How do you get new releases?

Okay, I'm new at this, but how do you get new releases before they sell out? Seems like as soon as they are available they disappear.

Russ

 

You sell your soul to the devil.

This is a pretty sore subject among model railroaders. Basically, you must find a dealer and RESERVE anything you want, months in advance, sight/performance unseen. If you're lucky, the dealer will hold it for you instead of selling it to the first bloke off the street. And that's assuming the dealer ordered enough, and his/her distributor ordered enough, and the manufacturer provides what is ordered. If ALL of these things happen, you will probably get the item. I recently started doing business with Wig-Wag, LLC at http://www.wig-wag-trains.com and they have been excellent...good service and 100% delivery of orders thus far. There are other shops out there that are supposedly as good...just speaking from experience here.

Good luck!!!!

 

I believe that manufacturers finally got tired of warehousing inventory that might sit for years before it sold. That costs them a lot of money. Same thing for the distributors. But it's a pain in the rear for the retailers who can't get an item their customers want NOW! Still, it costs them $$$ too when an item sits for years before it sells. Who ends up paying for this system? You. Either through higher prices because someone is holding the inventory for someone to purchase at a later date, or through missing out on the latest release because 3000 other people also want the exact same item.

In some ways, it's nice that manufacturers shorted their production quanitities. For example, Life-Like tended to produce too many of their P2K engines when they first came out, and a lot of them are now selling far below wholesale cost. But over the past couple years, they cut down on the quantities they made, and prices are staying up. It's not quite as nice for us customers, but it does help keep our LHS in business.

Pat

 

Looks like a lot of them get bought up and resold on places like ebay too. Found 2 new Micro Trains cars just released in Feb on Ebay already, and not for what you could have bought them for at Intenet Trains.

Russ

 

Don't reserve - wait it out and pick up the item on ebay later. You will likely not pay as much.

You may have to wait until the market settles down on a new item, but patience usually pays off.

It's true that "limited runs" helps with cost as it reduces inventory, but it can also be an oppertunity for retailers to charge closer to MSRP as they take advantage of a perception of a short supply.

 

I've had great success with 4Nscale.com in getting my new releases.

 

I'll keep them in mind, they sold out even before Internet Trains on these. Thanks for the ideas.

Russ