"Mikes trash house" should be removed

[ed11670]

I don't understand why that topic" Mikes Trash House" wasn't removed. I don't think we need to put topics like that on here.. I don't see Lionel's trash House on here. Am I angry? YES.

[ben10ben]

Did you actually bother to read the thread?

In my view, it airs a legitimate concern and the title makes a legitimate play on the letters MTH. 

[rtraincollector]

Get over it there were a lot putting lionel down durning the law suit, and this came out basicly about there switches because it has been brought up to them many times including 2 or 3 times at york and they always say first I've heard of this . They got a supplier that gave them bad product and they really didn't care it looks thou finally it might get corrected but this has been going on for a couple of years and it will take a couple more to get it out of the system when the y do finally do something about it. If lionel did the same thing and ignor the problem or atals or weaver who ever they would be bad mouth salso and its not like it was just one or two pieces there been a lot in here off and on complaining about the switches and other problems from them. They do as a whole put out a good product that I've gotten so far but I don't have any of there track and again its mainly the real trax switches that been complained about and couplers on there freight cars.

there was a thread in here about lionel not long ago and a engine that looked like a swamp buggy it was sitting so high and they made remarks about lionel in that didn't see you complaing then.

[southernrr]

Ed, you're right it should be removed, not for the content, but for the title. 

[Buckeye Riveter]

Did you actually bother to read the thread?

In my view, it airs a legitimate concern and the title makes a legitimate play on the letters MTH. 

I thought the photos were the best part.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  Maybe I'll post a photo of one of my MTH switches with my fix using black electrical tape on the guard rail where several Lionel/K-Line/Williams/MTH locomotives and cars derail.  Can wait for my call from MTH as promised by the Chief.

[Bob Keller]

Seems to me that there were as many pro-MTH posts as critical posts. I thought it was pretty well balanced, though I edited the title.

[sir james I]

Perhaps the title was poorly done but, learning of others problems and solutions helps all of us make choices and remedys. Regardless of which company it is. This is a forum, that means stay within the rules but you are entitled to have an opinion, everyone else IS ALSO entitled to theirs whether you agree or not.

[magicman710]

Ed, you're right it should be removed, not for the content, but for the title. 

I agree. I dont see a problem with the post itself - letting others know that MTH has a deffective product is Ok, but saying "MTH=Mikes Trash House" I dont think is neccessary.

And I am SINCERLY surprised that this thread has recieved 3 'no stars'. What if you came to this forum for the first time and the first thing you see is "Mikes Trash House". Wouldnt you be inclined to regret your registry?

 

[rtraincollector]

Ed, you're right it should be removed, not for the content, but for the title. 

I agree. I dont see a problem with the post itself - letting others know that MTH has a deffective product is Ok, but saying "MTH=Mikes Trash House" I dont think is neccessary.

And I am SINCERLY surprised that this thread has recieved 3 'no stars'. What if you came to this forum for the first time and the first thing you see is "Mikes Trash House". Wouldnt you be inclined to regret your registry?

 

Acually I would be inclined to find out what someone has a problem with MTH over. Now if the name is accually fitting or not depends on the behold of what items from them. but I have heard in the past more neg than praise and if its because of bias or not can't say I personally like lionel over mth ( but that would stop me from buying if it was something that apealed to me.) although I have some mth that I like just as well and theres some old K-line I have I wouldn't trade or sell as they made some real top quality items in there uper line (I'm talking stock cars at the moment on them( Atlas and weaver haven't had pleasure of owning yet but am looking at a couple of atlas engines for in the future) I personally don't have a problem with any yetbut haven't had a layout up and running for a while to see if any othe the items are a pain and this could be anybodies.

[ChiefEagles]

  HUMM 34 post since 2004.  Very active forum member.

Think I will start a new one with MTH's answer.  Maybe that will help some people.  Now may not get to read guy tomorrow as day full of meettings.  Will surely try Wed.  

I will not tell about the guy at Miss Edna's with a spanking brand new NS engine that no sounds when it runs.  Then it locks up and will not move and sounds come on then.  Will not smoke and is full of smoke fluid.  Sent back to MTH.  Came back the other day.  "Bad speaker and no fluid in smoke unit," was the answer.  Now we sent it off with fluid in the smoke unit.  Came back, put more fluid in the unit.  No smoke.  Runs with no sound and then suddenly stops and sounds come on.  Hey, that was the way it was sent to MTH.  Now what do you think that customer said when he was told the title of this thread?  You guessed it.

[brianel027]

Two general observations to start:

-Folks who post regularily here on this forum also check out other forums and post on those, as well as folks who frequent other forums come over here on occasion.

-Since the emphasis of the MTH product line leans heavily towards full scale products, I find that most (but not all) MTH supporters also have similar leanings.

That said, I have seen an abundance of postings and comments within postings that take critical liberty against starter trains sets, toy trains, non-scale products, anything 027, anything made during the MPC period of Lionel, etc.

Given my own personal experience, it is accurate to say the K-Line 027 Alco S-2 is the supreme most reliable train locomotve made by anyone in the last 20 years, bar none including anything by MTH.

The S-2's are affordable, look good on small layouts, run on 027 curves, operate and pull well, and I've NEVER had to send one back for service. That observation also applies equally to any 027 low end non-scale locomotive I've ever bought, including a lot of so called "cheap junk" MPC products.

Yet, I continually read comments trashing these kinds of trains and products, often from people who love the full scale MTH products.  I say to each their own. Truth be told, the traditional starter set 027 kinds of products are the big sellers and the bread and butter of this hobby. The new innovations and scale products may be pusing the hobby forward, but it's the traditional 027 kinds of products that keep it going. Look at the review of the very nice Atas MP-15 in the current issue of Classic Toy Trains. Very nice locomotive indeed, but will it equal the sales of the K-Line MP-15? No, NEVER. Not possible and it'll never happen.

Now I agree, not every product made by MTH is trash. I have a couple and if MTH bothered to make more traditional 027 products, I would have more. But they don't.

Likewise, just because a product is not up to the scale purists unforgiving criteria, doesn't make it trash either. I recall an awful lot of criticism made over the Lionel Polar Express set which was uncalled for and unwarranted, yet continually made.

But Polar Express sold over 100,000 sets. I dare say that no single scale product EVER made by ANYONE could even equal the sales of a single year's product run of the typical Lionel starter steam engine set. Maybe MTH should take a clue and start dropping the scale stuff in favor of making more traditional trains... one man's trash is another man's treasure, and I have plenty of train treasures!!!

[ed11670]

That is what I meant, just the title. Sorry, if that wasn't clear...

[Buckeye Riveter]

I don't understand why that topic" Mikes Trash House" wasn't removed. I don't think we need to put topics like that on here.. I don't see Lionel's trash House on here. Am I angry? YES.

That is what I meant, just the title. Sorry, if that wasn't clear...

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.  ~Mark Twain

[dwiemer]

I have some of just about every manufacturer.  I have been a loyal Lionel buyer and user over the years, but in recent past started to bring on everything from Atlas to Weaver.  I buy the individual pieces that either appeal to my memories of Railroading growing up, or just look great.  I recently picked up a scale, MTH PRemier NYS&W Susie Q car....it looks great!  I do not like the fact that I have a Proto 1 engine that needs a BCR due to MTH's poor design internally, but still, the looks are fantastic on that too.  Obviously, the originator of the "Mike's Trash House" thread has a number of MTH items and has had enough experience to make an informed opinion.  I am sure that the title of the thread was used to gain access to those in power at MTH who have obviously not listened to earlier complaints.  The issues had been presented several times to the folks at MTH and they did not respond.  The thread gets started and suddenly, they are making calls that should have been done early on.

In the end, some have had very good experiences with MTH.  Others have not.  Customer service has been both good to some, and poor to others.  For whatever reason, perhaps they need a little work or a fire under their backside to take care of some issues.  I have no doubt that they will act on the complaints now that they have been hit over the head with the preverbial two by four.  I also do not have my head in the sand in that other manufacturers have had issues and eventually they work them out.

Dennis

[jjm]

Sorry, but I do not agree with removing the title.  There were no personal shots taken at anyone in the title.  Perhaps adding a reference to the switches in the title might be more useful, but I think the title accurately reflects a real frustration with a poor quality product and the lack of interest that MTH has shown in trying to make things right.  This is not the first time MTH has had quality problems, and I can say that from first-hand experience.  When, MTH, Lionel or any seller of trains (none of them actually manufacture much anymore) fails to live up to reasonable standards for providing quality, I think they should be called on it.  And when they ignore the problem for a long time (as is the case here), they deserve more powerful objections with sharper words.

[SCD]

Sorry, but I do not agree with removing the title.

+1

I took the title of "Mikes Trash House" as a sign of customer frustration. Many of the components and products we use in this hobby are fairly expensive. Considering the cost of some of these products, plus the opportunity for repeat business, I can fully understand the level of irritation and frustration experienced by the consumer.

I have a few older MTH locomotives which have been excellent products (including a PRR 2-6-6-2 Mallet that easily pulls everything you can fit behind it and on all kinds of track). They have made good stuff, but if they are having some quality control issues on some products, I want to know about it.

[phillyreading]

I am surprized that it took a while to get the title changed on MTH subject.

Personally I had no problems with any MTH product other than the download for DCS or should I say the UNattainable download!

I have had more problems with Lionel products(6-23011 switch, GP-7 from around 1998) than any MTH product. Still using tubular track and will continue to use tubular track!

Lee F.

[ChiefEagles]

Read my post on MTH = Quality Control [AKA: Mikes Trash House].

[RRCharlie]

I sent an e mail to Bob Keller yesterday suggesting that the edit of the title should have been "MTH not= Quality Control" in keeping with the intent of the post. No answer yet.

[Bob Keller]

I'm not sure that doesn't take us full circle back to where the complaining began.

Tell you what, I'll just lock both threads.