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Amtrak. Not great PR.

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Amtrak. Not great PR.
Posted by Lithonia Operator on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 5:19 PM

Amtrak's inaugural long-distance run with a Charger up front. Not. Delayed leaving CHI while they put a P42 on the point. AMTK execs there for a press event ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg98zyoYowg

Then the Cafe car had a fire before it got to Milwaukee, and has to be set out there.

Yikes.

Still in training.


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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 6:03 PM

Lithonia Operator
Amtrak's inaugural long-distance run with a Charger up front. Not. Delayed leaving CHI while they put a P42 on the point. AMTK execs there for a press event ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg98zyoYowg

Then the Cafe car had a fire before it got to Milwaukee, and has to be set out there.

Yikes.

Save on maintenance now and pay the piper tomorrow.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Lithonia Operator on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 6:07 PM

The Charger issue is probably on Siemens, but Amtrak winds up owning the fiasco.

Still in training.


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Posted by Lithonia Operator on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 6:18 PM

Where is the nearest cafe car, and how does AMTK get it to the Builder? Apparently, the four cars that follow the cafe car are without power. AFAIK, as we speak, the coach passengers have no access to food.

Still in training.


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Posted by Gramp on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 7:12 PM

Y'know, I went into an REI sporting goods store for the very first time yesterday looking for some ice cleats for my wife's boots. Everything about the store and the people working there was superb. I felt such an uplifting spirit permeating the place. I ended up buying a lifetime membership to their co-op on the strength of it because I knew that I want to shop there again. If only rail outfits could learn what REI has created in spades. 

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Posted by matthewsaggie on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 9:46 PM

Bought some stuff from REI in 1975, back when it was totally catalogue and snail mail ordering from Seattle only.  Never bought anything else. Last year went into a local REI and simply gave them my name and within seconds they had my account up- an account that had not been used in 46 years. I was amazed.

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Posted by alphas on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 10:02 PM

Lithonia Operator

Where is the nearest cafe car, and how does AMTK get it to the Builder? Apparently, the four cars that follow the cafe car are without power. AFAIK, as we speak, the coach passengers have no access to food.

This sorta reminds me of an old movie comedy--someone(s) like Buster Keyton or Laurel & Hardy responsible for the train.

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 7:17 AM

matthewsaggie
Bought some stuff from REI in 1975, back when it was totally catalogue and snail mail ordering from Seattle only.  Never bought anything else. Last year went into a local REI and simply gave them my name and within seconds they had my account up- an account that had not been used in 46 years. I was amazed.

Have never heard of REI.  What kind of business are they running?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 9:57 AM

REI is a chain of somewhat upscale sporting goods stores.  The experience described suggests that they have more storage capacity in their computer files than they really need.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 4:01 PM

Gramp

Y'know, I went into an REI sporting goods store for the very first time yesterday looking for some ice cleats for my wife's boots. Everything about the store and the people working there was superb. I felt such an uplifting spirit permeating the place. I ended up buying a lifetime membership to their co-op on the strength of it because I knew that I want to shop there again. If only rail outfits could learn what REI has created in spades. 

 

It's a great operation. Like Matthew's Aggie, I started shopping at REI  in the mid 70s.

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Posted by MidlandMike on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 6:49 PM

BaltACD
Have never heard of REI.  What kind of business are they running?

They lean toward outdoor sports, like backpacking.

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 8:33 PM

MidlandMike
 
BaltACD
Have never heard of REI.  What kind of business are they running? 

They lean toward outdoor sports, like backpacking.

Since Sports Authority went bankrupt several years ago those that market in my areas of occupation are Dick's and Academy Sports.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Gramp on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 8:50 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

REI is a chain of somewhat upscale sporting goods stores.  The experience described suggests that they have more storage capacity in their computer files than they really need.

 

 

They have 20 million members.  Take a look at their website for their history.  Really interesting.  They know what they're doing.

REI History: It Started With An Ice Axe

 

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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Thursday, February 10, 2022 4:59 PM

REI = Recreational Equipment Incorporated

It was founded as a co-op by a group of mountaineers so they could import high quality equipment from Europe (which was far ahead of the US back then). I got a life time membership at the flagship store in Seattle back in '75 when I was stationed at Fort Lewis. REI offered stuff that was either better quality than military issue or just plain unavailable through the Army (Example, Gore-Tex, years before the Army adopted it). In particular, my Swedish camp stove warmed more canteen cups of coffee and heated more C's and MRE's over the next quarter century than I can imagine. Fit right in my rucksack. It was an object of envy. "Where did you get that, sir?" 

Optimus Hiker+ Multi-Liquid Fuel Stove 8016278 B&H Photo Video (bhphotovideo.com)

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Posted by 243129 on Friday, February 11, 2022 2:55 PM

Why is everyone so surprised at Amtrak's bumbling and incompetence? It has been there for all to see for years.

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Posted by Backshop on Friday, February 11, 2022 6:35 PM

BaltACD

 

 
MidlandMike
 
BaltACD
Have never heard of REI.  What kind of business are they running? 

They lean toward outdoor sports, like backpacking.

 

Since Sports Authority went bankrupt several years ago those that market in my areas of occupation are Dick's and Academy Sports.

 

There's one in Timonium and another in Columbia.  I've been a member for 25 years.  

Academy is a good store but there's a saying in the industry about Dick's.  "There's a reason that they're called Dick's". They have a bad reputation, especially concerning their firearms policies.  One good example--they were taking preorders for a certain firearm for a good price.  There was a shooting and the value of that firearm went up.  They cancelled everyone's preorder and sold the guns to others.

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Posted by Backshop on Friday, February 11, 2022 6:36 PM

Gramp

Y'know, I went into an REI sporting goods store for the very first time yesterday looking for some ice cleats for my wife's boots. Everything about the store and the people working there was superb. I felt such an uplifting spirit permeating the place. I ended up buying a lifetime membership to their co-op on the strength of it because I knew that I want to shop there again. If only rail outfits could learn what REI has created in spades. 

 

I hope you bought the Yak Trax...good stuff.

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Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, February 11, 2022 7:00 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH
The experience described suggests that they have more storage capacity in their computer files than they really need.

They also have a cutting edge email analytics program, they will send him marketing emails and over time collect areas of interest as well as demographics on him because they will send emails that will be able to track how long he spends on each part and on which items he clicks on............which is marketing gold and can be resold many times over.    Imagine he gave that email for free and got nothing in return.

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Posted by Gramp on Sunday, February 13, 2022 8:05 AM

CMStPnP

 

 
CSSHEGEWISCH
The experience described suggests that they have more storage capacity in their computer files than they really need.

 

They also have a cutting edge email analytics program, they will send him marketing emails and over time collect areas of interest as well as demographics on him because they will send emails that will be able to track how long he spends on each part and on which items he clicks on............which is marketing gold and can be resold many times over.    Imagine he gave that email for free and got nothing in return.

 

One email to date - a welcome. Can unsubscribe.  10% rebate on regularly priced items paid out once a year.  Similar to Sam's 5% annual or Amazon Prime savings.  One time $20 fee rather than annual fee Sam's, Costco, or Amazon charges.  Dropping Sam's and Prime (with its increase).  Inflaaation.

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Posted by RKFarms on Thursday, February 17, 2022 5:45 PM

If you want to hike, backpack, or climb rocks or mountains, they are the best. Any organization that has that type of customer service should be proud and successful. It would be nice if Amtrak followed their example.

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