The stock on your local stores shelves I would assume has already been paid for (or at least invoiced) from the distributor, who has paid (or at least been invoiced) from Athearn, the price paid on what they have in stock now is set, if they are increasing prices on what they already have paid for then that price increase must have come from the shop itself? I think you partially misunderstand me in my earlier post, I think that the "classic" Athearn stuff just is not selling well at present, so shops are reluctant to stock Athearn's whole range, I would be....and I think their stuff's great. Or am I misunderstanding you? [ 08 May 2002, 15:58: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Martyn, Its the fact of the supplier/distributor, buying the items from Athearn at whole sale cost, then holding it for the actual hobby shops to buy it from them, inother words the suppliers/distributors buy it dirrectly from Athearn, then stock it on their shelves and then a hobby shop orders it, at the middle mans cost and then again rasises the price, soon it becomes so high in cost that the consumer doesn't buy it. So the hobby shop has it and sets on it and it doesn't sell and and doesn't sell so then if they have it for 2 years or so, then they're loosing money on it as they would be moroe or less storing it. This is one reason for sales in any store so they get rid of the old stock to order in new stock or order in stock that they know will sell. Personally I like the basic Athearn line being kits. this gives way to more chance to super detail if desired and if not then its still a half decent looking model.... Same with the cars or loco's! I enjoy the challenge of it... As for the ready to run stuff, its going to get worse before it gets better. The prices are bound to go up being they are putting more separete details and all making them look better for the RTR stuff and with all the hand work the cost is bound to go up....
