I am beginning to dislike MTL more and more

I sent MT a message.

I also think they should do them in order.

 

I just read the info here on MTL's website. Though not specific, I got the impression that the Oath of Office car will be released just like the rest of the presidential cars, meaning everyone will have their chance to purchase one. The 5 winners per month, will simply receive that car free.

Can anyone confirm this?

 

Life is good when all we have to complain about is toy trains.
Thank you, God.

 

I agree with others. I purchase some MTL stuff but won't get involved in the collector series stuff for the same reasons you mentioned.

The circus set looked interesting but it is going to be muddied up with some non-proto stuff mixed in. Just seems like a money grab to me to offer the non-proto stuff. The first advertising car is a prime example. Everyone is chomping for the circus stuff it is logical MTL would come out with a non-proto car first. They will sell more this way. A total turn-off for me at least.

I may buy some of the cars but certainly will pick and choose which ones.

 

Welcome to my World

Interesting topic you guys have going here!

Way back in 2005 I started to collect MTL's Happy Birthday boxcars. The first four were painted in the colors of 4 of the 8 balloons that are displayed on the sides of the boxcars. Orange, yellow, light blue and purple. A bit later MTL announced they were going to do a loco and a caboose.

I was so hoping that MTL would finish this collectors set by painting a loco , a caboose and 2 other boxcars in the remaining 4 colors of the ballons to make a very nice colorful collectors set.

Well, they decided to paint the loco that same light blue and then a caboose in the same purple. No, not for me. How lame a decision, so lame in fact that the pre-orders were so low they decided not to release a loco, just a caboose.

See, in my world, MTL creates Z scale. Since MTL would not do what is right and finish the Happy Birthday collectors set, I had to do it.

Here is a photo of the One and Only completed set of the Z scale Happy Birthday Train in the whole entire WORLD. Picture it going around a large birthday cake celebrating a child or grand-childs birthday!!!!



It looks better in person! Full of Vibrant Colors!!

==============================================================================

I can see where fellow modelers can be upset and also where some fellow modelers wish that this message thread never made it to the TB forum. Hey, read it at your own risk!!!

My 2 cents!

Hobo Tim

p.s. Thanks MTL for the Happy Birthday Train!!!!

 

Gregg,

Interesting discussion here. I guess I don't get why not doing them in order makes any difference, but it doesn't make your concern invalid in any way. I just worry about you feeling like you need to throw the baby out with the bath water over this. The vast majority of our relases are prototypical in nature, but the fantasy stuff is a big part of our market as well. It is what it is, and like any business you follow the money or you shut the doors. Other than the fact that we produce model trains, MTL has a different business model than other companies. I always thought it was odd that it angered so many...one of the reasons I stopped visiting the Atlas Forum.

The Oath of Office cars were never part of the collection, nor ever advertized as such. We wanted to give folks a chance to get involved and offer a nice prize. I guess I don't know if there's anything I can do or say to make this better for you and I apologize if foks were put off or offended in any way...it wasn't our intention. And I know you know we can't control what happens on Ebay...never could understand the inflated values of some of the stuff that shows up there, but we can't make business decisions on things we can't control.

Maybe you can participate in the contest and win one of the cars...I won't be judging so no bribes please )

Take Care

Joe
MTL

 

Please understand that the fantasy stuff will not compromise the release of prototypical stuff...two different products for two different markets. And no money grab, our collectors market is substantial, it would be a bad business move not to offer them product as well. I understand your concern, but the prototype stuff is in the works and takes longer to ramp up because of new tooling than the collectors cars which are based on existing body styles. If we had our way and had more time up front (contracts were only finalized a few months ago) we could have done the necessary tooling to to offer proto stuff on the front end as well. Hang in there.

Thanks

Joe
MTL



.

 

"The Oath of Office cars were never part of the collection, nor ever advertised as such."

Ok, but can you really say that anyone who collects the Presidential series will NOT want the Oath of Office car to go with it?

My question is will the Oath car be available separately from the contest, or will it strictly be for those who win the contest?

I for one, don't care how you market things, as long as I have a chance to purchase it. MTL's (and any manufacturer's) products are beyond my ability to build myself, thats why we buy them. I consider MTL a top manufacturer in N scale, and it would be very difficult to get me to stop purchasing MTL products. However, one way to do so would be to offer a collection, but only give out a hand full of an item that, though not officially part of the collection, is very much related.

Can you imagine the outcome if Athearn released the Challenger, and produced the auxiliary water tender, but only gave out 5 auxiliary water tenders? :-x

 

Just my .02 ...

There should be 36 more presidential cars released...@ one a month. Each of the 36 months will have 5 "Oath of Offfice" cars as contest prizes. Thats a total of 180 "Oath of Offfice" cars...or in other words...180 chances to win one. IMHO...I think its pretty smart advertising. It should keep the collectors coming back month after month....for the next 36 months...to get the new Presidential cars...and to try and win an "Oath of Offfice" car.
.

 

I agree it's clever advertising, but in comparison to just the number of members here on Trainboard, at 14,128, that means just 1.2% of us will get one. Roughly a 1 in 80 chance per member. Granted, not everyone will participate, but submitting entries once a month for 36 months will get old, fast. Sure it would be nice to win one, but if it's going to take 36 months, I'd rather just pay the price so I could enjoy it today.

 

... and wouldn't you know it. All this talk and research on this "Oath of Office" car.

Now I find I really do want one!

 

Mark...

I'll play the trivia game at MTL. If I win one...I will sell it to you...at half of fair EBay market value of course...:tb-wink::tb-biggrin:


.

 

Haha.. deal! (If I can afford it)

 

Shouldnt be much over 2 maybe 3 thousand. Pocket change...right?


.

 

interesting....every company starting with 'micro' sucks some how :

- microtrains for silly collector sets and incorrect paint schemes
- microscale for reducing inventory, never having what i need
- microsoft for selling buggy software intentionally

strange.....

 

I can't believe that someone is complaining about how MT is releasing their President's cars. This is too much!!!

 

I like MTL cars but i only buy prototypical cars. Geez say one bad thing about MTL and it becomes a bum rush to bad mouth MTL. Who cares what people collect. Buy what you like and mind your own da%$ business. The original poster was only stating his disappointment of what he percieved MTL was doing. Then the bell rings and all the MTL haters come out of the woodwork, get a life fellows.

Dave

 

We are really going in a bad direction in this thread. Please, folks, step back and take a deep virtual breath and let it out slowly.

 

I did not see MTs announcement to change the order the president cars are going to be released, so this thread showed what is good about Trainboard, getting market information fast.

I must admit that I do not buy any "fantasy car" (with the exception of one NP 40' steel reefer in Silver :we-laugh: ), so I might not be the typical "target audience" for the president car. So please read my comments with that in mind:

• I am sure that MT has a business reason to change the release order. We can speculate (maybe they want to bring a more popular car closer to Christmas to attract non-traditional buyers, maybe they need to balance production capability etc etc), but it is safe to assume that they have a vaild reason.
• If I would buy them I would not be concerned about the release order, as long as I stay convinced that I will be able to buy them all (if that is what I want to do). I have not seen anything to the contrary, so me personally would not see any reason to be upset.
• I applaud that Joe steps forward and addresses some of the concerns
• I find the idea of a trivia quiz actually very appealing and kind of "cute". I might even participate, just because I want to see if I can find the solution to the quiz. Side effect for MT is that they will get names and addresses of their customers / collectors, which can be very valuable material for future marketing. If for example 80% of your collectors are in one geography, your future cars might be more tailored towards that audience...
• Having a special car as a prize (I have not seen a response as to if it will be available for purchase, but that would probably defy the purpose) to me is a great idea (again, keep in mind that I do not buy the presidents series). It will create a lot of buzz with the collectors (only app. 180 made) and it is an attractive car in its own right that goes togeher nicely with the presidential theme.
  Yet if you have all presidential cars you still have a complete set, as the "Oath car" is different / distinct enough.

I think the success of the collectors series enables MT to bring out more "prototype" models, so I wish them luck that the president series will continue to be successful.

Cheers
Dirk

 

Unfortunately, your assumption is wrong. Here's the e-mail from MTL:

Hello Greg,

The Oath of Office Car will only be available as a contest prize. It will not be offered as part of the series. There is a limited amount of cars available.

Thank you
Gail Jakabosky
Accounting Asst.
Micro-Trains Line Co.
P.O. Box 1200
Talent, OR 97540-1200
541-535-1755 x:230
800-422-5526 x: 230
gail@micro-trains.com