As many of you know from reading the forum, the Chief and I have been posting our displeasure with new MTH Realtrax switches. Recently, I sent one back for a replacement because it did not work. The store said they would send me a new switch.
This last week I received the replacement switch. Today, I took it out of the MTH box, thinking it was a new switch. All the normal MTH paperwork was enclosed. I don't believe you will think it is new after you look at the photo below and I didn't put that solder there!!!!
NEW SWITCH........Yea, right!!!!!
However, it worked.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Buckeye.....If that's a NEW switch, I'd hate to see an MTH reconditioned one. That's not a cheap item.
Chuck
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Mel Hazen; Jax, FL Ride Amtrak. It's the only way to fly!!!
Buckeye Riveter wrote:The store said they would send me a new switch.
The store said they would send me a new switch.
Nothing in the post indicates the "new" switch came from MTH like that: the store where he purchased the first switch provided this as a replacement - not MTH. Or am I misreading?
Cubster wrote: Buckeye Riveter wrote:The store said they would send me a new switch. Nothing in the post indicates the "new" switch came from MTH like that: the store where he purchased the first switch provided this as a replacement - not MTH. Or am I misreading?
Original post did not indicate or infer that MTH provided the replacement. The switch came from the store he bought the original from. We also don't know that the store was aware of the issue of the item obviously not being new. All of the packaging/packing seems to be there so the store may have assumed the unit was new. It's not clear who screwed up but it is clear the item isn't "fresh from the factory".
chuck wrote: Cubster wrote: Buckeye Riveter wrote: The store said they would send me a new switch. Nothing in the post indicates the "new" switch came from MTH like that: the store where he purchased the first switch provided this as a replacement - not MTH. Or am I misreading?Original post did not indicate or infer that MTH provided the replacement. The switch came from the store he bought the original from. We also don't know that the store was aware of the issue of the item obviously not being new. All of the packaging/packing seems to be there so the store may have assumed the unit was new. It's not clear who screwed up but it is clear the item isn't "fresh from the factory".
Cubster wrote: Buckeye Riveter wrote: The store said they would send me a new switch. Nothing in the post indicates the "new" switch came from MTH like that: the store where he purchased the first switch provided this as a replacement - not MTH. Or am I misreading?
Buckeye Riveter wrote: The store said they would send me a new switch.
I paid for a new switch, I received a switch that didn't work. It was returned. I then received a re-furbished switch. I have not been given a deduct for the refurbished switch as of this date, but I have asked. (I should know on Monday the store's position.) I really don't believe the store knew it was refurbished. I didn't realize it was refurbished until I started to hook up the connections shown in the photo. I have been dealing with this store several years and if they have a used item in the store, they mark it clearly used. They have been very honest with me in the past. The box, packaging and paperwork were identical to a new switch. The switch was "tied" into the packing identical to every new switch I have received in the last 8 years. Even the switch lantern was turned the wrong way, a common observation the Chief and I have both documented from unpacking many MTH factory fresh switches.
Bottom line, in Ohio our consumer laws say, when you buy new, you get new. You do not get refurbished, used, seconds, etc.
From a respected Ohio law firms web site:
The main consumer protection law in Ohio is the Consumer Sales Practices Act. Ohio consumers have a right to be treated fairly by businesses. Businesses are not allowed to deceive customers. When consumers' rights have been violated, they may be able to rescind, or undo, the deal, and get their money back. If the business engaged in unfair or deceptive acts that have already been ruled to be illegal, the consumer may receive three times their damages. If the business knew what it was doing, but acted unfairly or deceptively anyway, a court may order the business to pay the consumer's attorney fees. If you were subjected to unfair or deceptive acts, you may be entitled to $200 from the business, even if you have no damages, just to compensate you for your trouble, and to encourage businesses to follow the law. These consumer-friendly parts of the law help to prevent unfair business practices, and to encourage consumers to enforce their rights, even if there was not a significant loss.
Remember, different states have different laws.
How easy is it to do file a complaint in Ohio? https://agcares.ag.state.oh.us/public/landing.aspx
Pretty easy!!!! (Especially when compared to filing the income tax forms in Ohio.)
Buckeye.... I clearly understood , what you said, THE FIRST TIME. I don't see where it's a complicated understanding. The NEW, replacement switch, in NEW packaging, sent from an MTH dealer, was a piece of reworked junk. The repair job wasn't even professional. Period.
ChiefEagles wrote: I didn't say word.
Yes, but you started it!!!
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
May I ask what got you guys into this brand of track and switches in the first place?
Jack
RockIsland52 wrote: May I ask what got you guys into this brand of track and switches in the first place?Jack
That's a good question, Jack. I have some 022 Lionel switches that worked great, right out of the box, for 55 years , so far.
Same here Chuck. I have been following the track and switches discussions throughout this forum so that if/when I choose to switch track and switches brand on my next layout from my 1950s Lionel tube stuff to something more realistic looking and at least as functional as what I know, I will be able to benefit from the experience of others.
My question wasn't meant to call into question the selection judgement of others but rather to understand the advantages and disadvantages of making a change to their preference. They forgot more than I will ever know.
So my apology to anyone posting in this thread if that is how my question came across. Once one is committed to a track and switch brand, I, like them, would be seriously inclined to stick with the choice and making it work.
From a consumer standpoint, I too would be inclined to hammer away at any manufacturer to simply make things right and support their product. I shouldn't have to pay the financial and time price by sticking with them. Nor should I have to pay the financial and time price by starting over. There are others like me out there who, depending how this all turns out, will select this manufacturer's products or dismiss them out of hand.
So these guys are thankfully doing the heavy lifting for the rest of us. And with this bunch, I am confident that eventually their squeaky wheels will ultimately prevail.
Jack, to answer your question. Buckeye and Jon both had [still have] this track system when I started getting back into trains [mine had been stored due to no room for layout]. It worked perfectly and looked very good. Also at that time Lionel had almost nothing in the Fastrack line except standard radius and switches. I even went to Buckeye's house and watched his layout operate. I started buying up track and switches then. When I started building the layout a little over a year and half ago, I had to get lots more track and switches. The new stuff immediately gave me problems. Too much money invested to change. Now Buckeye has expanded his layout and, being consistant, is buying the same "stuff". Its the newer "stuff" that is failing and poor quality. Now Jon has not expanded his layout lately and his track and switches are still working fine. MTH has taken measures to try to cut costs to stay competative. Center rail is thinner than the original. Track switches are not of the same quailty metal and etc. The thing that really "cooks the goose" is their denial of anything being wrong. I've talked to them. Nice on the phone. Are they doing anything to correct these problems. Probably not.
As Paul Harvey use to say, "Now you know the rest of the story."
ChiefEagles wrote: I even went to Buckeye's house and watched his layout operate.
I even went to Buckeye's house and watched his layout operate.
I even had a few "older" pieces of track to show the Chief how easy they went together when he was at my house. During his visit all the switches and track worked pefect. Last year, when I purchased track for the next phase of the layout, I couldn't believe how difficult it was putting the track together. Then two of the new switches would not work properly. Both would not close the curve properly. One has been trashed and replaced and I fixed the other switch.
Why did I choose RealTrax? I visited several stores n 2000-2001 and they were all thrilled with the product. In fact, they did not like MTH ScaleTrax. Atlas and Fastrack had not started production. I purchased a circle for a start, tested it, liked it and bought more.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Here it is, I still enjoy watching it---that was a good day with my oldest son, just working together
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7113039967492295449&pr=goog-sl
I appreciate your candor, guys. I would have stuck with it rather than change horses too. Worst case, I would not throw the baby out with the bathwater but rather hold the manufacturer's feet to the fire. It has to be very discouraging to have to put off an expansion or change until either the general manufacturing defects are resolved or, at the very least, acceptable functional replacements can be provided until the mainstream problem is rectified.
Thanks, Jack. As they say, facts is facts.
I asked Jon to post his video to dispell the notion that big layout operators did not build their layouts with RealTrax.
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