Sorry for this worthless topic but I thought I would be kind enough to let you all know that I e-mailed Athearn an idea Model. I requested a prototype of the GEVO because the Tower55’s are just way to pricy. Just this evening Athearn got back to me and they will forward it to the product request line. Let’s see how far this gets. Allan.
Don’t worry,
Give it time! May take a year or more but just as with the SD70s and GE AC units, sooner or later 1, or 2 other manufacturers will start churing this model out. Hopefully Kato or Walthers-Proto 2000 will be contenders.
i think i’ll e-mail Athearn about a GP38-2 w BNSF H3 paint -a GEVO would be cool
I would buy a GEVO, not from athern though after my experience with thier SD70MACs
Why what’s wrong with their SD70MAC’s? My friend has one and he says that they run Great runners. Allan.
maybe it had warped trucks. even so i like Athearn because they’re affoardable.
Hopefully not. Kato is fine, but Walthers-P2K is completely overpriced now.
I e-mailed Athearn about a RTR GP38-2 w/ BNSF H3 paint. And they said they’d forward it to the product research dept. or some other place
I always find it amusing when I read how people email or call manufacturers. Everyone in this hobby is such a manufacturing and marketing whiz. I just wonder why none of the “experts” just start there own companies since they know what is profitable to make and sell?
A lot of people email manufacturers about producing something.
I have.
I think it was about 1998 or 99 that I emailed Athearn about producing some Canadian
passenger cars & they emailed me back stating that they would forward the request to the proper dept.
They eventually made them. I bought 5 different styles of cars to make 1 train of which can be seen in my signature right now.
I’ve even emailed Proto a few years ago about a D&H PA.
They told me at the time that they had no plan to produce any at the time & a few months later, I heard through a friend of mine that they were coming out with some!
Sometimes manufacturers will come out with somethings & other times they won’t.
As Rulax stated, it has a lot to do with demand.
Gordon
Apparently that’s pretty much the standard response. Probably akin to placing the suggestion into the circular file.
Jeff
at least Athearn knows there’s one person who’d buy a H3 GP38-2 (me)
Some words about emails to manufacturers - from the inside. I used to work for a major manufacturer and we would get up to 300 A DAY. As you can imagine, paying someone to sit there and sort through all the drivel to find anything important is a monumental task, costing far more than any benefit to either the customer or the company. We generally had someone do it only when they are not doing something more important, like actually making product to sell. First, the spam filters had to be set to catch all the crap, without snagging something important - very hard to do.
Second, you quickly develop a “list” of name to just skip, because of an endless parade of irrelevant questions such as “when are you going to make blah blah blah”. So I recommend if you are ever going to need something from a manufacturer, don’t do this. You are only cutting your own throat.
Also use a subject line that actually means something - not “I need help” or “question”. Don’t send the same inquiry 4-5 times just becasue you don’t get an answer fast enough to suit you. Remember, we are actually busy making your trains.
Also be sure you are going to the right source. Asking Atlas about a Bachmann diesel won’t get you anywhere but the round file.
Lastly - VERY IMPORTANT - spell correctly, use proper gramnmar and above all , be polite. Remember, if you tick me off, I will drop you in the round file , maybe for all eternity.
While not in model railroading, I can say “been there-done that.” I was able to sort a great deal of mail by the return address and save a lot of time not even bothering to open certain envelopes.
This not only applies to model railroad manufacturers. It is good advice in general when dealing with any orginization which deals with the public.
Valid suggesions are usually well received but the HUGE job is to sort the
good stuff from the clutter. <
What about the word “Pre-order”. What does Pre-order mean?
Allan.
I have contacted Athearn about problems, their web site and suggestions. Everytime they replied and I felt they actually did something. I have never been “Dropped in the round File”. The response have not have been completely to my liking, but they did attempt to do what I asked/suggested. Since Athearn (for that matter, any major manufacturer) gets many e-mails, letters and phone calls, you have to give them time to sort things out and RESEACH your contact. Who knows they just might produce that model you asked for - if they feel there is enough demand. One thing is for sure - if you repeatly ask for them to make different models then they will stop looking at your contacts.
As for “PRE-ORDER” that is a way for the manufacturer to know for sure how many units will actually sell. Some manufacturers will offer items for “pre-order” then not produce the item since there was not enough demand.
Manufacturers needs input and suggestions from their customers.If manufacturers didn’t listen the hobby would not be where its at today.[:D]
Yesturday I was at the LHS and we where talking about the new shells on the Athearn Genesis F series. He told that the shell on them was made around 12 years ago and just made it to production. Now the funny part. About a month ago he recieved a F series shell from Athearn, it was order 12 years ago. Just came into production but advertized 12 years ago. Longest back order I’ve ever heard of. Now he is trying to find the guy that order it.
I never hurts to ask for a model. If Athean builds one, it will be less detailed but should be affordable.
LOL,I don’t realy care. As long as it is Detailed and runs good. I could care less.
Allan.