I think MT is painting itself into a corner, lets hope they realize it before they are financially affected. When I first got into N scale, I bought MT, but only second hand, and not the "cutesy" cars. Then like many of you I discovered some of the other fine manufactures like Red Caboose that cater to us layout freaks. We want lots of the same cars with different numbers. Now when I buy Red Caboose, I routinely buy a 3 or 6 pack (beer anyone!) and not the one number only MT. I barely even look at MT any more.
Basically, N scale rolling stock consists of plastic molded tools that have been used for years and are already amortized, styrene plastic, which of course as a gas derivative is pretty darn expensive, a metal chassis, also of molded metal used millions of times, paint (thanks to tree-kissers, is now under heavy control and prices go up), and some ancillary parts. I took a very casual stroll through my LHS yesterday, (usually I'm in a rush) and noticed the MSRP on all N scale rolling stock was surprisingly very high. In the discussion with my LHS owner, he stated that sales of all new N scale rolling stock is very low. Although they look just terrific in the boxes, 20 bucks plus is a stiff price. His back shelf with used rolling stock is a battle ground as he sells used rolling stock there at $5 each, and we all gobble that stuff up. It will come to the point where we will all have to accept these prices, unfortunately. The alternative is that the manufacturers will stop repopping the old stuff and developing new stuff, as sales will be down. Thank God I have a decent inventory of rolling stock, heck, I'm still buying used Kato locos for $20. Ken "Steamguy" Willaman
Know where we can locate used Big Boys for $20...I have an N-Trak Superintendant who wants to know!!!!
Then again, there is always the Prime Directive when shopping: Thou shalt not pay retail! When I lived in Paris (Texas, that is) I'd listen to WBAP-AM, 820 on the dial, out of Ft. Worth. On Saturday afternoons they had a call-in show (can't remember the name of the hostess, but she called herself the Diva of Discount), and the whole show was centered around how you could get quality merchandise without hocking your firstborm to pay for it. Unless the collectors & folks with more money than brains snap 'em all up, I'd wait & hit the discount mail-order houses (Standard Hobby comes to mind). Fortunately for me, Atlas is coming out with very nice crummys, modern, and undecorated, that I can paint in my road's paint scheme. And, they're less expensive, and I dare say, better looking, than the MT hacks.
Frankly, if you look at the MSRP of many of the higher grade rolling stock you are seeing cars in the lower to mid to sometimes high twenties. MT cabooses have always been a little higher than their rolling stock. This is all a surprise as a high majority of the toolings are very old and amortized. Now it seems it is only the paint and collectivity as the price drivers. I am a person who thought $6 was pretty steep for a new car. Thank God, Mr. "I'll get it used sometime" here is a patient person. There is always someone at any swap meet or train show dumping lots of almost new rolling stock for next to nothing prices. Ken "Steamguy" Willaman
After perusing through an old copy of N Scale magazine, I noted where MicroTrains had a caboose painted & lettered for Popsicle (say WHAT?!?) for just under 30 bucks. Same caboose model as the WP crummy. The only M-T car I have in my inventory is a Frisco gondola. I wouldn't be above buying M-T cars, but not the cutesy-poo stuff Thank goodness for IM and Red Caboose! (two fine Colorado firms, I might add )
I don't pretend to understand the collectors market, but perhaps someone thinks the gold standard will be replaced with the MT standard? I don't know why gold got to be so valuble, as it has little intrinsic use, nor do I understand why MT is - or was - popular. I heard from a LHS proprietor that Micro Trains now run by daughter of founder. It's her idea to do the cutesy cars like Popsicle and Hersheys - IMHO missing the market for serious modelers completely. The LHS also said they were stuck with many of the new releases, so I am not alone! Apparently, no one has the guts to tell her she may just be a little off base! With all the quality products coming out, it wouldn't take long for me - I won't speak for anyone else - to change allegiance to Red Caboose or Atlas, each of whom is coming out with fabulous stuff. Of course, I only buy my stuff to run, and then only stuff that fits my era, so I may not be the protoypical customer. Just my .02
Nah, there's a bunch of us out there that buy stuff to run, not look at. There are quite a few collectors, too (in a sense, we're all collectors) who DO want to buy that stuff to look at. Whatever rolls your stone..... I too buy to run, and try to stay within my era, but I have strayed out to get something earlier, era-wise, that I liked and could actually use.
