Large Scale Central

Congratulations to Rapido Trains!

General Discussion
#1

Check page 5 in October’s Model Railroader to see what clearly, for me, is a NEW standard in model railroading advertising. Rapido, sadly not a large scale company, has the guts and marketing savy to give model railroaders the absolutely BEST REASONS why they have not delivered a product as expected.

As you read these highlights from their full page ad, try interplacing Bachmann, USA, and Aristo-Craft as the ad’s authors:

THE AD’S BOLD PRINT HEADLINE:
“HO Scale TurboTrain Project Update
OK, we’re late. But that’s because we want to do it right…”

AD COPY:
"Too often, we manufacturers pressure ourselves to bring out models before they are ready, usually to meet the delivery dates we promised our customers. The problem is that we can’t always anticipate all the hurdles a project might face along the way.

“I have been waiting for a model of the TurboTrain since 1977. Many of you have been waiting just as long if not longer. I am not going to release this model intil it looks right and operates smoothly and reliably. There are still some bugs to be ironed out, and we intend to solve each and every one of them before we release the model. Here is an update on the Turbo project development:”

(Each of the following topics, Tooling, Operation, Electrical and Sound, When Will It Be Here?, Will It Be Sold Out Before It Arrives?, are topics then spoken to individually)

Under "OPERATION, notice the author’s candid statement:
“As I write this, the two Power Dome Car (PDC) locomotives are having trouble pulling a full 9-car Turbo up to a scale 95 MPH, its top speed in service. We are redesigning the engine weights and looking at other options to give the PDCs the power they need.”

Under “SO WHEN WILL IT BE HERE?” the author is equally direct:
“We aim to get the first TurboTrains delivered before Christmas, but I won’t allow a single model to leave the factory unless it works perfectly.”

The author of this candid ad is none other than the President of Rapido Trains, Jason Shron.

Guts.

It can’t get any better.

What a standard for candid journalism.

Your take?

Wendell

#2

Sheesh Wendell, :wink: :slight_smile: :wink:

I got a ride on the TurboTrain back in 1976 courtesy of the striking … hmmmm who was it … the firemen at Dorval airport. I’m still recovering from the rock 'n roll motion I got from riding on the upper deck of that PDC. :wink: :slight_smile:

As for advertising: That’s an expensive ad with some readers saying “so what, I don’t need one”, some saying “sure wish they would test everything that rigorously”, others saying “that is refreshing to know” etc. etc.

BTW where are they made? China? :wink: Make sure there’s no recall on account of the paintjob! :slight_smile: :confused:

#3

The above image is on RAPIDOs website under “reviews”.

#4

Pod-
Presumption being “NO BULL?”
W.

#5

That is my read on it…

#6

Wendell Hanks said:
Pod- Presumption being “NO BULL?” W.

Wendell, At the bottom of the page of review excerpts and testimonials from users.

:wink: :wink: That and the ad is almost as good as the big beer billboard in Adelaide in 1991 which showed a bottle of the product and two lines 1. “It won’t improve your sex life” 2. “That is refreshing to know”

#7

Pod, HJ, and others

The focus, outside of “NO BULL” is what is missing from the large scale mfgs. Rapido is clearly out front and obviously capitalizing on the missing image from the other manufacturers in the smaller scales.

Since when is being honest “value added?”

United Airlines tried over ten years ago to push the message “We fly on time!” NONSENSE! The passengers know that airlines are SUPPOSED to fly on time. That’s not value added. United junked the ad.

Large Scale manufacturers are SUPPOSED to be candid, honest, and fair with their consumer support base.
Where’s another effort so obvious? So far, Rapido has the nod.

Wendell

#8

I’m confused is this a large scale issue?

#9
John Neal said:
I'm confused is this a large scale issue?
Nah, looks like a general "truth in advertising" issue. ;) :)
#10

Yes, “truth in advertising” is the issue.

Large scale is the topic.

Anyone want to defend the last five years of large scale advertising by the majors by claiming they meet the same standard of forthrightness depicted in Rapido’s ad?

Wendell

#11

P.S.

Anyone remembering one of our large scale mfg.s pronouncing in Garden Railways, in any large or small advertisement, that no product of theirs will be shipped UNLESS it is fully tested and trustworthy?

Whom do you want to own a K-27 before you buy?

I’ve got a name in mind.

Wendell

#12

Wendell,

Let’s see if a “Ventilator” shows up and tells us the “TRUE GOSPEL according to St. EPL” . :lol: :lol:

Does the guy you have in mind do a distruct test too?? :smiley: :confused:

#13

HJ-
No concern.

The “destruction” and/or the “distruct” (a combination of distrust and destruct) is the possible result of the testing process – ONLY IF the product destroys itself from the well-cared for testing on an honest-to-goodness genuine outdoor layout. Ahhhh, then back to the lab for an autopsy.

Sigh. All of this could have happened before the mfg even thought of…well, er, you know by now if not from the experience of being the first to purchase.

W.

#14

No question here, I’ve already stated it. I’ll let Dave Goodson abuse, misuse and produce info about what he thinks should be improved.

And after that and all you early buyers telling us your problems and dissapointments, I can end up with a pretty good product.

Buying the first of a first run is like buying a new car right after the model is introduced. Wouldn’t you be surprized if there weren’t some recalls? I think GMC have been making their Sierra Vans long enough that they’ve got most of the bugs worked out. :wink: It serves our purpose well.

The early bird gets the worms, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

#15

The early bird may get the worm, but that only proves that the worm should have slept in that day… :lol:

#16

Try this:
Mercedes is bought out by the Chrysler group.
Mercedes, after two years, finds their reputation in the tank – consistently rated poor in reliability from the fifteen+ category owner surveys published by Consumer Reports and their own testing. Chrysler quality vendor control standards are reduced. Mercedes loses reputation from “bugs” in the car that were not there prior to the take-over.
Meanwhile, Honda and Toyota, corporations hold the over-all reliability lead.

Ethics.

I like the Rapido’s president’s honesty. He eats his spinach in public in a full page ad. He then makes a promise. The reviews will determine his word.

Wendell

#17

I like his honesty, too. The proof is in the pudding. Time will tell. Let’s hope that he sets the new standard, though.

#18

Steve and all of us likely wish the same goal: A new standard.

Meanwhile, here’s one remedy to protect us from phantom products:

IF you order any “NEW” product that is advertised with the qualifier “pre-order” or “order now” or “advance order,” ASK:

  1. Has the product already been produced?
    and
  2. When is the expected delivery date?
    and
  3. Will you register my credit card ONLY after you have delivery?

THEN…

Please get on this site and MLS and report what you have discovered.

Maybe, just maybe, we may set a standard as THE customers.

Wendell