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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 22, 2024 21:05:36 GMT
Well the gift that keeps on giving continues. The mischievous mavens at METCA (3M) announced the they aren't done announcing new custom runs until after the Lionel production deadline is in the books. I take that to mean sometime after the preorder discount date of today. Who knows what Stu has up his sleeve other than his arm? I suppose he will let us know sooner or later.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 22, 2024 21:48:57 GMT
Actually some newly announced offerings are already posted on the METCA store website. These custom-runs just won’t stop. LOL!!!
I suppose the next shoes to drop might come from Brady’s Train Outlet, who up ‘till now hasn’t yet announced any new custom-runs based on Lionel 2024 Vol 2.
In any event, anything newly announced from this point forward will likely be produced “on spec”, since the time to gauge pre-order quantities from customer pre-ordere will have come and gone after today.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 22, 2024 22:11:41 GMT
My take from the METCA email was that these were items Lionel had committed to produce which were not sold out as preorders. That is why METCA and likely others have to wait to announce until Lionel tallies up its preorders on any given item to see what is left.
METCA stated that these later custom runs would be limited to what remained. At least that was my interpretation.
Perhaps Stu would care to elaborate or post the announcement here.
Either way more surprises from METCA are on the way.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 22, 2024 22:45:04 GMT
Ah… I see the email you’re referencing. The last few items in that email are the new goodies I just saw on the website… PS-1 boxcars and a dummy diesel.
What we’re seeing here is a strategy of spreading out announcements, so enthusiasts aren’t overwhelmed with so many new products offerings — catalog or custom. Of course, the catch with spreading them out past Lionel’s pre-order deadline is the dealer/club needs to commit a production quantity BEFORE getting any pre-orders.
On a related note… I see Steve Nelson just announced another bunch of custom-runs: some are confirmations of a subset of earlier announced offerings PLUS some newly announced Atlas Premier 8-car passenger sets. The one that might be calling my name is the set built to match Steve’s upcoming B&A Berk.
Brutal time to be in this hobby… all these goodies on the day of Lionel’s pre-order deadline!!! OTOH, these are all part of the 2025 fiscal budget. 
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 22, 2024 23:35:26 GMT
It may also be that Lionel does not want the custom run orders to outpace orders for the stock items. Regardless, enjoy the show.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 23, 2024 0:08:53 GMT
It may also be that Lionel does not want the custom run orders to outpace orders for the stock items. Regardless, enjoy the show.
Then again… it’s only money… and there are worse bad habits in life. 
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bob
New Member
Posts: 49
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Post by bob on Aug 23, 2024 1:51:06 GMT
Brutal time to be in this hobby… all these goodies on the day of Lionel’s pre-order deadline!!! OTOH, these are all part of the 2025 fiscal budget.
It depends on what hobby you're in. If your hobby is primarily buying new trains, then I agree it is brutal. If your hobby is running trains, detailing your layout, sharing trains with others, etc. then Lionel's or anybody else's actions (did you see the $99.95 pricing on the new Atlas USRA 2-bay hoppers?) don't really matter at all.
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Post by lionelllc on Aug 23, 2024 14:57:28 GMT
My take from the METCA email was that these were items Lionel had committed to produce which were not sold out as preorders. That is why METCA and likely others have to wait to announce until Lionel tallies up its preorders on any given item to see what is left. METCA stated that these later custom runs would be limited to what remained. At least that was my interpretation. Perhaps Stu would care to elaborate or post the announcement here. Either way more surprises from METCA are on the way. We (METCA) are free to order any quantity we want, as long as we meet the minimum. We don't have to wait for Lionel to tally up it's preorders. METCA's quantity is unrelated to any other factors. Whatever we tell them we want, is what we get. But once the production quantity is set, it's set ... in stone. We can't change it, which is why we take reservations up until the time the production quantity (that we, not Lionel, determined) is fully reserved. Why do some projects get announced sooner and others later, after the production quantity is determined? It's all about manpower. METCA is 100% volunteer. Most of our volunteers have full time day jobs and family to take care of. Only after we take care of those priorities, do we then spend our free time on custom runs; and our free time get's split with other leisure time activities, not just WORKING (and it IS work) on custom runs. It takes many volunteers to put all the pieces in place for what you see on the website. Things get listed on the website as us volunteers have time, and sometimes that's before the production quantity is determined and sometimes that's after. I encourage all of you ... don't worry about how the sausage is made behind the scenes; if you see a product you like, go for it; if anyone's offerings aren't your cup of tea, move on. Hope this helps. Stu
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 23, 2024 21:35:41 GMT
My take from the METCA email was that these were items Lionel had committed to produce which were not sold out as preorders. That is why METCA and likely others have to wait to announce until Lionel tallies up its preorders on any given item to see what is left. METCA stated that these later custom runs would be limited to what remained. At least that was my interpretation. Perhaps Stu would care to elaborate or post the announcement here. Either way more surprises from METCA are on the way. We (METCA) are free to order any quantity we want, as long as we meet the minimum. We don't have to wait for Lionel to tally up it's preorders. METCA's quantity is unrelated to any other factors. Whatever we tell them we want, is what we get. But once the production quantity is set, it's set ... in stone. We can't change it, which is why we take reservations up until the time the production quantity (that we, not Lionel, determined) is fully reserved. Why do some projects get announced sooner and others later, after the production quantity is determined? It's all about manpower. METCA is 100% volunteer. Most of our volunteers have full time day jobs and family to take care of. Only after we take care of those priorities, do we then spend our free time on custom runs; and our free time get's split with other leisure time activities, not just WORKING (and it IS work) on custom runs. It takes many volunteers to put all the pieces in place for what you see on the website. Things get listed on the website as us volunteers have time, and sometimes that's before the production quantity is determined and sometimes that's after. I encourage all of you ... don't worry about how the sausage is made behind the scenes; if you see a product you like, go for it; if anyone's offerings aren't your cup of tea, move on. Hope this helps. Stu Thanks Stu. While I am not particularly interested in sausage production, I find the the custom run process interesting, not for forum fodder but strictly for the purposes of insight into the process, the preparation , and the interaction with the importers. It cannot and is not just someone waking up some morning and saying let's do a custom run. Perhaps someday one of the custom run folks will give a generic overview from idea to fruition. But in the meantime thanks for your insight. Back in the day Sy Sims of Sims Menswear stated in his ads something to the effect that our best customers are informed customers. That is the nature of my interest.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 26, 2024 21:21:03 GMT
METCA announces two steel sided reefers; a Texas Special, and AC&W for your viewing or running pleasure.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 26, 2024 21:35:38 GMT
At this rate, METCA is bringing the MTH "special-announcement model" to Lionelville. LOL!!! 
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Post by madockawando on Aug 27, 2024 1:48:24 GMT
A lot of potential custom runs are run up the flag pole but not everything gets made. For example, with Mr. Muffin, it appears that the Lionel Rutland Mountain steam locomotive custom run will not be made but the CP SD70M custom run that I also ordered, will be made.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 27, 2024 12:24:08 GMT
That and of course Pat's no slouch custom run offering wise. And from time to time Trainworld jumps into the pool as they did with their most recent offering.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 27, 2024 12:25:18 GMT
A lot of potential custom runs are run up the flag pole but not everything gets made. For example, with Mr. Muffin, it appears that the Lionel Rutland Mountain steam locomotive custom run will not be made but the CP SD70M custom run that I also ordered, will be made. It would be interesting to know roughly what percentage of custom runs offered actually are built.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Aug 27, 2024 15:51:22 GMT
... It would be interesting to know roughly what percentage of custom runs offered actually are built. I think only a small number are NOT made. Best if dealers announce only a few at a time MAX. Helps enthusiasts manage who's selling what too.
Steve at Mr. Muffin's Trains went WAY overboard on his latest unveiling of custom-runs based on Lionel's 2024 Volume 2 catalog with over THIRTY-TWO custom-run offerings. And that's just TOO MANY, IMHO of course. I know my eyes started glazing over with so many custom-run offerings -- and not too many called my name to begin with. I was surprised Steve started with such a large list for a Vol 2 catalog. I don't think he did near that number for Volume 1.
Beyond that... I think most announced custom-runs actually DO get made. Word on the street is Lionel is the toughest to negotiate with... largely because they have higher production minimums. 40 for locomotives and word on the street is 100+ for pieces of rolling stock. Whereas MTH is the most flexible when production minimums are an issue. I've seen dealers offer as few as 15 for locomotive SKU's... and 3 or 4 dozen units for rolling stock SKU's.
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