How Often Does Walthers Un-retire an Item?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I got blown out today at ebay for an item I really wanted … HO Vulcan Manufacturing Company. Winning bid was 61.96 … Walthers catalog price 30.98. Dang.

In their catalog, Walthers says that they may un-retire an item at some time in the future. Does it really happen? Does anyone remember any examples? Was it many years after it was retired?

I guess it’s time to really look at kitbashing things … or even scratchbuilding. I guess that is a big part of the hobby for many of you guys here. But I have really little spare time at this stage of the game, and 'bashing and 'building almost seems like an whole new additional hobby!

I can’t wait to retire (only 21 more years to go).

Jim

2

Jim,
Yes they have, but not often. I am not positive as to examples, but I believe their paper mill complex was re-released about two years after it was retired.

3

Walthers will soon un-retire its FGE RBL kits. They are also bringing back the 54’ GSC flatcar and 4 bay open top hopper kits, although I do not remember if they were classified as retired.

4

They Re-issiued the steel mill kit.

They left the electric arc furnis out on the re-release though.

Oh well. There are plenty of unsold stock in hobby shops anyway.

James

5

Haven’t seen it done, but there are some that I wonder why they retired. Seems that there several that people are always asking about.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

6

Yes, Walthers does occasionally re-issue kits but it’s rare.

The real question here is why are you having problems acquiring the Vulcan kit and why the absurd eBay winning bid? This item was commonly available from a large number of retailers, at least up to very recently, and still is listed as available by Train World, et al. Just because Walthers doesn’t stock it doesn’t mean they are all gone. Have you bothered to phone any large regional hobbyshops, internet retailers, or check Walthers’ listing of who they sent these kits to last? This was no obscure kit, there should be plenty around.

CNJ831

7

I did place a few phone calls before going to ebay …

TrainWorld … no stock
DiscountTrainsOnline … no stock
InternetTrains … no stock
Internet Hobbies … no stock
Standard Hobby Supply… no stock
(2) LTS that I know …no stock
Walthers’ catalog … does not list any recent past shipments to retailers

Jim

BTW CNJ831 … Are you a grouchy, know-it-all, old man? Just kidding.

8

I have the same issue with the HO Back Shop and Car Shop. These kits are still popular and can be used from any time period between 1930 thru today! I have a feeling these kits will come back sooner or later since Walthers still has the molds.

I’m assuming that Walthers production is based upon sales and LHS feedback. Understandably, they want to be able to make a reasonable return on their investment.

9

Jim,

You might want to try some of the lesser known internet guys. Manhattan Trains and Cherry Creek comes to mind. It might take some googling, but I’ve often found what I was looking for at these other guys when the big guys didn’t have any. You might also try some of the adds in MRR and listing of hobby shops, many of the stores have a website.

Good luck!

Dave

10

In some cases kits might be retired because the molds are approaching the end of their useful lives. In those cases the product will probably never be un-retired, as it would require a whole new set of molds. So they might as well produce something else for a new market, rather than re-tool for a kit that already has some of the market used up.

11

I dont know about the molds.

I did sell the walthers barge and carfloat for at least twice retail on ebay quite some time ago. I would like to see these kits come back simply because the ebay bidding has gotten out of hand on some of thier kits.

12

They seem to be heading in the direction that the hobby seems to be going -RTR, or as they call it 'Built ups". Already assembled plastic buildings for crying out loud! Packages and prices are bigger too, so maybe there’s more profit in this line?

Bob Boudreau

13

I think you hit the nail on the head, Bob. Labor to assemble those buildings probably costs at most a couple of bucks. They sell the RTR stuff at a much higher price than that…

14

Looking at the Walthers site, they seem to be gearing up to introduce a bunch of new kits this fall/next spring. I do think the number of new kits introduced each year is still much greater than in the 70/80’s era.

15

I did place a few phone calls before going to ebay …

TrainWorld … no stock
DiscountTrainsOnline … no stock
InternetTrains … no stock
Internet Hobbies … no stock
Standard Hobby Supply… no stock
(2) LTS that I know …no stock
Walthers’ catalog … does not list any recent past shipments to retailers

Jim

BTW CNJ831 … Are you a grouchy, know-it-all, old man? Just kidding.
[/quote]

Jim, yes, I am indeed a grouchy, know-it-all, old man. I have become grouchy from all the snappy newbies who, after the most cursory of searches, declare items unavailable. And I became a know-it-all through many years in the hobby addressing every sort of modeling and model acquisition problem imaginable. With regard to the latter, my experience is that nothing in this hobby is totally unavailable, even items 20 years out of production, if you are willing to search diligently enough. Down through the years a careful search of hobby establishments has produced the desired item for me in every case, although it may have taken up to several dozen phone calls.

So…after that little lesson let me advise you that, being a know-it-all, it took me less than two minutes and just one phone call to locate some Walthers’ Vulcan Mfg kits for you. Go to the Retail Directory listings in the back of your latest MR, find the hobby shop located in Poughkeepsie, NY, call and talk to Bob. Your problem will be solved. But I shouldn’t waste too much time in doing so, as I’m sure there are others reading this that will jump too. Good luck. [;)]

16

For a grouchy, know-it-all old man, you’re a pretty nice guy, CNJ831

17

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

I love happy endings!!

18

while you are looking can you find me a bascule bridge… need a shop that posts to australia… peter

19

When it comes to having large stock and unavailable items never forget Caboose Hobbies by the way. I cannot testify as to Vulcan Mfg but they are always worth a try.
Dave Nelson

20

I suspect that Walthers ‘retires’ a model when the inventory gets low, and it may not have been a ‘hot ticket’ item that sold fast. They really do not want to invest more dollars to have another ‘run’ built - so the ‘retire’ it and see if they can clear out the inventory by making it ‘collectable’!
Now, after they have unloaded the inventory, and there appears to be a market for the model, they ‘un-retire’ it and tell the model railroad community that just to be good guys, they are bring it back just for us!
Nothing unusual here - Standard marketing…

Jim Bernier