Large Scale Central

Why oh why do we bother?

General Discussion
#1

This is the set of communications between me and ‘Annie’ [if she actually exists] in Philadelphia. I apologise in advance for the reverse order of the transcript, but that’s the way it actually is.

Good morning,

1/20.3 is G scale. There are two kinds of couplers: knuckle coupler and hook and loop coupler. If the coupler on the engine is knuckle coupler, you need knuckle coupler for the car. The same rule for hook and loop coupler. We have both kinds of coupler available.

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=255_459&products_id=3011

http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_69_75&products_id=567

Shipping cost will show in your order before checking out.

Best regards,

Annie
Parts Department
Bachmann Industries Inc.
1400 E. Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19124
1-800-356-3910
[email protected]
www.bachmanntrains.com

From: tadecfoley [[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2015 2:51 PM
To: Parts Team
Subject: Re: (no subject)

PS - If I had the parts, I could send you a picture, but as I’m asking YOU for the parts, I thought it would be pretty easy.
They are the flat stake-sided cars, but they don’t have a number on them…

Thanks

tac foley

Dear Annie - please re-read my request.

All the cars in this scale have the same couplings.

Thanks.

tac foley

In a message dated 02/05/15 14:41:11 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

Dear Bachmann Trains - I recently bought a couple of 1/20.3 Spectrum cars on e*** only to find that they are missing their couplings - completely. Although I have spare knuckle units that I can use, I don’t have the light-brown coupler boxes into which they install. Can you help me out here, and if so, advise me of the cost + shipping to UK?

tac foley
Ottawa Valley GRS
Youtube - tac’s trains

PS - Bachmann Europe just told me that they can’t help me out.

In a message dated 02/05/15 14:41:11 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Good morning,

Could you please provide us more details about the cars? What scale? The item number if possible. A picture of the parts you need will be helpful.

Best regards,

Annie
Parts Department
Bachmann Industries Inc.
1400 E. Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19124
1-800-356-3910
[email protected]
www.bachmanntrains.com

From: tadecfoley [[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 10:27 AM
To: Parts Team
Subject: (no subject)

Dear Bachmann Trains - I recently bought a couple of 1/20.3 Spectrum cars on e*** only to find that they are missing their couplings - completely. Although I have spare knuckle units that I can use, I don’t have the light-brown coupler boxes into which they install. Can you help me out here, and if so, advise me of the cost + shipping to UK?

tac foley
Ottawa Valley GRS
Youtube - tac’s trains

PS - Bachmann Europe just told me that they can’t help me out.

There y’are guys - you have it in a nutshell from Bachmann - 1/20.3 is ‘G scale’. Hook and loop in 1/20.3 scale? Huh?

tac

Ottawa Valley GRS

#2

Wow! That is awfully poor customer service. This “Annie” obviously doesn’t belong on the phone in the parts department. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)

#3

Sure miss Irvine…

He knew about everthing in reguards to parts…He retired…

Bachmann will never catch up with what he did for them! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#4

Sounds like you got the Mumbai branch Tac! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

#5

TAC,

Try ordering the coupler parts from the frameless/narrow frame tank cars. As best I can tell from the diagrams, they are the standard Spectrum couplers you are looking for. I ordered some to them a couple years ago and found them in an obscure location on the web site. I didn’t save the shipping paperwork, and my purchase history on Bachmann’s site doesn’t show them any more. I will also look in the packaging witht the small reefers they sold as 1:20 and see if there are part numbers in there.

Bob C.

#6

Bob and all - well, Annie came through with the last two packs in the stores, at a mouldy $8 for eight. Not too shabby, I thought.

However - and trust me, the ‘however’ is BIG - the shipping is a little - how do you say, adventurous. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)

See -

FedEx (1.20lbs) FedEx

$58.23

International Priority

$46.74

International Economy United Parcel Service (1.20lbs) United Parcel Service

$114.59

Worldwide Express

$107.45

Worldwide Expedited

I think I’ll make my own out of styrene - the GL knows I can make stuff…

Best to all you out there.

tac

Ottawa Valley GRS

Old Mill Lumber Cambridge Extension

#7

You know, I have not had that problem when calling and ordering from Bachmann! It was awhile back and it was a man I talked to! Miss Annie does not KNOW the product line at all! New hire, minimum pay level and very young. Oh, what was must put up with! Now, Tac I don’t recall ‘brown’ coupler boxs? I do have some ‘black’ ones that came with my k’s. Does it appear that they were cut off? Or are they a screw on item? Couplers I have but no other boxs ecept KaDee boxs.

Paul

#8

That shipping is ridiculous. I know it is expensive but come on. My wife ships gifts to Ireland on occasion for family and sometimes the cost of shipping is more than what the item in the box costs. It is silly.

I recently received an item from Australia and shipping was $4. I had to send it back and it was $8. I asked what gives, same package same weight? and I was told that the US has a different system than AUZ ? Weird.

#9

Tac

Bachmann used to sell these as product 88013 but apparently has been out for some time.

EHattons in the UK lists these listed as in stock.

These boxes follow the old NMRA specs and are identical to the Kadee 1920R (which follow the same spec)

The kadee boxes are substantially less expensive are available in both black and rust.

I generall use the Kadee ones when I need a box.

I have a ton of Bachmann high and low couplers (no boxes) that I could sell cheap should anyone need them.

Hope that helps

Stan

#10

TAC, you might have been right technically, but when they asked for the scale and/or the item number after you told them 1:20.3 … you KNEW you were communicating with a drone that only understood SOMETHING OTHER than the correct terminology.

Once there, reasoning was fruitless… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

Greg

#11

And if you really need the brown coupler (draft gear) boxes; I have some. I changed mine to black Kaydees because I needed to mod them for Accucraft couplers and wanted to keep the stock couplers as a retro-fit option if I sold the cars. Not likeley that will ever happen, so if you Really need brown rather tnan the black Kaydee boxes, just let me know how many and I’ll check my box.

#12

I telephoned Tac earlier this eveing suggesting a UK dealer - with whom he is aquainted - suggesting that he probably has what Tac needs. We shall see!

#13

Daktah John - they are needed in the light brown colour that the Bachmann team decided was the correct oxide red for the D&RGS rolling stock - not that you can actually see them in place.

Just TWO are needed.

Hence my reticence on spending almost $60.00 on mail and shiiping. Heck, I just got an old antique rifle from Canada, insured and all, for a $120.00 - THAT weighed eighteen pounds shipped…

If you can help me out, I’m happy to pay what is needed, although I draw the line at fifty bucks for a dollar mailbag and a two dollar and eighty cent stamp.

Best

tac

#14

Alan - thanks for the call, much appreciated. However, here in yUK we seem to be f&rting in the thunder as far as US-supplied spares are concerned.

Greg - I fear that you are right, although in the knowledge that our nickname for the Anniversary ten-wheeler is ‘Annie’ I’m concerned that I was talking to a machine.

Best

tac

Ottawa Valley GRS

#15

I had to laugh Tac… I can imagine if you needed a part “for an Annie” and you were talking to Annie… “Yeah, she is not running well and overheating”… you could have got into a sexual harassment suit ha ha!

Greg

#16

Sean McGillicuddy said:

Sure miss Irvine…

He knew about everthing in reguards to parts…He retired…

Bachmann will never catch up with what he did for them! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Irvine (I thought it was Irving) was the absolute best of all time, even if you couldn’t get off the phone with him sometimes. I sent a Shay in to be fixed and he wanted to know all the details of the crash and lectured me for twenty minutes on making sure it didn’t take another fall from my bridge, then he decided he should send along an extra smoke stack because he didn’t think the one I had was right for my railroad. Amazing!

#17

What would I do without you guys? Within minutes of me posting the last one, I got two emails and a phonecall.

You guys are the best. [sniff…]

tac

Ottawa Valley GRS

#18

tac I am glad you had success with bachmann I have given up with them!

that includes buying bachmann products!

Mick

#19

And here I thought the Bachmann Annie was the Mogul 10 wheeler and I did not know it could type. It surely had a hard time reading!!

#20

John Passaro said:

Sean McGillicuddy said:

Sure miss Irvine…

He knew about everthing in reguards to parts…He retired…

Bachmann will never catch up with what he did for them! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Irvine (I thought it was Irving) was the absolute best of all time, even if you couldn’t get off the phone with him sometimes. I sent a Shay in to be fixed and he wanted to know all the details of the crash and lectured me for twenty minutes on making sure it didn’t take another fall from my bridge, then he decided he should send along an extra smoke stack because he didn’t think the one I had was right for my railroad. Amazing!

Yes that’s him.

I too had almost the same lecture!!!(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)