MTH Shipping Parts... Finally! But... There's a Catch

I have to say I don’t understand shipping a product that could potentially cause an issue.  I used to tell people if you don’t know about a potential issue that is not great but to know we are selling a product which could cause an issue and not address it is wrong.  I am sure MTH is selling these boards at a positive gross margin so why not make sure they function properly.  
In my opinion it is just good business practice to sell quality products but I also never wanted to worry about issues in the field or the potential liability which comes with it.  Again if I didn’t know about an issue not great, but if I did know and didn’t address it that is not acceptable.  Just my opinion.

John,

Jason told me, years ago, that the pin outs for both boards was the same.  I have been removing the 5v connectors (black) from defective 5v boards and installing them in the new 3v boards.  Have done about a dozen so far.  Use a small jewelers screwdriver to pry the connectors up and gently remove them.  There is adequate clearance between the board and connector to gently get the screwdriver in there and twist.

Make sure you install the 5v connectors in the same orientation as the removed 3v connector.

As for not assembling and testing the boards at MTH, that is unacceptable.

Bruce

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

 

I'm glad we're finally getting boards, but it would have been nice to get boards that were properly assembled and tested before they shipped them!

@bruce benzie posted:

John,

Jason told me, years ago, that the pin outs for both boards was the same.  I have been removing the 5v connectors (black) from defective 5v boards and installing them in the new 3v boards.  Have done about a dozen so far.  Use a small jewelers screwdriver to pry the connectors up and gently remove them.  There is adequate clearance between the board and connector to gently get the screwdriver in there and twist.

Make sue you install the 5v connectors in the same orientation as the removed 3v connector.

As for not assembling and testing the boards at MTH, that is unacceptable.

Bruce

Sounds like they're already "short timing" it.  No reason these shouldn't be at minimal prepped.

Several of the last batch I got wouldn't accept programming and had to be sent back to be re-flashed in a way us Service Centers are not provided a way to do so.  Months to get them, then get a RA and send them right back adds another month or so.

Just received my RA back and need to test the batch to see if they now work.

Jim

Hope this isn't a tell on MTH's future. At this point If I were them, I would be doing my very best to make us all feel comfortable continuing to buy their products. Starting with parts and customer service.

I hope they work fine. 

If they would sell some PS32 boards to the general public I'd buy them for future projects/spares.....

@bruce benzie posted:

John,

Jason told me, years ago, that the pin outs for both boards was the same.  I have been removing the 5v connectors (black) from defective 5v boards and installing them in the new 3v boards.  Have done about a dozen so far.  Use a small jewelers screwdriver to pry the connectors up and gently remove them.  There is adequate clearance between the board and connector to gently get the screwdriver in there and twist.

Make sure you install the 5v connectors in the same orientation as the removed 3v connector.

As for not assembling and testing the boards at MTH, that is unacceptable.

Bruce

I know the pinouts are the same, and I know you can pry the old black connectors off, the white connectors off, and swap them.  I've also been doing that swap since these boards were released, that's not news.  That's also not the point!  It's a PITA to swap the connectors, and it's totally unnecessary since the proper connectors exist!  I don't need more time wasters when doing repairs.

FWIW, I assembled all the boards after giving the top board a haircut and then I fired them all up and tested them.  They all tested good, at least in basic operation, so that's a good thing.

For someone like me thats all lionel/ TMCC, this not the news I want while considering expanding to MTH. The only real reason is my MTH veranda I got that someone converted to tmcc and put basic diesel sounds in it. I was going to go MTH to be able to get the veranda sound set. But may just go with ERR turbine sound, I know its not correct, but less hassle

Sheesh GRJ. It's almost like someone there doesn't like you? I can't think of any reason for that.

& It's not like they're going out of business or something. 

Maybe you could post a public response like rip out their electronics package.... again? 

I can only guess that they sent you what was available. I would also say that if it's not suitable, send it back for a refund. (Yeah, I know. )

As far as extra work swapping some plastic connector, I'd have to guess that the least of the troubles coming for techs?

I try and back you as much as I can. I just don't like this public rant at this time. I would suggest you take a step back and think about the current world wide situation. If you don't wish to, maybe Lionel will be able to satisfy your needs. I don't wish them any harm. I just think it's about to get tougher for all the importers.

 I feel that Bachmann will be the only source for toy trains in America if things keep going this way. I have been wrong plenty of times so don't take this too seriously. I hope we can stay friends and if not, please take care. Life is too short.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

Sheesh GRJ. It's almost like someone there doesn't like you? I can't think of any reason for that.

& It's not like they're going out of business or something. 

Maybe you could post a public response like rip out their electronics package.... again? 

I can only guess that they sent you what was available. I would also say that if it's not suitable, send it back for a refund. (Yeah, I know. )

As far as extra work swapping some plastic connector, I'd have to guess that the least of the troubles coming for techs?

I try and back you as much as I can. I just don't like this public rant at this time. I would suggest you take a step back and think about the current world wide situation. If you don't wish to, maybe Lionel will be able to satisfy your needs. I don't wish them any harm. I just think it's about to get tougher for all the importers.

 I feel that Bachmann will be the only source for toy trains in America if things keep going this way. I have been wrong plenty of times so don't take this too seriously. I hope we can stay friends and if not, please take care. Life is too short.

Really? So covid is another excuse for not doing their job? Really? How many more things can we blame on a virus? I bet MTH was the only one that knew that shipment was coming to them from China, so why the thought that they forced it right out the door to John, dont you think they could have held them for a week or two to test and fine tune and John wouldn't be the wiser but much happier.... these days its way to easy to excuse bad business. I bet some of the business that had to close shop would jump at building these.

Gosh, I wasn't trying to start a fight.  The primary reason I posted was the warning about the top board projections, those will take out the boards if you have anything pressing on the top and don't trim them.  Obviously, I would have liked to have them all assembled and not in kit form, but since they all worked, it's only a minor point.

I know about it getting tough for importers, I happen to be one of them.  Getting my boards hasn't slowed down a lot, but it has cost more with the extra 25% tariff.

@Coalguy posted:

Really? So covid is another excuse for not doing their job? Really? How many more things can we blame on a virus? I bet MTH was the only one that knew that shipment was coming to them from China, so why the thought that they forced it right out the door to John, dont you think they could have held them for a week or two to test and fine tune and John wouldn't be the wiser but much happier.... these days its way to easy to excuse bad business. I bet some of the business that had to close shop would jump at building these.

Who and what are you talking about?

My main point would be that they are going out of business. Maybe that's not clear enough in my post. No excuse? Maybe you could step up then?

I finally got some too. When they run out again, I hope it's not another 6+ months to get them again.

There is probably a run on the boards due to the fact that they are biting the dust.  I'm not hearing much about the supply continuing after the closing.  I say that they would be "continuing" the DCS systems development in the announcement, but not much follow-on after that.

Still hoping to get some 5V connector boards.

Are they EVER tested?

Well, that's hard to say, but I've never received a board with a little "keeper" across the connector before.   All ends well, at least reasonably well.  Since they are loaded with the typical diesel sound/chain files, they did something I suspect.  I'm guessing they just use the 8-pin connector to power to load the boards and then put them in the bag.  Previously, people were receiving these without the top board, making them sort of useless for replacing a blown PS/2 board.  I'm guessing the top boards came in and they just popped them into the order and shipped them out.

I wonder if anyone else noticed the distinct "barnyard" order when you unwrapped the boards?  I don't know what they were using to build/clean these, but it really reeks.

I wonder if complaining about this is allowed.  I unpacked the two diesel PS/3 boards that I received, and to my dismay, both of them had the end broken out of the connector!  Clearly, the care that used to be taken in prepping these boards is MIA right now!

Yes, they both work, but now I have to explain to the customer than I can't give them a 100% "new" board, they're already "broken in".

PW/MPC/Williams/WBB looking mighty good at this point......

careful GRJ.....too much complaining might get you sent to Boogie Land... 

Maybe that occurred when they were tested? 

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I wonder if complaining about this is allowed.  I unpacked the two diesel PS/3 boards that I received, and to my dismay, both of them had the end broken out of the connector!  Clearly, the care that used to be taken in prepping these boards is MIA right now!

Are there any features of the PS32 boards available to techs vs the PS3 boards available to consumers other than swap and plugin capability?

Is MTH taking orders for the PS3 kits?   When I view the product on their website, there is only an Add to Wish List button.   There is a Find it locally tab, but who knows if that is kept up to date.  When I browse MTH's online store, I click on the Command Control icon and it says "no products available." So, do I call Midge?

Last question, do they still discount the boards for MTHRRC members?   How much?

Bob

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I wonder if complaining about this is allowed.  I unpacked the two diesel PS/3 boards that I received, and to my dismay, both of them had the end broken out of the connector!  Clearly, the care that used to be taken in prepping these boards is MIA right now!

Yes, they both work, but now I have to explain to the customer than I can't give them a 100% "new" board, they're already "broken in".

Those are reworked boards that were sent back to Thailand.  You can usually tell by evidence of heat sink compound on the bridge rectifier.  Boards aren't typically tested prior to shipment unless the ASC requests them to be pre-programmed.  We are down to two techs (from five) in service and still have a lot of repairs.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

Maybe that occurred when they were tested? 

Well, it occurred before I got them because this is what they looked like when I unwrapped them.

@Jon G posted:

Those are reworked boards that were sent back to Thailand.  You can usually tell by evidence of heat sink compound on the bridge rectifier.  Boards aren't typically tested prior to shipment unless the ASC requests them to be pre-programmed.  We are down to two techs (from five) in service and still have a lot of repairs.

That would explain it, too bad they couldn't replace the broken connector while they were at it.  I guess as things wind down, it's not going to get any easier for you guys.  I guess I should be happy they were functional.

I've gotten quite a few boards with broken connectors.

The real danger here is when they break both sides, then it'll be easy to get the connector in backwards, and we all know what will happen then!

@Jon G posted:

Those are reworked boards that were sent back to Thailand.  You can usually tell by evidence of heat sink compound on the bridge rectifier.  Boards aren't typically tested prior to shipment unless the ASC requests them to be pre-programmed.  We are down to two techs (from five) in service and still have a lot of repairs.

I feel for you, Jon.  All of it is disappointing to say the least.

Well I was going to give MTH a shot again, but after seeing this BS, I can only handle BS from one company, so Lionel it it. Kind of like picking a president, pick the lesser of two evils.....oh well. Side note, may have a TIU and remote inbound, Im selling....

I'm hoping this is a time of transition and someone will take over the electronics and it will remain available.  It was announced that they had a deal in place, but nothing but crickets since the original announcement, so I don't know the status of any agreement.

Are the PS32 boards still only available to ASC's? It would be nice to have one for just in case of a future board failure given the uncertainty of future availability of DCS components.

Ken

Last time I checked that was the situation.  As you can imagine, I haven't really had any occasion to question the current arrangement.