It's not that I don't like Rapido (they have some nice products). It's just a 'let down' every once in a while. What's really hurting Rapido (for myself, personally) is Rapido. Their personalities, their antics, their gimmicks, just make me want to buy from the competitor. That's what I like about Athearn (and others)... they're able to sell just the product, not the hype. Lately, I'm taking a 'wait and see' attitude with Rapido and avoiding the marketing/pre-ordering hype. This about the only company that goes this 'crazy' about new products, which is worrisome. I refuse to get 'sucked in' and opening my wallet for garbage (Turbo 1.0, RS18, F59PH) or misleading advertising (Via F40PH 'exclusive').
I'm sorry that you are having problems with your Rapido Trains Inc equipment. Me on the other hand, am fortunate that I have little to no problems with any of my Rapido purchases. *My Tempo coaches *My LRCs *My dome lounge *My Amtrak Horizon coaches and Cafe *My 2 Metro North Commuter Railroad sets *My first Rapido Trains Coach I've ever purchased years ago. *My Bi-level Commuter coaches and Cab Control Car *Both of my FL-9 Locomotives *My FP-7 *My F40-PH *My GE B36-7 *My F59PH All run, function and track fine to Me! I did have some issues with their C40-8M, as the decoder has some issues, but all in all, check for your track work! Usually higher end models will somewhat find flaws. Another thing, I go to the hobby shop myself personally, and won't leave until my orders are done right and no flaws in the equipment.
Don’t care what you say, the rapido bi levels are wayyyy better. Rapido did a wonderful job, almost completely on point. The athearn ones are almost completely done wrong.
Oh for sure, Rapido cars are accurate. However, unless you know what you're looking for and/or take out the magnifier, most of the details aren't noticeable from afar. Unfortunately, I got more Rapido defects... gotta email them about missing windshield wiper.
Rapido has nice trains. Lately, I'm just tired of them falling apart/missing pieces upon arrival. They're not worth the $$$ given quality control at the present moment; not to me anyways. Only way to buy is in-person, I'm done with pre-orders. When you get burned a few times you may think otherwise too.
I simply suggest to him to build the cn slug unit and look what I got coming a GP 6 and a half slug in 2 road numbers Bingo. Jason responded never crossed my mind and here we are taking orders for slug units with a GP6 awsome order 1 I'm going for both units
They can hire more staff; they can choose to do better. I'm paying good money.. I shouldn't have to reach out for a 'remedy' to every order. I'm pleased to support hobby shops that value customer satisfaction.
@@chrisdaniell2990 it's not that they don't appreciate satisfaction. If you haven't been to the new place then it makes sense for your reaction. Yes it's big but I took a trek in there in December and even Lorne only managed to squeak 5-10 in to chat. When Anita and Steve were not talking with customers they were in the back helping pack. Even still they are making 4 loads to the PO each working day. With a full pickup truck and trailer load. 4 of those if not more.
The inner workings/operations of OVR don't concern me; results concern me. If they're that overwhelmed perhaps they should hire additional staff. Like I said, I have no problem taking my business elsewhere even if costs more $$$.
Interesting comparison. I find the difference between the 2 quite minor. The Athearn is pretty nice especially taking into account the years it was produced (2002) compared to the rapido (2022) - 20 years difference. It will be interesting to know how the rapido runs/rolls . The Athearn were bad runners due to the truck and wheel design (as per the prototype). Great video.
Are you a DCC user. What do you think about having to disassemble every car and change that plug marked DCC only? I’m rather upset about it and like you am probably winding down my Rapido purchases. I have a new Rapido Turbo Train on order thru Otter Valley and am going to contact them to see if I can get out of it.
Yes, I have a DCC layout. I'm not really that upset about taking apart the cars as I like to tinker. Don't get me wrong, I love Rapido products... they look great, on paper. Their build quality, however has suffered. What's more shameful is having Mr.Shron admit on camera his first Turbo was a piece of garbage.. yet, he released it to the buying public knowing he was selling subpar quality. The box may as well have said "Here's a piece of junk I made, give me your money." Now he wants your faith and your dollar for Turbo 2.0!? This, coming from the same company that released faulty RS-18's on the market. Um, no. I'm done being made a fool. I'm honouring existing pre-orders (I have three more Rapido cars on pre-order) and then that's it. They're no better than Athearn at this point in time.
Yes, I see that. That's "Rapido Quality" for ya. I'll email them to see if they can send out a new one? I'm not spending $20 to have it mailed to Markham, Ontario.
Plenty of other channels full of sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops where every HO scale product is simply "great". Feel free to unsubscribe and find something more of your liking.
Yes and no. Prototypically speaking, the aging white of the Athearn car is probably more accurate than the bright white of the Rapido car. None of them run 'super clean' and a majority have an 'off-white' weathered colour. We'll see how the Rapido cars look in 20 years...operationally speaking, they're much better than the Athearn model. However, Rapido is having plenty of 'quality control' issues right now and I wouldn't buy anything from them.. so glad I got them when I did. Future models? Avoid, avoid, avoid.
How many were you pulling for them to jump the tracks? Ive never had an issue with my Athearns staying on track, however my Rapido F40ph even after "fixing it" jumped off the tracks and took a tumble that cracked its shell
I think I was pushing 5 cars? However, the one car is a custom car, loaded with a decoder and a speaker and so that adds to the weight of the car. Nonetheless, the F59 should be able to push that many cars in my opinion. You really can't do push/pull operation with the F59. However, I have yet to try the same with the Rapido cars as my layout is under construction at the moment.
@@chrisdaniell2990 yeah I havent modded any of my Metrolink bomb cars yet with lights/sound, but I could see the extra weight possibly being a problem or not helping with the smooth operarions. My F40ph with an AmSled and 4 bomb cars ran great forward and backwards. I had issues with a single curve on the layout I use to run on in push mode and that was because it had an odd elevation change middle of the corner that none of the trains seemed to like either. I found going slower through that corner always hung up the train, but letting it go a bit quicker always helped it get through it. Id test your slow speed through multiple corners to ensure its not an odd elevation change thats hanging the cars up. Sucks though that these cars arent more free rolling especially given their weight and the prototypes running 10-12 cars initially.
Well, it's certainly worth another test run with the Rapido cars. I'll be unboxing my remaining cars later this week (although, I'm a little scared how many pieces are going to fall off the models).
Roughly $145 Cdn each after taxes/shipping. Yes, more expensive than Otter Valley, however I'm done 'playing games' with Otter and their constant mistakes; three strikes and they're done with me.
I already said they were $145 each after taxes/shipping, 6 cars total, $145 x 6 = $870 (and change). Yes, more money than other hobby shops, however, I always end up with broken trains/wrong item shipped and so I went with a more expensive/reliable option. Thank you Credit Valley Hobby.
Chris's call Jason and talk to him personally ask Jason etc to pass your message on to him. But I'm going to suggest something to you don't complain what Jason is working hard at for all of us. If you have a complaint tell him and drop bye and see him. But don't humiliate him for giving stickers for your car or toolbox or something else stick them on your friends cars and advertise rapido trains but don't display your anger and it came across loud and clear because many laughed at what you did to yourself. Think before you speak okay 👍
