How many modelery keep the sales slips/receipts on all their purchases. I am having problems with the Proto 2000 axle gears, and now they want the sales slips. Please let me know. If most modelers don’t have a ten year file of sales slips on hand, I will assume that this is just a walthers rip off?
That’s certainly not the experience I had. I ordered a couple of out-of-production closeout P2K GP-9’s from M.B. Klein. One of them arrived with a cracked axle. At that point, Walthers had just acquired Life-Like. After a few months while they reconfigured the whole parts supply chain for P2K, they sent me 2 sets of axles, just for asking. And I didn’t even buy them from Walthers!
My guess is, if you tell them you don’t have the slips, but you can give them a reasonable guess of when you bought them, they will send you a set of axles.
Have you telephoned Walthers and told them about the problem, or are you trying to rely on e-mail. Telephone calls get better results. The number you need to call is their Customer Service at 1-800-4-TRAINS, and not their Terminal Hobby Shop order line.
Everything I have read for the past year or so iindicates that Walthers will send you replacement axles for Proto 1000 or Proto 2000 locomotives free.
I find Walthers to have the best service in this business, bar none. They’re nice people who take care of their customers well. It’s not unreasonable to ask for a sales receipt or some kind of documentation of purchase if replacing an item.
According to what was posted on another site, Walthers has given away more gear sets that all the GP locos Llifelike ever sold. People have been hoarding them for locos they don’t even own. Don’t think you can blame Walthers for the greed of others.
I read a similar thread. I didn’t see anything about Walthers having given away more gear sets that all the GP locos Llifelike ever sold, but the opening post of the thread said that the person had been told by Walthers that they weren’t giving out any more of them.
What I find truly depressing is that the only model train sets in Toys 'R Us last time I looked were all LifeLike. How can we get kids excited about model railroading with poor quality products.
The P2k cracked gear problem has been way over-blown. It applied to four-axle locomotives produced several years ago. Period. P2k is a quality product. Life-Like may be another story.
John Timm
There were two issues that I know about, with the last that I will mention pertaining to me personally: the first was cracked gears, and I don’t know much about either Life Like or Walthers’ practices in that regard, and the traction tires on some smaller switchers that really reduced electic pick-up to something laughable. In my case, a call to Walthers, the new owners, netted me a replacement metal tire for free. I understand that they have now clamped down and the good will has been used up.
In any such undertaking, there should be a time when the hand goes up and the beneficence or obligation comes to an end. However, it might have been a good investment in good will to have publicized a final date in a couple of the magazines.
-Crandell
Sadly, I do have a shoe box full of model rwy receipts.
I don’t know why I do it. I just do.
My name is Craig and I am a receipt keeper.
There … I feel better now.
I’ve heard that the Athearn part #60024 is a direct replacement. Please correct me if this is wrong. I decided to go the simple route and ordered a bunch. They’re about $2 for 6. I suppose one could argue that Walthers “oughta” give out replacements, but my time’s a little more valuable.
Ed
Well said. I’m just curious, what were the shipping charges on that $2 order? I wanted to make a $2 order from Kato’s parts dept. a while back. But the shipping was $10, so I felt like I had to buy something else. I wound up buying a locomotive kit, and spent about $100 total.
Everything has a life - including you. (Nothing is forever). Sorry.
AXLE GEARS are cheap. Have you tried getting free gears from Athearn, or anyone else?
Anything bought NEW has a warrantee & a duration. Only ONE supplier has a ‘lifetime’ warrantee (or needs to) - out of how many manufacturers?
Oh, someone else got free gears, and you didn’t?
I own 5 P2K Geeps that havent been run in 3+ years, and will probably need to get replacements. The shipping will also probably be higher than the gears.
Boo hoo!
And just how old is your product?
Not just 4 axle units. I have a Proto 2000 E6-A (older model with opening doors) that had a cracked axle gear right out of the box. Also, the main gear in the truck was missing two teeth. I told Walther’s what the problem was, registered the unit online so it was under warranty and they sent me a new power truck for it.
Not so, I have several Proto PA engines with the 6 axle trucks that have cracked gear problems.
One unit right out of the box and the other several months after running. Walthers rep was adamant that the receipts needed to accompany the units.
End of story, no more Proto units only BLI, Intermountain and Spectrum from now on.
I just called them yesterday and they would not send me a replacement without the sales slip. They will sale me a pair for $3.00.
Now we know. The walk in the sun is over.
Good morning everyone,
As many of you know, questions about Walthers replacement policy for PROTO 2000 wheelsets appeared several months ago on another forum. We though it would be a good idea to share that oriignal post with members of the Model Railroader forum, as it answers many of the questions that came up in earlier messages within this thread.
Lance A, Burton
Senior Writer, Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.
Good afternoon everyone,
First, thanks to everyone who has responded or has taken the time to read this post. We felt it best to answer your questions about the wheel exchange policy here, where everyone can share this information.
Rest assured we’re honoring the terms found on your warranty card for brand-new products; older stock made before 2005 comes with the original Life-Like Limited Lifetime Warranty, while newer Walthers products include a Limited One (1) Year Warranty.
Both cards clearly state:
Warranty terms apply only to the original purchaser/owner
Proof of purchase must be provided
There’s a fee for shipping and handling — Life-Like cards indicate that items returned within 90 days of the original date of purchase are not charged the $5.00 handling fee
Nothing has changed with the warranty, but we have reached a point where we have to administer it the way it was intended.
So, what is a brand-new product? Some dealers still have new-in-the-box, never sold, Life-Like products from earlier production runs, even though some engines were produced nearly 20 years ago! Same is true for Walthers/Life-Like engines made since the 2005 purchase. We’ll honor the warranty that came with your new engine, following the terms on the card. And remember, you may also be protected by your dealer’s return policy if a new item turns out to be defective, so ask before you buy. Many dealers have test tracks too.
But it’s no secret that there’s a hug
To answer an earlier question, yes, the Athearn 60024 gears are a direct replacement for the LifeLike gears, and have never had a problem with cracking like the LifeLike product.
Someone allegedly in the know wrote here last year that the LifeLike gears had too small a diameter axle opening, which is why they cracked so readily. Newer P2K products have supposedly solved that problem.
Maybe we should for a club or something. Are we in any danger from this unhealthy practice? [:)]
I save all my receipts to. One good reason is for warranty, another is insurance reasons in case of fire or theft. Trying to get replacement gears for 3$ is the least of concerns in my mind. Telling the insurance company that I have all those engines and that they are worth XXX amounts of dollars with no proofs except my good word. Now that is a concern.
That Walthers are just doing what any company does is not a problem. I once had an order lost worth over 1000$. They asked me to wait a few extra weeks more then what they initially sad but then they promptly sent out a brand new box worth of stuff. So I have no complaint what so ever against them.
Are we surprised that people take advantage of something when it’s free. I can see a lot of people sitting there with a genuine broken gear but having 6 of the same kind of engines. If I’m gonna pay perhaps 10$ for shipping I’ll might just as well say that it’s not one broken but several “just in case”. People will abuse systems if they are open to abuse. It’s nothing to be surprised about.
Magnus
I’m on a 12 step program for receipt collecting:
l. Keep the original receipt on a nail in the railroad room.
2.Keep a 2nd copy for insurance purposes
3. Move the nail pile when nail is full.
4. find a place to put the old pile in a new location
5. Explain again to my wife why I have so much paper accumulating.
6. Find the original receipt in the case of a return/repair.
7. Remember it’s not still on “the nail” but in the new location.
8. Try to remember where the new location IS. (somewhere safe so I can find it readily).
9. Admit I’m going gradually senile and go to the 2nd copy (insurance pile).
10. Make a photo copy or scan of the 2nd copy to become a 3rd copy.
11. Consider throwing away receipts for things long out of warantee. Nah, ya never know…
12. Buy something new because if I don’t I’ll forget the other 11 steps!
My name is Capt. Grimek and I’m a receipt over and under achiever.
PS I appreciate Walther’s participation and response here. Sound entirely reasonable to me. Thanks.