I vaguely recall someone on this forum recently mentioning the 75th anniversary catalog being offered super cheap, but with less content than in the past. I didn’t give it much thought until I just opened my new Walthers sale flyer today, and on page 3 they have a single-page ad with $9.98 in huge print.
I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a catalog for a while, just to have a reference for parts I might not know existed by browsing through the web. But I’m not about to pay $25+ for a new one. I thought about picking up a used copy at a train show (might still do that), but if the new one coming out is less than $10, I’ll most definitely get one.
Does anybody know about why they’re doing this, and if there are significant changes to the content from previous years?
Just guessing - probably to get more catalogs into the hands of potential customers.
Most people I’ve talked to have expressed the same thoughts that you have - the price for the catalogs was more than they were interested in paying. With online shopping, paper catalogs aren’t really necessary. But they are interesting, just to see all of the products that you might not know of!
I just saw the ad somewhere too. I recall it being an HO/N scale catalog and wonder if it’s a condensed readers digest version.
I agree that Walthers is competing with a new age of internet and distribution methods. The days of ordering something through a retail store for MSRP and crossing your fingers it might arrive someday are over. Walthers needs to catch up.
Granted the 9.98 price sounds to good to be true. However my Walthers rep tells me there will be the same amount of content (if not more) as in previous Walthers reference books. Walthers wants to include all of you folks in their 75th Anniversary celebration and that is the reason for the lower price.
And for the-sky-is-falling types who speculated that when Walthers bought Life-Like the prices would be rising, take note that Walthers has lowered the MSRP on Proto locomotives. Good news for all.
While a 75th anniversary discount sounds like a good excuse, I tend to think Bob B.'s opinion is closer to the truth. I’ve noted over the last few years that there is always a large pile of unsold current-year Walthers catalogs at the LHS. During the 1980’s and 90’s the LHS sold out of them the month they appeared. Judging by that, I’d bet sales of the catalogs in my area might be off 40%-50%. I know I only purchase a new copy every 2nd or 3rd year now.
I found a good deal on the current issue. I pd 16.00 including S/H. I had no intention of forking out 25.00 so this was a nice surprise when I came acrossed it.
Terry[8D]
I think it’s the full-blown regular catalog. The ad I referred to mentioned (and had pictures of) two separate catalogs - one catalog for both N and Z scale, and one for HO scale only. Each one is being offered for $9.98, but apparently you have to call Walthers (1-800-4TRAINS) and reserve the HO catalog by July 15, and the N/Z catalog by Sept 15 in order to take advantage of the special price.
My LHS gives a 10-20% discount off the cover price of the Walther’s catalogs on condition of preordering. This gives him a pulse of what size to make his initial order. You, of course, are under no obligation to buy it once its come in but, h*ll, $3.00 is $3.00 and that will pay for the gas it takes me to get across town to pick it up.
I’ve still got the first Walther’s catalog I ever ordered (I was stationed in Germany with the Air Force at the time, 1971). $3.95 - my wife picked it up from the mail room and almost killed me for being so extravagant.
You know, every year when I buy the new HO catalogue direct from Walthers/THS for $24.95, I get a coupon for $25 off my first purchase of $100 or more within 90 days of getting the catalogue. So - assuming I use the coupon - the catalogue is basically free.
It’s about time they sell the catalog for what it is worth!
But then you have to remember that they only have about 50% of what’s in the catalog in stock!!!
We’ve always called their “Wish Book.” We wi***hey had the products in stock and so do they!
Let’s hope this year they found somebody smart enough to edit it for mistakes as you could never trust the prices that were shown in the past.
gtr
This year will be the first one for me for about 4 years. I agree the short run models are out of date, but what I find it most useful for is for browsing for detail parts and little bits that I otherwise would not think of. Besides I can browse it in bed, I can’t do that with my PC and the internet.