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Post by madockawando on May 15, 2023 23:24:06 GMT
A couple of years ago, we were all talking about the end of MTH as Mike Wolf announced his retirement. Fast forward to today and I am amazed at the variety of new trains that are coming out from MTH. Of course, I do like the traditional paper catalog but it seems that the much leaner MTH has found it's place and it's stride. I for one, do look forward the the MTH announcements in my email and I am glad they are still around. In addition to being on the MTH email list, I am on Lionel's email list as well. I am also on the email list for several large train shops to include Mr. Muffins Trains. Steve is certainly a great guy and I utilize his "lay-a-buy" program to ease the pain of those big ticket items. He just had a large amount of MTH engines and freight cars come in and you can find the list here: mailchi.mp/mrmuffinstrains/newsletter_05_14_2023?e=e7f5f10c21This has got me thinking: With the emails lists from manufactures/dealers and with my participation on this growing forum, I keep myself very informed on what is going on and what is out there to buy. In turn, the dealers and train companies get my business through their email flyers directly to me. The best part is I did not need to pay a fee to a train "forum" to get the most out of the hobby and the trains shops did not have to pay an exorbitant advertisement fee to let me know what they are selling. So, what do OGR forum members "get" from spending their money to be a "member" and what do train dealers and manufactures get from paying expensive advertising fees to OGR? It seems that hobbyists and train sellers can find each other very easily WITHOUT having to pay a fee to a middleman like OGR when OGR neither sells nor makes trains, yet, they get their "cut." For what? If you are still paying good train money to the man in the middle, maybe its time to ask: Why? What are you getting for your money?Maybe the TCA is on to something when they pulled their "sponsorship" from the OGR forum... |
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Post by david1 on May 15, 2023 23:59:31 GMT
In today's world of the internet you can find almost anything. I have no problems finding out what is coming from Lionel, MTH, Menards and many others. The days of having to buy a magazine to find dealers of your favorite hobby is over.
I have been in this hobby for many many years and I enjoy it immensely, before I buy a engine now a days I always check the computer for the best price, videos to see and hear it run. What are their thoughts on it and after all that I make a decision on whether I will buy it or not.
No magazine can compete with that, by the time they do a review on it, its too late to make any difference in my decision.
Change marches on, I bought my first engine in 1970 and although it was really cool to me I really wanted something that was scale and great sound. Well I got my wish and today's trains were what i wished for all those years ago. Cannot imagine what they will be like in another 50+ years.
Enjoy what you have now, the future will take care of itself.
Dave
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Post by ptc2 on May 17, 2023 18:57:14 GMT
David states it very well. You don't have to pay a premium today for just about anything you may need and want.
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Post by curtis on May 18, 2023 17:42:06 GMT
Personally I like MTH and their new approach. Rich is doing a fabulous job. And now that chips are stating to become available Parts and NEW Power accessories should be available soon. I remember hearing a lot of chatter about people not liking MTH and their new approach, especially BTO. But Lionel has been doing it for years. Big difference now is MTH usually has dealer BTO items. Meaning the dealer is having them made for them only. And Guess WHAT!!! They get made. No, we didn't get enough orders so we didn't make it and oh yea, we aren't telling ya.
Curtis
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Post by rockymountaineer on May 18, 2023 18:49:21 GMT
Count me in as one of the players who still doesn’t like the daily approach to MTH’s announcements. But it’s more to do with the lack of planning how funds will be spent than it is about BTO per se.
Going through a catalog gives the buyer an idea of what’s being offered… and then appropriate decisions can be made — some items are nice-to-haves, while others are strong preferences to buy. And we move forward from there. The daily announcements approach undermines that entire way of thinking. But it is what it is, and I don’t see MTH returning back to the twice-a-year catalog days. They know a good deal when they have it, and I’d say they’re smiling all the way to the bank with this current business model.
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Post by david1 on May 18, 2023 19:43:47 GMT
I don't mind what MTH is doing, seeing what is being built or announced every day is a little bit overwhelming but its also keeps me involved in what is going on and what may be coming.
It also gives me a chance to order what is definitely going to be produced. Maybe its not the best way of doing it but it sure keeps me interested.
Dave
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Post by madockawando on May 19, 2023 22:36:02 GMT
Count me in as one of the players who still doesn’t like the daily approach to MTH’s announcements. But it’s more to do with the lack of planning how funds will be spent than it is about BTO per se. Going through a catalog gives the buyer an idea of what’s being offered… and then appropriate decisions can be made — some items are nice-to-haves, while others are strong preferences to buy. And we move forward from there. The daily announcements approach undermines that entire way of thinking. But it is what it is, and I don’t see MTH returning back to the twice-a-year catalog days. They know a good deal when they have it, and I’d say they’re smiling all the way to the bank with this current business model. I have come to like both approaches. The biannual Lionel catalog is fun to peruse through and regular catalog makes planning the train budget easier. I also like the MTH approach as well, so much so that I wish Lionel would announce a "surprise" item on their website (I know they just announced the Weather Balloon Target Car set in April).
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Post by curtis on May 19, 2023 23:45:21 GMT
My biggest problem with the LIONEL catalog is it is full of BTO's. Now I don't mind that as MTH does it too. BUT MTH builds them and Lionel will decide not to and it could be a year or NEVER that they tell you. All the while your money is tied up thinking that it will be built. Naw I will give MTH two thumbs up and Lionel a half a thumbs up. (If they do build it will it be the right color and not have any quality control issues?) Curtis
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Post by Traindiesel on May 19, 2023 23:55:16 GMT
MTH has also cancelled some catalog items in the past. The Amtrak E60 comes to mind. Even 3Rd Rail cancelled that locomotive. Hopefully the third time is the charm!
MTH also cataloged the McKeen Motor Car that got canceled to the chagrin of a lot of McKeen fans.
There were others that I can’t think of now. But with ‘Built-To-Order’ a train item has to be really unpopular to get canceled these days.
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Post by northstar on May 20, 2023 13:49:44 GMT
I think the biggest downside to the current business model is how unfriendly it is to newcomers in the hobby. A catalog made things easy. Now, it's a much larger leap to understand how things work. It was hard enough in catalog days for newcomers to understand catalog release dates, needing to order through dealers, and that you could only order in a limited window. In any other industry, you see a catalog and you order directly through the catalog publisher any day of the week.
The new model is even more complicated and is really made for those of us already in the hobby who already knew the dealers
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Post by Adam on May 20, 2023 14:03:33 GMT
I think if you are accustomed to shopping on line the MTH model works fine. It’s very easy to find their announcements on their website and products on the vendors website. Catalogs are no longer a necessity in the online economy, at least in my opinion.
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Post by rockymountaineer on May 20, 2023 15:36:52 GMT
I think if you are accustomed to shopping on line the MTH model works fine. ... The problem I have with this style of marketing is you don't know what's coming around the next corner.
I bet if we took a casual survey, we'd find folks are spending MORE for trains at large... because they don't have the ability to view the entire set of offerings and budget accordingly. So when offerings are announced daily, buyers feel pressure to pre-order... since the products do indeed have limited availability -- especially dealer exclusives. Quite often a few months after products arrive, they're nowhere to be found. So it can be frustrating in that sense. But folks seem OK with it. So what do I know??? LOL!!! 
Lionel advertises lots of products as BTO too. But they still have larger dealers who buy enough "extra" BTO items, so the pressure to pre-order isn't as great (aside from early-buy pricing discounts). MTH dealers don't typically seem to order as much in the way of BTO extra's. Not like they do with Lionel. At least that's been my experience.
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bob
New Member
Posts: 32
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Post by bob on May 21, 2023 12:59:34 GMT
I bet if we took a casual survey, we'd find folks are spending MORE for trains at large... because they don't have the ability to view the entire set of offerings and budget accordingly.
Which is exactly what MTH wants to happen!
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Post by dennym57 on May 22, 2023 22:58:03 GMT
I'm acquainted with Steve Nelson aka Mr. Muffin. Very nice guy, but he is a little too pricey for me.
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Post by madockawando on May 25, 2023 1:46:42 GMT
I'm acquainted with Steve Nelson aka Mr. Muffin. Very nice guy, but he is a little too pricey for me. Yes he is! And I do most of my preorders with him. I still can't get him to do special runs of trains in Canadian trains though. 
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