|
Post by Traindiesel! on Sept 29, 2022 22:53:26 GMT
Menards has alot of buyers and supporters over there but there are some that are just very critical of them…… Dave Just like there are for Lionel, MTH, Atlas O, Williams and other importers. But those importer’s decisions are based on market research and possible sales. The nay sayers only have relevance if there are enough of them. And if there are enough of them something must be wrong with or improvement needed for the product. Just like anything else.
It was the nay sayers, and competition, that caused improvement for all of the beautiful trains that are made now with amazing detail. Along with command control and their upgrades.
I decide what products I want to buy and it doesn’t matter what the name on the box is. If I like it I buy it. I don’t pigeon hole myself to one manufacturer and pass up something nice from another. All of the importers have been very adept at getting my money. 😁
|
|
|
Post by redjimmy1955 on Oct 1, 2022 12:46:54 GMT
While I pretty much stay away from the knucklehead other place, and haven't read those negative comments....I hope some of the criticism was productive.
|
|
|
Post by redjimmy1955 on Oct 1, 2022 12:56:20 GMT
Difficult to please the majority unless you're handing out fee money...lol!
|
|
|
Post by Adam on Oct 6, 2022 15:16:37 GMT
Menard's continues to make smart moves. I just got my Nov/Dec 2022 copy of CTT and at the very top of the cover it says "Menard's 32-page fall catalog inside".
Good for them!
You would think Lionel would do something like that, but they are clearly behind the eight ball.
|
|
|
Post by ptc on Oct 6, 2022 15:51:51 GMT
Adam brings up several good points. A successful sales and marketing strategy are important ingredients if you want to maximize a firms's market penetration. A weak approach typically yields the opposite effect. This is an area that you should never take short cuts if you want success.
Menards is well ahead of the in this regard. Lionel could and should learn a great deal from them.
|
|
|
Post by Traindiesel! on Oct 6, 2022 17:13:06 GMT
I guess the current Lionel management figures they have over 100 years of market penetration. In discussing trains with people, they all know who Lionel is, even if they don’t know what they currently make.
Menards is a relative newcomer to the O gauge business so they need to spend the advertising dollars. And they do a good job at it.
In my opinion all the importers need to advertise more to expand the hobby. Or sooner or later they’ll be advertising their business for sale.
|
|
|
Post by thebigcrabcake on Oct 6, 2022 19:42:39 GMT
"Menards is a relative newcomer to the O gauge business so they need to spend the advertising dollars." That's true. I was recently talking to a train friend who was trying to build a tank train. He was unhappy at the cost to put together a long consist. I told him to try Menards. He had never heard of Menards. He checked them out and ended up buying a dozen Menards tank cars.
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Oct 8, 2022 14:26:19 GMT
Difficult to please the majority unless you're handing out fee money...lol! They would complain about how you handed them the money.
|
|
|
Post by guitarmike on Oct 17, 2022 22:33:01 GMT
One of the reasons I joined this forum is that it looked like the moderators were doing a great job running it. I still feel that way but I wish we could do away with the sarcasm/snide comments about other train people on other forums. I would like to think that everyone here is better than that. Stupid people do not need any help being stupid, they do a good enough job all on their own. When you point out what they say or do with negativity it just makes you look as stupid.
I am now off my soap box,
Mike
|
|