I noticed this too....I know someone that purchased an engine from an MTH refurb sale and has run the wheels off the thing with no issues. I saw something I liked on the Lionel website but just had a catalog photo and no mention of what was wrong with it, if anything. Not really into gambling so I held off. I'm watching this to see if others have purchased anything. 

I bought a few items after the sale was announced.  I have absolutely zero issues with buying factory refurb trains.  I obviously don't have them yet, but I'll share my experience with them

I was on the Lionel site about a half-hour ago ... many items have been sold out.  

I think this sale has been an unqualified success for Lionel.  

Not much left.

Just googled "Lionel store refurbished" and all that came up was their Nov warehouse sale. How does one find out about these things, does one need to be on a special email list? Not that I need any more trains (just ask my wife!)...

Bill in FtL

If these used trains are "refurbished", why don't we refer to new trains as "furbished"? Somebody has to ask these things.

Two refurbished items were listed at full MSRP.  I didn't understand that, and so far no one else seem to either.  As others have said, it's difficult to evaluate the value until we give them some road time.  I' m guessing  if they arrive DOA, Lionel service would be lenient.

Most refurbs in other industries come with some sort of warranty.  Canon gives a full one year.  This is like buying a pig in a poke.  I decided to pass.

I have purchased engines at the Lionel annual warehouse sale and don't know if they were refurbs or not. Perhaps they were items that didn't sell well at retail? Who knows, but anyway they run fine. No problems at all. They are always packed in Styrofoam without the orange and blue box, if that means anything.

D500 posted:

If these used trains are "refurbished", why don't we refer to new trains as "furbished"? Somebody has to ask these things.

Definition: furbish is freshening or refreshing

When I take my car in for an oil change, the heavily  English accented service manager asks me if I have additional time for a furbish.  Someday I expect the car will be repainted.

I "furbish" the passenger cars every time I dust them and oil the axels.  This is often after I go from 8 to 40 passengers. The revenues always go up; so I have to conclude that furbishing is providing value. 

I just hope in some way those boxes are clearly marked as refurbed...

I purchased a Reading & Northern Pacific Lionchief plus for $235.00 shipped.  This is my 1st lionchief plus. at almost half price, it's worth trying.

I will use it on the Christmas layout.

Michael.

Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club

Believe it or not one may be better off with a "Referb".  At lest the buyer knows someone test ran it before it went out.

Dang, wish I would have known!!!!

D500 posted:

If these used trains are "refurbished", why don't we refer to new trains as "furbished"? Somebody has to ask these things.

Why is it "redundant" instead of just "dundant"?

Bill Nielsen posted:

Just googled "Lionel store refurbished" and all that came up was their Nov warehouse sale. How does one find out about these things, does one need to be on a special email list? Not that I need any more trains (just ask my wife!)...

Bill in FtL

Will one or more of you folks provide an answer to Bill Nielsen's post: "How does one find out about these things, does one need to be on a special email list? "  Thanks in advance.

Sign up by registering on lionels online store website and get their email blasts. It was in my email from the Lionel store. 

If you register their you should get all the Lionel store emails. 

Personally, I would prefer a 'factory' (in Concord) refirbished unit because it is likely one that was returned for some reason and a live person here in NC actually handled it, test ran it , and hopefully corrected the problem that I may have encountered had I bought it new, Now I have a tested engine for a well-discounted price.

A friend sent this to me earlier today but very few items were not SOLD OUT

I have bought many factory refurbished products over the years you name it. ALWAYS comes with a warranty.Just Sayin.Nick

I bought the acl Lionchief B unit I have been wishing I bought a while ago. For a cheap price, I now find I have a furbed and dundant unit (maybe re, re dundant -  since I have the AA?).

Funny stuff, guys!

I've always wondered how how something can be a reject without first being a "ject."

Rusty

While refurbished units are mechanically and electronically tested and found to be sound they still might have cosmetic flaws with such visible imperfections such as nicks, scratches, paint chipped, dents, or other physical marring. Lest anyone forget refurbished items are returned for a variety of reasons, not just mechanical - and it's likely Lionel doesn't repaint or otherwise fix flaws to an engine's finish.

MartyE posted:

Sign up by registering on lionels online store website and get their email blasts. It was in my email from the Lionel store. 

If you register their you should get all the Lionel store emails. 

Thanks. I was wondering, since I couldn't find anything about it on the web.

Bill in FtL

I bought the Liochief Plus Camelback I was looking for:  $240!  

Jon  

I bought the Legacy Heavy Mikado 5509 yesterday and within and couple of minutes after ordering it said sold out.  I received shipping information today.

Does anyone know when this sale started?  I received the email Friday evening but didn't see it until yesterday.  The FedEx tracking isn't updated yet so I don't know if I'll get it by the weekend or not.  Hope So

After a very quick glance, it LOOKS like Lionel has added several items to this sale.  (Tuesday, December 19)

I received my Mikado today.  It came well packed in a brown box and the engine was in it's original Lionel Box.  The Lionel Box showed ware but that's no big deal since this was a refurb.  The engine was in perfect shape.  I could not find a mark on it.  I programmed it and ran it through some features and all seemed to run as it should.  Very happy with purchase.

ADCX Rob posted:

D500 posted:

If these used trains are "refurbished", why don't we refer to new trains as "furbished"? Somebody has to ask these things.

Why is it "redundant" instead of just "dundant"?

I often hear about 'disgruntled' employees.  Are there any that are "gruntled'?

D500 posted:

If these used trains are "refurbished", why don't we refer to new trains as "furbished"? Somebody has to ask these things.

That's like a hot water heater

Do you like George carlin?

These engines seem like a steal so far! When your refurbished engines arrive could you send pictures of them, It would be cool to see if they really are fully restored to their original condition.

  I don't have the luck to gamble, so don't buy much of anything without some type of guarantee, even if it was limited in time. Mistakes get made and missed, thats how they ended up as refurbished.

    A sell out only encourages thoughts of sales without liability, not something todays world needs more of; I just say no to offers like that.

  With some sort of "satisfaction guarantee" in place, I'd tend to lean to "tested" as a perk though.

I bought one at the warehouse sale, NYC 5426 6-82535. I have been running it since and it works fine. At  $775 it was a great deal

The prices were so cheap I made an impulse purchase of the Santa Fe FT 164.   Not sure why....lol.