Quote from: Pacific Northern on March 12, 2009, 10:58:33 PM
I wonder it they have caller ID?  Could explain a lot.

It could, but maybe we expect a lot given the volume of returns they apparently have. It would be interesting to know what the breakdown might be, Spectrum, standard lines power supplies, Williams,etc.

I wonder about quality control but possibly that doesn't translate in Chinese.

Tom

Thanks for turning on the feature 3rd rail.

I have discovered an easy way to spell check postings that may be of interest to others.

If you are comfortable with switching back and forth between windows, you can open your word processor such as Word and compose messages there, spell check, copy and switch back to the Bachmann window and paste
into the message.

Tom

Quote from: Yampa Bob on March 12, 2009, 12:35:58 AM
You might want to post your problem on the Atlas forum, however they will probably blame the EZ Command controller as not being compatible with Atlas decoders.

In fact you will likly be made to feel like a second class citizen for not using a "real" DCC System.  There exists a huge biasis against the E-Z Command.

In reality if the decoder in question is NMRA compliant, E-Z Command should have no problem in changing address.

Tom

Ernie,

    Until yesterday I had called on the 800 number and consistantly got a very polite representative. The big difference yesterday was twofold:
1. I called on the 215 number and asked for Bridgett.
2. On the 800 call, I expressed my frustration that my E-Z Command had seemingly dropped from the face of the earth in a period of four weeks and was transferred to a supervisor.

     As the saying goes, the squeaking wheel gets the grease. I squeaked ! In my case,any way, it seems to have worked.

    I wish you good luck in your quest for information, try the direct call, it may get you some answers.


Tom

I spent some time this morning with C & O Power, what you propose would not be totally impossible.

You might give some consideration to using a K4 in conjunction with Bachmann's J2 mountain. The drivers would be closer ,you might be able to bash the boilers to approximate that of the J3, and you could use the mountains trailing truck.

You should also consider joining one of the C & O yahoo groups. It might be that someone has attempted this before and could offer advice.

Good luck.


Tom

I would think there would be a market for GP7/9's with DCC on Board from Bachmann. I realize that both Atlas and Proto 2000 offer these, but for some of us the cost is a bit high.

Athearn has discontinued its GP7 so there is no low cost first generation EMD hood unit out there that I am aware of. If Bachmann were to produce such a locomotive I would buy several.

Tom Blair
who is stuck in the fifties

I quite agree with that statement. It totally blows my mind that items are not logged in on a computer terminal, entered in to a data base and assigned a tracking number.

Some prioritizing should occur by at least the day after receipt of returns. There also arises the question of why are returns so much higher immediately after Christmas, are there quality controlled issues that beg addressing?

Perhaps some soul searching is in order at Bachmann.


Tom

Check out my post Happy Camper for whjat promises to be a sucessful resolution to a CS problem.

Tom

Whimsy, what fun. This will date me but I can't help but be reminded of teh immortal John Allen and his dinosaur switching on his fab G&D a pun itself
Tom

Quote from: SteamGene on March 11, 2009, 04:06:22 PM
I don't think it would be even close.  You are better off saving your pennies and buying a brass J-3.
Gene

That's a lot of pennies, Gene.

If close is what the goal is a Precision Scale Reading would be a good start, it was even has sound and was used on Chessie System before the 614.

Tom

After having spent a month bemoaning Bachmann's customer service, I was rewarded for my perserverence today.

Steamgene advised Joe in a thread about two locomotives in February to "Use your nickle, call Bridgett". Well as I have unlimited long distance I decided I had nothing to lose so I did.

I got her voice mail, left my information and hoped for the best.

Apoproximatly b30 min. after leaving this message, I received a call from Laura wanting verification of my shipping address etc.

My E-Z Command was/is buried under a pile of packages. Laura is having a new E-Z Command sent to me.

I also received an apology for the delay and have had my faith restored.

Tom Blair

I quote from E-Z Command FAQ (see left menu underE-ZCommand)

Can I use 2 or more E-Z Command®  units to have more than 10 trains on the layout at once?

Not at this time.  E-Z Command®  can currently control only 10 DCC addresses.  Several locomotives can be assigned to the same address and thus be controlled as a consist.  You can of course also select up to 10 locomotives from your larger fleet to have on the layout at once, reprogramming the locomotive decoders for each session to suit the address numbers available.

Hope this helps answer your question.

Tom

UPDATE #3

March 11,2009

HAPPY CAMPER



I followed some advice from Steamgene today a placed a call to Telephone: 215-533-1600  and asked for Bridgett. I got her voice mail and left  a message detailing the saga of my journey through customer service.

I also called on the 800 number- same old story not in system and when I expressed concerns was put through to a supervisor. The supervisor took down the information, my phone number and asked me to give them some time to try and find it and mI would be called right back.

When I disconnected I had a voice Mail from Laura at Bachmann asking that I call her back. Before I could do that, the supervisor called me and wanted verification that they had correct shipping addrtess for me zip codes etc.

To shorten the story, Laura called me twice more and actually found my package buried under a pile of others. Rather than waste more time she is just sending me a replacement.

Moral: Don't give up hope if you haven't tried going thropugh Bridgett what do you have to lose.

Tom Blair

Joe,

Follow Gene's advice call Telephone: 215-533-1600  and asked for Bridgett Wallace.

If you get her voice mail leave her a detailed message and she will get you results.

I did and will be receiving a replacement for my E-Z Command shortly.

As the kids say, Hampton Roads rules.

Tom Blair
Virginia Beach