I'm new to this hobby and would like to avoid making buying mistakes. I currently own three engines, two LGB and one Aristocraft. Watching the drama unfolding with LGB I'm rather skeptical of purchasing more of their products because of possible lack of parts availability. Likewise I'm having trouble getting parts from Aristocraft, are all companies slow in this area or do some brands excel more than others? Please don't misunderstand me I'm not carping about the quality of these manufacturers, just questioning support. Hope I have not stepped on anyone's toes, that's not my intent..
You didn’t specify what scale you are working in and steam and/or diesel locos. I work in 1:29 scale (give or take) and run locos from USA Trains (6 diesels), Aristo (1 2-8-2, 1 RDC, 1 U25B) and LGB (5 steamers). They all take a certain amount of maintenance which I do myself. I have one LGB 2-6-2T laid up because of unavailable replacement parts. I’ve had good luck getting parts from both Aristo and USAT. In the case of your Aristo I would call them; your engine may be under warranty.
Good luck, Rob
Thanks for the encouragement Rob, I'm working with steam locos 1:29 scale, I made the mistake of allowing little people run my locos, hence the need for replacement parts. I'm running mine indoors right now but am trying to get up the courage to move outside and expand, thinking of exploring on switching to battery power when I do, so much to learn! Thanks again for responding. Ian
Hi Ian, It helps if you put a guide to what part of the world you are in, then others can point you in the right direction when offering help. As you can see I live in the shire counties in England.
Age is only a state of mind, keep the mind active and enjoy life
Hi Ian, Put it under the box where you could have a picture thats the easy way for us all to see where you are.
ian101 Thanks for the encouragement Rob, I'm working with steam locos 1:29 scale, I made the mistake of allowing little people run my locos, hence the need for replacement parts. I'm running mine indoors right now but am trying to get up the courage to move outside and expand, thinking of exploring on switching to battery power when I do, so much to learn! Thanks again for responding. Ian
Have you tryed any of the retailers that clame to have parts? moving OUTDOORS is a treat initself. since I moved outdoors I have changed my RR 3 times before I ran out of track and had to buy more. now i have a 171 ft mainline with 2 passing/storage tracks 1-45ft and 1-42ft for a total of 263 ft all track powered. All of our visitors like what they see compaired to what I had. and that makes me happy.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
I find that among the big 4 (Aristo, LGB, USA, & Bachmann) Aristo has the best reputation for service after the sale. Thier 5 year guarantee means exactly that. If the parts are available they will make it right. I hear Heartland is good, I have no knowledge about other manufacturers, although they are out there!
It seems to me that ALL of the major manufacturers have some quality control problems. I've had trouble with USAT, Aristo, Accucraft: to my mind, the best ratio of value to reliability to detail is the humble Bachmann Annie--cheap, good detail, and the new ones run really well. But it's an odd scale
Aristo does back up their products--send it in and they fix it. But it's spotty getting parts, in my opinion. They are trying to make it better, to their credit, with an online ordering system. Aristo to me is the most frustrating to deal with. They have great ideas, but they just aren't executed right. I have two MIkado drives--they have both slipped their drivers and had to go back for repairs. The "plug and play" socket can have random unexplained wiring variations. But when it's working right, the Mikado drive is excellent.And you can find replcement parts although you sometiems have to wait--liteally--for the announcement that "the ship has come in" (from China).
USAT is better about selling you replacement parts, I think. I needed new front and side railings for a 44 tonner. They had them in stock and I bought them through an online retailer. Would Aristo sell me a replacemnt handrail set for an RS-3? I'm not sure--maybe
None of them are as good as LGB was, I don't think.
Ditto what Mike said. Aristo backs up the products, but sometimes parts take a year to come in, this is because they do not order parts alone, only with production runs (per Lewis Polk) and you can tell he does not think it's important, one quote "we don't just have parts sitting shelves" ... WOW! Uh, isn't that what spare parts are all about? Having them on a shelf available when something breaks? That said, Navin in service is the nicest guy and makes due the best he can with the situation.
(All quotes and info are on the Aristo forum)
USAT has Mike in parts. He knows everything, you don't have to find the part number for him, although he appreciates it. Great service.
AML/Accucraft has Cliff. If you have an Accucraft or AML loco and you have ever needed anything you know Cliff. Most conversations end with: "I will put them in the mail for you." Like Mike at USAT, he knows all the products and he has parts.
LGB was good quality, definitely, but service turnaround was ALWAYS slow, I used to work 2 blocks from them.
That's my experience.
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
I recently bought an Aristo E-8 and a USAT Streamlined Pullman from St. Aubin. It looks like UPS shipped both boxes standing-on-end and that is the way I found them on my porch. Some crushing on the box ends!
The E-8 looks to be OK but the Pullman had a few pieces jarred loose. Everything was re-glueable except the truck side frame equalizer which was broken in two.
The following day I called Jon at St. Aubin and he asked me to send a photoin an e-mail of the damaged part, so he could order the correct one — which I did. Exactly FOUR days later a whole new truck side frame arrived! I'm very pleased with their service. Glad I didn't have to ship the whole car back or file a UPS claim!
FWIW I mailed in the flyer from Aristocraft offering six metal wheelsets for the price of five plus $5 shipping and they just arrived today, only a week after mailing the form.
Good deal, quick service from Aristocraft and St. Aubin!
Ed
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