I ordered two engines of them. They arrived to Sweden within the week. Excellent customer service and they answer question with great speed and really take there time to get the answers right. I really recomend them 100%.
Lillen
jblackwelljr wrote:I purchased a RDG T1 from them several weeks ago - I received it in just a few days, no issues and it's running like a top. I don't know how they react to problems, and I hope I don't ever find out.
I hope so for your sake, too. However, it would seem that you will be asked to return the item to BLI, just as you would from any retailer, and since BLI has the warranty burden.
If I order an engine from X-online, and if it has problems, I contact BLI and get excellent service. The same is true if we can take what others say about Bachmann and Walthers.
I talked to Joe there if I remember his name correctly and ordered one of the PCM Big Boys without sound. This model is a bargain at $325.00, which is a real low price. It came in about five to six days and is a great product.
From sources that are usually correct, the FDT company/owner is related to PCM/BLI operations and has caused concern about the low prices from many hobby shops that have full price models in their stock.
CAZEPHYR
I await the arrival of my New Haven I-5 hybrid. It worries me that Factory Direct Trains still are letting orders in at a discount. I am not sure what it means. It is like they keep re-drawing the line in the stand. Anyway I can only fret and wait until it actually gets delivered or they decide not to build them.
NHRF
NHRF,
I believe that FDT's purpose is to provide surplus BLI/PCM overages at a discount to drastically reduce inventory. With BLIs new policy of only making 5% above the pre-order amounts on locomotives, the smaller runs should both eliminate the overages for BLI/PCM and provide the modeler with more choices of locomotives down the road.
With the abundance of F7s and Big Boys on the market, wouldn't it be nice to see some of the lesser produced models being made for a change?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
claycts wrote:Just ordered the Y6b from them, any feedback on these folks?
Yep, lots of feedback here:
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1000892/ShowPost.aspx
Both good and bad
Well Thank you for the replies. I already got a confirmation of shipment and will have it Friday.
After being told that this is a no longer available item I was pleased. Their price was very good and I get the extra water tender and the LOK programmer for the same price as the other person wanted for just the engine.
Will update upon receipt of the unit.
This looks like a OVERSTOCK.com operation but we will see.
Tom,
I have not seen the 5% above pre-order figure before. Was that offically anounced by BLI? It kind of makes some sense to limit the quantity beyond what you know you will sell for sure. I just think that they should have stated the first x amount of units can be bought for $399 and after that number is reached then the rest sell for $450. Then leave a counter up as to how many units have been ordered so those of us with an intrest can guage how long or if ever it will take for these things to get built. Instead they come out with these false dead lines and then keep setting them back when the numbers they want are not reached. At least when they fail to update their website long after the dead line expires I get the feeling that they haven't got the numbers they are looking for.
I saw the figure at the top of the BLI ordering page on Tony's Train Exchange web site. It states the following:
(PCM) or (BLI) or (BLUELINE) locomotives are now being manufactured in VERY limited runs, as in no more than 5% over what was ordered by all customers by the order deadline. The order deadline is generally 3-4 weeks after the announcement date. Tony's can take orders however they cannot be guaranteed 30 days AFTER the announcement date. To ensure you get the loco you want you MUST order as soon as the item is announced. In the past few new releases, the run has been virtually sold out by the time they arrived in the USA for shipment.
New Haven Railfan wrote: I await the arrival of my New Haven I-5 hybrid. It worries me that Factory Direct Trains still are letting orders in at a discount. I am not sure what it means. It is like they keep re-drawing the line in the stand. Anyway I can only fret and wait until it actually gets delivered or they decide not to build them.NHRF
FDT was the first Online Shop accepting orders for the I-5 and then the $399 seemed a good deal; now with other stores competing (you can get it for $385) why should FDT raise the price to $450 List again?
I would assume they simply leave the price at the discounted $399 to be at least around the same price other Online Shops are asking for...
claycts wrote: Well Thank you for the replies. I already got a confirmation of shipment and will have it Friday.After being told that this is a no longer available item I was pleased. Their price was very good and I get the extra water tender and the LOK programmer for the same price as the other person wanted for just the engine. Will update upon receipt of the unit.This looks like a OVERSTOCK.com operation but we will see.
So they are halting sales of the PCM Y6b then?
Intresting, I am not aware of any one else offering the I-5's for pre-order, I will now start looking little more harder. I doubt I will jump over $14 because often times I find that merchants will discount an item and charge more for shipping so there is no real savings. But it worth checking things out. Thanks for the info. I am now a better informed consumer.
Safety Valve wrote: claycts wrote: Well Thank you for the replies. I already got a confirmation of shipment and will have it Friday.After being told that this is a no longer available item I was pleased. Their price was very good and I get the extra water tender and the LOK programmer for the same price as the other person wanted for just the engine. Will update upon receipt of the unit.This looks like a OVERSTOCK.com operation but we will see.So they are halting sales of the PCM Y6b then?
Well, Train World, taking orders, no ship date.
My normal get anything shop in Florida, can not get, not taking orders
Local DCC operation that also can get anything, not taking orders.
Terminal Hobbies, can not get the sound one.
So based on this I jumped on their offer. I now have a AHM Y6b, converted to DCC that will go on the shelf as display next to the AHM Big Boy. I am replacing all my non sound engines with the latest of each as they come out.
I hope they are able to bring in all of the latest listings, but the Southern Pacific AC 12 and GS4 so highly talked about just a few months ago are now TBD. The Daylight passenger train is still on the schedule for late 2007. The TBD for the locomotives means they are not scheduled now for any time in the future probably due to lack of reservations.
It would be nice to know what is really going on down there.
CAZEPHYR wrote: New Haven Railfan wrote: I await the arrival of my New Haven I-5 hybrid. It worries me that Factory Direct Trains still are letting orders in at a discount. I am not sure what it means. It is like they keep re-drawing the line in the stand. Anyway I can only fret and wait until it actually gets delivered or they decide not to build them.NHRF I hope they are able to bring in all of the latest listings, but the Southern Pacific AC 12 and GS4 so highly talked about just a few months ago are now TBD. The Daylight passenger train is still on the schedule for late 2007. The TBD for the locomotives means they are not scheduled now for any time in the future probably due to lack of reservations. It would be nice to know what is really going on down there.
From an email I recieved indicates that the B&O Pacific 4-6-2 is TBD for possible lack of sufficient orders or interest to do the production run. The 2-10-0 is also at risk and was the one deciding factor in favor of my other engine purchase.
I also have hopes for several other engines but I think ultimately I will adopt a wait and see attitude and catch it when FDT lists it 6-12 months after release to avoid premium pricing.
If half of the people who are interested in X type of engine are doing what I am; Waiting on FDT then we probably have lost the hobby's ability or desire to sell new engines in small numbers with sufficient pricing to make a profit. If everyone waited and ignored the new product announcement/release it sure will look like a lack of interest to the factory.
Persistent threads keep coming up on a variety of items that recently were either totally out of production/unavailible or no longer sold.
I probably will not see the Y6b on my railroad, however I have an abundance of mountain power to make that particular engine unnecessary. The funds would be better used towards improved engine facilities to tend to the stables.
claycts wrote:This was the BEST experience I have had buying on line. The unit got here in perfect conditon, on time amd as advertised by them. I will buy ALL my future units from them.
Congratulations on your new purchase. You will find that BLI is a good company despite what I may say about them from time to time. Dont forget to send your warranty card in.
Safety Valve wrote: claycts wrote:This was the BEST experience I have had buying on line. The unit got here in perfect conditon, on time amd as advertised by them. I will buy ALL my future units from them.Congratulations on your new purchase. You will find that BLI is a good company despite what I may say about them from time to time. Dont forget to send your warranty card in.
You mean these may brake! But it is all metal!
Oonly kidding I will. Adjusted the CV3 and CV4 and it is smooth as silk even at Throttle setting #1.