The one that had my road name on it, or the undec with the correct tender and tender fuel load. The extra penny doesn't make a squat doodie when I have to think about reconfiguring the fuel load or going through the PIA to find and then remove and re-apply decals. Cheaper doesn't always mean quality or saving money in the long run.
I would still be will to bet that everyone here would still purchase the $189.99 one over the $190.00 one, exact same item, side by side, even though you guys say you wouldn't. I know I would check each one out and if I couldn't see any difference or defectives, I would still purchase the cheaper one even though I wouldn't bend over to pickup a penny. Most people don't look beyond the dollar amount, $189 is cheaper than $190. Yes, John most people with just a little common sense knows that cheaper doesn't mean better quality. I wasn't taking about two different brands, in my post it stated "exact same item"!
It's simple... Psychological pricing (also price ending, charm pricing) is a pricing/marketing strategy based on the theory that certain prices have a psychological impact. The retail prices are often expressed as "odd prices": a little less than a round number, e.g. $19.99 or £2.98. Consumers tend to perceive “odd prices” as being significantly lower than they actually are, tending to round to the next lowest monetary unit. Thus, prices such as $1.99 are associated with spending $1 rather than $2. The theory that drives this is that lower pricing such as this institutes greater demand than if consumers were perfectly rational. I always round UP to the nearest dollar as opposed to down. I find Psychological pricing annoying. I also consider myself a more rational person then an irrational one.
Obviously for the C&O fan this is a true great N scale model. The LifeLike model was sort of generic where as this is a true C&O representation. I took some video with the sound but that will take a while to edit. It had no trouble pulling 20 freight cars of various manufacturers. A put a LifeLike Berk on the same consist and it was good for about five fewer. Considering the Bachman model has a metal shell and traction tires I was a bit disappointed. I put a Bachmann 4-8-2 Mountain on the consist and it would easily pull 25 freight cars. I think the Mountain is a little heavier. Also the Bachmann tender is logner than the LifeLike tender.
oldrk, Thanks for bringing us back on track! Maybe a little break in time, for pulling? 20 cars will keep me happy. Not expecting mine, until late this week and then we are headed out on vacation, so I won't get to play. I will check the bmann site again to see if they explain DC sound control.
I have Ahearn steamers with DDC and sound that works with DC. Also have Broadway Limited E-8 with DCC and sound that the sound works with DC
A short video. Sound plainly heard. This is DC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g71mLhSAu4c&feature=youtu.be
How are the locomotive horn and bell sounds? Mine is still enroute from Maryland. I am running dcc, so hope to do a short YouTube video on my test loop. Thanks for sharing this video; it just makes me more eager.
This is very interesting, because it looks to me like the sound was well-synced to the driver rotation - indeed, the sound seemed to "pause" when the driver rotation paused. Such a sync usually uses back-emf, but I don't think back-emf circuits would be active in DC mode (or maybe they are; heck I don't know, I run DCC only). But the chuff sounds are very encouraging; maybe I won't have to replace the speaker in this model. My biggest concern is slow-speed operation, but I'll have to see how that is on DCC when mine arrive (next week, probably, from a different source on the east coast). John C.
John, thanks for your post. After watching and listening to your steam locomotives with sound, I had the same question about sound quality of this 2-8-4. I have one on order and had already thought I might hire the speaker to be replaced with one of the extra Digikeys I purchased. I am eager to experience the sound in person.
What are the whistle options? N-scale steam dcc sound that I have seen has had at least 4 or 5 whistle options from which to chose. Some also have options related to activation of the whistle coinciding with other actions, i.e. start up.
I'm more interested in how they run with DCC, especially starting and slow speed running pulling a train.
