Dental Dynamics Rip-Off

[rick486]

I ordered the Lionel o-guage AC/DC TMCC controller and Railsounds from Digital Dynamics (Danbury, CT) a few months ago to make my Polar Express loco fully TMCC compatable. The boards worked for about 2 months after which the AC/DC board became defective. I was advised to return the board which I did (a so-called "one year warranty"). One month has now passed and I've received NOTHING. Digital Dynamics won't answer my repeated phone messages nor answer numerous emails. Prior to this event, their order fulfillment ranged from slow to ignoring your order completely. I am out $170 and now have to try and find electronic boards elsewhere for my now highly modified PE loco. I can't protest the charge to my CC as that opportunity expired after 60 days.

[rkneisel]

Your title threw me off, "Dental Dynamics"!! I figured you were going to tell me something I could get my teeth into.

Sorry about your experience. With the closing of Trains America Studios, there are few players in the O Gauge upgrading electronics field. Unfortunately, you do not have many options. I would keep pursuing a response from Digital Dynamics. I know that Lionel's repair department was closed for several months this summer and fall due to their move. Maybe something similar was going on with Digital Dynamics. Good luck.

Rick

[rick486]

Finally, after not answering their phone for several days, not responding to emails, I did finally receive the fixed TMCC control board for my loco. Installed it and it works.

Poor customer service to say the least

If you would like to see the finished locomotive, go to Show and Tell and click on Polar Express

[wcantrell]

glad to hear you got your board back rick.

[ericstrains]

Good to hear!

[rick486]

I just wanted to say thanks for posting my beef with Dental Dynamics. They finally did come thru and send me the fixed TMCC board, perhaps because of the pressure of my complaint.

The folks at www.modelrailroadforums.com pulled my post immediately and said I was "Bomb throwing". Bomb throwing??? Trying to warn other consumers is bomb throwing?? Seems their lack of backbone was due to their desire not to offend their corporate sponsors...pathetic. I was even warned I could be SUED!! Can you believe that? FYI, you cannot sue someone for liable if what you say is the TRUTH. I guess that legal mystery escaped them

What's with those guys???

Rich

[rick486]

In fairness to Digital Dynamics, I've edited (softened) the title of my first post to "Resolved":)

However it doesn't seem to be updating on the Forum topics page

[rick486]

Further UPDATE on this conversion---the AC/DC board from Digital Dynamics has crapped out on two circuits. The headlight circuit no longer works to turn the headlight on and off when reversing AND my rear electro-coupler retro-fit no longer works either...

Both did work initially and made this 0-27 operate just like the expensive TMCC $700 Lionel engines.....it still runs forward and reverse and has rail sounds but am not happy with the reliability of the parts from Digital Dynamics.

This has been a frustrating and ongoing retro-fit that is still a work in progress...I don't suggest this for those who are less than intrepid