I was running my conventionally powered layout last night and had a minor glitch with a particular engine which was easily fixed. I was thinking how thankful I was I could remedy this without requiring additional parts. My thoughts turned to $2,000.00 plus engines with sophisticated features and wondered if it wold be profitable for both owner's and manufacturer's to have them offer an extended warranty plan for an annual fee. Would this make sense?
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MTH either does this or tried it. Not sure which it is. I'm not sure what the outcomes was.
In order to support an extended warrantee plan, wouldn't they need to keep parts in stock right at Lionel for a longer period of time?
Its my impression that Lionel currently liquidates parts that have been out of use for a certain length of time.
On the other hand, everything I have ever read about extended warrantees say not to purchase them. So they must be good for the manufacturer.
I don't know, Extended Warranty never worked for me.
Lionel Century Club 1 and 2 items came with a 5 year warranty.
MTH from 2006 catalog...
Perhaps an owner of one of the new VL BigBoys can let us know what the warranty is. I believe that I read someone st a ted that they bought their BB second hand so it did not have a warranty.
I am definitely going to look into the mth extended warranty to see if it is still offered. Had I known about that I might have acquired extended coverage for my NS heritage engine.
Perhaps an owner of one of the new VL BigBoys can let us know what the warranty is.
2 Years.
I believe that I read someone stated that they bought their BB second hand so it did not have a warranty.
That would be correct
Perhaps an owner of one of the new VL BigBoys can let us know what the warranty is. I believe that I read someone st a ted that they bought their BB second hand so it did not have a warranty.
Warranties from both Lionel and MTh are NON-TRANSFERABLE
MTH:
As of January 1, 2012 products purchased from an Authorized M.T.H. Retailer are covered by this warranty provided the product was manufactured within five years of the date of purchase. This warranty is for the original purchaser and is non-transferable.
Lionel :
So really nothing new here. I guess the only thing you could do is to work a deal out with the person that you are buying from that if there is a problem they will ship it back for you
I only buy used equipment, so that makes ME the extended warranty provider! 
I have not bought an extended warranty for any train engine so I can't say how they work or may not work.
Have had a Ford car extended warranty once and found out that the company wasn't worth the paper they sold you. So I can only say that for cars it is the company that sells the extended warranty that makes out on the deal, it is a money waster in my book.
Lee Fritz
Warranties sold by the original manufacturer would be potentially worthwhile. Aftermarket warranties would not be worthwhile, in my experience. Our aftermarket warranty experience is with autos as well, but from the original manufacturer. These warranties have proven worthwhile in general.
The only thing that came to mind was that it might be an incentive for them to have a better stock of spare parts for a longer period of time. Maybe not.
Utterly worthless generally. Plus I have absolutely no confidence in a company that has to sell an extended warranty and blames you for not obtaining one when the product fails. By making these extended warranties pervasive in all consumer products that one purchases, makes it, and not the quality of the product, the standard for the industry. Companies used to stand behind their products--now you have to pay for their shoddy work by buying a policy secured by a third party just to ally the fear that your unit will fail. If you could pay for quality from the start you needn't have to buy such a policy because the company would also have the confidence to extend its own original warranty. But if you happen to have confidence in the company and feel that its warranty is sufficient protection, then why purchase the extended warranty? I have often thought it would be a good idea to have a consumer protection agency evaluate actually how many claims are really made on these extended warranties in various types of consumer purchases. If few, then that's a factor for consideration if purchasing one.
The only thing that came to mind was that it might be an incentive for them to have a better stock of spare parts for a longer period of time. Maybe not.
No, it wouldn't. What they can do is credit you for a completely new model rather than a repair. You have to read the fine print in the actual policy. There may be a lot of folks who simply opt not to pay more for an upgraded model, even with the credit, and so the insurer makes out because there is no claim made. Planned obsolescence really works!!!!!
electroliner asked:
wondered if it (extended warranty)would be profitable for both owner's and manufacturer's to have them offer an extended warranty plan for an annual fee.
NO, it is never profitable for BOTH parties. If that were the case EVERYBODY would offer it and EBERYBODY would purchase it. Only the seller makes $$$ on the extended warranty, theory being he sells more than what is used. The same way an insurance company makes $$$.
I have had very few items, trains or otherwise, break during their warranty period. It's always a few weeks or months after the warranty expires that the item breaks. Example, moved to new house Sept. 2013, one year warranty from builder on everything. Warranty up Sept 2014, sump pump quits Dec 2014, $300. So far I have had no trains break in warranty or otherwise. They were all purchased new starting about 4 years ago, adding a couple more each year since.
I believe most credit card companies give you an added warrantee that is equal to the original warrantee after it is up. So a 1 year warrantee becomes 2 years if the credit card is used. Mine does it but I've never had to use it.
Ron
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