Model Railroading > What's Happened to Athearn?

What is going on at Athearn? They no longer have estimated arrival information, they are over a year late on several announcement deliveries, I keep seeing posts on Facebook about items in stock that I thought would have long been sold out.  Looking at their website they have a lot of stock.  Furthermore, prices have increased more than their competition at least in percentage increase of MSRP.  Is Horizon trying to tank their business because it sure seems they aren't trying to compete.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/24 09:29 by CO1309.

If they are trying to kill it off the website cetainly does a great job in that effort.     The website is now totally useless.   If you want find out you have to check over at Train World.   And, where are the California cars?   Someone said early next year but they are not even listed on the website.

My Rapido 'on order' has eclipsed Athearn by quite a bit of late.
But my Athearn back orders (pre-orders) continue to pile up in the wait stage
I was trying to pull some dates for a friend yesterday with no luck. 
There are some great big ticket items coming, but they need to get them to market.
(I have a multitude of Geeps on order for example.)
I hope they get it together!

Besides Athearn's own issues, I wonder if supply chain problems from China are causing a problem?

more things are going by boat

ATSFSuperCap Wrote:
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> If they are trying to kill it off the website
> cetainly does a great job in that effort.   
>  The website is now totally useless.   If you
> want find out you have to check over at Train
> World.   And, where are the California cars? 
>  Someone said early next year but they are not
> even listed on the website.

I cancelled the california cars and most of my existing pre orders out of annoyance and frustration.  I'm sure it's just a drop in their bucket but I'm tired of the waiting games with no information so I excercised my consumer rights in revolt.

I am also thinking of canceling my California Cars.   What are they now 3 years late.    They are on reservation with Train World, so it is not their fault, but it is totally ridiculous.

I just saw the latest Athearn upcoming announcements.    Reservations due now, not anticipated until April of 2026!   And, are they insane but $145 for a generic, even with new tooling F7A.    The last run of the RTR F's to come in the A units have the new body but the B units have the same old Globe body, what a rip off, and of course the B does not match the A especailly given the incorrect roof radius on the old Globe shells.   Another total rip off.   HEY HORIZON YOU NEED TO CLEAN UP YOUR ACT!!!!!!!!
Richard.

As a retailer, I can't say that I've noticed anything different with Athearn this past year.    The delays are still numerous and normal, as they have been for years.     I will say Horizon, since switching over to Oracle last year, has been a complete disaster and nightmate to work with.   

Jason Eminian
Smith Brothers Hobby Center
Northridge, CA.
 

I actually got the announcement email yesterday when things were posted, which is new and different.  Previously I hadn't been getting the email for at least a week after the announcments had been posted on the website.

Nathan Beauheim
Loveland, CO

Other companies like Rapido have figured it out proving there's still profit to be had.
They've done plenty of passenger cars.  Once they realize the Athearn CA cars are ghosts, they'll produce them which will further tank Horizon.
 

KA7008 Wrote:
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> Other companies like Rapido have figured it out
> proving there's still profit to be had.
> They've done plenty of passenger cars.  Once they
> realize the Athearn CA cars are ghosts, they'll
> produce them which will further tank Horizon.
>  


Rapido is focused on just one thing, model railroading, Athearn is just one part of Horizon who's main focus seems to be radio controlled airplanes and cars.

YES, I am all for Rapido doing the CA cars.   They will be at least 10 times BETTER!    Normally I would not even consider getting CA cars as they are light years beyond my modeling time frame, but I live in San Luis Obispo and love passenger trains and when California and AmRoad got together and did the Surfliner and San Joaquin Valley trians in not only custom paint jobs for each but locos with streamlining to match the cars I was blown away!      A must have darn it.

Richard.

When I do an internet search for "Horizon Hobby" a whole lot of radio control airplanes come up.  When I go to their website, I cannot even find a link to Athearn, which they own!  It seems as though Athearn has become the red-headed stepchild of Horizon.  What a sad fate for this once iconic brand.
 

I'm not thrilled with Athearn's lead times either. On the flip side, their products are seeing improvements like much better lighting, 21 pin mother boards, (that don't care which decoder you install on it unlike other brands) and better speakers and motors. 

True.   Over the last two years, I have noticed very few defects with all Athearn coming into the shop.   In fact, I haven't found any flaws at all this year.   Can't say that I've ever seen that before in my 30+ years.

Jason Eminian
Smith Brothers Hobby Center
Northridge, CA.

ChrisCampi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not thrilled with Athearn's lead times either.
> On the flip side, their products are seeing
> improvements like much better lighting, 21 pin
> mother boards, (that don't care which decoder you
> install on it unlike other brands) and better
> speakers and motors. 

There is still a mirco chip shortage. Those California cars have decoders onboard. So they may be held up on a lack of decoder availability

Still on the website if you look under passenger cars. Still showing pre order

https://www.athearn.com/product/ho-m-k-california-coach-with-lights-and-sound-cdtx-8001/ATHG24452.html
ATSFSuperCap Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they are trying to kill it off the website
> cetainly does a great job in that effort.   
>  The website is now totally useless.   If you
> want find out you have to check over at Train
> World.   And, where are the California cars? 
>  Someone said early next year but they are not
> even listed on the website.

Pretty easy to do with the low volume of items actually hitting shelves.  

Fizzboy7 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> True.   Over the last two years, I have noticed
> very few defects with all Athearn coming into the
> shop.   In fact, I haven't found any flaws at
> all this year.   Can't say that I've ever seen
> that before in my 30+ years.
>
> Jason Eminian
> Smith Brothers Hobby Center
> Northridge, CA.
>
> ChrisCampi Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm not thrilled with Athearn's lead times
> either.
> > On the flip side, their products are seeing
> > improvements like much better lighting, 21 pin
> > mother boards, (that don't care which decoder
> you
> > install on it unlike other brands) and better
> > speakers and motors. 

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/24 07:33 by CO1309.

Still on the site: https://www.athearn.com/search?q=surfliner&search-button=&lang=default Most things you can only 'search' for products, new website is not very good.

And now that Athearn has removed the April 2025 due date, I'm guessing they may be vaporware at this point. 

Yes, I'll purchase Surfliners for HO that are available. Rapido cars are nice, but not always perfect. Usually have to remove some of the underbody details just to have the cars track on my layout that has less than 36" radius curves.

Athearn needs to stop making new announcements for a year or more just to get caught up. Product does show up, but very random for sure. 

Reminder, Pre-order is the only way to guarantee anything anymore. You're choice to cancel for sure.  

 

Mike ONeill
Parker, CO