Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

This forum is dedicated to Riding Scale Railroading with propulsion using other than steam (Hydraulics, diesel engines, gas engines, electric motors, hybrid etc.)

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David_T
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:34 am

Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by David_T »

Short sad story about Titan Trains. I ordered an engine in January with the understanding that I wanted it for the 2018 Triennial. Jim Humphrey promised delivery in May. Looking for a status report in early April, I could not get a response until I sent an Facebook Instant-gram. An employee told me that my engine was on schedule for third week in May. All down hill after that. Jim suggested mid July as a possible date in late May. I cancelled my ordered in mid June. Still no sign of a refund for my 50% deposit. No contact from Jim Humphrey. No response to the letter from the Virginia State Attorney's office. Just a new web site for Titan trains showing my engine on the month of November, whatever that means. The best Triennial story comes from the gentleman who was upset with my wife because we had not waited a year and a half before complaining. I have talked with 'Discover Live Steam' and 'Live Steam and Garden Railroading', both of which are consider dropping his advertisements (or have dropped).
James A
Posts: 95
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:28 am
Location: Chiloquin, Or

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by James A »

You are not the only one. I ordered mine Jan 5 2018 with a verbal delivery by Triennial. Got the invoice and it was end of July 2018. Then Sept 30 2018. . Per phone conversation last Tues Jim said it was going in for paint that day. Today after 2 emails and 1 phone call asking for progress and pics.......nothing. I do have in writing he will refund but who knows if he will do anything. The only thing you can count on is he'll lie to you. My refund states full and immediate, if not I do have info for an Attorney who has sued him in the past. I will go that route if I have to.
RONALD
Posts: 754
Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2003 7:27 am

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by RONALD »

Here is an older post I made about MCC/TT: http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/vie ... 8&start=12

Yep, I had to wait from Jan 2015 thru Dec 2017 for delivery, would not want to do that again.

The purchase was thru PayPal, and I let their limit go by; now if would again order, as that 180 day PP limit approaches, I would file for non-delivery.

Everything I ordered from Jim/Titan Trains was eventually delivered, but there is the angst of waiting that gets one in the digestive system.
Berkman
Posts: 679
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:55 pm

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by Berkman »

Does anyone else make quite the same products though? For example if you want gas locos I suppose trainworks? Then for Pass cars - RRSC ? What about for all those various freight car models?
FLtenwheeler
Posts: 1594
Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2003 8:47 am
Location: Florida, on the Lake Wales Ridge

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by FLtenwheeler »

Berkman wrote: Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:40 pm Does anyone else make quite the same products though? For example if you want gas locos I suppose trainworks? Then for Pass cars - RRSC ? What about for all those various freight car models?
There are plenty of manufactures of ready to run models.

Tim
He who dies with the most unfinished projects: Should of put more time into their hobby.
wa6mdi
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:22 am

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by wa6mdi »

Guys,

I know the delivery of new units is probably something left to be desired.... But I recently purchased a USED Titan Jr. Matter of fact it is # 1963 the poster rig. My objective was to have a smaller engine and weigh less than 300#. Had my first opportunity to take it out to Terrell Tx today and spent 3-4 hours just playing trains with this new rig (to me). Biggest problem I had was with my riding car derailing 3 times during that time frame. Loco ran perfect and never once did I have a tracking problem. Just FYI

Dick
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rkcarguy
Posts: 1730
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:33 am
Location: Wa State

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by rkcarguy »

I just wanted to comment, being I work in the metals and fabrication industry. I am not up to date with the situation with Titan so this is just an industry observation.
We are seeing lead times for machine shops, laser cutting, plasma and water-jet, router cutting, basically any metal working, pushing out to 1 month or more. Furthermore, because these vendors can pick and choose work in the current market, the prices that are often setup at a discount to have a re-occurring part made for a train may not be too attractive when another customer needs their parts right away and is willing to pay double-triple. At work, we can't seem to get anything on time anymore from outside vendors.
We kind of saw this coming and invested in our own equipment, and have grown pretty independent of 3rd party processing as a result. Smaller companies that can't justify the cost of such equipment, are suffering though because the lead times are just too long.
The resulting trickle down is much the same, end products and equipment made with these parts are also seeing long leads or are un-available. For example, a building we are supplying steel for had to change it's roof to fit different chillers that were taller, as the delivery for the original specified units was too far out and not acceptable to the owner. The changes and additions ended up costing the owner 6 figures to rectify and stay on schedule so he was none to pleased.
schwinncoll
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:31 am

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by schwinncoll »

I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I bought the ready to ship CB&Q Caboose. Got here in a week. Then I ordered a gondola special and it took a couple months but ok.... Got it. Then while waiting for the gondola I ordered a tank car. Then they stopped doing the specials on Friday. I said how about a box car and hopper. Jim worked me up a price and I ordered them also. That was around August. All 3 cars arrived in January or February of 2018. Long overdue as promised. Oh and what irritates me. Right before the car goes in for paint. Can you supply use with the color you want it? Hello contact Wisconsin Southern, they painted the prototype and mailed me a color sample for my G scale one. Nope, I had to pick the color and send them the numbers for it. I ordered a flat car kit, it was shipped within 3 days. Its goes together easily after you talk to them as their are no assembly instructions! As for front office answering phones. There is no one. Mike left and Dakota got smart and also left. You wonder why? Who would want to take calls from irate customers wanting to know when they would get their trains all day long.
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johnpenn74
Posts: 404
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 12:54 pm
Location: Waiting for next assignment!

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by johnpenn74 »

Well I am going off a positive note for the discussion. I ordered 6 sets of trucks, bettendorf, painted semi glass black. The web site posted 4-6 weeks. Trucks were ordered Aug 28 and had it all in my hands (via two ups deliveries) on October 15th. This would be the 3rd batch of trucks and couplers I have ordered in 6 plus years. Every time delivered with a reasonable about of lead, to the right address, with no errors or omissions on the order.

Ordering trucks is not the same thing as a simple hopper, or a custom caboose or a diesel sure... but for my money Jim has met my request every time. Thanks Jim.

JP
John Pennington

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James A
Posts: 95
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:28 am
Location: Chiloquin, Or

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by James A »

]I will update my experience. While I had pretty much the same issues as everyone else, I did recieve my order.
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h81627allegheny
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:58 pm

Re: Bad Vender Service Titan Trains

Post by h81627allegheny »

James glad it worked out and you got your Loco and car. As usual with Titans their product is beautiful and bullet proof!

Only thing I can say from my experience Is Titans communication absolutely sucks! If I had it to do all over again I have a drop dead delivery date and a full refund written on the sales/order invoice, just in case.

Also, being to Titan Trains shop twice now, they are a huge operation. They have their own CNC machines that they manufacture their own parts for the most part. Huge paint booth that is filtered of course. If they could get their act together they would own the market. You'd have to see their Boones Mill, VA operation to Understand.

But this is no excuse for deception and lack of communication. Just my 2 cents.
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