Bach-Man -
I will be at both iHobby and Trainfest. Please be so kind as to tell the Rep's that I would hope to have an answer on this issue by then.
Thanks!

Al,
Perhaps some did purchase old units with the hopes of trading them in. I bought all of mine over 2 years ago mainly to piece a few working engines together.  All of my units were purchased prior to knowing about a new release. I dont understand your comments. Is your suggestion that everyone should have to purchase an F9 (which yes I checked with Bachmann 3 years ago about this only to be told they did not have any) to make their DD40AX's run?....nice logic. Especially when said engine supposedly has a warranty.

Yes...I do feel that Bachmann owes me a new engine.  They very easily could have made a run of the ill-designed gears years ago and offered a program to trade in to remedy the problem. It would have cost a fraction. BUT THEY DID NOT.
In the end this burden needs to fall on the manufacturer...not the consumer.

I agree that a $15-$20 trade in is not the most cost-effective plan for Bachmann. However, the fact remains that many people purchased their old product in good faith with a "LIFETIME WARRANTY" only to have a severe defect of cracked gears on said product making it unusable.  Bachmann COULD have at a minimum retooled the gears and offer a trade in program leaving it up to the modeler to complete the installation.....they did not even do that. Nor have they offered any help for the gear issue other than trade in for a random engine they have in stock.
Something is certainly owed to consumers put in this position.
I truly hope they reconsider their position in this matter and come up with a mutually beneficial program.
Just my thoughts.

Bach-Man

I like many others have a bunch of the original DD40AX engines released under the Bachmann name as well as subsequent PLUS and SPECTRUM runs.  Every one of my Spectrum and Plus engines have the infamous cracked gears making them useless unless I cannibalize several to make a few work.  Some of the original Bachmann release DD40's I have suffer from engines that are pretty much fried.
A few years back I contacted Bachmann Parts about the cracked gears and was told that they do not have any replacement gears, however a "replacement" engine could be traded to me. Too bad a replacement is a GP-40 or whatever is in stock.
Now the new DD40 is released (a suitable replacement) and i was told by customer service that they cannot offer any trade in for the old units.
I understand the new units are much nicer, but YOU NEED TO STAND BEHIND YOUR WARRANTY! It is not my fault you produced faulty gears and I have several engines that wont run!  I should not have to take a GP-40 for a replacement when a DD40 is finally READILY AVAILABLE!

Please do something to remedy this situation!
The customer service manager said her hands were tied and she was told by higher-ups that this is the policy.