I was finally able to get a MTH catalog, and found some engines extremely desirable, and resonable pricing. I have talked to two different train shops in our area, and both had similiar feelings.
Quality issue a major concern 25% doa !
Will only order if customer is very insistent , then requires 50 to 75% down payment.
No returns, or exchanges
All warranty needs will only be satisfied by manufacturer.
Wow, this seemed really odd ! I see and hear a lot on the forum about MTH, not any complaints? Maybe these guys don’t like the commission or some other issue. These comments aren’t typical, are they? I only have Lionel engines and was considering some MTH.
HI Don, I have about 20 or so MTH engines. Only one was DOA and MTH fixed it. Many of the MTH dealers around here are also authorized repair centers for product that they sale. There are also National repair centers for item bought from other dealers. I believe even Lionel warranty is to return it to the factory or repair center.
Try Glen’s Trains in Akron, Ohio. He normally sales things at 10 to 15% off list.
330-253-6527.
25% is a very high number and I find that hard to believe for any of the manufactures.
The way I understand it, MTH will no longer repair anything at their facility. You must take it to an autherized service center for repairs. I think I would purchase from an authorized dealer just so it could be returned if there was a problem.
I have 3 MTH steam engines a Southern Crescent Premiere, Rail King Southern 0-6-0 switcher and the Virginian 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex all run great NO problems except that MTH still did not re Email me on supplying me with the side rods that are under the tender of the Triplex. Although I am still able to run the engine and it does run great, they still made a big mistake in quality control by not picking up on the missing side rods. I have emailed them three times with no response. That is the only complaint I have with the company other then that they have some fine products out there.
laz57
The other week I purchased one of the new 2006 MTH scale skeleton cars. The casting of one of the four cleats that cradles logs was incomplete (one of the cleats was not present). This was a pretty obvious defect, but the piece made it past QC.
It was purchased from an authorized MTH dealer and they exchanged it without question.
I have 14 MTH PS2’s on the roster and have not had one problem out of the box, 2 of them are Premier’s and the rest Railking. I would take my business elsewhere from the two dealers you talked with, there are many able and credible dealers who will work hard for you.
Around the mid 90s, pre PS-1 days, I received my first MTH item. A 408-E. Put it on the track and nothing. Called MTH and I took it apart while on the phone with a rep. Seems the E-unit somehow was in pieces in there. The rep told me how to wire it so it would run in one direction only so I could run it while the defective E-unit was returned. They sent me a new one but I never put it in. That 408-E is my best runner. Put it on the track and go.
Sounds like you need to find a new hobby shop…those dealers are actually nuts…50-75% down for a loco?? Am I glad I dont live there!
The 3 local shops in my area all request at least 20% down, and I can combine any items I want together.
I have 2 MTH PS1 diesels…a CSX and a Santa Fe, and except for the battery replacement, they both run well for me, and they were both bought as displays from the shop too.
Don, you have just experienced your first taste of the O-guage political partisianship that rears its ugly head too often. If you lurk around the forums enough you will read all about it. A few folks (dealers included) hate MTH and some hate Lionel, the discussions can get ugly from time to time but not so much on this site. Then there are the rest of us who just like trains. I suggest you buy yours from one of them!
Yep, I would lose that hobby show quickly. I don’t think, from a quality control issue there is much difference between the two major manufactururers. Each has their large share of QC problems. For what it’s worth, and I don’t buy a ton of new stuff, I’ve never had a DOA from either manufacturer. A coupler that Needed adjustment or something similiar was the worst case.
I really appreciate all the time and effort on the inputs. I would have immediately dismissed one of the shops comments, but when both came back with the same response I was a little concerned. Then when I look at their catalog and the extensive coverage on engines of all types. Something just didn’t make sense.
I definetly will pursue the MTH, regarding the train shops, sometimes its frustrating when emphasis is spent on selling current inventory only, and not listening to the customers.
I have a problem with Mike Wolf lying during his interviews.“Every piece is tested before shipment.” It sems just the few problems related above bear me out.
Ed
Ed, I take exception to your last comment where you stated that “Mike Wolf was lying”. Before you post inflammatory comments like that, I suggest you get your facts straight and have some proof to back it up. It’s comments like that that get the foamers riled up and it’s where things get ugly.
IMO, I believe that QC is an ongoing concern for all of the train manufacturers and they are all doing their level best to address thet problems.
I purchased over 40 MTH Ps1 and PS2 units over the years. My out of box failure rate was 15% with MTH. With Lionel it was 18%. I was lucky with K-Line as I had no failures with 10 of their locos. I think all the brands have significant quality problems,just the nature of the beast. I have had to take apart a significant amount of everyones product and repair them right out of the box . I believe I read a CTT editorial once where they had problems with over a third of all products they tested. I would buy the product where I perceive value for my money and not be brand specific.
When getting back into the hobby, I got MTH engines [small diesels with sound that I thought was OK, but now??] . Only one minor problem with one. I have only one MTH steam engine and it is great. Sounds are great and smoke is outstanding. Now to two new diesels I just got [been ordered for two years]. Horrible sounds and horns. I am very disappointed. I have quite a few Lionel diesels and their sounds are outstanding [horns too]. Both MTH and Lionel are great in slow operation. Both pull great long heavy trains. The Lionel has to have some mods to make it smoke good but it will. Too much smoke from a diesel is not realistic anyway. I have one Atlas diesel and it is Lionel in sounds and operation. Lots of detail [some so small you want to be careful in touching]. I have one PS1 diesel that I was going to convert to TMCC [with Equalizer] but then opted to pull all the “guts” out and install TMCC and Railsounds [for more realistic sounds].
I would like to make a comment about “Quality Control”.
Even if a company has the very best QC program ever devised for their type of product, it will not be perfect because it is controlled by humans. I would assume all manufactures on O Gauge trains have some type of QC program. Some will do more than others. Some will have continuous quality control programs.
I don’t have any MTH engines, but I bet that MTH’s quality control “policy” put in place by management is to test each engine. Assuming that to be true, the problem is; What is the meaning of “test”. If one in twenty engines runs 10ft. down a straight test track pulling nothing, is that the extent of the testing? Or is the test two hours of continuous running with five horn (or whistle) sounds, two sudden stops, three changes in speed, smoke on/off, couple/uncouple. What testing means to me may be something completely different than for someone else, but whoever is in charge of testing at a manufacturer better know what their policy is and how the testing procedure for their company is to be implemented.
Unlike many products, I don’t believe Toy Trains are required to meet independent testing standards. The consumer with money in hand is the judge of the real quality. Spin is spin and advertising is advertising.
As a consequence of hearing all the stories, I have not purchased an engine at a store or a show without a test run. (Somebody a long time ago told me this was a good idea and for once I paid attention.) If a store is not willing or able to test the engine for you, I would suggest finding a new store. (My Lionel CSX Diesel was put through all the hoops before it left Davis Trains. )
BTW, LAZ your missing side rod problem is poor, really poor. In fact, because it doesn’t take anything more than a visual inspection, it should be up there with the top ten stupid production mistakes. Yuz be the winner!!