Is Walthers ignoring N scale?

John...meaning no disrespect...but sorry...freedom of speech is still a basic american right ! Possibly heed your own advice..."...turn the damn thing off if you don't like it." No one has to open any post. No one has to reply to any post. No one has to return to any post. But...its like a train wreck....everyone just has to keep coming back to see whats going on...including me !!

The fact that negative opinions are stated here...and in writing for all to see bothers some people. The power of the internet...sweet huh? :tb-wink:

If we send emails to walthers...who else sees that ? If you complain at your local club...who hears that? Maybe 20 people tops. Complaints like those stated here by a lot of people are out there for the world to see and read over and over. People complain about stuff being made and stuff not being made all the time. The lack of detail is another. The fact a certain item is a foobie is blasted through the forums.

Price is just another item that everyone has a right to complain about in open forums.



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The statement attributed to Walthers (if we decide to follow our old habits of only buying their equipment on closeout, then we won't have Walthers N scale products) is not obviously out of line, and calling it a “threat” is not helpful. You are making an equivalent statement when you say “Like we couldn’t get another football?” In both cases, one party is saying that they might not play the game any more unless prices change (up for them / down for you).

I personally have been very adversely affected by the current recession and longer-term economic shift away from the working class. However, I do not respond by posting constant complaints about the price of hobby items to Trainboard.

Yes, let them know your preferences, but do so in a more reasoned manner. There are some people who prefer to buy a smaller number of better-quality items, like me. There are some people who apparently prefer a larger quantity of 1970’s-quality items. Yes low prices are nice, all things being equal. Yes, lower prices can be obtained by automation and better planning, but also by outsourcing jobs and taking advantage of semi-slave labor in China. We need to keep a sense of perspective here.

MH

 

I agree..A collective voice gets results..

Manufacturers do monitor the better forums.Even today in HO models has been improved by the complaining on forums..

We as N Scalers should be a vocal group and let the manufacturers know there is money to be made in N..You see if we keep still and all happy faced HO will continue to get the bulk of the tooling budget when we get toss a bone.

I have been in contact with the better manufacturers voice my displeasure over the lack of new N Scale products..I have recieved word they do plan on releasing new N Scale products in the coming months but,most of the tooling money is currently going for HO products.

Sadly I was told by one the N Scale market is small and its hard to get a return on the tooling costs and new N Scale releases will be very limited..

Folks speak up or be happy with the occasional bone that is tossed our way.

 

You are ignoring the rest of what I posted. But, in any case, what should they have said and done instead? Remember, their statement was probably in response to a question similar to the original topic of this thread.

MH

 

EXACTLY! I DO NOT model a modern era RR but I will tell you I get kind of tired of seeing another release of Coal porters, Beth gons and double stacks. I want cars and locos from the 60-70s era. But it seems to me like everytime I suggest making something in that time frame to ANY mfg it rings on deaf ears. Especially ATLAS! They make what they want and give a rats you know what about us modelers. I mean afterall, WE are the ones that make their paycheck for them right?

 

Removed, as on further thought, this line of conversation isn't constructive.

MH

 

When the flyer comes out and only two or three pages are dedicated to N scale. Well, what's the intended message?

A dunce can figure that out.

Are there any further questions.

If not I rest my case.

 

The reason there are so few pages in the Walthers sale flyer that are dedicated to N scale is because Walthers controls far more product for HO scale. Outside of the buildings (which they continually put on sale month after month) their entry into the world of N scale has been much more recent than their experience with HO. Hence they have many more HO related SKU's, which in turn allows them to put many more things on sale... Month after month.

The prominent N-scale suppliers who work with Walthers don't seem to be in the "sale" mood too often, which ties Walthers hands when it comes to putting other suppliers products on sale within the pages of the monthly flyer.

 

Hmmmm.

Why are we still talking about a thread that was begun in 2001?

 

Maybe because its still relevant in 2011?

 

:thumbs_up: Exactly Larry!

With Walthers...nothing has changed in 10 years at the minimum. Bussiness as usual...S***W the N Scalers :tb-err:.

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I don't know if you get the quiz flyer that they mailed out some time last month? The biggest thing i said is more N Scale and said that maybe two mags one for HO and the Other for N. They could add tt and Z and still keep the mag. kinda neat for us. Let HO handle the O and S sizes too. I agree that they have to make money to make the kits they sale or stock and pay for shipping the ones we like. I think that with the economy right now, they could be getting the stuff at bigger costs so they have to pass that on to us. It makes it hard on us N scalers but then i see what the engines and kits for HO and O..Then N scale don't seem to be so costly...

Just my two cents...:tb-ooh:

 

Agreed. Might as well call my town "Waltherville." My peeve is that they don't offer a larger selection. It seems like everyone's towns, industries, etc all look alike.

 

The spring drive? I have a spring driven LL GP-38 that is my BEST runner compared to my meager collection of 11 Atlas, 1 Kato, and 1 Proto diesel locos. Not the best in detailing, but the smoothest and quietest. I liked it so much, I even installed a decoder in it.

Caveat emptor: I have heard this is not always the case and is a hit-and-miss.

 

Geez, folks. HO is bigger and has more suppliers/offerings. Walthers is primarily HO. Can we move on. We have all sorts of great stuff in N and there's always the kitbash option for things we don't have. I don't get why we're wasting so much time on this.

 

LOL!

Yeah, there is that problem.

They're great for kit-bashing fodder too. I've purchased most of the available kits if I intended to use them on the layout or not.

But structures like State Line Supply, Al's Victory Service, American Hardware and Mill's Brother's Lumber are simply outstanding structures.

And I luv the RS2's, I can't get enough of them. Nice running, smooth, excellent slow speed operation.

If Walthers is taking a dump on N-scalers you would have to prove it by me.

And the new SW9/1200's... What a great model to offer.

 

They What?

Sorry Michael, (Nothing personal but I'm LMAO, here in snow bound Big Bear Lake) No offense intended toward you. You have a right to your opinion and to share it here. I have to compliment you for making your argument so clear and precise.

However, I just can't buy into the rationale you shared. I have to admit that when I worked in management I used this same line of reasoning, time after time but for other scenario's. You can find this in management 101, chapter 6, "Excuses to share with customers or employee's," page 102 paragraph 3. Ok, I still have to write that book.

Where it all falls apart...... and I will explain why. You wrote, ""In the prominent N-scale suppliers who work with Walthers don't seem to be "sale" mood"". It has nothing do to with the vendors, supplier, providers and etc.. When you own a store, distributing company and/or the manufacturing plant you can decide to put something on sale........... any time you please. Usually due to overstocking and the need for cash flow.

I'm sure they "W" appreciates your coming to bat for them but "You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people all of the time" author unknown.

About six years ago a group of us decided to hound Walther's asking for more N scale exposure in their flyer. The response they gave us was almost hee haw, in the sense they didn't seem to care. "Yeah, we will work on that," "Whose asking?" "Do you order much from us... our records show." "Most of our customers are." Which feeds right into what Michael shared.


Michael Wrote:

Now I ask you has anything changed in the last six years?

Thanks for sharing and do come back to share your opinions. No flame intended just using some good old mountain man, desert rat common sense thinking.

Steam rolling not allowed. cute: Grin!