I think we are beating a dead horse, but I have to get this off my chest anyway. But first know that I am I die hard Lionel fan. Their quality of products and support has been top notch, IMO. Yes, they have had issues with some products in the past, but so has EVERYONE else. That said:
I wonder why these were allowed to pass "Quality Control", or was it that there was no quality inspection of the "NEW" design.
If the molds were not released in China, then new molds would have had to be produced in Vietnam, right? If so, then it appears that no one at Lionel verified the design before casting the new molds.
Perhaps, these new couplers/trucks are so much cheaper to produce, that Lionel felt the cost saving to THEM was worth the newer design. And they can keep the prices the same as in the past.
Perhaps Lionel knew about this issue from the beginning but elected to keep the "new" design anyway. If so, why didn't they announce this in the new catalog stating that the "new" couplers will not work with existing couplers unless the buy makes modifications to the knuckle.
If they are serious about maintaining customer loyalty, then they must address and replace the trucks that have been purchased by us, the CUSTOMER.
In an earlier posting, I stated that Walthers produced an HO version of the CB&Q F3. They stated something to the effect that it was prototypically accurate. When it was delivered, the nose grab irons were installed on right side of the engine. They should have been installed on the left side. Walthers stepped up to the plate and shipped corrected shells to everyone that bought these at no cost. AND they did not want the old shells back. I understand it was several hundred shells.
RAY
