disgusted with atlas, lifeLike, athearn

[Anonymous]

in general I have emailed attachments for future freight cars and engines schemes to each of these manufacturers more than once and never got a reply back nor have I ever seen any of the few items I requested ever offered.
For example proto 2882 requested for seabord never seen it made eventhough they had at least two runs.
I am not a airbrush person but hope to one day get one, but I find it very disrepectful when I sent all of them a floppy disk of what I would like for future consideration and
don't even get a card to say we have your correspondence and we will consider it.
And don't look for too much in South Eastern line or you get nothing but disappointment.

[selector]

I would be disappointed, too. Have you tried a follow-up phone call, maybe to their customer relations folks? I was always cheesed off when people seemed to ignore either my e-mails or my voice messages when I was working. Once or twice I e-mailed their bosses with an innocent, "Has anything happened to So-and-so? He/she is not responding to repeated requests for information."

I found that activity in my favour happened right smartly after that. [:D]

[Anonymous]

A lot of times you'll find that companies turn a deaf ear and cold shoulder to unsolicited ideas or suggestions because they don't like having to give credit to anyone outside of their company for coming up with an idea. I use to tinker around with trying to invent things years ago and ran into this a lot. I was told once by a representative from General Electric that they do their own research and produce items that are in the most demand, and that they had an army of well paid designers and engineers to do their inventing. In other words, they weren't interested in my ideas no matter how good they were... I finally said to hell with it and found other things to do to occupy my time.

trainluver1

[Anonymous]

Hundreds of folk request locos from these makers every day (to include whole lists of requests on the Atlas forum every couple of weeks!), so you shouldn't expect an individual response for every request.

Think about how much manpower would be required !
And the cost involved !!

BTW, Kato will usually not respond, either (they do give an automated "Thank You!" if you submit on line).

If you ever do receive a "Thank you", your request must have arrived on a slow day !!!
Or happened to be a model that was currently "in the works."

I can't speak for LL or Athearn, but Atlas has a policy of not discussing what they will make or not make until the official announcement (which they have held to in the five years I've been on their forum except for one case).

I can say that if enough requests for a certain loco/road are received, they will probably make one - some year! I have seen it happen. But remember that these companies usually have a PLAN for locos and rolling stock mapped out over the next several years - if your request is not on the PLAN, they won't even THINK about it for a few YEARS !!!

As for me, I would rather these companies respond to requests for repair and/or parts than waste their time responding to countless wish lists.

If they didn't repond to THOSE types of requests, you would have a reason to complain.

[brazos87]

I sent an e-mail to Atlas requesting a certain prototype paint scheme and got a nice reply within a couple of days. It hasn't been produced but I did get a reply that they were looking into the matter.

[Anonymous]

As valuable as your information may seem, you have to remember it's sort of like junk mail you recieve everyday. There may be some legitimate stuff in there that you may actually want to read, but most of it is junk.

Just as you're not obligated to respond to junk mail, they're not obligated to reply.

I remember being upset once when I tried to contact a company to have them develop an idea of mine. My girlfriend at the time (now my wife) knocked some sense into me about the whole thing - it's not their responsibility to follow up on all these things. Businesses must pay attention to their paying customers, and focus business on just that. (you may be a paying customer also, but in submitting something to them, you're not really one at that moment).

Sorry for the rambling - it's late....

[Anonymous]

Con-Cor receives up to 300 e-mails a day they are not a major player. They don't have the time to answer.

[Anonymous]

afsglmale,
I know your pain. I've been a mosquito on katos ear lobe and I will continue to pester until I become the president of the company for them to produce their versions of the DD giants. They probably have a thousand emails from me. Maybe people with persistence and demands like myself are the reason for them ignoring your emails.

[Virginian]

It would appear some people have a higher opinion of themselves than those they are trying to influence. Having a computer and the ability to email is not particularly noteworthy these days.

[Anonymous]

Your campaign would be FAR more effective if you would get a GROUP of people to submit ONE request (each) for a certain loco than having only ONE person sending in LOTS of requests for that locomotive.

If maker understands that there is a MARKET for a certain loco (or car), they will make it.

If it appears that only one spaming nut wants one, they probably will NOT make it !!!

I agree with Virginian - grow up !!!!

[AntonioFP45]

Afsglmale,

In case no one said it before: [#welcome] Welcome to the forum!

GBaily and Carrfan have summed up the business situation realistically. These companies are most likely not snubbing you. From time to time there are cases where you might get a personal "non-automated" response but generally this no longer seems to be the norm. I've e-mailed these same manufacturers as you have. I no longer expect responses from all of them, but feel sure that my suggestion was read. Athearn has given me both, the usual "automated response", and personal responses which to me means that they read my e-mail.

Here's an interesting facet about southeastern models that a friend pointed out to me.

In many cases within the same group of locomotives or cars, there were many differences. I noticed this in looking at many pictures of Seaboard Coast Line locomotives. Put any two prototype Alco RS units, U-Boats, or E units side by side and almost always there were significant differences between them due to rebuilding, predecessor railroads, equipment changes and updates. Seaboard Coast Line and Southern were notorious for this, so for companies such as Life Like or Atlas to model a "typical" locomotive class for railroads like these are a challenge. (Ever see the SCL GE U-boats with the EMD trucks? Or the Southern EMD Geeps with GE trucks? Can make a prototye modeler go bonkers!) Since even southeastern modelers are picky, manufacturers have to be concerned if the item will sell well enough to recoup its investment.

But don't be discouraged. This hobby today, while expensive, has become better than ever!
On the plus side, there are far more southeastern models today than there were years back. Modelers here over 35 will confirm this. But for certain paint schemes, we will likely have to continue using the old airbrush and decal method.

As for the airbrush, if money is an issue you can get the starter set from Testors at Wal-Mart as they are low priced. Once you get one, start practicing on some scap items. You'll be amazed at how easy it actually is! You'll chuck the spray cans.

So, hang in there and enjoy the hobby.

Peace out.

[jrbernier]

Did Seaboard even have any of the USRA 2-8-8-2 engines? Only 80 original ones were built, and most roster info I have seen does not include Seaboard. Usually P2K will only do models that are 'close' to the prototype. Seaboard did have 2-6-6-4 type articulated engines.
With many of the manufacturers trying to do more 'prototypical' models, you have to be careful what you ask for.

Jim Bernier

[ndbprr]

Lets see. Somebody sends you a disk full of something. You don't know the person or what is on the disk and you should immediately load that sucker to see what is on it. Not in this life! I'll bet there are people who are angry at every company out there that would like to see there computers crash and who send them nasty stuff every day. Better way would have been to ask if they were interested in the material first.

[jfugate]

It's all a matter of perspective. I generally assume businesses get lots of email and so I don't necessarily expect a reply. If I do get a reply, then I consider myself extra special.

The other thing you can do if you *want* a reply is ask them for a reply. Otherwise, how are they to know you are expecting one unless they can read your mind?

[Anonymous]

Walthers sent a nice reply to a letter I sent them suggesting a new product. Phil Walthers signed the letter.

Atlas responded to a letter I sent them suggesting that specific product be manufactured. About two years later the product appeared. Probably just good timing on my part, but I like to think that I contributed to the incentive for them to produce the product.

Perhaps receipt of a well written and neat business letter garners more attention from the recipient. Emails are easy to send and just as easy to toss off or ignore. Diskettes and other encoded material require more time and effort to read than the recipient is willing to invest. Paper letters tend to hang around until someone decides to do something with them, perhaps even reading them.

It helps to have a good understanding of the business case that supports your "I want" request. The setup costs to produce the item you "want" can be significant. If you plan on offering cash up front for the first 1,000 units produced, then you have a pretty good chance of serious attention. If you want the manufacture to spend $10,000 to setup for a product and you appear to be the lone consumer, then you may be very diappointed. You really have to show the manufacturers "what's in it for them" in order to get what you want.

[Anonymous]

These companies all respond well when contacted about broken or missing parts so I can't bring myself to criticise them for not responding to unsolicited suggestions about what an individual wants to see them produce. Do you respond to MR when they set up magazine polls about what we want to see next? Manufacturers are more likely to be influenced by magazine reader polls than somebody's wish list.

Bob DeWoody

[CP5415]

Things like suggesting certain products are a good thing to do.
I don't stop emailing companies about certain products just because they haven't sent a reply.

I asked Lifelike about a D&H PA. They sent a nice reply stating that they don't have any current plans to do a run on these.
Three months later, they came out with the announcement for the D&H PA.
Same with Athearn.
I asked them way back in 1998 about CP passenger cars.
They sent back a reply that they didn't have plans for any but they'd keep it in mind.
A couple of years later, I got my passenger cars.

Gordon

PS, welcome to the forums!

[trainboyH16-44]

I sent an email to atlas suggesting that they do their H16-44 in CPR paint. They sent me a very nice email saying that the body style is slightly different on the CP units (F-M vs. CLC) but they would consider it if they did a run in that body style. Not bad service, eh?
Matthew

[orsonroy]

When Atlas announced a run of Roundhouse 36-foot boxcars, and included a completely bogus NKP paint scheme and number series, I sent them a VERY polite email thanking them for supporting the NKP community by offering one of their models in NKP paint. BUT...I then went on to inform them of their inaccuracies, and supplied a wealth of historical data on the NKP's wooden boxcar fleet, including photos and roster information. I basically said to them, "Here's reality for these cars. None match the Roundhouse model exactly, but here's what I think would be OK."

The new product manager of Athearn emailed me back within a day, thanked me profusely, informed me that Athearn is attempting to make ALL their new products at least close to a real prototype, and asked me a few more questions. He informed me that the art department was informed to sharpen their pencils and make changes.

I now have a Roundhouse RTR 36-foot boxcar in my basement, correctly lettered in the NKP's WWII-era paint scheme. The NKP cars are the first of any Roundhouse "old timer" boxcars to come out with bettendorf trucks and a 1942 repack date, as per the prototype.

The moral of the story? Pick your manufacturer, choose your words wisely, and supply as much prototype data as humanly possible, and you MIGHT see results. I think the biggest problem with the desire for a SBD USRA 2-8-8-2 is that the Seaboard never had any, and Life Like ONLY manufacturers prototypically-correct (mostly) engines in their P2K line. Just as you'll never get a responce from them for this fictitious engine, Atlas will never answer my pleas for one of their RS-3's in NKP paint, because their model is the wrong phase for the NKP engines, and Atlas only produces prototypically-correct (mostly) engines. Suck it up and start painting, like the rest of us do.

[selector]

As I stated in another thread recently, you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. As Ray has learned, a polite, well-crafted, and sensible letter with some rational thinking and incontrovertible facts make a business person's day a lot easier...and you a lot easier to deal with.

One brilliant idea does not a successful model make. It takes planning, consultation, and a clear indication of desire in a buying public. I can hear the CEO of Bachmann standing at the head of his weekly conference table, "Show me the numbers!!" If the VP Marketing replies, "Well, Bill, we have received about 20 e-mails asking for a Comox Logging Company Shay," his boss will say, "Bob, you're fired!"

[Anonymous]

thank for the many replies.
I did get some good thoughts from some of you guys but in all if I sent a disk it is assured that I wrote a message saying what I sent them on the disk and that I would like to request it be sent to the HO product department..
If I do write back to any of them I will take your advise and request a reply by mail or email.

[BN U30C]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1

A lot of times you'll find that companies turn a deaf ear and cold shoulder to unsolicited ideas or suggestions because they don't like having to give credit to anyone outside of their company for coming up with an idea. In other words, they weren't interested in my ideas no matter how good they were...

trainluver1

That's probably why all the MRR Project Illustrated authors where obvisously from MR. That's sad because I wonder how many great ideas out there aren't being used that could be.

[Paul3]

I've had some dealings with the manufacturers, and you have to remember where they are coming from. They are in this to make a buck, not to pander to every single model railroader in the world. If you coach your terms in regards to how your ideas will improve their bottom line, they will listen (usually).

For example, I suggested to Microscale that they should do a Trim Film of MBTA purple. This is a color that nobody is ever going to offer in paint, which makes accurate MBTA models very hard to do. I pointed out that by doing this, it would improve the sales of their MBTA decal set, since it's more likely that folks will model the MBTA (and use their decals) if the accurate purple is available. Not too long later, Microscale released MBTA Purple in Trim Film.

Also, I know that Athearn has stated that they want to offer models that have as broad appeal as possible that covers all regions of the country. Not every model can have that appeal, but that's what they are aiming for. Another example, I asked them via e-mail why they didn't make more New Haven models, and listed a bunch of current Athearn products that could be painted for New Haven and be reasonably close (for the price). One of these was the 50' TOFC. I got back a response asking for more info (which I provided), and about a year after my original e-mail, Athearn released a New Haven 50' TOFC. They were trying to think of some eastern roads to release for this car, but weren't having too much luck to begin with. My e-mail helped spur that along.

There is also something to be said for involving more people in your complaints/suggestions. My latest experience with a manufacturer, I did not talk directly to them, but instead notified the New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association to a problem with a brand new $1500 brass NH steam engine. The manufacturer used the wrong lettering font for the tender...which isn't right for a $1500 brass model (not when Bachmann can do it right for a plastic steam engine at 1/10th the cost). At this point, the NHRHTA got involved along with several members who had ordered these locos, and made their displeasure known. As a result, the importer offered to repaint anyone's tender at no cost to fix the problem.

So, as you can see, manufacturers are open to new ideas and criticism. You do have to coach your words to get the maximum return, however, and be prepared for rejection or to being ignored. They got flooded every day with e-mails, so you have to make something stand out when you send a suggestion.

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[3railguy]

I agree that these manufacturers get tons of requests daily. it is often their policy not to respond or only respond with a thank-you. I put a request in Kato's suggestion box the other day and it read that they generally do not respond to them.

I'm not sure why this is. It may have to do with trade secrets and false rumors being spread. I've seen many case where people got responses from the company and that the company is considering their suggestion. After recieving the response, rumors bloom turning the suggestion into a new product announcement.

One thing I know for sure is if you ask 1000 people what they want to see, you you will get 1000 different answers.

[AntonioFP45]

You guys probably saw my thread on Athearn's response to me regarding the sound equipped Genesis F units. I was surprised they answered me so quickly.

It is true that the way a letter is worded seems to make a difference.

One additional bit of info. Athearn also told me that no Undec F units will be available but an available option would be to get a Highliner body. For me, it's cheaper to just whip out the old 91% alcohol bath!

Cheers!

[MidlandPacific]

QUOTE: For example proto 2882 requested for seabord never seen it made eventhough they had at least two runs.

Seaboard never owned USRA 2-8-8-2s; the one class they owned was custom-built, and unusual (for the Teens) in having 63" drivers. THey weren't very successful, and they soured management on Mallets. They eventually went to the B&O, and Seaboard steered clear of articulateds until the 1930s, when they purchased a much more successful class of 2-6-6-4s.

My guess is that there probably wouldn't be enough Seaboard fans to make production of a high-drivered Mallet profitable. I've argued elsewhere that diecast production tends to be of models that have a lot of cross-railroad potential: USRA engines, widely distributed models like Russian Decapods, and popular locomotives from very popular prototypes like the Pennsy and the N&W. You can, incidentally, get Russian Decapods in both Seaboard and ACL schemes.