Is it just me, or have rolling stock prices just jumped.....

DCESharkman Feb 20, 2016

  1. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yeah... shrinking interest in model railroading is evident due to LHS closings, loss of shelf space in general hobby stores and toy stores. Latest craze at hobby stores are the Drones... one large general hobby shop storr here in Florida has taken away most model railroad space to add more Drones.

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  2. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Well thanks Jeff! Me and the 20 year old car will be stopping by Cal Expo this weekend, most likely with my daughter who runs her own trains now.
     
  3. Dave Hughes

    Dave Hughes TrainBoard Member

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    I have also noticed the price jump. I have been out of the hobby since about 2008 and after my first visit to a hobby shop 2 weeks ago I was shocked to see Atlas freight cars that used to go for 8-10$ now going for $15-$20. I saw a CSX (cant remember the manufacturer) caboose listed at $30?? And for N-scale. Makes me thankful I boxed up and saved all my stuff from years ago.
     
  4. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

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    Yes they have gone up substantially recently.
     
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  5. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    I wonder if there any industry studies which have projected the sales potentials of model railroading? At these prices the hobby is becoming somewhat 'elitest'. Wherein only the upper middle class (and above) can buy the newest most modernized products... leaving all others to scavenge for the legacy models at bargain venues (estate sales, flea markets etc.)... I leave eBay off because they are presently a fake bargain venue.

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    Last edited: Feb 24, 2016
  6. gcav17

    gcav17 TrainBoard Member

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    I have been worrying about this myself, when I see O scale locos for up to $2,000, HO up to and over $800 and N scale up to $500 and then everything else is following suit with price increases. I believe that there is something wrong with a philosophy about detail. Producing detail, and only detail. This has caused a major shift in the market price that is not exactly good. And shoved the entry level modelers out. I have no idea where it will lead too. But potentially, we may be left with only one scale to choose from. And that would be a bad day.
    As for Ebay, you get what you pay for. If you don't shop wisely. And you have to use forums like this to make sure you don't get taken. Some of them there ebay sellers must be enjoying some of the newly legalized inhaling agent, because sometimes...... I will use ebay to buy filler cars, or lot stuff with things I need. Then bring the leftovers to my consignment sale. Nothing wrong with ebay, if you use it wisely. And don't get addicted to auction wars..
     
  7. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yeah... hopefully N scale will be the survivor of remnants of model railroading... but even I don't that.

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  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    This seems to be along the same lines of a couple of days ago, when I posed the question 'at what point do they price themselves out of a market?' There is a tipping point for everything.....
     
  9. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    At what point? The tipping point for me has already arrived. A set income with no hopes of increasing it. Retirement forced upon me for medical reasons. My budget won't allow me to purchase the things I would like to buy. For me...it's already here.

    This isn't a sympathy ploy as I'm good with what I have. Fortunately I was able to purchase the train equipment I wanted back ten years ago and for what I thought was fair prices. So, I'm good to go and find the situation I'm in palatable.

    The layout is up although some routine maintenance and some restoration is needed. Do able at this time because of the surplus track and switches I have in storage.

    My two cents.
     
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  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Speaking of the market as a whole.

    Individually I know of a fair number in your shoes. And you already know that I am included. There is but one more specific, major item at this point, which I would like to have for my N scale. Unless something actually comes along which is a part of my wish list. Otherwise it's just smaller dollar pieces for scenic purposes, or possibly a rare frivolous freight car.
     
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  11. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    I am in an interesting position on this -- preparing to retire a year from now. So, I've taken the idea of looking around and getting some items this year, while I still have the "disposable" income (it is actually weird, no longer paying college tuitions, supporting the kids, etc). But, I know that next year, I am going to come crashing down and look very hard at almost anything besides "maintenance" items for the layout and modules. At least until I get a better idea about what my real retirement costs are going to be.

    Also, having been a relatively recent entrant into this hobby, I don't have the background many of you have on the evolution that has occurred. For me, I honestly don't really care about the level of details on freight -- they really aren't seen unless that car is photographed in extreme close up. I do want my passenger fleet to have as much detail as reasonable.
     
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  12. Jeepy84

    Jeepy84 TrainBoard Member

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    We can all beat around the proverbial bush til we're blue in the face. Blame manufacturers for raising their rates. Increasing the quality and detail of their models. Those are just drops in the bucket to the real issues, mainly China's economic development coupled with the continued devaluation of USD while simultaneously our "representatives" in most cases are so completely removed from the average citizen's reality they go and make the rules for a game they don't have a hope of understanding. I don't want to start a partisan debate here, cause honestly I think both parties are guilty, but the last people I would blame are the manufacturers. Their actions are a combination of market demand from "us" for detail and the disease that pervades all levels of our country's governments and subsequently our economy.

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  13. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Chris...

    The only thing I would change about your comments is...

    "Their actions are a combination of market demand from 'some of' us" for detail and th..."

    There are more modelers who DON'T/DIDN't ask for all this %^$^%#$#%&# detailing on our models from the manufactures. As is always the case...the few with the most $$$$$$$ get what they demanded. Suxs but maybe in the long run...this time it just might backfire on the manufactures...along with the ^&&^%^%$*%$* PreOrder system. I can only hope !! ;)
     
  14. Logtrain

    Logtrain TrainBoard Member

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    I have been saying this for the last couple years and I have been told I am essentially making no sense. Listen, it is simple. It is our own damn fault that prices are sky rocketing. We asked for more detail.....the mfgs gave us just that and at a cost....HIGHER MSRP prices. We can't expect a mfg to put more detail on a model without handing down the cost. They would not be able to make a profit. It's that simple. We are our own worst enemy in this subject.

    It is also not only in rolling stock, look at building kits as well. Most of us because of our busy lifestyles now don't have time to put a model together anymore. So we ask the mfgs to make a built up kit, just like Walthers or Woodland Scenics has done, but also at a cost......HIGHER MSRP. A built up kit costs around $50. I remember when a Con-Cor or Heljan kit was around $7. You could paint and assemble a kit in a couple evenings and make it unique and different from your model train friend down the street. Again, we as modelers have asked and mfgs have answered, somewhat.

    Yes there are still shake the box kits available, but I honestly feel like the days of those kits are numbered. I would say that within the next 5 years the only way you will be able to get a shake the box kit will be in the form of a laser cut or craftsman kit. And yes we will be to blame for that.

    Locomotives, I remember when you could get a top of the line loco for around $40. Then over time that price was hovering around $80-$85. Then some of us started barking to mfgs. We want our models more prototypical. We want more options available to us. Atlas was I think the first to do this with the SD-24/26 model. Each different RR had its own specific body. The UP version was different than the BN/CB&Q version and those were different from the ATSF version and so on and so on. With those requests that we made and Atlas answered that with again.....HIGHER MSRP prices.

    But there is a also a matter on this subject and I personally feel it is a HUGE issue that needs to be addressed. We all know that us modelers are not getting younger and as us younger modelers like myself (now 40) get older there are fewer young teens and 20 somethings entering the hobby. Most are now into computers and video games. Why is that? I feel it comes down to a cost factor. I for one know that I could not afford to get into this hobby if I was a teenager now and yes I would look for other hobbies to get into that I could afford. I feel that if as modelers and mfgs want to save this hobby there needs to be some more entry level models produced so the younger generations can get into a hobby that not only they love BUT can also afford.

    I am sure I will get some flack for this as I usually do. But it is my opinion and that is my $0.02

    Ryan
     
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  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I would agree that some of us, those wanting better detailing, had an influence on higher retail prices. But other factors have also come into play. The biggest being decisions to move to China, and then their rising standard of living. Any of their higher wages and benefit expenses are passed back through to us. Any raised costs for getting product from A to B, are passed back through to us. What started out to be a cost saving move, did not last as thought.
     
  16. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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    I'm not sure how you can pinpoint the price increases to just better detail.

    Atlas Trainman PS-2 2-bay hoppers don't have detail and haven't changed in years (since the addition of accumates), but in the last three years the price has gone up 42% from $14 to $20 msrp.


    Jason
     
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  17. jpwisc

    jpwisc TrainBoard Member

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    Wow, you are correct, but you don't see why. "More modelers who don't ask" and "the few with the most $ get what they want".

    Uh, duh. The manufacturers will always cater more to those who pay them money for products. That's how business work. Businesses don't design products for people who don't buy stuff. Modelers "ask" by buying things!

    If selling less detailed cars made them money, they would do that. There is a reason Atlas has the trainman series. It is a less detailed car for less money. If you want more cars like that, then you have to buy the ones they offer.
     
  18. Jeepy84

    Jeepy84 TrainBoard Member

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    I said "us" for a reason. Think about how "we" as a collective group of consumers influenced the manufacturers. Nearly every freight car article I've ever read til the advent of fully detailed RTRs was "First I cut off the molded...". We may not have verbally or specifically gone up to a manufacturer's table at a convention and said " I want detail! ", but our actions have certainly stressed it, and the manufacturers saw a way to fill that void in their market share.
    I still think the forces outside the scope of detail are what honestly is driving prices up. Aside from gasoline and natural gas lately, can any of you think of anything that has come down in price except electronics, since they're typically outdated before they're manufactured?
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    Last edited: Feb 25, 2016
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  19. jpwisc

    jpwisc TrainBoard Member

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    And who has gone to a manufacturer and said "make them look less realistic"? Or "bring back Rapido Coupler, I likes how inexpensive they were." If that is really where the market was headed we'd see more grown men buying Brio Train sets.
     
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  20. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Buying Brio Trains would certainly address the question of whether it's prototypical! There would be no need to ask... :)
     

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