Intermountain SD40-2

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I seriously don't understand all the axe grinding here.

IM isn't some huge company trying to screw over their customers for a few extra dollars.

They're doing the best they can in a rather low margin, low volume business.

Think about this, every time you wish them ill, you're wishing for FEWER products in our hobby. Is that REALLY what you want?

The same goes for all manufacturers. I know over the years I've taken my pot shots at a few, but maturity has taught me something: people don't get into the model railroad business for the money, they do it because they enjoy it. I'm almost certain everyone involved could probably go take a job elsewhere for significantly more money. But they don't, because they enjoy their work. If I came into the office on a Monday and read "I really hope all of this replacement is going to impact their bottom line.", I'd probably consider dusting off the resume.

Do we want to always be known as the forum that constantly bites the hands that feed it? Isn't there enough bitterness online already? Do we have to contribute to it?

How about we all try being a bit more constructive and supportive of those who make it possible to do what we do for fun?

[strummer]

Amen, Ed.

I recently contacted IM, asking for a couple of items for an FT I had purchased off eBay; I had a response within a few days, to the positive.

FWIW.

Mark in Oregon

[Scottl]

I seriously don't understand all the axe grinding here.

IM isn't some huge company trying to screw over their customers for a few extra dollars.

They're doing the best they can in a rather low margin, low volume business.

Think about this, every time you wish them ill, you're wishing for FEWER products in our hobby. Is that REALLY what you want?

The same goes for all manufacturers. I know over the years I've taken my pot shots at a few, but maturity has taught me something: people don't get into the model railroad business for the money, they do it because they enjoy it. I'm almost certain everyone involved could probably go take a job elsewhere for significantly more money. But they don't, because they enjoy their work. If I came into the office on a Monday and read "I really hope all of this replacement is going to impact their bottom line.", I'd probably consider dusting off the resume.

Do we want to always be known as the forum that constantly bites the hands that feed it? Isn't there enough bitterness online already? Do we have to contribute to it?

How about we all try being a bit more constructive and supportive of those who make it possible to do what we do for fun?

This should be the header to all "product threads". 

[mu26aeh]

I hope that my latest post in this thread is not coming off as axe grinding. I just thought it was odd that I was invoiced for individual parts and instead they sent a returned shell with said Parts on it.  Otherwise I'm happy with the locomotives I've received out of this model.  I do see a lot of bitching and moaning about small things that the end receiver can fix themselves i e a cab that is not seated correctly, but then again given the fact that we've had to wait for four years for these things to come out and itialy you'd expect them to double up their quality control.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I hope that my latest post in this thread is not coming off as axe grinding. I just thought it was odd that I was invoiced for individual parts and instead they sent a returned shell with said Parts on it.  Otherwise I'm happy with the locomotives I've received out of this model.  I do see a lot of bitching and moaning about small things that the end receiver can fix themselves i e a cab that is not seated correctly, but then again given the fact that we've had to wait for four years for these things to come out and itialy you'd expect them to double up their quality control.

Oh no, not at all. It was some of the responses to it that were.

[davefoxx]

I'll defend Intermountain.  A few years ago, I made a comment online about how I was displeased with the color of their N scale Seaboard System SD45-2 that I bought secondhand.  A TRW member PM'd me a contact person's information at Intermountain, and, when I sent Intermountain a message, it was discovered that they had an SCL shell in stock, which was great for my purposes.  Intermountain kindly gave me two options: (1) return my entire locomotive and they would swap the SBD shell for an SCL shell for free; or (2) purchase the SCL shell and they would ship it.  Since I had a good running mechanism, I chose not to risk putting it into the mail, so I happily paid for the new shell.  I felt this was the fair option, considering the time that Intermountain had invested into catering to me.  I am a satisfied customer, and I will defend Intermountain's customer service.

DFF

[Dave V]

I'm no longer an IM customer because of my switch to HOn3, but I will say this:

I had several IM freight cars and thought they were awesome.  Case in point:



I also called them up once after trying for many unsuccessful years to find their PRR F7s on eBay.  They went into the warehouse and found a PRR F7A and F7B shell, and then actually swapped them out onto other chases and shipped them to me at a discount.



My experience with IM has been all positive, but I understand others my disagree.  However, I think Ed's right.  There's a difference between being grateful for any scrap we're tossed and being ungrateful for any earnest attempt to provide the right thing.  We need to pick and choose our battles, and wishing for financial ruin for a company out of spite doesn't accomplish that and neither does it lift the Railwire as a whole.

[Rossford Yard]

I'll add support for IM.  As with most things, it seems we stay silent when things are good, but talk when they are a problem, and that seems to be happening here.

They have always been the most open of the MRR mfgs, take on specialty projects like the Tunnel Motor and GP10, and generally make a great product, as well as (I hear, since I have never needed it) good customer service.  For years, I thought I would never buy any loco but Atlas or Kato, but I have no worries on IM now.  If I had a complaint, (and I don't) its that my first SD40-2 couldn't survive a fall from my display shelf......

At the moment, because I love the sound and running quality of my second IM SD-40-2 is about all I run. It has made my other locos obsolete.

[ek2000]

@Dave V that pic of the Pennsy is about the best snapshot of MRRing Ive seen. Sans the thumbnail on the top right and a modern loco could have fooled me into believing this was real ! Great job !

[davefoxx]

@Dave V that pic of the Pennsy is about the best snapshot of MRRing Ive seen. Sans the thumbnail on the top right and a modern loco could have fooled me into believing this was real ! Great job !

Hopefully, IM is aware that their efforts to hook @Dave V up with those Pennsy F units landed their models square in the middle of the pages of Great Model Railroads.  Gotta love it.

DFF

[Mark5]

I seriously don't understand all the axe grinding here.

IM isn't some huge company trying to screw over their customers for a few extra dollars.

They're doing the best they can in a rather low margin, low volume business.

Think about this, every time you wish them ill, you're wishing for FEWER products in our hobby. Is that REALLY what you want?

+me

[Bendtracker1]

As others have said, I have nothing but praise for IM's customer service.
I've sent a Tunnel motor in and they completely swapped the shell, trucks and tank to change it from a Kodachrome to a regular SSW unit for free, W/free return shipping.
A buddy sent in two F units several years ago that he got on eBay, that wound up being absolute Junk and they basically gave him two new complete units and kept the junkers for parts.

Recently I was in need for some coupler mounting brackets for an FP7 and they sent me what I needed.  Since the invoice was under $30, it stated that payment was on the Honor system.  I sent the payment right away!

[basementcalling]

I seriously don't understand all the axe grinding here.

IM isn't some huge company trying to screw over their customers for a few extra dollars.

They're doing the best they can in a rather low margin, low volume business.

Think about this, every time you wish them ill, you're wishing for FEWER products in our hobby. Is that REALLY what you want?

The same goes for all manufacturers. I know over the years I've taken my pot shots at a few, but maturity has taught me something: people don't get into the model railroad business for the money, they do it because they enjoy it. I'm almost certain everyone involved could probably go take a job elsewhere for significantly more money. But they don't, because they enjoy their work. If I came into the office on a Monday and read "I really hope all of this replacement is going to impact their bottom line.", I'd probably consider dusting off the resume.

Do we want to always be known as the forum that constantly bites the hands that feed it? Isn't there enough bitterness online already? Do we have to contribute to it?

How about we all try being a bit more constructive and supportive of those who make it possible to do what we do for fun?

Agreed.

Now don't you have some trees to make? 

[squirrelhunter]

It costs me about $6 to ship an locomotive back to IM. That's money I don't spend on other things, like IM 4750's, for example. In fact, I've probably spent enough on shipping now to have bought a 4750. So I have an incentive to fix any issues on my own as much as possible.

I get some of you are very happy with your SD40-2's. But I don't think not being able to get the cab to sit straight on the shell and frame is a minor defect to be overlooked. I've been very happy with how IM has worked to exchange my units, but I don't think that means we shouldn't talk about issues their models may have.

[ek2000]

It costs me about $6 to ship an locomotive back to IM. That's money I don't spend on other things, like IM 4750's, for example. In fact, I've probably spent enough on shipping now to have bought a 4750. So I have an incentive to fix any issues on my own as much as possible.

I hear you on the shipping. I've had the misfortune of shipping all 3 BLIs I've owned to FL and the rare misfortune of having 3 Rapido units with issues. Luckily one was a faulty wheel that I was able to figure out and the other was a DOA replaced by BLW without having to send to Canada. The third I had to send to Canada ($25 for priority/tracked shipping with insurance). After a point, the costs do add up.

I still am grateful to these companies that they offer the kind of warranty and customer service they do. I've never been refused service and have always been treated very well whenever I've reached out be it BLI or Rapido. I've heard nothing less about IM's (superlative) customer service in this thread. We buy a product for $100-200 and just one service and return shipping for these companies can cost a sizable percentage of their net profit. I certainly feel we have among the best level of customer service from MRR manufacturers.