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Post by rockymountaineer on Jun 1, 2024 14:29:23 GMT
When an outsider sees Lionel Super Sets for $4,000 they might think this hobby is to expensive.
Bill
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Post by healey36 on Jun 1, 2024 14:45:27 GMT
When a train set's MSRP, or even a locomotive's MSRP exceeds the cost of a nice washer/dryer combination, I'm pretty confident things have gotten out of hand. Even if discounted 10-15% from MSRP, the stuff is still out-of-line with what the vast majority would consider reasonable. Presumably the marketing people know this, but one has to wonder.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Jun 1, 2024 15:52:09 GMT
When an outsider sees Lionel Super Sets for $4,000 they might think this hobby is to expensive.
Bill In the past I have assumed that the model train importer or manufacturer just had a number of unsold items either painted or in a raw state (in this case rolling stock) that they painted/repainted to bundle with a new version of an engine just to get rid of the surplus. Nothing wrong with that approach IMO; just marketing. However Lionel is obviously not taking their customer demographics into consideration with this Super Set approach as most of their potential buyers cannot lift the darn thing without the assistance of their caretaker, or close relative/friend. Perhaps a promotion of the set should include a gift certificate to a chiropractor, or better yet a truss for the resulting hernia. 
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Post by josef on Jun 1, 2024 15:53:32 GMT
If I spent $4000.00 on a train or train set, it wouldn't be my clothes and suitcases on the sidewalk, but rather my $4000 train and all my other trains waiting for me on the sidewalk.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Jun 1, 2024 16:34:22 GMT
Interesting that a quick cursory check of 3 well-known dealers with the Vision Line Big Boy Super Set still in stock haved them at 3 SIGNIFICANTLY differently prices: Trainworld at $4,400. Charles Ro at $4.050. And Mr. Muffin's at $3,700. Lionel's catalog MSRP was $4,500... although I no longer see the set on Lionel's webstore. So perhaps they've shipped their remaining inventory to the big dealers.
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mopac
Full Member
Posts: 142
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Post by mopac on Jun 1, 2024 19:48:21 GMT
I remember a while back when I first heard about Lionel having a retail store in Concord Mills, North Carolina's largest tourist attraction. My first thoughts were they will be lucky to last 6 months. They opened that store before the pandemic and it is still there. And now they are going to open another one. The Lionel Store at Opry Mills will open its doors on September 1.
Have any of you easterners been to to the one at Concord Mills.
I have noticed there are several you tube videos of people who have been there
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Post by david1 on Jun 1, 2024 20:51:08 GMT
The question is the super sets worth the price? There will always be people who can afford some things at any price. If Lionel can sell them then why not. I can't buy one but then they are not aimed at me.
I would like to have the Triplex super set but ill be happy with what I have, I don't think I would buy it even if I had the financial where with all. Lets be honest they are nothing but toys, very expensive toys but so are cars and many other things.
Dave
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Post by frankmulligan on Jun 1, 2024 21:57:19 GMT
When I first got into o gauge back in 2005 I started with a Railking starter set for $250. Then, I bought a Railking AS-616 for $300. Then a z4000 for $400 and a DCS system for $300. Finally, some extra track and cars. Within a few weeks time I had already spent well over $1300 and I just had the basic components for a carpet layout. What would that cost these days? (hard to calculate due to the lack of available command control systems).
If I told an outsider that is what it cost for what I got, I could see why someone would think that O gauge is expensive!
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Post by david1 on Jun 1, 2024 23:42:54 GMT
Good point Frank, when I got into it in 1970 I thought $37.50 for A new gp7 was expensive and I was amazed how nice it was.
Dave
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Post by redjimmy1955 on Jun 6, 2024 14:00:58 GMT
My ebay story.....just before I went to my first York, I wanted some aluminum extruded dome passenger cars. There were a few on ebay going in price from $175.00 up to $275.00.
I waited for York, and as soon as I entered the Purple Hall. I saw two brothers selling the SAME cars (mentioned above) for just $75.00 each. Score!!!!!
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Post by JDaddy on Jun 11, 2024 17:00:26 GMT
My ebay story.....just before I went to my first York, I wanted some aluminum extruded dome passenger cars. There were a few on ebay going in price from $175.00 up to $275.00. I waited for York, and as soon as I entered the Purple Hall. I saw two brothers selling the SAME cars (mentioned above) for just $75.00 each. Score!!!!! Totally agree. York was a great place to find items at a great price.
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Post by frankmulligan on Jun 12, 2024 11:52:42 GMT
Exorbitant asking prices on Ebay don't really faze me. If they can sell an item at their asking price, good for them. They won't get it from me.
The way I do Ebay, I list an item with a starting price with the lowest I will take for an item. If that's all I get, I'm fine with it. I don't list items at a high price as that's just a waste of time for me.
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Post by frankmulligan on Jun 12, 2024 11:54:12 GMT
I do like the way Trainz does it. They list an item, and they keep lowering the price until it sells. Some of these sellers just keep relisting items at the same price as before.
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Post by JDaddy on Jun 12, 2024 14:25:39 GMT
I do like the way Trainz does it. They list an item, and they keep lowering the price until it sells. Some of these sellers just keep relisting items at the same price as before. That always makes me chuckle. Troll the junk until you sell it. I agree with listing at the lowest price you will take on an item.
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Jun 12, 2024 16:45:36 GMT
The way I do Ebay, I list an item with a starting price with the lowest I will take for an item. If that's all I get, I'm fine with it. I don't list items at a high price as that's just a waste of time for me. Yeah, that's my starting point, too, but then I always try to add a "Buy It Now" price that's satisfactory to me -- somewhere between the lowest I'll be willing to take and the potential best price if it gets bid up. That can be very attractive to potential buyers who don't want to/won't participate in the drama and delay of bidding, and just want the assurance of a done deal at a set price. That option will disappear once at least one person submits a bid (and if they do, you're off to the races!), so you also preserve the "bidding fever" dynamic that may give you a windfall if there's general interest in your item. In any event, you've defined an acceptable 'playing field', and your only risk is having to relist (and possibly reprice) the item if it doesn't initially sell, whether BIN or bid. Easy peasy . . . 
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