BLI F3's/F7's Shipping

[peteski]

Strange that the F3/7 refurbs on the BLI site are selling for more than Hogtrainz is asking for the new units.  Do refurbs work better?

Probably, since the have been serviced and fully-tested (at least one would hope). 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Probably, since the have been serviced and fully-tested (at least one would hope). 

I've long been a believe in buying refurbished stuff for EXACTLY that reason.

[Maletrain]

Well, they will refurb yours if you buy it from Hogtrainz, right?

[Point353]

Probably, since the have been serviced and fully-tested (at least one would hope).

I've long been a believe in buying refurbished stuff for EXACTLY that reason.

My concern with "refurbished" merchandise is for an item with an intermittent problem that fails to manifest itself while on the bench of a technician, who might be less than diligent in performing troubleshooting. With no further work done on it, the item then gets classified as "no trouble found" and eventually resold as a refurb. The item then starts to act up, again, in the hands of the second owner, who thought that he had bought a "serviced and fully-tested" loco.

[peteski]

My concern with "refurbished" merchandise is for an item with an intermittent problem that fails to manifest itself while on the bench of a technician, who might be less than diligent in performing troubleshooting. With no further work done on it, the item then gets classified as "no trouble found" and eventually resold as a refurb. The item then starts to act up, again, in the hands of the second owner, who thought that he had bought a "serviced and fully-tested" loco.

You do have a point, Point353. 
But don't the refurbed models also carry a warranty?  Run the heck of of it when you get it and if it misbehaves, return it for a warranty repair.

[learmoia]

You do have a point, Point353. 
But don't the refurbed models also carry a warranty?  Run the heck of of it when you get it and if it misbehaves, return it for a warranty repair.

And the circle of life goes on

[drbnc]

Just one last thing from me on this. I did quickly receive a follow-up email from them after my second email (somewhere above). I will say that they are VERY responsive to customer satisfaction, going so far as offering to replace BOTH of my A/B sets with new, tested units. Maybe because I was nice in my response...

Anyway, I turned them down (but thanked them for their offer and responsiveness), since my F7 set is undergoing mods for weight and gear alignment, F3 set soon to follow. I don't want to nullify any chance I might have with them in the future should I need repairs, and I don't think the person I was corresponding with was responsible for their engineering. Customer service is not fun, so I just made it easier for them to go home and forget the day.   I hate being on the other end of "those" phone calls/emails, deserved or not.

In the end, it's just a hobby. 

[peteski]

Just one last thing from me on this. I did quickly receive a follow-up email from them after my second email (somewhere above). I will say that they are VERY responsive to customer satisfaction, going so far as offering to replace BOTH of my A/B sets with new, tested units. Maybe because I was nice in my response...

Anyway, I turned them down (but thanked them for their offer and responsiveness), since my F7 set is undergoing mods for weight and gear alignment, F3 set soon to follow. I don't want to nullify any chance I might have with them in the future should I need repairs, and I don't think the person I was corresponding with was responsible for their engineering. Customer service is not fun, so I just made it easier for them to go home and forget the day.   I hate being on the other end of "those" phone calls/emails, deserved or not.

In the end, it's just a hobby. 

Yes, customer service and tech support (which is what I do for living) can be nasty and stressful jobs.  It's much, much easier to go the extra mile for a customer who is pleasant to deal with. Rude and abusive customers only get my standard 100% support. 

As far as these only being just a hobby, sure, that's true. But you should also consider that this is little toy (which fits in the palm of your hand) is a miniature mechanical and electronic device which costs hundreds of dollars. For that price, it should be designed very well, and perform problem-free.  Right?

[Point353]

As far as these only being just a hobby, sure, that's true. But you should also consider that this is little toy (which fits in the palm of your hand) is a miniature mechanical and electronic device which costs hundreds of dollars. For that price, it should be designed very well, and perform problem-free.  Right?

So you would think.

Yet, some modelers appear to accept that having to tinker with a new product, right out of the box, to make it operate reliably is no big deal and somehow part of the "fun" of model railroading.
The street price for an A-B-A set of these locos is about $400, an amount that would buy a rather nice flat screen TV.
How many customers would be willing to perform some remedial work on their brand new TV before it would function properly?
Or, would they be much more likely to return the set for a refund or replacement?

[peteski]

So you would think.

Yet, some modelers appear to accept that having to tinker with a new product, right out of the box, to make it operate reliably is no big deal and somehow part of the "fun" of model railroading.
The street price for an A-B-A set of these locos is about $400, an amount that would buy a rather nice flat screen TV.
How many customers would be willing to perform some remedial work on their brand new TV before it would function properly?
Or, would they be much more likely to return the set for a refund or replacement?

Exactly!

Personally, I love to tinker extensively with my models. I disassemble pretty much every model I purchase, after just a quick test run.  This actually allows me to get really intimate with the good, bad, and ugly of its design and assembly.  Sometime I would be better off not knowing how a particular model was designed and assembled, because I sure see some horror shows!  OTOH, I also see some very innovative engineering, and very neat and flawless builds.

[Cumbo2000]

I tried to take a picture of the BLI F7 at roughly the same angle as the prototype pic:







The windshields are about 3-4 scale inches shorter then they probably should be, but looking at them in person, it doesn't really bother me.

Lowering the shell would have a much more positive visual impact.

I also feel that the side windows of the cab don't align correctly with the windshields

Bob Witt

[tehachapifan]

I also feel that the side windows of the cab don't align correctly with the windshields

Bob Witt

Not to dispute your observations, but it sure looks spot-on to me looking at the comparison photo.

[peteski]

Not to dispute your observations, but it sure looks spot-on to me looking at the comparison photo.

I also see the misalignment. It could be an optical illusion caused by the squinty windshields, but to me the side windows are too low in reference to the windshields.

Funny how different people perceive things differently. It is however tough to judge from just photos.

[wazzou]

Position looks pretty close to me, but the lower edge of the windshield is definitely too high, thus the squinting appearance.
Not that I care, but the biggest issue I see is the size or diameter of the trainphone antennae.

[pdx1955]

Got my set of NP F7's and tested them fully yesterday. The windshield/nose is a bit different from the IM's but not objectionably so - looks ok - looks better in person. I note that the BLI A-unit slits slightly higher than the B but both sit lower than the IM's. Detail level is on a par between the two (paint seems to be thicker on the BLI's . One nice note on the BLI's is that when coupled, the diaphragms touch so no huge gap between them. Sounds were crisp and running was very smooth through the operating range. Functions worked as expected. I did note that the unit was warm when I put it away, so time will tell if this is a problem - for now it isn't. I was using an original Digitrax Zephyr with Tam Valley boosters, and no "weirdness" or power issues were noted other than a couple dirty track spots which I corrected.