York - Kohs?

I could be wrong, but if its the guy Im thinking of with a few unpainted brass pieces on a table or two, I noticed he wasn't there this year. He is usually in the Orange hall near the back, maybe midway down.

He was not there. My understanding is that he has had some serious family issues which has taken up a lot of his time.

Thanks for the info. I understand his brother passed away a few weeks back.
nw2124

Is Kohs still in business?

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Tully:
Is Kohs still in business?

Yes, they are still in business. They had a display at the Indy/O Scale Convention show in Sept.

Please define "Still in business" Ed

Maybe your not asking him the right questions. nw2124

Poor William. What do you want to know. George's mother passed away last year after a long illness, and then he was left with the burden of taking care of the estate. That alone has taken a toll on product research and deliveres.
He has now lost his close brother and again is left with the burden of taking care of the estate.
George has been back and forth overseas checking production and so forth recently. The PRR flats are being assembled as we speak and delivery looks to be around Christmas. The Sherman tank web has been updated. The Challenger has some corrections to be done. What more do you want to know.
Don't be afraid to ask the man. By the way you responded by a crass reply.
nw2124 PS: thanks William for the nice "Welcome!"
"Ahives - we don't need no stinkin achives"

Well that certainly gets production back on schedule. Ed

George's brother died? I'm sorry to hear that. I hope things get back on track for him soon.

I'm lost on this one. I assume that Kohs is in business. Correct?

quote:

Originally posted by brasman:
Please define "Still in business" Ed

I think Ed is asking the correct question.

quote:

Originally posted by Roger Lewis:

quote:

Originally posted by nw2124:
Poor William. What do you want to know. George's mother passed away last year after a long illness, and then he was left with the burden of taking care of the estate. That alone has taken a toll on product research and deliveres.
He has now lost his close brother and again is left with the burden of taking care of the estate.
George has been back and forth overseas checking production and so forth recently. The PRR flats are being assembled as we speak and delivery looks to be around Christmas. The Sherman tank web has been updated. The Challenger has some corrections to be done. What more do you want to know.
Don't be afraid to ask the man. By the way you responded by a crass reply.
nw2124 PS: thanks William for the nice "Welcome!"
"Ahives - we don't need no stinkin achives"

WOW! First you post the following:

Posted October 16, 2011 04:07 AM
"Did anyone see George Kohs' table at York? I have several locos, PRR cars and cabeese on order and was wondering if there were any updates? nw2124"

Then you post George's life story above. "Corrections on the UP Challenger", we're talking CORRECTIONS HERE. CORRECTIONS!!!! Please, they were due almost a year ago.
Any corrections should have been make a very long time ago.

"George has been back and forth overseas checking production and so forth recently." You must know more then his builder. What do you consider "Recently" and where in the world did you get that information.

Since you seem to know everything now why don't you give us the delivery dates for the UP Challengers.

Wow, this sounds just like that other guy that claimed he knew all the reasons and could not tell anyone.

Well, well, well, if it isn't Martin Brechbiel adding his usual "nothing".

Roger: I do not know when the Challengers are due as I do not have one on order, therefore it is not a concern for me. If you have ordered one than I suggest that you email George directly one on one instead of condecsending a person on a forum.
As far as giving George's life history, all I stated was that George lost two close loved ones that he loved dearly. It would behoove you to have a little respect for a man who just lost close family members recently. "Family before Business" right or do you believe in something different? I too have lost two of my immediate family recently. So please show a little compassion. Try sending the man a condolence for his loses. It would be the Christian/moral thing to do. He is an O scaler and we all need to stick together! nw2124

NW2124 (I can't address you by name as I don't know who you are)

Of course I have compassion for George and his lose. I think most of us have lost close family members at this time in our life and understand the pain involved.

And I hope he delivers the UP Challenger soon for all of those that have been waiting for some time and have large deposits on it. It just sounded like you knew more then the rest of us. I sure didn't intend to be condescending to you or anyone else here. It was just strange that your first post was asking for information and then you posted all kinds of information. Appears you know more then most.

Maybe you are looking for another word beside "condescending" as I've never believe that I'm superior to any one else on this Forum or elsewhere.

con·de·scend·ing/ˌkändəˈsendiNG/
Adjective:
Acting in a way that betrays a feeling of patronizing superiority.
(of an action) Demonstrating such an attitude.

quote:

"Family before Business"

Whoa Jack, its "Family before Hobby" not "Family before Business". If you have a real business to run you know you can't stop the world for more than a few days or weeks to mourn a loss and then you have to take care of business.

When your holding 100's of thousands of dollars in customers deposits a family loss has to be handled in a different manner than if you only go to train shows and sell trains as a hobby. Because this is a hobby for most of us it's easy to lose sight of the fact that for a few (like Kohs, Key, OMI, GP and others) this is a full time job, just like we go to each day. If you took off from your job for almost a year after a family loss would you still have a job.....I think not.

I've tried to stay neutral on the Kohs discussions for years but reading the posts from others who have no money invested and yet defend his actions gets a little old. I have personally corresponded with him twice this year hoping to hear something that would make me feel more comfortable about my reservation, but all I received was long, flowing dialog that was mostly fluff. So, as you suggested, I have communicated "one on one" with him and came away knowing no more than before I did and feeling very disappointed.

Both communications went about as far as they could without turning ugly and I chose to leave it that way; but he's making me feel very foolish. He told me in his communication this spring the Challengers would be delivered by the end of the year. He told me two months ago he hoped the Challengers would be delivered by years end. I've learned since then through other channels there isn't a snowballs chance in hades they'll be delivered this year and Kohs knew it all the time. He relies on his reservation holders being gentlemen and acting civilized. I'm not sure how much further he'll be able to ride on that ticket.

Butch

As I said before we need to contact George directly. I know that some of you have done that, so I have requested him to please post a updated for the challenger. I quess we all will see if I have any influence, HA! So let's all please hold the negatives for a few days to see what happens. Then those who have reservations have a right to do what you want. nw2124

I agree and well said nw2124. If you have any influence, and I hope you do, maybe we can get some answers.




Butch

Roger: Do you have a challenger on order? nw2124

NW2124

I don't want to start another fire storm here which seems to happen anytime anything is posted about Kohs.

I removed my post because it started just what I didn't want it to start.

I defer to LLKJR's post.

"Never attempt to reason with people who know they are right!"

Well said Roger about facts and opinions!

Has money changed hands?

Roger: I do not understand why you are so worried about the delivery date of a locomotive that you have NOT ordered. The gentlemen that have deposits I am sure are grown men who can deal with Kohs direct and should - not here. I believe those have orderd a Challenger should wait till Kohs post updates in the next week or so. I know that I am NEW here, but why do we have to sling mud or constantly talk negatively about a company. If we know facts, then we should use them in a positive-constructive way and not hurt a company who is trying to support our niche of the market. nw2124

PS. You can run Kohs locomotives on DCC. He has had the DCC installation page up for a long time. I run DCC as I do not like to be attached to a power pack.
by the way Soundtraxx Tsunami Sound is not the best sound. The new QSI Titan Sound with a 64 meg bite gigantic memory is the best. Blows all the others away.

PSS. Update - A major HO brass Importer is now considering deposits due to new demands from brass manufactures.

Maybe collecting deposits is a GOOD idea - it might result in the model actually being made. As a case in point I am still waiting for my COSF that Overland was going to make to match my Overland EMD E2 A-B-B that I purchased . . . .

Robert

As long as the product arrives within a reasonable period of time or the deposit is refunded.

nw2124

As delivered Kohs engines run on DC only. For DCC decoder(s) must be installed – but that part of the Kohs web site has been “down for revision” for months. I have a Kohs K4s and a K4sa and want to replace the Dallee DC sound system with DCC/sound (possibly a QSI Titan). I do my own decoder installations and have been waiting on promised disassembly instructions for several years. I'm also waiting on a Kohs express service N5b cabin car. I don't expect it tomorrow, but since final payments have been sent in monthly updates on the web site would be appropriate.

I'm not jumping on the Kohs bashing bandwagon, however I do think he could improve customer relations through better communication of product status.

Ed Rappe

It looks like this thread has gone to sleep. If anyone gets new info let us know.

quote:

Originally posted by Keystoned Ed:
nw2124

As delivered Kohs engines run on DC only. For DCC decoder(s) must be installed – but that part of the Kohs web site has been “down for revision” for months. I have a Kohs K4s and a K4sa and want to replace the Dallee DC sound system with DCC/sound (possibly a QSI Titan). I do my own decoder installations and have been waiting on promised disassembly instructions for several years. I'm also waiting on a Kohs express service N5b cabin car. I don't expect it tomorrow, but since final payments have been sent in monthly updates on the web site would be appropriate.

I'm not jumping on the Kohs bashing bandwagon, however I do think he could improve customer relations through better communication of product status.

Ed Rappe

Those cabins might be on the way Ed. I've got two on the way and I just noticed tonight that George cashed my final deposit check.

I won't jump on the importer bashing bandwagon, but I certainly have yet to see anything sourced offshore that can have any reasonability of a "delivery date" promised.

Update on the Challengers, anyone?

Kohs has updates posted 11/12 nw2124

quote:

Originally posted by nw2124:
Kohs has updates posted 11/12 nw2124

N5 cabins looking good!

My reading between the lines of Kohs's update tells me the Challengers are very close. Ed

quote:

My reading between the lines of Kohs's update tells me the Challengers are very close. Ed

I guess I need to find some magnifying glasses because I can't find what you're reading Ed. Show me the way! I find no project update, no photos, nothing but information about hollow drivers and concerns about trade secrets getting out. And, of course promises of more info later. If we read the update thread we see that this is pretty much SOP and all we've heard for years.

Ted, you've asked some very good questions and no one has answered you. I agreed in my post of 10-22-11 to stand down and see if nw2124 had any influence to get KOHS to give us some substantial updates about the Challenger project (delivery dates, progress photos, etc.) after his return from Korea, but that didn't happened. So, I'll stand up again.

Yes, money has changed hands. Reservation holders gave a $1500 deposit when they ordered this locomotive. I sent mine in over 3 years ago...yes....over 3 years ago. When I pulled my paperwork out it even surprised me. A subsequent deposit of $1500.00 was required from all reservation holders about 1 year ago, so all reservation holders have at least $3000 tied up in this project and I understand some have paid in full. When the second deposit was due I was beginning to hear rumblings about KOHS way of doing business (large deposits and long delivery delays) but felt I either had to kiss my innitial deposit goodbye or pay the toll and ride this train a little further. Obviously I'm riding.

So, you might be able to appreciate the frustrations we reservation holders are feeling and subsequently expressing publically. I understand some posters don't feel it's proper to complain about a supplier on a public forum. But, to the contrary, if what is posted is the true and factual, rather than opinion, it might help other buyers to make a more educated buying decision.

Butch

Butch,
I waited about 3 years for my Y's to arrive, while listening to the same screams of Kohs going out of business from several dealers. This was all about 7 years ago. He's always delivered on his past projects and they've always taken a long time to come to the market and always seemingly amidst complete panic to some buyers.

This is not to say anything about what the future will hold for the Challengers, but at least it looks like something constructive is happening with the cabooses. He appears to be moving forward, and not in the grave yet as predicted for about the last 8 years or so.

He's raised the stakes quite a bit on the panic situation with the extended timing, though. The time taken for this one is a bit too long for my tastes even given his past positive delivery record. While my concern is not for him going under, the time issue has convinced me not to put money on any new project. Hopefully the Challenger project is not adversely effected due to this.

The latest rumor ...Uh. Hmm, well, uh, I don't know where he's not. It wouldn't be inaccurate to assume that I couldn't exactly not say that it is or isn't almost partially incorrect. On the contrary. I'm possibly more or less not definitely rejecting the idea that in no way with any amount of uncertainty that I undeniably do or do not know where he shouldn't probably be, if that indeed wasn't where he isn't. Even if he wasn't at where I knew he was … That'd mean I'd really have to know where he wasn't.

quote:

Originally posted by LLKJR:
The latest rumor ...Uh. Hmm, well, uh, I don't know where he's not. It wouldn't be inaccurate to assume that I couldn't exactly not say that it is or isn't almost partially incorrect. On the contrary. I'm possibly more or less not definitely rejecting the idea that in no way with any amount of uncertainty that I undeniably do or do not know where he shouldn't probably be, if that indeed wasn't where he isn't. Even if he wasn't at where I knew he was … That'd mean I'd really have to know where he wasn't.

Thank You, Professor Irwin Corey!!!

Simon

quote:

Originally posted by LLKJR:
The latest rumor ...Uh. Hmm, well, uh, I don't know where he's not. It wouldn't be inaccurate to assume that I couldn't exactly not say that it is or isn't almost partially incorrect. On the contrary. I'm possibly more or less not definitely rejecting the idea that in no way with any amount of uncertainty that I undeniably do or do not know where he shouldn't probably be, if that indeed wasn't where he isn't. Even if he wasn't at where I knew he was … That'd mean I'd really have to know where he wasn't.

The definition of clarity,

Thanks Chris, I appreciate the words of encouragement. I thought the long delay was something recent, not SOP forever. It certainly opened my eyes and changed my buying habits.


Butch