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"Authorized" and "Unauthorized" dealers.

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  • Member since
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  • From: THE FAR, FAR REACHES OF THE WILD, WILD WEST!
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"Authorized" and "Unauthorized" dealers.
Posted by R. T. POTEET on Saturday, December 18, 2010 1:05 PM

 

I see advertisers in the hobby press refer to themselves as "authorized dealer of X" and "authorized dealer of Y" and "the only authorized dealer in Western Pennsyltucky." Am I to presume that there is such a thing as an "unauthorized dealer?" The whole thing sounds suspiciously like "We make the best deals in town!" and "We'll give you more for your trade!" fluff. 

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

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Posted by Forty Niner on Saturday, December 18, 2010 1:38 PM

Some dealers are "registered" with the importer/factory and some are not, most are not as they buy through distributors and never have any contact with the importer/factory.

Walthers and Athearn (Horizon) being an exception to this as they do not sell through distributors, they are their own distributor and the dealer must prove he is in fact an actual "store" doing business in a retail location.

Anyone can get a tax number and buy from a distributor, some distributors are a bit more picky than others but as always "money talks" so if you have the paperwork they will sell to you.

Actually the phrase "authorized dealer" really doesn't mean much anymore except possibly for someone like Walthers or Athearn/Horizon.

P.S. That's one reason you see so much old Athearn BB stuff at train shows as they "used" to sell through distributors but when Horizon bought them out that stopped.

Brass importers sell direct but they were never very strict about their dealer rules either, the lone exception being PFM, but as with anything, the lone exception had exceptions as well.

Mark

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Posted by mobilman44 on Saturday, December 18, 2010 2:28 PM

Sadly, you can get burnt by buying thru an unauthorized dealer.

I've had two situations, one with Bachmann and one with P2K.  Both Locos were bought new from hobby shops via the net.  I had a problem with each, went back to the manufacturer and they refused to fix them because of the unauthorized dealer thing.

This was pretty upsetting, for both stores were legitimate (i.e. the locos did not fall off a truck as we used to say in Chicago), and I had receipts.

Well, I apparently behaved nicely - but persistant - and both Bachmann and Walthers helped me out eventually. 

 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by selector on Saturday, December 18, 2010 2:43 PM

It definitely is a point to consider, RT.  I purchased a slightly wonky "NIB" Broadway Limited DC J Class Northern from a guy who also sold on ebay.  I hadn't really considered warranty when I found the engine and agreed to his terms.  He sent it to me, but my decoder-guy soon found that it had a split gear.   I contacted BLI, explained, they said, "Show us a receipt, " and I did.  They immediately said to ship it in to them, and all it cost me was an additional shipping over and above what I had already paid to get the thing in my hands.  Not a great outcome financially, but it could have been a ton worse!

But, my point is, they really could have dug in their heels and said that the purchase was not from one of their recognized dealers.  However, I have found their repair facility to be excellent and highly customer oriented.   Clearly, some distributors want more and they'll stick to their guns.  So, you would be well advised to get an email originating from the appropriate distributor saying that your purchase will/won't be acceptable for warranty purposes.

Crandell

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Posted by galaxy on Saturday, December 18, 2010 4:03 PM

I wonder how they handle "gift" warrantee registrations where one does not know whether the seller was an "authorized dealer" or not?

Also, I would assume any "new in box" bought off ebay could be suspicious even from those dealers who have  "shop" online at ebay. I don't trust them when it comes to warrantees. As you never know, it MAY just have "fallen off an 86foot box car in the yard someplace" or "off a truck in NYC".

For those with Bachmann purchases, I have read enough to know on the forums that Bachmann is usually fantastic about warrantee repairs, even if you broke it, "fixed it first". it is out of warrantee or out of production. If they can help, they generally will. The question is do you get a "good sport" on the other end of the telephone or email or handwritten  letter?

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by Forty Niner on Saturday, December 18, 2010 11:39 PM

Mobilman,

First off, Bachmann shouldn't have requested more than a copy of your receipt as they sell through distributors and have no idea who their equipment is being sold to as an end user so the "authorized" dealer thing is pretty bogus with them.

As for Walthers, if your dealer buys from Walthers then they are automaticaly an "authorized" dealer and any comments to the contrary from them is an attempt to avoid service.

So.............you need to find out from your local dealer if he indeed buys from Walthers or not.

Personally I would have taken them back to the dealer where you purchased them, if he told you there was nothing he could do about it then find yourself another dealer, or assume everything you purchase from him is "as is" and buy accordingly.

Mark

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Posted by mobilman44 on Sunday, December 19, 2010 7:22 AM

Both locos were bought on the net - and both dealers said my best (only) path was to go to the mfg. as they would have to do the same, etc., etc.

As the items were  "factory sealed", this made perfect sense to me - although I wasn't happy about buying something new that didn't work as it should.

I have to add that over the years I have bought a lot of train stuff (postwar Lionel & HO) and my two examples were isolated instances.

 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by CTValleyRR on Sunday, December 19, 2010 7:57 AM

Mobileman's response is revealing -- most manufacturers who desire repeat business WILL stand behind their products.  Sometimes, though , you have to be polite but firm.

I agree, though, that a good retailer (meaning one I'm going to continue to patronize) should take the items back and give you an exchange in kind, then deal with the manufacturer himself.

Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford

"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford

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Posted by Forty Niner on Sunday, December 19, 2010 8:19 AM

Mobilman,

This that tells me that the dealer doesn't want to be bothered with your problems, all he had to do with the Bachmann engine is return it to the distributor which may be a traveling representative.

With Walthers he would have to return the item and instead of you being given the "run around" the dealer would get it.

Either way they sound like poor excuses for dealers in my book. If I'm dealing with someone like that I expect to pay no more than cost and probably another 20% less than that because after all you are accepting "all" of the problems should there be any. Those dealers are just collecting the money and then basically saying "don't bother me if there's a problem".

Online or not, they aren't "dealers", they're just vendors much like you would expect at a train show or flea market, you bought it it's your problem now.

Personally I would find new sources unless they want to price their merchandise accordingly.

Mark

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Posted by mobilman44 on Sunday, December 19, 2010 9:30 AM

Ahhh, there was one other factor (which I should have mentioned)......

The set of P2K E7 A/A locos (both powered w/DCC & Snd) was the only one the dealer had, and Walthers was sold out.  So returning to the dealer would only mean it would take extra time for them to get it back to Walthers, etc., etc.

Again, both Walthers & Spectrum came thru for me, but it was not an easy time of it.  In any case, all is now well...........

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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