The topic of prices raising has been discussed many times before. Many complain (I admitt I have complained a little bit). However, when you think about it, in return for more of our money, the companies have given us better quality.
I am using the Athearn RTR line as an example. I just got NS 3329 (Maersk-Sealand paint scheme) a SD40-2. The paint is perfect like it has been, but the details are amazing. I have two other older Athearn RTR locomotives, the details are good,but they are missing a lot of details, and are prototype specific. NS 3329 is prototype specific and has many details like MU cables, brake hoses, plow, fuel tank details, etc. It also has directional lighting, and has a DCC quick plug, unlike the older models.
Currently, Athearn is upgrading the entire RTR line up to this standard. The nicer locomotives are a bit more expensive, but you are getting more for that extra money.
Perhaps exterior details, yes; but internally they are still using those cheap 1.5 Volt incandescent bulbs that don’t last very long and they are not soldering the wires to the circuit board. Those cheap plastic clips sometimes have worked loose during shipment.
But the factory in China is avoiding environmental laws pertaining to lead-based solder, the expense of soldering equipment, and training people how to solder.
The costs of production pale compared to the cost of packaging, shipping, and the costs of the retailier. The retailier must pay rent, taxes, power, etc. etc. all out of your locomotive purchase. He can not do this by selling $30.00 engines. He needs to sell a $200.00 engine to get a sufficient mark-up to remain in business. The improvements to the quality, and the costs of the DCC stuff are a fractional cost of the equipment, but are of importance to the supply chain.
How much can a pair of eyeglasses cost. Who pays all of those people in the shop, the rent and stuff. You do. It is included in the price of the eyeglasses.
Buy a hamburger. Super-size it for $1.00, but how much extra do they really give you. You are giving the the Dollar.
The walkways are flat, it runs well, and the steps are fine. It looks just like the real thing. I wish Athearn would have used light bulbs that are fully lit when the locomotive starts to move. Other than that, I love it. I will probably change the bulbs when they burn out, so not a big issue.
Rivarossi Big Boy:
1975 (pizza cutters, cab motor): $119.98. Inflated to 2014, $528.70
2014 (RP-25, central motor, sound): $459.99
If anything, we’re getting better quality for equal or lower prices! For another example, a Mantua/Tyco 2-8-2 was $29.95 in 1960. That’s $239.88 in today’s dollars! And for those who know the Tyco Mikado, the detail was as basic as it gets. $240 today gets you a steam engine with blueprint detail, digital control, sound, and many other features that you’d never find in 1960.
The problem is the RTR line of engines is dead in the water at the moment for the most part. Nothing new in over a year, just Genesis engines with the price to go with them. RTR freight car prices are way out of line IMHO. And I wouldnt always call it better quality. I have seen many issues with driver axles cracking, cast metal internals disolving like the old pot metal did years ago. Parts are a joke to try to get from any company. Took weeks of irate calls to walthers for parts on a Proto 2k berkshire, and that was while it was in production. Atleast on those old Mantua, Bowser and other earlier models, parts were just a hobby shop or phone call away. Even Athearn parts are getting hard to get. You can keep your new stuff, I will keep running my vintage brass diesels, which run as good as most engines on todays market once I am done with them. My blue box, MDC/Roundhouse kits, Accurail and a few wood kits mixed in, are my cup of tea and much more in my budget. My eyesight isnt what it was in my 20’s. Even my blue box Athearn diesels hold thier own agaisnt the newest stuff and are more durable IHMO! Mike
Well, I see this becoming another lonnnnnng thread. However, assuming Darth’s inflation stats above are correct, that would seem to quell the complaints and critics about higher prices of MRRing stuff. But…I have my suspicions that folks will still manage to drag this one out for a few pages for old times sake. [%-)]
Motor issues were the primary reason I stopped buying the newer Athearn locos. I bought eight and had to replace the motors in over half of them within a month. Most of the replacement motors I pulled from older Athearn or P2K locos. They ran fine after that. I can’t see shelling out close to a hundred dollars for a loco that needs major work like that. I don’t care how finely it’s detailed, it’s not worth it.
Kyle, RTR quality is hit and miss at best due to poor QA/QC issues-I’ve read the many topics and seen photos plus I had my own first hand experiences.
Where is “quality” when 3 out of 4 stirrups is laying in the cars tray simply because the lack of being glued on at the factory? Some of improved exRoundhouse FMC RTR boxcars is still a foot to wide and at three times the cost…
Tom,What I would like to see is a topic about the QA/QC issues that some brands seems to be having and then send a copy or link to the companies.
I love Athearn’s RTR boxcars but,after finding 3 out of 4 stirrups laying in the car’s tray three different times I got cold feet.I also found the car’s etched crossover plate laying in one car’s tray.
Reason? Lack of glue.
But,what to do?
Both of my Athearn RTR GP60Ms has cosmetic issues-glue spots and chipped paint.
I doubt the stirrups were just thrown in the box separate from the car itself. Probably glued on too sparingly, then detached on the many bumps in the road between China and your doorstep.
Of course they could use MORE glue. Then you get…
Which would you prefer to have? The loose stirrups – an easy fix – or glue spots, a much more difficult fix, as is the chipped paint.
It pays to choose your battles. I’d much rather err on the side of an easy fix – the stirrups – than encouraging the manufacturer to plunge into using a mop to apply the glue the next time, just so those stirrups don’t detach[oops]
Then there’s the solution where you simply send it back and give them another stab at getting it right. If you end up just [banghead] beating that dead horse of dissatisfaction, it doesn’t solve anything. The consumer may be disappointed with an item, but it does the manufacturer no good unless given the chance to correct the error. In fact, it perpetuates the problems if QC issues are NOT brought to the attention of the vendor. They think the factory’s doing great and just why the heck are those people complaining on the internet? But if they don’t see what the issues are on unboxing, it’s awful hard to address them with the manufacturer.
Then there’s the assumption that every item, every time, will come out of that box perfect. The cost of building products to extraordinarily low rates of mistakes, blemishes, errors, omissions, etc might surprise you. Mostly it’s far less cos
I agree with Darth in principle, although I can’t claim to have a long history in the hobby as some of you responding can. Still, I quickly learned that the elite and well-heeled in the hobby favoured brass for quality. I began to look seriously at brass, but also at the serious prices. I soon defaulted to BLI’s locomotives and have largely been quite pleased with them. They are not brass quality, certainly not in detail. However, they come with good wheels and drives (albeit with a couple years of growing pains between 2009-2011), the paint is excellent, the details very competitive, and they come with sound and DCC.
Then came the brass hybrids. I must say that I am very pleased with this development, and now have two such animals. They just look and feel different from the plastic models I own. I will receive, after five years of waiting for it, a brass Union Pacific 4-12-2 this early fall. Finally, but it looks to be a real keeper.&nb
Not beating a dead horse…I tried contacting them about their QA/QC issues and the reply was we are working on the issues in the mean time the QA/QC issues keep coming-you read the topics as well as I have.
As the old saying goes I may have a beer pocket book but,there are times I buy champaign.
As far as Athearn…I think of a hit and miss Vega…Some ran good while other should have never left the assembly line. The '76 5 speed Sports coupe I had lasted 178,00 miles.
I’ll raise my glass to that, while most N scale locos top out around where the general quality HO locomotives usually cost($70-90). I have to say I feel I’m getting a good deal for the locomotives I’m buying. I plan on picking up multiple Atlas GP9’s:
Lowell smith SP&S ones $99 a piece with 3 road numbers= $297 worth it
Basic DCC equipped NP and GN GP9’s 139.00 a piece 2 road numbers each, $278 buying both Rd. Numbers very worth it.
These locomotives both look and run Nicely(had an MRL GP9, probably should’ve kept that), I guess one could say I’m a happy camper. I’m usually a pretty content person, lol.
OK, I understand “not acceptable.” When you contacted them, was it in the the context of returnable?
Because these things just don’t show up in coporate accounting unless the mistakes physically make their way back to Athearn. Simply commenting about it is unlikely to stick as a major problem in the mind of whoever is keeping track of this at Athearn. I’ve not done any model RR warranty work, but have lots of experience with other stuff, including in over-the-road trucks. One lame part in the vendor’s hands is worth a 1,000 words of commentary when it comes to such things.
Now, it could be theorized that trashing on Athearn every time the topic of QC comes up might be as effective at getting their attention, but I suspect not. Sending the stuff back, hopefully in exchange for good if done in a timely manner, is your best bet for encouraging change.
Then there is the whole “outlier” effect. You’ve had a run of bad luck with Atheran, from the sounds of it. And you have you opinion because of that. On the other hand, I’ve had minimal issues – the infamous loose grilles the most irritating, but dealt with with an easy fix here – except for one major boo-boo. That was the 2nd or 3rd run of Genesis Rio Grande F units when they mixed up the road numbers of an A and B unit. They stepped up and exchanged the flawed for a corrected shell. So my experience with Athearn is quite good – they seem to want to make it right. Would I argue that precludes your experience? No. I’m sure you found what you found – not disputing that. It’s just that I doubt Athearn would still be in business if all their customers had y
Mike, First I been a Athearn customer for 55 years and their cars and locomotives account for 90% of my models from wide bodies to GP60Ms plus 2 Genesis NS SD70s with sparton cab…
I bought two Athearn RTR boxcars last month one lettered for WCRC and GTRA.These arrived in perfect condition.
Currently I’m not happy with their spotty QA/QC issues…I know Athearn can do better.
All of my Athearn RTR engines are 3 or 4 steps above my old BB and all are smooth runners.
Some had glue spots or warped handrails.Some freight cars had stirrups laying the tray one had a missing truck screw…All bad QA/QC issues that should had never left the factory.
Should I cheer on spotty QA/QC issues?
As far as cars my '95 Buick is still a great car that uses little oil and requires little maintenance.
Having pointed this out before here and in other forums, my experience is that people just ignore this because they want to complain.
If you take a 1956 American Flyer GP7 and inflate its price, it would cost about $230. By watching specials, I got a Genesis SOO GP9 with sound and DCC for $190, and it’s a much, much better model than that American Flyer geep.