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Post by madockawando on Jul 18, 2024 15:43:12 GMT
<abbr>... </abbr>However, people sure LOVE pearl clutching, hand wringing, sky screaming about prices twice a year when the catalog comes out! I'm SO glad that we're entertaining you. But I'm equally entertained when Lionel fanboys choose to characterize price discussions as whining, hand-wringing and pearl-clutching (that's a new one for me).
Bottom line: I'll stand by everything I've ever posted about Lionel prices. When they're reasonable, I say it. And when they push the absurd, I'll say that too. Does that mean I expect Lionel to change its tune? Absolutely not. They are who they are. They're producing far too many products nowadays to get everything right. And now that's even bleeding into the catalog with type-o's and pricing errors. They've farmed out toy train production... so I guess it's only a matter of time that they'll farm out the catalog as well. And pretty soon, they'll only need to ship pallets of trains out to their distributors and large dealers.  Well, how else can we see it? The price complaining will have no effect on Lionel's catalog prices.... none. If you want a high end item., save your money over the next year until the item is produced OR put it on lay a way. There are several dealers who are more than happy to do so with no extra charge. So what really is the point complaining about prices? What effect are you trying to bring about by complaining? What do you hope to accomplish and is it a realistic expectation? As for it being a amusing, well the humor comes from its predictability and from the well used comedic trope of watching so much energy spent on a futile expectation of change.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Jul 18, 2024 15:54:14 GMT
I'm SO glad that we're entertaining you. But I'm equally entertained when Lionel fanboys choose to characterize price discussions as whining, hand-wringing and pearl-clutching (that's a new one for me).
Bottom line: I'll stand by everything I've ever posted about Lionel prices. When they're reasonable, I say it. And when they push the absurd, I'll say that too. Does that mean I expect Lionel to change its tune? Absolutely not. They are who they are. They're producing far too many products nowadays to get everything right. And now that's even bleeding into the catalog with type-o's and pricing errors. They've farmed out toy train production... so I guess it's only a matter of time that they'll farm out the catalog as well. And pretty soon, they'll only need to ship pallets of trains out to their distributors and large dealers. Well, how else can we see it? The price complaining will have no effect on Lionel's catalog prices.... none. If you want a high end item., save your money over the next year until the item is produced OR put it on lay a way. There are several dealers who are more than happy to do so with no extra charge. So what really is the point complaining about prices? What effect are you trying to bring about by complaining? What do you hope to accomplish and is it a realistic expectation? As for it being a amusing, well the humor comes from its predictability and from the well used comedic trope of watching so much energy spent on a futile expectation of change.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Jul 18, 2024 16:03:53 GMT
May I offer this in the spirit of conciliation?
How many OGF members does it take to reduce the cost of a model train item?
None (because it won't happen)
How many OGF members does it take to comment upon the state of the model train marketplace?
As many as want to join in the discussion.
Is this a reasonable compromise?
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Post by superwarp1 on Jul 18, 2024 16:14:23 GMT
Where's the popcorn, I can't find the popcorn  |
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Post by JDaddy on Jul 18, 2024 16:17:18 GMT
Ah the banter that is fun to read... love this forum, and alas we don't have to worry about it getting deleted! Carry on then  |
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Post by runamuckchuck on Jul 18, 2024 16:27:27 GMT
Where's the popcorn, I can't find the popcorn With or w/o butter? Remember to wipe your hands, the grease marks are hard to remove from your trains.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Jul 18, 2024 16:28:01 GMT
Ah the banter that is fun to read... love this forum, and alas we don't have to worry about it getting deleted! Carry on then Banter up?
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Post by madockawando on Jul 18, 2024 17:54:47 GMT
Well, how else can we see it? The price complaining will have no effect on Lionel's catalog prices.... none. If you want a high end item., save your money over the next year until the item is produced OR put it on lay a way. There are several dealers who are more than happy to do so with no extra charge. So what really is the point complaining about prices? What effect are you trying to bring about by complaining? What do you hope to accomplish and is it a realistic expectation? As for it being a amusing, well the humor comes from its predictability and from the well used comedic trope of watching so much energy spent on a futile expectation of change. Feel free to complain about high train prices as much as you want. I am not trying to convince you to buy anything but it's not my role to be anyone's echo chamber about grumbling price grievances. But, I am sure that next January when Volume I 2025 comes out we will be having the same conversation. See a train you like? Save your money or put it on lay a way, buy train, have fun.
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Post by david1 on Jul 18, 2024 18:13:05 GMT
I think complaining about the prices is what we do. Nobody likes paying a price for what we buy. Buy a car lately? Did you say to yourself, what a buy!!!! Been to a grocery store, I have heard nobody say boy these prices are low!!
The new Lionel catalog comes out and we hear and a lot of us say including myself these prices are just too high and then we say to ok ourselves, well if I don't buy this I may be able to buy that!!
Ok back to reality, yes the prices have increased to a extreme level (my opinion). But we each have to say "will I pay these prices" some will say no, some will say I can handle it. Some will say no big deal I can buy anything.
Myself I stopped paying the high prices several years ago, I'm happy with what I have, if I get the itch to buy something I go the older market. If I find something at a good price, I'm happy.
To be honest I think Lionel in particular has given up the middle of the market, Lionchief is not it, I mean $500 for a LC diesel!!
The buyers in the middle of the mkt want the same thing as the higher end do, good quality trains, decent sound, something that looks like the real thing. On order of Railking and Railking scale.
Dave
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Post by josef on Jul 18, 2024 18:59:53 GMT
Ok back to reality, yes the prices have increased to a extreme level (my opinion). But we each have to say "will I pay these prices" some will say no, some will say I can handle it. Some will say no big deal I can buy anything. Myself I stopped paying the high prices several years ago, I'm happy with what I have, if I get the itch to buy something I go the older market. If I find something at a good price, I'm happy. Dave To be honest, I been in and still am into competition match target shooting, boating, renting planes to fly (since I no longer own one nor fly the WW2 planes). I still collect books and Hartland figures. None of these have I seen in acquiring equipment to continue these avenue seen the price increases as much as toy trains have increased. I can buy a lot of aviation fuel for what a Vision line cost now. My brother-in-law was into trains and sold when he moved to the country. As he said when he came to visit Monday he can't afford to get back into trains. Those that have the disposable income to afford these prices, more power to you and your enjoyment of the hobby. ut what I have in engines and rolling stock are like an old favorite tractor I had on the farm, they do the job and give me pleasure. I want engines and rolling stock on the layout, rather then decorate a wall. How many would spend 2000 to 2400.00 on a painting to hang on the wall? (Truth be told, that painting will probable increase in value).
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Post by madockawando on Jul 19, 2024 1:07:45 GMT
The more I look at the Legacy New Haven Minuteman Freight set , the more I like it. If I buy it, I would put it on lay a way. The only thing that makes me hesitant is that my layout is O-48. I have to expand the layout to make it fit. But it is a nice train set.
When I built my layout ten yea ago, O-48 seemed to be a large enough curve for anything I would like to run. Now it seems like O-60 is the minimum radius that you should build a layout for.
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Post by dlagrua on Jul 19, 2024 14:09:09 GMT
After reading this entire post all that can be seen is the free and open exchange of ideas and opinions. You won't find that elsewhere. As for Lionel's price it comes down to a simple formula. If you like it you buy and if not you walk.
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Post by Country Joe on Jul 19, 2024 15:32:19 GMT
For what it’s worth I have considered Lionel’s prices too high for a number of years, even before inflation drove prices to ridiculous levels. I lost interest in Lionel when they initiated BTO. I don’t think Lionel is good value for even the discount prices from online retailers.
You may disagree and think Lionel is offering good products at reasonable prices and that is OK. If so, I hope you enjoy your purchases.
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Post by madockawando on Jul 19, 2024 15:55:52 GMT
For what it’s worth I have considered Lionel’s prices too high for a number of years, even before inflation drove prices to ridiculous levels. I lost interest in Lionel when they initiated BTO. I don’t think Lionel is good value for even the discount prices from online retailers. You may disagree and think Lionel is offering good products at reasonable prices and that is OK. If so, I hope you enjoy your purchases. BTO has been a boon to not just Lionel but also MTH and Atlas and has brought needed stability to the toy train market. |
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Post by Joe Saggese on Jul 19, 2024 16:19:02 GMT
I saw 2 boxcars and a caboose I may preorder. No engines interest me this time around.
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