Large Scale Central

The story of my animosity

General Discussion
#1

Perhaps Mr. Lynch or others here would like to know why I have issues with Bachmann.

Lets go way back to 1986.
My wife buys me an LGB Mogul and a circle of track. It is the Green/red version.
This was my introduction to large scale.
In 1988 she buys me another mogul, with sound. The finest model trains I have ever owned.
I have since added another mogul.
All three run flawlessly today, and none have been repaired. Just maintained and serviced.
Now add two LGB Forneys and three LGB “Davenport type” little dismals.
And 2 Porters.
A Uintah and a Sumpter mallet.
Four special sets for the holidays.
A Db mallet with sound.
2 Crocodiles, one with sound.
1 Ge-II and 1 Ge-III electric locos.
A Santa Fe AB set.
4 various 0-4-0’s for special projects.
Others I have sold or traded.
A Santa Fe Mikado.
Al the above is LGB. I was know an Mr. LGB in our club. I own over 100 pieces of LGB rolling stock, both lesser expensive 2 axle up to RhB Salon cars.
Only ONE has ever been sent back to LGB. The SF Mike needed the new updated gears.
I was eagerly looking forward to more LGB stock.

Then LGB goes TU!
It was a blow to me, as if there was a death in the family.

Now comes Bachmann.
I get an Annie. Nice looking, good runner. I get another one.
Out comes the Connie. Not as expensive as an LGB Mogul, about 1/2 the cost.
Gear goes out in two months. I Didn’t have the receipt to fax to Bachmann.
WHY SHOULD I NEED A RECEIPT! It’s a Bachmann, and the company I just called is Bachmann.
I think the feller I talked to was Bill. No 50 bucks–no gear (Well you know the rest of that story.)

OK, I’ll try a K-27. (Another 1 grand). I get it and even though the box showed no sign of abuse, the cab was smashed and lots of bits fell off the loco. I fixed that. The counterweights were loose!
I somehow get a hold of Bill again, and faxed the receipt.
He said, I’ll get them right out to you.
1 week–none. 2 weeks–none 3 weeks-none. Another phone call. just a recording. The recorder promised someone would return my call. Nothing happened.
Finally the Bach-Man gave me a live person’s number. (This is about three months ongoing, BTW) I talked to a man called “Irving” and got my weights.

Now none of this low quality or lack of customer service would ever happen at LGB. James Tapper and I were on a first name basis.

Mr Lynch,
Please bring the quality at Bachmann up to LGB standards, and please get live, KNOWLEDGEABLE, friendly people at Bachmann.

jb

#2

JOHN! Ain’t BIG business wonderful! Remember when “the customer is always right” even when they weren’t. Nobody gives a s—t anymore about the little guy’s. They forget it takes a whole lotta little guy’s and just a few big guy’s to make a business. The key to a successful business is to make all the “little guy’s” feel like they are the “big guys”. Called a “happy medium” "Been in sales since ‘74’, we used to have a saying"you do 80% of yer business in 20% of your acct’s. But don’t forget the “little people” When i was selling “spirits” for a livin always said if I could get all of my accts. to just buy one case of the stuff i would have been a “Gazzillionaire” by now. I “always” took care of my best and biggest accts. but my little one’s NEVER knew or felt it. The Regal

#3

John,
If Jack Lynch does read these postings and uses them as confirmation of what he already knows – he was with LGB, correct? – you made the right appeal.

However, your appeal at the end is worthy of a separate heading. Absolutely.

Notice, in your final call for help, Irving certainly knew why you called and therefore had the “insider” view of what customers are experiencing. He helped by doing what could have been done at the onset.

Jack Lynch appears to be THE contact we have who knows why LGB garnered the image it has – even when its out of business!
Here’s hopes he has influence.

Wendell

#4

John
I hope Mr. Lynch does read this and respond to it in doing what should be done.

Geoff

#5

Well he was on line a minute ago so has probably got the message.Personally I have never had a problem with their products, perhaps I am lucky.

#6

With the restriction on non-German firms being able to acquire the Marklin/LGB range removed, then will the parts situation/service we currently know from Bachmann, be transposed to the new LGB range. Kader are the front runners (the only one’s with enough cash to bid, maybe) and widely thought to be the eventually purchaser.

Now we have the situation where a company, renowned for its quality and service (LGB), is acquired by a company renowned for, well we know what that is. Does the said company raise its level of service/quality on its existing product range, or lower the standards of service and quality of the new range, expected to be acquired? I cannot forsee two individual production lines in the factory, with one set of staff devoted to maintaining the ‘new’ standards of quality control and another production line dishing out the product line quality we are currently familar with.

We have become used to the term ‘street price’. Should Kader acquire the LGB range, then will ‘street prices’ become redundant? To retain exclusitivity, then prices will need to be maintained. Will this impact on the current product line?

#7
Tim Brien said:
With the restriction on non-German firms being able to acquire the Marklin/LGB range removed, then will the parts situation/service we currently know from Bachmann, be transposed to the new LGB range. Kader are the front runners (the only one's with enough cash to bid, maybe) and widely thought to be the eventually purchaser.

Now we have the situation where a company, renowned for its quality and service (LGB), is acquired by a company renowned for, well we know what that is. Does the said company raise its level of service/quality on its existing product range, or lower the standards of service and quality of the new range, expected to be acquired? I cannot forsee two individual production lines in the factory, with one set of staff devoted to maintaining the ‘new’ standards of quality control and another production line dishing out the product line quality we are currently familar with.

We have become used to the term ‘street price’. Should Kader acquire the LGB range, then will ‘street prices’ become redundant? To retain exclusitivity, then prices will need to be maintained. Will this impact on the current product line?


I’ve always had problems understanding the differences between what the manufacturer’s prices are on their web sites and what vendors charge for the same items. I never made the mistake of buying from the manufacturer directly thank goodness!

#8

“Rudy” every hear of the “squeekiest” wheel always gets the grease!!! Like in life in our wonderful hobby, there is always going to be some people that get a “better” price than others, the old “have and have not” treatment or if you are the one buying the mostest toys from us we will treat you “right”, just don’t tell anyone syndrome!!! True mark of any company, wholesaler, retailer, is not when you buy an item and it goes out the door to you, the true test is when you have a “problem” and how they then handle it for you. There are several dealers, retailers, whatever that I will not have anything to do with because of a bad experience. Being a salesman all my life, or at least a good share of it, I have a litmus test on anybody, and my line you don’t cross, is pretty flexible, but I do know what a decent line of communication, or let’s say co-operation is where i’m not getting smoke blown up my you know what, and if that line is crossed I just never go back to the well again so to speak, and there are several on my no no list I just don’t go back, and they probably don’t even care, or know they have lost me as a “customer” In ebay I have a 100% customer feedback rating and I want to keep it that way. I have over 200+ sales under my belt there over 3-4 years, and many more private dealing with individuals, and if there is a complaint I do not know about it or have never been appraised of it. Basically I go where i’m treated “fairly” no preferential or anything. And if a complaint is received I work it out immediately to both of our satisfactions, or at least try to there are some people that no matter what you do would not be pleased. COMMUNICATION is PARAMOUNT in everything. ! The Regal