no trains for you sir

[Budliner]

sounds like the same few people at the factory feel like we are just trying to bug them ,
all we want is to have the best smoothest running trains we can .
after all when you think of all the time and effort that we put in our layouts, I bet the numbers would be staggering. you see the big clubs talking 100.000 200.00 300.000
and they count all the man hours parts trains and material to get the figurs and here at home we tend to only count the money we spend on the locos and rolling stock
thats why when one stops working, we miss it, and just want to get it rapaired back to working condition . so all you factory workers dont get mad when we send it back to fix its only becase we love trains


b liner

[Anonymous]

I too, have a serious problem with Life Like. In Nov. 2003 I purchased a P2K C&O K-4. I got it home and put it on the track, and it jerked and bucked so badly that it derailed the cars behind. The literature included with the loco stated that it would run smoothly at less than 3 scale MPH. Mine would race ahead at 10 MPH for one driver rotation then bind-up. Several seconds were required to over power the bind, then it would race ahead only to bind time and time again.
I called Life Like the next day and was told to send it to them, and it would be fixed without charge. I did just that. (in the original box with all original contents). After two months, I began to inquire by phone, and by email, as to the status of the repairs. I was told each time that "It was still being looked at". Finally in April of 2004 it appeared on my doorstep. I removed it from the undamaged parcel to find a note on the damaged box stating the entire mechanism had been replaced. I removed the loco from the box to find it in deplorable condition. Several parts (turbo-generator, air compressor) were broken off the model, and not to be found in the box. The paint was damaged in several areas, and to add insult to injury, it ran just as badly as before.
I called Life Like customer service at once, and they issued a call slip with UPS who picked it up the next day for return. Two months passed, and I again began inquireing as to repair status. I was largely ignored. When I was able to gain a response, it usually consisted of "I'll check with service, and get back to you". In December of 2004 I was finally connected with a manager who told me the loco had been returned to China for repairs. He had no idea when the repairs would take place.

To make a long story (yes it's longer than this) short - The loco is still in China, I have filed complaints with the Attorneys General of OH and MD, and still I hear nothing. Small wonder Life Like's profits are up, I have given them $200+ for nothing. How many others have done likewise?

[railroadyoshi]

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!
My first Star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sry

I havent had much experience with Life-Like's repair department
But now Im just hopin my LL B&M GP38 wont go on me
It was the last one Walthers had!

[Budliner]

I never liked the athearn modles they seem to gruble to much for me and the newer units look like proto 2k copycats as for atlas I had bad Experience with the 3 aem-7's I have its a fine line between junk and too much money thats why I have sooooo meny liflike proto 2000 locomotives , not unusual to see 5 or 6 pulling 23 or 24 proto boxcars and gons up my mountain layout (central midland thats now part city dweller)
I do love the few brass F's what power I call them fools gold as people will gladly pay over $100 for the brass, but I find a few and work them in to shape and thanks guys for all the input, all be it good or bad it all gets in the mix and help us make the best choice for our own layouts I guess Because I have a mallet and a cab foward I only see the bigboy is the next train I need to get

B -

[BRAKIE]

Well,FWIW I am weeding out my P2k locomotives and sticking with Atlas and Athearn..Infact I re powered all 3 of my P2K SW1200s and both SW800s with Athearn drives..No more P2Ks for me my friends.

[Anonymous]

Virginian -

As I'm sure you know, LL has the BEST track record for supporting their locos (steam AND diesel) of ANY maker. This remark is based on both MY experiances with my 13 P2K/P1Ks AND those experances of many other MRRers that I know of that have even MORE of their products!

Every case that I have seen so far where LL has refused service has been because the owner voided the warranty by doing something to the loco. And for all we know, that might be the case here. Even if it is not, a single case where LL fails does not overcome the dozens of support cases that I know of where LL has given good service.

I would like some more FACTS before I decide WHO is at fault here.

[Virginian]

Thank goodness I only have steam in the LL brand. They are all outstanding IMHO. I have had great parts service. Borderline fantastic.
I have never returned a loco to a manufacturer in over 30 years, and I have never had them not send me the parts I needed IF they had them. I still have extra Rivarossi stuff they sent me. Bachmann offered to replace an H16-44 if I sent it in (they did not have parts), but I fixed it a different way. Key once sent me a replacement driver set (brass) in a week... that one amazed me.

[Anonymous]

I'd say they should still have parts for a loco that old - thanks to a few third-party stockists you can still get hold of parts for Hornby locos that old over here (have fixed a few "spares or repairs" locos with parts bought in this way). In fact, it's often possible to upgrade older models by fitting parts intended for more recent ones, so you have the paint scheme you want and it runs like new. Can't comment on the warrenty though, as I've not had to deal with LifeLike - my three P1K locos run very well.

[Anonymous]

Good thing I only have one LL P2000 SD60M - plus, having bought it in Europe, it is covered by Brawa´s (the importer) warranty. From what I´ve heard, they´ll refund your money at once because they don´t have any P2000 stocks, but at least you´re not left out in the rain.

Having read the above, another P2000 is out of the question - my SD60 will be an Athearn. Had nothing but good experiences with their spare and repair dept.

[1shado1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Budliner

I love that 4-8-8-4


B -

The "4-8-8-4" in the photo in AggroJones' sig is actually a 4-6-6-4 Challenger, and the pair of animated gifs are 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones..[#wstupid]

Jeff

[Budliner]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeffshultz

I can't even make out what the selections in this poll mean...

tell youR pal he broke it

wow drop one R in the word your and every one gets there curlers in a tizzy

[:(!]

[Anonymous]

If he took the loco apart or made any other alterations (to include DCC), that might void the warrenty, Underworld.

(Note that I don't mean shell removal, which is the way the old P2Ks came.)

[underworld]

Most companies require some type of notification for warranty work....either a phone call or letter for authorization. If it's a lifetime warranty they should honor it.....if they don't, make it difficult for them.

underworld

[Anonymous]

FYI, The P2K N&W GP18 #923 was released in 1993, so your '80's date is a bit wrong.

PARTS ???

Did they disassemble your loco, or did you sent them PARTS ????
If the latter, I can see why they distainfully sent them back !!!

It would be REFRESHING for people with a gripe to present ALL the facts up-front in these kind of threads.

We always seem to get "the rest of the story" only after many posts .......

[Budliner]

ok I guess I was a little harsh its true that ll did send me a new drive for my gp30 Item # 23120 prr2240 and they sead that I got two drive wheel sets, but it was the gp18 08148 no 8148 high nose that was sent back. more or less it was the way they dumped my parts in the box and the additude I got in email and in the nast note they sent me made me feel like if I was not geting a new loco that I was bothering them that made me start the post hoping to let off some steam (like a 4-4-0) but then I read the kato web site wow nice trains bad people guess ll is still the best
B -

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by glcole61

I bought a Proto 2000 SD-7 that would'nt move when I got it home and put it on the mainline. My buddy at the hobby shop took it back, and I spent a little more and got me an Atlas SD-35. No more Proto's for me.

Really ????

Well, first of all, any maker can have a "lemon" - even Atlas and Kato !
Depending on your luck (or lack of it), you might find you reject ALL makers in time with that policy !!

But secondly, if you are going to have a realistic model RR, you WILL probably need to buy P2K/P1K models, as some of them are only made by LL !! Unless, of course, you model a REALLY short short-line like the Gainesville-Midland, which had only ONE SD40 - but that's not very exciting, and anyhoo you would need P2K models for the other roads that used the track !!!

[Anonymous]

The first P2K was the BL2 in 1989.

So I have some questions:

Exactly what loco (brand, model and road) do you have ?

Is it a P2K, P1K or is it generic Life-like ??

Were you the original owner ???

Did you (like 'Mouse) alter the loco in any way (voiding the warrenty) ????

And you paid how much for it that long ago ?????

And you don't think you got your monies worth ??????

Now a comparison:

The Atlas warrenty, even on their Master series is 90 DAYS !!
The Kato warrenty is only 60 DAYS !!!

Perhaps LL should go to this - after all, we are talking toys, not tools !!!!
Sounds like some want to kill the hen who lays golden eggs to me ........

I have only had one problem with one of my 13 P2K/P1Ks - and LL sent me a whole new drive to "fix" it - so no compaints about LL from me !!!

If one of my locos developed a problem after 20 years, I would just fix it myself or replace it and consider I got my monies worth !!!!!

[Anonymous]

I bought a Proto 2000 SD-7 that would'nt move when I got it home and put it on the mainline. My buddy at the hobby shop took it back, and I spent a little more and got me an Atlas SD-35. No more Proto's for me.

[Anonymous]

Of corse ill honer the goods.[V]Theres no way I'd ever throw away a $80 loco.

[BRAKIE]

Jerry,LL is still making tho locomotives they did in the 90s.The GP9 is what in its 5th or 6th production run? So maintaining a parts inventory shouldn't be that much of a problem since the the P2K line of locomotives share the same drives.IMHO LL should already know some of their crown jewels suffered crack gear problems...Which of course they replace the gears at no charge.

[pcarrell]

What was the question[?]

[Roadtrp]

Get a life. You expect a company to stock locomotive parts from 25 years ago?

Ain't gonna happen. Take a chill pill and buy yourself a new loco.

[loathar]

I stopped buying Life-ish-Like crap when I quit playing with trains and started enjoying the always relaxing, never problematic finer art of of model railroading.
loathar

[Budliner]

I love that 4-8-8-4


B -

[AggroJones]

I ordered a new boiler circuit board and motor for my dysfunctional Y3 three weeks ago.
The woman who answered the phone acted like I was bothering her by calling the company. She tried to get my shipping info too quickly.
And I'm still waiting for it to come...

[cheese3]

When they say lifetime warrenty or guarentee I think they mean the trains life time so basically you get no repair service because its life time is up so they don't do a darn thing.

[JohnT14808]

I have not had any experience with LifeLike, so I can only say...speak with your pocketbooks. Don't buy their products any more.
Having said that, I would hope that everyone is being reasonable in that you can't expect a company to "repair for free" something that may be out of warranty, or needs repair due to mishandling. If your LifeLike crashed to the floor due to inattentive operators, should something like that be covered? I wouldn't think so. Should an engine that used to run well, but has been on the shelf for three years still be covered because it doesn't run any more? That's a hard call, but one would hope for flexibility from the company in these types of repairs.

[Anonymous]

I have no problems with Lifelike, but I have not sent any back. They did send me some parts for two of my models without any problems.

[SpaceMouse]

I had a similar experience. They told me to send them. I did. they didn't fix them. Sent them back telling me what they thought was wrong with them. And these were brand new. And they lost my decoders to boot.

Their attitute: Sorry tough luck.