a new motor would be. A week later, I received an entire motor, weight, gears/belt assembly, with all wiring, free! No letter, just a heavy little box. All good. I can’t wait for them to come out with a Spectrum Pacific
I never had much luck with Bachmann diesels, and I mean the Spectrum ones, at least in N scale. But I did need to use their customer service once and they were very helpful. My friends had an N scale steamer from them and said it was a good model, so apparently their steam locomotives are better. I think Bachmann specializes more in large stuff…?
I had to contact the Atlas service department. Was not a pleasant experience to say the least.
I also had dealing with Walthers and will not likely buy any more of their products. Other than telling me what a great product I had purchased they were of no help. I will continue to deal with Bachmann thank you very much. At least they honour their warranty.
I also purchased several Intermountain engines and had a couple of minor problems which were solved quickly with their service department.
Bachmann Customer Services has always been great with me. Never had an issue. Always willing to help and sending my replacement parts quickly. I love the diesels thats who I am but my dad has 2 steamers havent had an issue and I own one of there shays and not a problem.
Life-Like P2K (before walthers buy out) I have a GP30 Santa Fe had no bell and the instructions said it should have a bell. SO they didnt have the right part and sent me a new GP30 shell.
Walthers I have never had a problem with them at all. But then again I know a guy there that if I need something from walthers products he can help me out with the parts. And also today I got a nice email from CSR and they let me know a certain passanger car I wanted was in.
Atlas helps but not as fast as the others. I had issues with my undecorated F150’s took forever to get straight what was wrong and then it didnt take to long to get them.
Atlas isn’t flawless…There’s been several topics on troublesome Atlas locomotives.Folks doesn’t seem to moan as loud about Atlas and Kato when they are faulty.
I seen Bachmann locomotives run for hours during the week of fair and other open houses that’s why I take everything I read on forums with lots of salt…Real life doesn’t always agree with on line moaning.
This is what happens when one is a member of clubs,visit other clubs and interact with other modelers while railfanning.
I’ve got one of the Peter Witt trolleys, and I’m very happy with it. Before I bought it, I exchanged a couple of e-mails with Bachmann’s sales people. They were very helpful, and answered questions promptly.
Although this trolley is not available with sound from Bachmann, they nevertheless designed it with a built-in speaker enclosure, and some empty space up top above the passenger area where I was able to add a sound decoder. They also produced the model in an “undecorated” flavor, so I was able to do my own paint job more easily. Although I don’t run a trolley wire, the model is wired with a small toggle switch on the bottom of the chassis which selects track or overhead pole for power.
They put some thought into this, and gave us features that were a pleasant surprise when I opened up the box.
I have a handful of bachman steamers and many many diesels. I don’t think they are the nicest looking, but unless your counting rivets or tanks or piping they are fine. I will admit, if all diesels started at $100 and steamers “started” at $200, I might have passed on this hobby. I’m sure the hobby would slowly die out as well. If a youngster couldn’t get the bachman dc units and lifelike rolling stock, with secondhand brass track, how could he get interested and hooked? The guarantee is the icing on the cake.
I didn’t post this, but what ended up happening, I got my power pack and new engine, but they only sent the shell with no trucks. The trucks were what I wanted from it, so, another call later, I have my old engine back. Needless to say, I’m not too pleased with Bachmann. But, for most of the locos they make, it’s either Bachmann or brass, so I guess I’m stuck with Bachmann for now.