Mark V said:
Tongue in cheek
“I have been in the market for a new locomotive, seriously looking at the Bachmann C-19 or an Aristo Dash-9. Hard choice as they are so interchangeable”.
…joke
One has a “technical advisor”, the other does not. Other than that, lash 'em up!
TOC
I don’t mine the web sites, it’s the C/S that makes me mad! You call no one answers the phone, you leave a message they never return your call,or you send a e-mail and never hear back from them.
I guess they don’t want my money.
Don
Do you fellows REALLY want to know “why?” or just kvetch?
The simplest answer is usually the truth: Better websites (and/or somebody to actually answer the phone) requires a live body who knows how to actually DO it; ie “labor”. Adequately trained labor is fairly expensive as compared to an answering machine (or a once a year “consultant”). And “expense” is considered an obscene word by the moro… err, MBAs who can’t/won’t see loyal employees giving good service as an asset OR past next quarter’s profit statement.
In other words, penny wise, pound foolish.
While I don’t hold any candles for manufacturer’s websites, I think this has been a bit harsh on Bachmann; after all they put this up http://www.youtube.com/user/bachmanntrains which gives a pretty good look at the C-19 in close up, OK with a sales push slant; and that is accessible from their website. It doesn’t allow you to pick it up and feel the weight, etc but it does do as good as static photos on a website, at least in my view.
Steve
Steve Pearson said:
While I don’t hold any candles for manufacturer’s websites, I think this has been a bit harsh on Bachmann; after all they put this up http://www.youtube.com/user/bachmanntrains which gives a pretty good look at the C-19 in close up, OK with a sales push slant; and that is accessible from their website. It doesn’t allow you to pick it up and feel the weight, etc but it does do as good as static photos on a website, at least in my view.
Steve
Wow. I swear that wasn’t there when I went to the site just a week ago…I might have to check my desk-top computer when I get home because my work laptop shows the full video on the C-19 page. This is exactly what I am talking about.
I wonder if my browser at home does not support the Bachmann page? May need to “upgrade” my browser.
Edit: Yep, my work laptop shows much more information (videos) on the Bachmann page than my home computer…I may have to review my browser settings (cookies?).
I guess USA and MTH are smart to not have a web site?
Jerry Barnes said:
I guess USA and MTH are smart to not have a web site?
What about http://www.mthtrains.com or http://www.usatrains.com
or is this another case for the sarcasm font?
Tom
Tom Stephens said:
Jerry Barnes said:
I guess USA and MTH are smart to not have a web site?
What about http://www.mthtrains.com or http://www.usatrains.com
or is this another case for the sarcasm font?
Tom
Ok, something is seriously wrong with my home computer as once again things show up on my work laptop that do not come in on my PC…Such as all the added content on the USA site.
This isn’t just a problem in the hobby industry, in my work I have occasion to search the web for equipment, tools, parts, you name it. I am totally amazed how many companies have absolutely no clue about web marketing. It’s not like it’s a new phenomenon ! Some sites will list their products but provide no other information other than a phone number to call. Might be fine if you work normal hours in the same time zone but can be problematic if you don’t. It’s not just some of the small companies but larger ones as well.
Tom I just meant they had no forums.
Jerry Barnes said:
Tom I just meant they had no forums.
Jerry Sorry - I didn’t understand.
Tom
Well, I wasn’t too clear! 