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Post by runamuckchuck on Jan 26, 2024 14:43:27 GMT
Isn’t it ironic though, how preorder deadlines are about a month after announcement but the actual delivery can be a year or sometimes more. Just download the Carly Simon song 'Anticipation' and play it every time you think/worry about your delayed deliveries! It still works well when pouring Heinz ketchup! But don't pour Heinz ketchup on your preorders when they arrive! 
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Post by harborbelt70 on Jan 26, 2024 16:12:55 GMT
I find it interesting that custom runs have become a part of the O Gauge market and hobby. This leads me to believe that a more select base is supporting a good part of the market.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Jan 26, 2024 16:58:43 GMT
... I still worry a lot about Lionel's ability to deliver models that actually function as they should right out of the box.
Last year's O-scale Christmas passenger set was a debacle, and Lionel STILL hasn't publicly provided a solution to the problem other than a feeble "no plan at this time to address the error" email response to those who inquired. So while I was pleased to see the return of 18" aluminum passenger cars in the 2024 catalog, I'm wondering what they're really gonna look like. Lionel hasn't done aluminum passenger cars for 8-10 years now. And when they shifted production to 21" ABS, they raved how much easier it would be to secure ABS materials vs. aluminum production. So what's changed now? And will the overseas factory they use for aluminum cars in 2024 have a solid track record in O-scale aluminum passenger car production? Only time will tell.
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Post by superwarp1 on Jan 26, 2024 17:09:21 GMT
You guys are like kids in a candy store.  or over grown train geeks in a hobby store.  |
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Post by harborbelt70 on Jan 26, 2024 17:48:44 GMT
You guys are like kids in a candy store. or over grown train geeks in a hobby store.
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Post by superwarp1 on Jan 26, 2024 18:21:12 GMT
You guys are like kids in a candy store. or over grown train geeks in a hobby store. Shhh, don't let the wife know but I suspect she already does. 
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tgp
Full Member
Posts: 155
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Post by tgp on Jan 27, 2024 1:05:57 GMT
I cant see how in the world the stores keep the pace of supporting the continued announcements. This uncatalogued. that uncatalogued. this train shop, some body else train shop, so for and so on.
and the number that Pats Trains, and Mr Muffin, support, What a couple of stores!!!! Amazing, and customers keep pouring out those 4 digit checks or credit cards. Amazing to me!! I keep thinking my email
will blow up, so many announcements.
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Post by madockawando on Jan 27, 2024 12:16:33 GMT
WHOA!!! More custom-runs based on Lionel's 2024 Catalog Vol 1 are potentially on the way. This time from Brady's Train Outlet, per an email blast they sent out this afternoon. Some nice goodies here too.
For the most part, these represent a wish-list of custom-runs Brady would like to sponsor... and he's looking for customer feedback as to which ones you would actually pre-order. Then Lionel needs to provide their stamp of approval.
So these will go along with other custom-runs from the likes of Mr. Muffin's Trains, Pat's Trains, Stockyard Express, Public Delivery Track, METCA, Trainworld and others. I'm intrigued by the Pennsy Triplex. It would make a nice addition to the Mr. Muffin's custom-run Pennsy Class-A from a couple of years ago. But I've already pre-ordered the D&RGW Triplex from Lionel's Vision Line brochure last year. And The Train Loft is offering a N&W Triplex that is really calling my name -- especially since I sold my 611J to a friend last year. Would I like a third Triplex from the 2024 crop? Yes. But reality will smack me silly, before I reach for my wallet again. 
Meanwhile... here's the list of potential custom-runs from Brady's email blast today.
Can you handle much more??? Thank you for sharing although none of these interest me. But I like custom runs
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Post by rockymountaineer on Jan 27, 2024 15:12:47 GMT
I cant see how in the world the stores keep the pace of supporting the continued announcements. This uncatalogued. that uncatalogued. this train shop, some body else train shop, so for and so on. and the number that Pats Trains, and Mr Muffin, support, What a couple of stores!!!! Amazing, and customers keep pouring out those 4 digit checks or credit cards. Amazing to me!! I keep thinking my email will blow up, so many announcements. Even the "winter sales" going on now are still pretty pricey. There are some "good deals", but good is still a relative term. Dealers and small train shops have gotta clear out some space for the newly announced products. That's the nature of their business. But you've gotta ask yourself, "Is the sale price the price these things SHOULD HAVE BEEN SELLING FOR in the first place?". Because even at the new prices, it doesn't take too long to quickly spend $1,000.
So just when you're whittling down the new catalog wish-list to a manageable amount of money for products that are at least 9-12 months away, dealers are tempting you to spend money NOW. And you might easily find you're spending the same amount (or more than) you had planned to spend on pre-orders. It's a vicious cycle! But there are definitely worse bad habits.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Jan 27, 2024 15:32:25 GMT
It is very easy to have your train budget whipsawed with the scenario of your last paragraph.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Feb 13, 2024 0:57:19 GMT
So here we are... the week where dealers are expected to send their pre-order lists to Lionel. AND TODAY EVEN MORE CUSTOM-RUNS WERE ANNOUNCED.
Specifically from Lionel, Pat's Trains is offering a Black Bonnet Santa Fe Hiawatha 4-4-2. But thankfully, the entire series of Hiawatha models just didn't call my name. I love it when that happens, because it keeps my wallet safe regardless of the paint-scheme or livery being offered. Obviously, with Lionel's pre-order deadline looming, Pat's already decided to move forward -- perhaps with Lionel's minimum production commitment of 40 units... which I'm sure will go in time. I've been a big fan of Black Bonnet products, and I've supported Pat on many of his Black Bonnet offerings. But my wallet is safe this time.
Nonetheless, this is an interesting approach... to make the announcement so close to Lionel's BTO pre-order deadline. Even more risky would be to place an order with Lionel for a custom-run secretly... and then announce the offering WHEN THE PRODUCT ARRIVES STATESIDE AND IS READY TO SHIP. I'd actually like to see more dealers take that approach... this way enthusiasts don't get caught up in the analysis paralysis that comes when so many BTO custom-runs are announced all at once.
With so many dealers now offering custom-runs, don't be surprised to see at least one or two offerings announced at delivery later this year... just to catch us off-guard. How cool would THAT be???
So don't spend all your money just yet!!!
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Post by runamuckchuck on Feb 13, 2024 1:42:10 GMT
So here we are... the week where dealers are expected to send their pre-order lists to Lionel. AND TODAY EVEN MORE CUSTOM-RUNS WERE ANNOUNCED.
Specifically from Lionel, Pat's Trains is offering a Black Bonnet Santa Fe Hiawatha 4-4-2. But thankfully, the entire series of Hiawatha models just didn't call my name. I love it when that happens, because it keeps my wallet safe regardless of the paint-scheme or livery being offered. Obviously, with Lionel's pre-order deadline looming, Pat's already decided to move forward -- perhaps with Lionel's minimum production commitment of 40 units... which I'm sure will go in time. I've been a big fan of Black Bonnet products, and I've supported Pat on many of his Black Bonnet offerings. But my wallet is safe this time.
Nonetheless, this is an interesting approach... to make the announcement so close to Lionel's BTO pre-order deadline. Even more risky would be to place an order with Lionel for a custom-run secretly... and then announce the offering WHEN THE PRODUCT ARRIVES STATESIDE AND IS READY TO SHIP. I'd actually like to see more dealers take that approach... this way enthusiasts don't get caught up in the analysis paralysis that comes when so many BTO custom-runs are announced all at once.
With so many dealers now offering custom-runs, don't be surprised to see at least one or two offerings announced at delivery later this year... just to catch us off-guard. How cool would THAT be???
So don't spend all your money just yet!!!
Would it come to anyone's surprise that this whole BTO model is so much nonsense? I reference the recent Trainworld/Lionel catalog review with Ryan Kunkel. On at least two occasions Ken Sr. remarked in the past tense that it will be great when these two items arrived (or words to the effect). To me it sounded like a done deal, no longer a BTO. Now perhaps the preorder minimum criteria had already been met. However does anyone really know how much catalog product really does not get produced? From what I have seen/heard from the previous catalog it was mainly accessories. The BTO come on is if you don't preorder it may not get built. Is this a new form of the game 'chicken'? Those of us old enough to remember are terribly spoiled. So much was produced of any one given item that you just waited for it to show up at your local dealer and wait for a good sale or better yet a clearance sale. Those days may be coming back based upon the 2024 catalog there are 40 +/-pages of still available items. My local hobby store cannot give away the Dreyfuss 20th Century set or Strasburg #90 1990's engine they have in stock. With all the money I am not committing to preorder items this time (I have/will preorder nothing) I am very selectively reentering the MTH/Lionel tinplate arena for better build quality, performance and value even at today's prices.
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or over grown train geeks in a hobby store. 
