Model Railway Forum banner

New models - what guarantee!

6923 Views 43 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  CeeDeeI
2
Does the various manufacturers have or show any respect after sales towards their customers?
I bought a Fleischmann 614 DMU diesel multiple unit from a Fleischmann registered retailer - right from the start, the unit emitted a loud grating sound while traversing over my layout. Fleischmann advised me to return the powered part of the unit to their address in the UK, cost of postage to be paid by me.
After four weeks, the unit was returned to my address in the same packaging I had used. No compliment slip or note was included to apologise for the inconvenience in having to send the unit back to Fleischmann or indeed as to cause of the noise emitted by the unit.
I soon found out as to why the absence of a note - the unit, to my horror was emitting the same irratating noise - in other words in plain english, nothing had been done and most probably not even checked over - the bubble wrap enclosing the unit, to me, looked very much like my own way of packing.
Prior to sending back the unit, Fleischmann stated that only one other model made a similar noise while in motion, and probably my unit would require some TLC and oiling of the gears. Certainly it looks like Fleischmann did not indulge my unit with lots of TLC and appropriate oil.
Fleischmann must have a strong hold of the H0/N gauges market and can afford to treat customers in such disgraceful manner.
I had a similar case with Bachmann over a guaranteed Class 158 making a not acceptable noise - the unit was returned in a identical manner, no repair being carried out.
Is this the way of manufacturers having no respect for their customers, to be accepted as normal for the 21st century. Slow
See less See more
1 - 1 of 44 Posts
2
As a retailer I must say in Fleischmann's defence that we have never had a reason to complain about the service we get from them. Spares are delivered within ten days and are only unobtainable for the very oldest models (even then newer components will often work).

We have a fourteen day "cooling off period" and a "no quibble" guarantee that we stick to religiously, even if it's just a question of a customer simply not liking the item purchased. Irreparable faulty goods (which I could list in single figures) are returned to the factory (usually via John Hills) and replaced or credited.

I have been sorry to read the saga of the noisy 614 and am not impressed with the service "double00" got from his retailer who should have taken the bull by the horns to start with. Some of these guys should remember that "the customer is always right" - even if he is driving you crazy!
Not, of course, that I mean "double00"!


60134
See less See more
1 - 1 of 44 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top