|
|
Post by runamuckchuck on Oct 19, 2024 15:56:46 GMT
Not only did Lionel and Trainworld not attend York this week... they didn't even ACKNOWLEDGE they weren't attending. During Trainworld TV's live-event this past Monday focused on Lionel's newly announced 125th Anniversary Vision Hudson, no mention was made about York at all... as if it wasn't even happening. But Lionel DID make a quick mention at the end of the live-event that they were gonna be at Comic Con in NYC.
Trainworld ran a 10% discount sale all week (which expired yesterday), and the discount code word was CDS24 -- presumably for Columbus Day Sale 2024. But if I recall correctly... in prior years, they would have had a sale running simultaneous to York dates... and expiring the Sunday/Monday AFTER the York show ended. And the discount code would have been something like YORK2024. But not this year.
Things change... no doubt about it.
It is apparent the 'what have you done for me lately' mentality has set in. TCA it seems is now the red headed step child of a number of retail traditional supporters. And who can blame them really? Why shlep all that stuff to York when you can sell from the comfort of your internet, and not shut down the store? Then there are the dealers who never came to York but have 'York' week sales I suppose for those folks who cannot for whatever reason get to York. Heh, capitalism only serves one master, profit. And BTW I am more than OK with that. To be honest I cannot fathom why any dealer with a robust internet sales platform goes to any train show/meet. You can have the best stuff in the world but if nobody is interested back it goes more dogged eared than the last time. York's sort of the modern day equivalent of the Colossus of Rhodes; one foot in the present and one foot in the past struggling to find where to take the next step.
|
|
|
|
Post by superwarp1 on Oct 19, 2024 16:17:34 GMT
Talking to CharlesRo JR. Running a hobby store is a six day week 60 hour job. The expense of transportation, hotel, food, etc, etc is not just worth it. CharlesRo only does the large scale show in May which is only two hours away from home. So covid killed the concept of hobby stores trucking everything down for a weekend show. Hobby stores found out during covid they didn’t need the expense and sales wasn’t hurt by not going.
|
|
|
|
Post by runamuckchuck on Oct 19, 2024 16:26:53 GMT
Talking to CharlesRo JR. Running a hobby store is a six day week 60 hour job. The expense of transportation, hotel, food, etc, etc is not just worth it. CharlesRo only does the large scale show in May which is only two hours away from home. So covid killed the concept of hobby stores trucking everything down for a weekend show. Hobby stores found out during covid they didn’t need the expense and sales wasn’t hurt by not going. Excellent point as COVID looms large in the acceleration of the decline of face to face everything. As traumatic as the effects of COVID were and continue to be for some, I suppose it is human nature to not dwell on how bad those few years were to everyday life as we knew it even if you were fortunate to have never caught it yourself.
|
|
|
|
Post by curtis on Oct 21, 2024 3:36:56 GMT
I had an interesting conversation with my son (45) Saturday. He ask how York was and I replied that manufactures and dealers seem to be abandoning York (Note Mr Muffin has now stated he is done with the TCA and York due to security rent a cops attitude). He ask where they are going. My reply was Lionel went to comic con. His answer surprised me. He said he thought that was an excellent move. When I ask why he replied that the chance of introducing YOUNGER CHILDREN to the hobby had a huge chance at Comic con. He then went into detail and afterwards I had to agree. He has been to comic con and I have not but his answer rang true with me.
|
|
|
|
Post by runamuckchuck on Oct 21, 2024 22:12:38 GMT
Word has it that Lionel announced at Comic Con that they had secured a licensing deal for Star Wars. I suppose that the Marvel Franchise was too expensive. None the less this is a logical progression of the Comic Con initiative. Is this a path to greater interest/purchases in the realm of realistic model trains? Only time will tell.
My only question is will the Wookie car have fur?
|
|
