Ya ya ya whatever. All I want to know is this. Before the mournful cry was shouted out did Atlas get an adult letter explaining the problems and what did Atlas say in their reply. It’s probably me but it always seems when someone posts about a issue with something you never read “I wrote company X about their product y and they told me ”. There were posts on a Facebook group about the Rapido N Dash 8 and they did same thing it’s defective blah blah blah didn’t say anything about what Rapido did or didn’t do just the complaint then silence.
Like I said earlier. The Manufactures...Atlas Included...have been contacted numerous times about the 'Zinc Rot' problems through the years. There are numerous post both here and elsewhere on the internet on the problem and all the manufactures responses. A little Goggling will find you those replies I am sure. Myself...I am not going to do that research for you... BTW...The "ya...ya...ya whatever" comment was very condescending... On that note....I'm done...cya !
I thought it was more sarcastic then condescending. I just want to know why folks don’t reach out to the manufacturer. Maybe the manufacturer made a streaming pile and deserves to be publicly flogged but a quiet word between the purchaser and the manufacturer should always be the first step. If that doesn’t provide a successful resolution then sure go stand on a soap box and tell the world.
People do reach out to the manufacturer. They are not obligated to tell you, me, or anyone else if they did. In addition, manufacturers are known to lurk and/or be active here and elsewhere, and may have already contacted the OP. You are probably not aware that Atlas hosted a forum similar to this for many years. They sensibly gave up after determining that the care and feeding of the board was taking too much time away from their primary purpose -- bringing model trains to the market. And I don't blame them. I might point out, because he won't, that the originator of this thread is not only a long time veteran of this board but also an accomplished N Scaler IRL. He has a lot of respect on this board... which has been EARNED.
My dealings directly with the manufacturer are just between me and the manufacturer. I could have said a lot nastier things than I did, but I am not that childish. The loss of respect was the right way to put things without a lot of mudslinging and condescending remarks. It was a plain and to the point post.
I have no desire to take up the fight for someone who seems to be able to articulate their situation. I have not just fallen off the turnip truck matter of fact I’ve got the first issue of N scale magazine in a book case downstairs. If it we’re your product wouldn’t you appreciate the opportunity to discuss the problem. If any manufacturers do lurk here I’m sure they’d offer assistance. The frame sections may still be available and His dislike of the NCE decoders sounds more like a ford chev thing than anything else. Frame disintegration is a fact but you can’t expect parts to be available for ever. I think in cars manufacturers are obligated to supply parts for 10 years. Hugh ps no need to yell
The problem is most manufacturers are saying they are not receiving spare parts with their shipments. When you look at the parts stores for Atlas and Kato, there is a shortage of spare parts. Reality is they sometimes can't resolve the problem due to lack of parts. Still, I remember Kato being in denial years ago over the poor BSB paint jobs on the GN SD45. In some instances they would send a replacement by shell but it was as screwed as the first. I finally shipped an undec to MP683 and had him use the blue handrails to get a decent job. Don't think for one moment be that the mfgs aren't aware.
I am feeling the same here. But my main issue has been Bachmann. My only atlas was a RS-2 that jumped the track and hit the floor. I have two other Atlas engines that run perfect. no issues at all, But Atlas is not the only one having issues. In one way or another, ALL of them have good and bad sides. I think that so many are showing the atlas bashes, are that there is so many Atlas engines over that rest out there. I see different models that are junk. Bad Metal or warping or whatever. Want to talk Bad metal frames, lets talk of other brands too. Bachmann comes to mind. Off the soapbox..
In the past TrainBoard has shut down discussions where the OP just outright lights into and bashes. We do keep an eye out toward such potential issues. That being said, David's approach to this was and is very reasonable. And so far, nobody else participating in this topic has wandered far afield. There are constructive and destructive discussions. This one is the former and hopefully will remain so. BoxcabE50 Administrator
I think its ok to point out the good and the "not so good points" of any manufacturer or distributor without the manufacturer or distributor given the opportunity to defend itself (I mean this sincerely). I've been in this hobby for for a number of years and I learn by ALL of the points being made. Most of the time I fix the problems on my own and if I can't, I move on from that product line. Rarely have I had to contact the manufacturer. There are manufacturers that I "shy away from" doing business with but I don't reveal who they are because that is just who I am and I am sure that they may fill the need for other people - just not me. This forum has always been quite respectful to everybody involved which I appreciate. I want people to voice their ideas, concerns and if they have a solution; toss that out as well - but that shouldn't be a requirement. Regards, Brian
In looking at my original post, I want to say I worded the part about NCE decoders poorly. Sorry about that, without context improper assumptions might be construed. I do not use NCE decoders not because they are bad in any way. My layout relies on the decoders supporting RailCom or RailCom+. Neither NCE or Digitrax support RailCom, so they do not fit into my needs. That would be the same for any decoder that does not support RailCom. That also goes for Paragon and Soundtraxx decoders as well.
