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Post by ptc2 on May 3, 2023 23:06:11 GMT
Yesterday, I told you about a firm that has been for almost 50 years a world leader in the quality 1:43 Scale vehicle market, and poof, they virtually gone with only two remaining employees. Why? My assessment, some very poor management riddled with company politics. 50 years meant nothing, but poor management in my opinion does.
Made me think. Are there any other businesses in our hobby that you can think of that have made some really dumb moves that could impact their future. I can (LoL).
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Post by thebigcrabcake on May 4, 2023 0:32:12 GMT
It’s one of the dangers of a small successful company. Management gets complacent and maybe even arrogant. They fail to adapt to the times and a changing market leaves them behind.
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Post by harborbelt70 on May 4, 2023 2:03:16 GMT
You (or I) would have thought that intricate detail and quality sell themselves to scale modellers but unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the case with current tastes/management ideas. OK, well someone will step into take their place in scale autos and internationally there is no shortage of 1/43 vehicle producers. 3rail O gauge is another matter and I fear for Lionel's future.
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Post by david1 on May 4, 2023 20:43:51 GMT
If Menards can sell pretty nice diecast cars for the price they do, are premium mfgs of model cars coming to the end?
There is a market for premium cars but that market is small and if you don't have a management team that cares about the future and now seems to cater to the high end buyer then I can name several companies that are making that mistake.
Dave
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Post by ptc2 on May 4, 2023 22:02:02 GMT
The loss of Brooklin will have little impact on the availability of high-end quality 1:43 scale vehicles for our hobby. The secondary market will fill this void easily.
I am surprised that none of our members have yet to tag another firm serving our hobby that has had a lot of free publicity on our forum lately for brilliant management moves l (kidding).
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Post by ptc2 on May 5, 2023 19:40:32 GMT
Whose going to be first to mention one of the biggest dumb moves so far this year by an O-Guge business?
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Post by MichRR714 on May 5, 2023 20:37:30 GMT
Whose going to be first to mention one of the biggest dumb moves so far this year by an O-Guge business? Is this what OGF is about? So much vitriol and anger, Why?
Shouldn't the focus be on the hobby itself instead of pointing out "dumb moves" ? Life is too short to focus and dwell on negativity. Brian I hope that you can find some joy and happiness in our hobby.
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Post by rockymountaineer on May 5, 2023 22:36:14 GMT
… There is a market for premium cars but that market is small and if you don't have a management team that cares about the future and now seems to cater to the high end buyer then I can name several companies that are making that mistake. … Good point, Dave. Both Lionel and Atlas-O are dangerously close to pricing me out of the market. Or at best case, they’re forcing me to MINIMIZE by purchases. So I’m no longer buying nearly the amount I once did. And I’m being VERY selective when I do reach for my wallet. Take Atlas-O for example… their upcoming Autocarriers are north of $125/each. So an impressive unit-train of say 12 of them hits your wallet pretty hard. I don’t doubt they’re high detail, but sheesh… $1,500+ is an insane chunk of change for a freight train!!! 😳. So maybe I’ll just buy 4 and pair them up with a switcher locomotive and caboose, and let it go at that. 3rd Rail / GGD have already lost me. Sorry to say, because we’re EASILY in $5K+ territory when paying for a passenger train with accompanying locomotives. And those locomotives still only have TMCC-class Railsounds — not Legacy. So it’s tough to justify premium price tags with less-than-premium sound packages. If there’s the thinnest sliver of a silver lining with the companies I’ve mentioned here, it’s the fact that none of them are doing anything outright dumb — although Lionel’s poor color quality control comes pretty close. Nonetheless, I don’t doubt for a heartbeat that they’re all either losing customers along the way… or those they’re holding onto aren’t buying the number of goodies they once did. So at that point, it’s only a matter of time when peeps realize they’re no longer getting a good bang for their buck. And where that line in the sand is will be very different for each of us. |
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Post by ptc2 on May 5, 2023 22:41:34 GMT
I am sure your comments area well intended, Charlie. This thread his to do with bad moves in general in our hobby.
And I do get a lot of enjoyment out of the hobby. Be better once I get out of the hospital.
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Post by josef on May 6, 2023 16:27:04 GMT
Whose going to be first to mention one of the biggest dumb moves so far this year by an O-Guge business? Is this what OGF is about? So much vitriol and anger, Why?
Shouldn't the focus be on the hobby itself instead of pointing out "dumb moves" ? Life is too short to focus and dwell on negativity. Brian I hope that you can find some joy and happiness in our hobby.
I just want to clarify, personally, and surely Brian and the other members have the same feelings. I have no anger nor vitriol against any of the manufacturers. Its just that they have priced me, or not gotten details right, be it the final product paint scheme, or so many one size fits all railroads. Its just that I can no longer justify the outlays on newly produced products, and search if I truly want it, on the secondary market. I no longer get a joy out of new catalogs each year when probable most will never be produced, or months and year waiting to receive what was ordered and sometimes not matching what was shown. At my age, getting angry isn't part of my routine. Too many good things in life going on including dismantling my old layout and thinking and drawing new track plans. Believe me, I did not ever think dismantling and storing items would be such a chore.
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Post by david1 on May 6, 2023 18:16:51 GMT
Charlie, I think we all here love Lionel, AtlasO and their trains, I run nothing but Lionel legacy and some TMCC. But as nice as the Lionel line is it has come to the point they are catering to To the high end buyer along with AtlasO. They have priced me out a few years ago of ever buying anything new. I now buy only on the secondary market and very little at that.
We try not to pick on any company that makes our trains but if it is warranted we will give our opinions. This forum is what makes us separate from others.
We have no advertisers to bow to so we can give our honest opinions on what is going on in our favorite hobby.
Dave
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Post by Traindiesel! on May 6, 2023 19:13:32 GMT
I don’t think Charlie was referring to any of the importers. This thread is obviously about a certain magazine’s activities to bait comments about it.  |
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Post by curtis on May 7, 2023 12:47:11 GMT
I can not help but realize that even some here have a vengeance toward some recent happenings and the ugly snake raises it head. Sure we can vent but dwelling on it is NOT promoting the hobby, Healthful or serves any really good purpose. We can speak about it but dwelling on it only supports the other sides views. So I kinda have to agree with IS THIS WHAT OGF REALLY IS ABOUT STATEMENT.
I wish the best for everyone - enemy or friend. Having the opposite side of my views disperse really hurts the hobby. We ALL have different opinions and are free to voice them. But we need the Lionel's, Atlas's and 3rd Sun to feed us our wants of good competition.
Same goes for forums and magazines. I wish no ill will. I may be unhappy with them but they are right to have their opinions and can operate as they will.
Last time I checked we are the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and fought heavily for the freedom we have to express our thoughts, views and way of life.
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Post by ptc2 on May 7, 2023 13:52:30 GMT
I'm sure we can all agree that this thread is about dumb manufacturer/supplier recent decisions. It wasn't until the subject reached a sore point for an OGF member whose history for the past couple of years is much more closely tied to the other forum. I can understand loyalties and this is a good example. I have them as well. However, unlike the other guys, we let comments like the one posted stand.
Brian, good job, in making this clarification.
And by the way, as of last evening, 28 of the 30 threads on the OGF Main Page were all POSITIVE. I'd say we have a great track record for being positive.
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