ST974
New Member
Posts: 41 
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Post by ST974 on Jul 24, 2024 11:54:48 GMT -8
No one takes a back seat to Atlas! Not one to defend Athearn but the Versacoil cars are back to showing July delivery. I was told at St Louis RPM there is no way they will hit a July date, they don't even have the first painted production samples of the versacoil. So that is a perfect example of my question how hard is it to adjust the date out on the website if they know they wont have it in July. |
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Post by marknycfan on Jul 24, 2024 12:43:28 GMT -8
Donnell, time to lock this down!
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Post by mvlandsw on Jul 24, 2024 13:47:21 GMT -8
Some people would like a somewhat accurate delivery date to allow for financial planning, given the prices of recent models.
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thmy
Full Member
Posts: 140
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Post by thmy on Jul 24, 2024 13:51:13 GMT -8
People always trying to censor others here, let them talk! I agree prices that high they should at least update website dates when they know they'll be late. Athearn is bad about this!
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Post by typhoon on Jul 24, 2024 14:02:36 GMT -8
Some people would like a somewhat accurate delivery date to allow for financial planning, given the prices of recent models. If the buyer had the money set aside for a July delivery date, shouldn't the buyer still have that money if the delivery date slips to September? If they are financially planning that is. |
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Post by jonklein611 on Jul 24, 2024 15:04:09 GMT -8
No one takes a back seat to Atlas! Not one to defend Athearn but the Versacoil cars are back to showing July delivery. I was told at St Louis RPM there is no way they will hit a July date, they don't even have the first painted production samples of the versacoil. So that is a perfect example of my question how hard is it to adjust the date out on the website if they know they wont have it in July. Athearn has already talked about this. They have said they are working on it. Give them time to fix their website. More than likely they are waiting on shared resources to do updates on their web back end. It is not a trivial task. |
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Post by hovehicle on Jul 24, 2024 15:06:47 GMT -8
No, this is a good thread. It's time to call Athearn out for delivery dates, which are pathetic. I've been following the Versacoils, it went to pre-order about a week ago, now it states pre-order, July delivery. Obviously they know better when they told you the status at the St. Louis RPM, so I'll say late Aug., early Sept. now.
Vito L.
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thmy
Full Member
Posts: 140
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Post by thmy on Jul 24, 2024 16:28:16 GMT -8
I was told at St Louis RPM there is no way they will hit a July date, they don't even have the first painted production samples of the versacoil. So that is a perfect example of my question how hard is it to adjust the date out on the website if they know they wont have it in July. Athearn has already talked about this. They have said they are working on it. Give them time to fix their website. More than likely they are waiting on shared resources to do updates on their web back end. It is not a trivial task. Give them time? It's been like this for 2-3 YEARS! |
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tomoc
New Member
Posts: 19
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Post by tomoc on Jul 25, 2024 6:56:44 GMT -8
No, this is a good thread. It's time to call Athearn out for delivery dates, which are pathetic. I've been following the Versacoils, it went to pre-order about a week ago, now it states pre-order, July delivery. Obviously they know better when they told you the status at the St. Louis RPM, so I'll say late Aug., early Sept. now. Vito L. Vito, I think you being optimistic but truly hope you are right. I’m thinking based on the StL RPM comment I’d say 2/2025 i like Tangent method! They have it then announce it TomO |
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Post by middledivision on Jul 25, 2024 8:25:08 GMT -8
No one takes a back seat to Atlas! Not one to defend Athearn but the Versacoil cars are back to showing July delivery. I was told at St Louis RPM there is no way they will hit a July date, they don't even have the first painted production samples of the versacoil. So that is a perfect example of my question how hard is it to adjust the date out on the website if they know they wont have it in July. Athearn posted on FB yesterday that the SD70ACu's were shipping to dealers. That should ease some of your pain. |
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Post by riogrande on Jul 25, 2024 8:53:34 GMT -8
Some people would like a somewhat accurate delivery date to allow for financial planning, given the prices of recent models. If the buyer had the money set aside for a July delivery date, shouldn't the buyer still have that money if the delivery date slips to September? If they are financially planning that is. Unless Tangent announces must have models and spends the money set aside before the delivery date! |
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Jul 25, 2024 12:37:57 GMT -8
Arguing about a hobby is a hobby unto itself. What a lot of drivel.
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Post by grahamline on Jul 25, 2024 18:19:47 GMT -8
If the buyer had the money set aside for a July delivery date, shouldn't the buyer still have that money if the delivery date slips to September? If they are financially planning that is. Unless Tangent announces must have models and spends the money set aside before the delivery date! Exactly. That's why I keep swap meet profits in a special envelope as my "Tangent fund." |
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joppasub
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Retired; Now a full time modeler
Posts: 147
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Post by joppasub on Jul 26, 2024 6:53:55 GMT -8
Tangent only makes freight cars and cabooses. They decide what gets produced and they announce when the car is ready for sale. It’s an excellent sales platform.
However, they don’t offer the variety of products that Athearn does.
The level of detail and assembly of the latest Athearn products is really impressive.
They’ve given us an option for high end cars and cabooses; ensuring choices in the market for them; as well as locomotives.
A new poster coming on here and gaslighting is nothing new. The motives seem odd. But not surprising to see a gaslighter attempting to draw attention away from the fact that a plethora of new and exciting things are coming from Athearn.
Athearn continues its tradition of providing great products for model railroaders…CA-11 caboose series; new ICC cabooses; more on the way…btw.
New locomotives coming…with today’s detail standard.
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joppasub
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Retired; Now a full time modeler
Posts: 147
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Post by joppasub on Jul 26, 2024 7:06:03 GMT -8
Unless Tangent announces must have models and spends the money set aside before the delivery date! Exactly. That's why I keep swap meet profits in a special envelope as my "Tangent fund." Yeah. But at least we know what is coming and can ensure we are able to purchase the products we want…unlike some guys that missed the ICG quad hoppers…the accurate ones…not the Foobs. |
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Post by gevohogger on Jul 26, 2024 7:18:29 GMT -8
A new poster coming on here and gaslighting is nothing new. The motives seem odd. But not surprising to see a gaslighter attempting to draw attention away from the fact that a plethora of new and exciting things are coming from Athearn. Except in this case, its not a new poster. Click on his profile.... Its another poster's troll account. |
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joppasub
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Retired; Now a full time modeler
Posts: 147
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Post by joppasub on Jul 26, 2024 7:19:54 GMT -8
Aha. Thank you. Shilling along…
Anyway, it helps me save for the items I want since I am now retired and on a pension each month. So personally, I am a fan of the pre-order system that allows us the ability to plan our purchases ahead of time.
I am biased, however, since I’ve been an Athearn customer since 1982. And I prefer traditional companies like them to continue to provide me my pastime supplies.
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thmy
Full Member
Posts: 140
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Post by thmy on Jul 26, 2024 10:55:47 GMT -8
Tangent only makes freight cars and cabooses. They decide what gets produced and they announce when the car is ready for sale. It’s an excellent sales platform. However, they don’t offer the variety of products that Athearn does. The level of detail and assembly of the latest Athearn products is really impressive. They’ve given us an option for high end cars and cabooses; ensuring choices in the market for them; as well as locomotives. A new poster coming on here and gaslighting is nothing new. The motives seem odd. But not surprising to see a gaslighter attempting to draw attention away from the fact that a plethora of new and exciting things are coming from Athearn. Athearn continues its tradition of providing great products for model railroaders…CA-11 caboose series; new ICC cabooses; more on the way…btw. New locomotives coming…with today’s detail standard. WOW! New and exciting things coming from Athearn? That was so funny I almost swallowed my lunch whole and aspirated. Regardless of your overly biased pro Athearn opinion which is clear based on your other posts, it is a FACT that Athearn cannot get it together on shipping estimates and call it a guess but I take it they don't care enough to address it because as it's been mentioned already here by several people with fake accounts or not, it's not that hard to change the date once the date passes or once they realize it's not gonna happen like in the case of the Versacoils. Confirmed by the rep to now be in fall or winter, but that same rep can't make a call to the website people to change the date? Or if he has they can't follow through and do it? It's not rocket science. It just demonstrates to me they simply do not care, and I'm not throwing my money at a company that doesn't care. I will buy what I deem is a must have and that is only items I don't think will be made by anyone else later. |
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joppasub
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Retired; Now a full time modeler
Posts: 147
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Post by joppasub on Jul 26, 2024 11:43:06 GMT -8
Just because you don't agree with my point of view doesn't make it wrong. We all realize that there are all different kinds of people in this world. People like yourself would complain about anything...just to complain. We get it.
I am happy that we still have quality items being produced for us in this hobby and new items are introduced all the time; not just by Athearn. But, I've loved model railroading since the early 1980s...and I've seen the hobby grow from those years to now...where we don't really have to do anything but purchase the items; remove them from the box; and place them on the track. I also realize that there is more to life than just complaining about delivery times of our hobby items that are light years ahead of where we were even 10 years ago.
I choose to be grateful and appreciate the hard work and time that goes into these releases; I know very little about the lead time and such to schedule production; and will certainly not whine about it.
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Post by NS4122 on Jul 26, 2024 16:10:17 GMT -8
I take anything I hear from a manufacturer's rep at a train show with a grain of salt, as they are more times than not uninformed or misinformed. Case in point: At the Springfield show this year I asked one of the Scaletrains.com reps (one of the co-owners) when the BNSF Trinity reefers would be arriving, as the website showed they were on the water. He told me that it would be a few months as they had not yet received decorated samples from the factory yet. Two weeks later I received an email from ScaleTrains.com telling me that my Trinity reefer was ready to be shipped to me.
Another Example: At the Springfield show last year I was told by the Atlas rep that the BLMI relay cases were "Imminent". I'm still waiting for any sign of them to show up.
Last Example: a few years ago at the Springfield show a Rapido rep told me in no uncertain terms that the Rohr Turboliners would never be produced. I've had mine for over a year now.
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Post by prr 4467 on Jul 26, 2024 17:46:20 GMT -8
Umm, I'm going to agree with joppasub.
I have been an Athearn customer since about 1977. We have it better than ever right now. Do they make mistakes? Occasionally, yes. So does everybody else, including even ScaleTrains, and as much as I love Tangent's products, I've gotten a few of them that weren't right, also (had assembly defects). I'm about to put a couple Tangent blemished freight cars out on Ebay sometime later this weekend.
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Post by hudsonyard on Jul 26, 2024 19:01:36 GMT -8
it gets here when it gets here, i dont do pre-orders on anything
i went almost 15 years not buying a single model, i can wait a couple more months.
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platec
Full Member
The object of nostalgia is further away than it appears
Posts: 130
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Post by platec on Jul 26, 2024 19:19:21 GMT -8
it gets here when it gets here, i dont do pre-orders on anything i went almost 15 years not buying a single model, i can wait a couple more months. Same here, I was out of the hobby for a decade. Still have yet to preorder anything. |
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Post by prr 4467 on Aug 1, 2024 14:30:11 GMT -8
Fyi: NOT pre-ordering is great when you can do that, but it can be difficult to do that all the time and get the items you want.
I was fortunate recently: my local dealer got me 3 brass hybrid steam locos from the distributors, 2 of which were on blowout sales, so I saved money. However, I also got the very last ones in stock at two different distributors, so I was highly fortunate to get them at all. A day later and no steam locos for me, and others available just weren't what I wanted. I did not pre-order but got them at the back end just as the last ones were selling out.
I do not expect to be able to repeat that...I mean first time in about 30 years that I got the very last ones of anything at a special sale price.
There are other locos I didn't pre-order (just this year), did see them in stock at a few dealers but didn't jump on them fast enough, and they are gone and I can't find them anywhere, not in Canada, not at any of the many mail order/internet dealers I've dealt with over the years.
To be fair I didn't know I wanted them till they were out, but sometimes one can't quite jump fast enough.
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joppasub
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Retired; Now a full time modeler
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Post by joppasub on Aug 1, 2024 15:44:53 GMT -8
Fyi: NOT pre-ordering is great when you can do that, but it can be difficult to do that all the time and get the items you want. I was fortunate recently: my local dealer got me 3 brass hybrid steam locos from the distributors, 2 of which were on blowout sales, so I saved money. However, I also got the very last ones in stock at two different distributors, so I was highly fortunate to get them at all. A day later and no steam locos for me, and others available just weren't what I wanted. I did not pre-order but got them at the back end just as the last ones were selling out. I do not expect to be able to repeat that...I mean first time in about 30 years that I got the very last ones of anything at a special sale price. There are other locos I didn't pre-order (just this year), did see them in stock at a few dealers but didn't jump on them fast enough, and they are gone and I can't find them anywhere, not in Canada, not at any of the many mail order/internet dealers I've dealt with over the years. To be fair I didn't know I wanted them till they were out, but sometimes one can't quite jump fast enough. Yes. sometimes it is just not feasible to buy all the cars that I "want" or economically possible. I sold stuff over the years to afford the huge amount of ExactRail quad hoppers I have...but those days are over...Tangent would really get more business if they would let people plan for their purchases...but they are so successful with the business plan they have...there is no reason to change to support a few people like myself. I hear you on the engines too...ScaleTrains SD40-2's in BN...for instance...once they're in stock...poof they're gone. But they let you pre-order them...so you can get the ones you want...just make sure to have the money ready for their arrival. Athearn has my money tied up for a couple of years with all the new GP15s and now MoPac Cabooses; along with the newly re-tooled Ortner 5 bay hoppers...now with all wire end detail and brake piping...so it goes. Regardless, very happy at present in the hobby...and thankful. |
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Post by prr 4467 on Aug 1, 2024 16:24:46 GMT -8
I echo the very happy and thankful comment!
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Aug 1, 2024 17:41:39 GMT -8
Athearn already responded to this. They are working on updating the info on the site, and the process they use. It will take them time to get there: |
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Post by riogrande on Aug 1, 2024 18:07:55 GMT -8
I sold stuff over the years to afford the huge amount of ExactRail quad hoppers I have...but those days are over...Tangent would really get more business if they would let people plan for their purchases...but they are so successful with the business plan they have...there is no reason to change to support a few people like myself. I bought every number of the last two runs of D&RGW quads that were issued a couple years ago. I regret not being able to buy more than a few of the 48 numbers offered way back in 2013, but I just didn't have the funds. The next run I managed 23 of the 24 numbers of D&RGW quads. Each run since the beginning has gotten smaller and smaller, with 48 numbers the first run, 24 the second and only 18 the third. Anyway, re: Tangent, as to being successful with the business plan they have, yes and no. They still have a lot of 86' auto parts 4 door and 8 door box cars. Demand fell off after the first couple runs. The 4750 hoppers seem to have settle down too. I check the website regularly and it seem sales have slowed down except for certain models like the RI cabooses. I have pre-ordered some ScaleTrains engines because I want to make sure I get them. I've raised over $3k toward them as well so I have the majority of the cost covered ahead of time. Yeah, I have a bunch of the Ortner 5 bays too, probably around 36 different numbers for the CSDU cars, but now that I've settled on the west end I may not need them unless I want to run them at a modular meet. |
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cn2240
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by cn2240 on Aug 1, 2024 22:27:54 GMT -8
It's possibly because I model late 90s to present day CN but I've never missed out on a model because I didn't pre-order it.
I usually wait for models to arrive at dealers so that I can watch a review or video of said model running beforehand to make sure there aren't any issues and to see if I should still get it. The models I'm interested don't sell out quickly and there are plenty of dealers who sell said models apart from ScaleTrains stuff and even then as long as I'm not after a specific roadnumber, their stuff usually is still in stock at dealers months later. Pre-ordering means I'm committed to getting a model and I prefer not making that decision before an image of the physical model is available.
These days, I pre-order stuff just because I know I want it and I'm certain I won't be changing my mind or I'm getting Rapido models through my LHS so I can get a refund if necessary in case I happen to get another one of their epic QC fails.
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Post by lvrr325 on Aug 1, 2024 22:59:43 GMT -8
Things are slow right now, plus there are sellers who just get a couple of everything and post on eBay or their own sites. Even the Ford Fairmonts have not moved and I was the first to get them on ebay and the lowest price the last I looked.
Even when things are good and stuff moves fast sometimes things turn up later. I never should have been able to get those Rapido LV RS11s I mentioned in the other thread, they were intended to be AHRS exclusives, but my distributor gets everyone's clean-outs and a pair showed up one day. A sound pair came and went before that.
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