What would you do, or am I being too picky?

1. Can you print out a copy of the manual from a PDF that's on the internet?

2. I'd take pictures and ask them to refund you some money for the damaged (and possibly missing) piece. 

Their response to #2 (that you can support with photographic evidence) would dictate how I proceed from that point forward.

I failed to mention, I looked on the Atlas website and did not see a manual for this engine.

The grey spot was an antenna. See if it’s in the box. 

Theres nothing special  in the atlas manuals, literally any TMCC manual would suffice. The buttons are all standard. 

Send Atlas a message to their customer service and request a PDF manual. They did this for me for my ATSF F7’s. 

The broken part is probably a horn or “firecracker” antenna. You can ask Atlas about the replacement part for that, too. Good luck! 

I would be more concerned about whatever was "snapped off of the roof" than the manual.

Atlas manuals are pretty basic/generic. You should be able to get the manual info from another forum member.

Have you tested it yet? Maybe not, seeing as you don't have a manual. Their may be more issues in store.

Its your call, if your not happy, return it.

On a side note, how were the sellers ratings? Are trains primarily what they sell?

Often times I see folks who normally sell dolls, antiques etc, get an O-guage train in and misadvertise it due to being unfamiliar with how to grade/handle them.

Boilermaker1 posted:

The grey spot was an antenna. See if it’s in the box. 

Theres nothing special  in the atlas manuals, literally any TMCC manual would suffice. The buttons are all standard. 

The GN Man posted:

Send Atlas a message to their customer service and request a PDF manual. They did this for me for my ATSF F7’s. 

The broken part is probably a horn or “firecracker” antenna. You can ask Atlas about the replacement part for that, too. Good luck! 

Boiler - As we have all learned, I open these very carefully, sadly nothing in the box.

GN - Thanks for the tip, I'll do that!!

And be sure to check the packing materials, - make sure the piece isn't floating around in there somewhere.

I guess you have to file a claim.

Since he described it as NIB - you can probably make good case.

Thing is - seller might just want you to return it. I think I would - as seller.

As buyer - I would want sizeable discount for the damage - that really hurts products like Atlas where buyers are paying the premium for the detail. Hurts your resale value.

And the seller might feel better just relisting it with the damage noted...he still might do better than refunding some of your money.

RickO posted:

I would be more concerned about whatever was "snapped off of the roof" than the manual.

Looking at pics, it's a small, swept back antenna. More PO'd about that. I like to break things myself, not have someone do it for me. (Somewhat tongue in cheek)

Atlas manuals are pretty basic/generic. You should be able to get the manual info from another forum member.

Have you tested it yet? Maybe not, seeing as you don't have a manual. Their may be more issues in store.

Being unsure of what to do next, I'm reluctant to power it up.

Its your call, if your not happy, return it.

On a side note, how were the sellers ratings? Are trains primarily what they sell?

Let's just say the seller has his own auction site as well as the bay.

Often times I see folks who normally sell dolls, antiques etc, get an O-guage train in and misadvertise it due to being unfamiliar with how to grade/handle them.

I'll shoot the seller an email and see what response I get.

If its one of the ones sold by TRAINZ I would absolutely open a claim - not to be nasty or anything - only because they are a big retailer - and will probably take care of you.

You  may have an EOB cruise control with a TAS smoke unit.

It is TMCC but you would have a choice of 32 or 128 speed steps.

As well, as in your previous thread, your smoke unit has a thermistor.

With the damage you mention, I would send photos to the seller and look for a little remedy.

In addition to basic TMCC info,  the manual describes the sequence of buttons to use to disable cruise, choose 32 or 128 speed steps.

For 32 steps:

Eng - ## + DIR + AUX1 + AUX1 + AUX1 + 1

The horn will sound after the 3 RD AUX1 and after the 1

For 128 steps just do the same and change the 1 to a 2.

Dave

Jeff T posted:

RickO posted:

 

Let's just say the seller has his own auction site as well as the bay.

 

Ahhh, I see. Your not the first one to be disappointed by said seller. My personal pet peeve is that it appears, more often than not, the photos they post are just stock photos of a similar item they once sold sometime in the past.

Its quite possible your loco may not have even had the antenna when they listed it, you just saw the photo of one like it (they already sold) that did.

I think emailing is a good first step, of course with the holiday you may not hear from them until Monday.

 Good luck Jeff, I hope they make things right!

Thanks Rick. I've bought a few things from them in the past and had real good luck. Fingers crossed we can again.

Thanks for everyone's input. Note has been sent to the seller.

I've long been a critic but after several years decided to give them a second chance about 2 months ago.  The item I purchased was missing a piece. I thought "here we go again" but after a professionally worded email (read no profanity and of a calm tone) they sent me a replacement for the missing piece and stated before they found one they would pay for the return if one couldn't be located.

I would definitely send them an email.

-Greg

Firecracker Antennas can easily be purchased in brass for o scale. As stated above take pics contact the seller and see.if they will give you some refund back. If they do, go-to p&d hobby or psc and get the brass part. Plastic details do not hold up very well.

If it’s NIB then where’s the manual? These Auction places have no idea what they are getting/buying. I would send it back just for the heck of it. 

OK, I contacted them with pictures and they have given me two options.

1. We can make a fair price adjustment
2. We can have you return it for a full refund

This engine was less than $200, I have a number in mind for #1, what say you???

Jeff get what ever money you can fix it up and have fun with it.Have a great time Nick

Make sure it runs OK then work on the price adjustment.

Jeff T posted:

OK, I contacted them with pictures and they have given me two options.

1. We can make a fair price adjustment
2. We can have you return it for a full refund

This engine was less than $200, I have a number in mind for #1, what say you???

if I were the seller, id ask you to send it back.  For what you paid, and all the grief your potentially causing for him/her ie; partial refund and such...not worth a partial refund.  Send it back to him and maybe someone else will buy it who's not so picky, especially given the price you indicated....  Accidents do happen during packing, unpacking shipping, etc....  over an antenna thats easily replaceable  ...really?

just my thoughts, my .2 cents worth....

Sound advice Frank, it's going back... BTW - I have seen enough projects where "easily replaceable" turns out quite poorly...

I believe ebay rules that a buyer usually pays return postage. If your seller is paying the return tab and giving you a full refund plus your original postage? Then the seller is trying hard to be a good seller and have satisfied customers. If you had bought at York or a train show...you' d most likely be drilling a hole for that brass firecracker antenna, adding just a little dab of super glue. 

IF you are not getting a refund of the original shipping. And or are paying for return shipping. Take a few bucks adjustment, fix the antenna. It was still an impulse bargain.

If you got a good deal then the aggravation is worth it.

Seek the sellers help in either case.

This is a good reason why it is best not to post feedback as soon as the item arrives.

I believe ebay rules that a buyer usually pays return postage.

That is not how it works. It depends on why the item is going back. If the item is damaged or not as described, the seller pays. In fact, the seller has to refund the buyers original shipping too, so the seller is paying shipping both ways. IMHO, that is a strong deterrent from being dishonest.

Here is a quote from the EBay site (frequently asked questions):

Here's what we found for "Who pays for return shipping?"

If the buyer changes their mind about a purchase and wants to return an item, they may need to pay return shipping costs, depending on the seller's return policy. Sellers can provide a return shipping address and additional return shipping information for the buyer in My eBay.

Sellers pay for return, replacement or exchange shipping if there's a problem with the item. For example, if the item doesn't match the listing description, is damaged or defective or is counterfeit.

 

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Does the loco run as it should? If so, it's easy and cheap enough to simply replace the antenna, probably with a better one than the original. You said yourself that you bought it on a whim, and that it was less than $200, which seems like a bargain to me. Packing it up and returning it seems like more trouble than it is really worth. Maybe in the future, you should be more careful with your whims, and accept some responsibility for them.

Bill in FtL

Bill Nielsen posted:

Maybe in the future, you should be more careful with your whims, and accept some responsibility for them.

Bill in FtL

Whims are good, but where does my responsibility arise is something being sent that's not as described in pictures and has pieces missing that were not missing in the pictures?

Happy Thanksgiving Bill!

To Jeff t 

Does the engine work ?  If yes take the price adjustment & move on . 

If not send it back !    

If it runs, keep it. You got a great deal and it sounds like it was an accident. There are bigger issues an life than a rooftop antenna. Just my two cents. 

Agree with Will on this, if it works keep it. I don't really care about little details so if they break I really don't care. 

IMO,  You say the price was right, you obviously wanted that model, the Atlas manuals are junk, the horn/antenna is a nothing, if it runs well shut down the thread and enjoy the piece.  I never believe the "new" statement.  I will only pay used prices no matter what "New" "NIB" "excellent"is stated.  The more the condition is pumped up the less I believe.  Take another bite of turkey, watch expensive laundry chase a football   sit back and enjoy the peace.

Atlas have many tiny fragile parts on there items. I have accidently broken some parts on engines and cars by just picking them up in a matter you would think your doing it right. As others have said if it works, take the price adjustment. When it is running I bet if you didn't know about it you probably wouldn't notice it.