|
Post by locodan5416 on Jul 7, 2006 9:11:25 GMT -5
Do not contact Little Engines of Cali for anything. Clarke Simm is a crook and will not return letters/phone calls/emails/anything. Be advised, do not send money to Clarke Simm, he will take it and run.
Dan
|
|
|
Post by treinenbaas on Aug 17, 2006 15:54:12 GMT -5
Hols it Pal, Get your story clear. First Clarke had some serious brain surgery, which left him unable to continue the business. He is currently taking care of his wife who is ailing with cancer. One person shops do not have the ability to continue when sickness happens. Pls have some compasion and he will be back and make good. He certainly has done so in the past. Gerry
|
|
|
Post by Harlock on Aug 22, 2006 3:42:28 GMT -5
Treinenbaas: It would be great if someone who is in the know could keep us apprised of the situation if this is indeed the case. As a sole proprietor myself, I know my business would dissapear overnight if something suddenly happened to me. It's one of the compromises we make in staying small. :/
-Mike
|
|
|
Post by GoldenSpike53 on Aug 22, 2006 17:43:20 GMT -5
I used to live just up the road from Clark Simm, and visited him a couple of times. I know of others who have had their projects pretty much put on hold because of his medical situation. I know it's bad for his business when these things get started, but that's the nature of the beast. On the other hand, a certain level of compassion is due on our part; not to the point of sending money to him for absent product, but certainly name-calling should be avoided.
For the time being, I think wise counsel would say, if you want to build a little engines locomotive, you had best be content to work with the east coast division until Clark Simm can resume his business. Otherwise, look to another manufacturer.
To those still waiting for parts or refunds or any kind of reply from Mr. Simm, I don't pretend to proffer excuses for him. I hope he will be able to reply to your satisfaction at some point in time, but that obviously provides no immediate satisfaction of any kind. Maybe an attempt to contact the east coast division might prove fruitful for you as well?
Dale Dennis
|
|
n8186w
Gandy Dancer
Pilot and Navigator of N8186W
Posts: 5
|
Post by n8186w on Aug 27, 2006 7:35:25 GMT -5
I have had trouble with Little Engines for at least the past five years, primarily in lack of or non-existent communication, both East and West coast. Specifically, I tried to place orders multiple times, got no confirmation of the orders, no correspondence, and the orders were lost. In one case, about 2002, a year after I thought my order was lost for good, I received the castings I wanted with a note that they were free-of-charge due to the lateness of shipment. I am convinced that the owners are not crooks, they are simply not operating a business in an efficient, business-like, or competent manner.
That being said, all the sympathy in the world and recognition that this is only a hobby, will not change the fact that I couldn't do business with Little Engines, as much as I tried. I went back to my other hobby (flying airplanes) and gave up on live steam railroading for several years. For a hobby that is so thinly suported by the public to begin with, that is indeed a shame, and I hope other entrepeurs in our hobby take note.
In any kind of business, communications are equally as important as delivering the goods.
|
|
|
Post by locodan5416 on Oct 23, 2006 16:21:56 GMT -5
Agreed. communication is the key to good business. i don't care what your problems are, have your lawyer or a family member write a letter to all your customers
|
|
|
Post by GoldenSpike53 on Oct 23, 2006 18:43:59 GMT -5
Well said, Dan. It's a pitty that so many people may have been put off from the hobby by the LE problems. Now that Clarke Simm has put LE on the market, maybe someone will be able to take over who can run the business well enough. But no matter how you slice it, it's a real shame.
Dale
|
|
|
Post by Bill Holland on Oct 23, 2006 20:46:28 GMT -5
You know, my line of thinking was that everything but the pressure gauge and maybe sight glass was scratch built. I never counted on a supplier to begin with. Sure when it comes to castings, those would be nice...
|
|
|
Post by locodan5416 on Oct 23, 2006 23:31:49 GMT -5
yes, originally, our thoughts were to have the 0-4-0 ready to run because clarke said it was waiting for the buyer to say coal or oil fired and switch the grates and the tender tank. we were in the process then of gearing up to build the usra heavy mikado, which we knew was going to take a while to do, but at least we'd have an engine. now we're working on the allen mogul, and we are moving along steadily. doing the coupler pocket right now.
|
|