I'd love to see a E-60CP or Metroliner retooled, but how about some bombardier commuter cars, comet II + !
The announcement as linked shows an MSRP of $239 for the Kato GG-1, DCC ready. What? I went on over to Kato's website to see what their MSRP is for their GG-1 locos. It's $139 for most, and a little more for some paint schemes. Even if the Bachmann is steeply discounted, if I were in the market for a GG-1 I would have to go with Kato.
I'm stunned at the increasing cost of many of the new products in N Scale. They're beautiful models, but to me, the joy of ownership is not worth the price. I'm not saying that pricing isn't justified, but that the financial sacrifice is too great for my resources. Happily, I'm quite content with my older models and continue to enjoy the hobby as much as ever.
To make an attempt at justifying the prices, I look at what else can be bought for about the same outlay. For example, four bills will buy a decent TV set, computer printer or power lawn mower. When I try to compare the relative content of any of those items with an N scale loco, all I get is a big disconnect. Where is the money going?
Well stated, exactly. Too, I often read various complaints with expensive new locomotives. I have enough worries in life and don't want to add hobby disappointments to the list.
To return to the subject of the thread . . . If you take a look at Bachmann's releases in N scale over the past few years, you will see they track their HO scale stuff. Notice that they are doing the GG1 in HO scale, too. Despite the competition from Kato, this is actually a pretty savvy strategy. All the research and basic design work for the model has been done, and presumably recovered (or well on the way to being recovered) from the HO-scale model. Thus the N-scale version becomes cheaper to produce, and therefore potentially profitable even at a lower sales volume. Plus, notice that while Kato does produce a GG1, only the Penn Central and Amtrak paint schemes are currently in stock. The Tuscan Red versions are sold out everywhere, and the Brunswick Green versions are in limited quantities. So if you wanted one of the original Pennsy paint schemes, you need to investigate the secondary market. And releasing the GG-1 alongside the K4 (which has already caused Pennsy modelers to go crazy) is pretty good timing. So I don't find this move by Bachmann at all odd. They have the GG-1 in HO; producing it in N is consistent with their overall business plan; and the timing makes some sense. Bachmann has released competing models in other areas (GP7, for example) and done fine (although granted those models have a larger road-name base than the GG-1). Personally, I hope they continue their "HO, then N" road, because it will eventually bring us things like a 2-10-4! John C.
The only reason I too do not find their announcement of the GG-1 odd is their business model as you stated. What I don't understand is Bachman's over inflated MSRP figures. Look at any thread dealing with Bachman products and most, if not all, of these will refer to the MSRP and say how that's too much money for that. But then, we see these products offered at a pretty good discount bringing them closer in line with the competition. The MSRP for the sound equipped GG-1 is $349. You can find them listed on the web for around $240-250. Nothing like driving away potential customers with big numbers behind the dollar sign IMHO from the start. Or am I missing something?
That did sneak by me. Are those 72' PRR Heavyweight coaches prototypical? Packaging the K-4/GG-1 with heavyweight coaches/streamlined coaches is good business. You hit the store Christmas Season and a K-4 and matching coaches are right there ready for you, then in 2016 you have GG-1 and streamlined coaches together.
So, what's new for N scale? The GG1 at a cost that is prohibitive at best. Just a reminder these are expensive toys never mind B's past reputation. You need to check out what's happened to the best warranty in town. You may not be pleased with what you learn. The new items are priced out of my budgeting allowances. So don't look to me to buy this stuff.
That's a really good point BarstowRick, I recently had a EM-1 that had some damage to the tender. I had it stored for a few weeks before installing a decoder so It went unnoticed. When I sent it to Bachmann I received a call that cosmetic issues are not covered. In the past this was never an issue. .02
There is something of a marketing psychology (or so I'm told) behind pricing something high then selling it at a steep discount vs. pricing it lower to start with. Something to do with the customer feeling like they are "getting a bargain on a quality product" vs. "buying a less expensive product". It plays on our knee-jerk assumption that higher price == higher quality (not always true) and that getting something "on sale" is necessarily actually a better financial deal than simply having a lower price. Basically you'll feel better about buying a $400 loco for $200, than you will for buying a $200 loco for $200, even if it's the exact same locomotive. Retail clothing, makeup, etc. are notorious for pricing things this way.
As I posted over on the new Bachmann Pennsy steam thread: Remember, Bachmann is also the home of the $49.00 52' TOFC flat http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/inde...t_info&cPath=265_392_401_961&products_id=5767 I agree, that having a stupid MSRP is just...stupid. I don't care how much you discount whatever it is, the majority of the shops will use the MSRP for their price and when the item doesn't sell, will use that as a reason not to stock more N scale (cuz at stupid prices, N scale doesn't sell). BTW, I also don't EVER shop at Khol's either. Don't care about coupons, Khol's cash, or huge discounts. If something costs $10 EVERYWHERE else and Khol's is charging $20 with 50% off, I fell like Khol's is trying to deceive AND cheat me, not give me a great 'bargain'. Listening Bachmann?
If we are still talking about N Scale: The best train equipment out there are made by Kato. The streamliners what some call lightweights are properly detailed, operate smoothly and look good running around my layout. It would be great if Kato would put these same puppies out in HO. As far as heavyweights Micro-Trains has made the best ones to date. Again wishing they'd make the same thing for HO scale. At a fair price I might add.
It isn't clear enough to tell exactly, although they look like they might be Budd prototypes (zoom the pictures - looks like a corrugated roof). Regardless, the baggage car in PRR will be wrong since they didn't have any. In fact, I would think it unlikely that any of them will be prototypical for the PRR. Edit. The baggage is an 85' car, so not a prototype that Kato has done. Neither the observation car nor the coach look like ones that Kato has done.
