Seems everytime I look at a catalog, or manufacturer’s website, and I see a particular locomotive, piece of rolling stock, or structure kit that I really want, I’ll try searching all the major internet model railroad stores for that particular one, and nobody has it in stock. Even alot of the manufacturers own ‘Shop Online in our Store’ sites don’t carry or have in stock everything. In my opinion, if a manufacturer is going to advertise or show a particular model (locomotives specifically) on their website, they should manufacture enough of the item that it would be available at more places.
I understand from a logistics point of view, things like specific roadnames and numbers would be overkill to produce enough for every hobby shop to be able to have at least one of everything in stock, and I’m not asking that. Just at least have an ordering option direct from the manufacturer available at the company store where you could order models you can’t find anywhere else. There’s only one LHS in my area within a reasonable drive and it’s such a small one that special ordering something would be the same as paying MSRP for the item, and depending on what it is, sometimes they charge shipping on top of it. That being the case, I don’t understand why it’s not possible to order direct, and pay MSRP plus shipping, and know you’re gonna get specifically what you want when you want it.
Is that too much to ask?
Sorry had to vent. lol
On the other hand… I do understand why a manufacturer would only make a limited number of an item due to having to change over production lines to run a different paint scheme, numbers, etc. and there’s not going to be an enormous demand for every single roadname out there, so from a business standpoint, it doesn’t make cents to flood the market with roadnames that don’t sell as well, but make a few of them for the die hard fans, in order to keep a loyal customer coming back. For instance, I know CSX probably sells better than So
Expressing our views, thoughts, frustrations and ideas is one of the benefits of this “Top Notch” model railroad forum. I’m sure you’ve read some of my threads before where I tried to “thoughtfully” vent on some topics.
An ordering option would be neat from a manufacturer, but with the agreements made with distributors, such as Walthers, it’s going to be rare. If I’m not mistaken, in past years some of the smaller manufacturers did provide direct shipping to customers. I remember that American GK back in the early 1980s would directly ship you their E60CP if you couldn’t find one locally.
Regarding your take on CSX and UP. I don’t know, but I think it’s based on what part of North America you’re in. Here in Florida, CSX models seem to sell exceptionally well. Believe it or not, Southern Railway models are also very popular! Many of the 35 and older modelers down here got to see prototype Southern locos that would “sneak” into Florida years back. Southern freight cars could be seen everywhere down here. Plus, with the Walthers Budd cars and P2K E-units, modeling the Southern Crescent is a nice option!
UP items do sell but from what I’ve seen, not as well. In fact, (and I do like UP, by the way), I’ve noticed that a number of customers that visit my LHS won’t buy any UP items due to the licensing issue.
I think most of us would agree with you that it is frustrating when a cataloged item is:
(1) Out of stock.
(2) Temporarily discontinued.
(3) On back order.
This seems to be happening more, especially since so many items are outsourced. So we have to remember that some of these situations are beyond a manufactuer’s control. When one thinks about it it’s likely that those managers, who are trying to make a profit, get just as frustrated as we do when their advertised
Isn’t there only one??? A larger than a three ring binder, bout 1.25" thick, has LOTS of color photos and descriptive text, thousands of items listed, some in black print, some in blue…
But the catalog is only a dream sheet. You still need to call your LHS to place the order…then wait three weeks…either that or log on to an internet HS and order from there…still takes three weeks…and sometimes you get nothing back but a BO notice…yah, it stinks, but what else can a modeler do??
Think you got it rough in HO? You could get into O scale, [ not 3 rail, scale 2 rail ] The problem we have is that of a smaller buying populace, with just as diverse an area of interest as found in HO. Manufacturers have to make few enough of everthing to make sure they have good sell through, and earn enough profit in a timely manner to stay in business. What this means is that we have to often reserve cars and locos many months, or rarely even years, in advance of the item release. If we miss a reservation, or discover a product after release, usually the manufacturer is quickly sold out , so then we have to contact a myrad of retailers all over the country to try to find what we want…if by chance they have one that didn’t sell yet. The upside of all this that given the problem of the effort it takes to deal with it, we are getting many more roadnames and products in O scale that ever before. As far as the 3 railers go, its even worse! Products are often made deliberately in short runs never to be run again, as it drives a ‘collector’ market, which is good for sales. I find it useful to do business with many hobby shops, some by stopping in, and others by internet. It’s not always convient, but the results are usually very good. Its a different world out there than it was 30 or 40 years ago, and the way manufacturers produce, wholesalers stock, and retailers inventory are changing. We just have to figure out how to ‘sway’ in the changing winds, and learn how to get what we want, in spite of the “new ways”.
At least living in the US you have half a chance of getting what you want. The Australian market is flooded with Hornby and US brands are in very short supply. Good Train supply shops have the range, but something as simple as C&O is like hunting for rocking horse poop… Don’t complain too much, half the stuff you see we will never ever see unless we order it specifically and wait the wait which can be quite a wait considering our priority on the world market; and if we do get it the price is more than double what a US customer would pay, and I assure you I don’t get paid anymore than my US counterparts. [:P]
Actually, I’m referring primarily to Walthers Cornerstone Series structures (catalog), Atlas Locomotives and rolling stock (as advertised on their website), and Athearn locos and rolling stock (again, as advertised on the website.) Athearn has an valid excuse though, just coming through all the corporate changes and whatnot it’s understandable their production will be limited for a while, but Walthers and Atlas especially. Why would Atlas promote an “Atlas Gold Series w/ QSI” locomotive which I’d be more than willing to pay MSRP for (around $250) if I couldn’t find it anywhere else… but everywhere I look, I can’t find it, so I go to their ‘online store’ and it’s not in stock there either. I’m very happy though to find out I’m not the only person on here that feels the same way. lol Guess I’m just going to have to start scouring the net for the ‘first release’ news. I’m definitely going to try to get a CSX MP15DC from Atlas if/when they ever release it. I’ve got a coal mine in the works and several industrial switching areas that are going to be in dire need of some short wheelbase motive power.
When I worked in a hobby shop, I think Walthers use to call their giant, over-price catalog “The Wish Book.” What they meant was “They wished they had it in stock and so did we!”
And their favorite phrase was “Your Dealer Can get it From Walthers.”
Yea, if you’re willing to wait forever!!!
You might as well defame the bible as criticise “the catalog” This falls within the 4 things you cannot negatively comment on in this forum 1: dcc 2: kd 3: big boy 4: “the catalog”
"You might as well defame the bible as criticise “the catalog”
Give me a break!!!1
If the pages wern’t so smooth, I’d hang it in the “Un-flushable” in the back yard!
That’s about all it’s good for!!!
gtirr
Jennifer, that is a cute trick the mfgr use to get people to buy NOW. My wife collects Dept 56 Dickens and New England series. They have new items that come out every year, but if you see something you like, you had better buy it because they limit the run just to make it a “collectors” item. It is no different with MRR, they want people to buy NOW, so they “create” this collectors mode of marketing.
gtirr : I agree, I never saw the attraction to this publication other than just looking at small photos of stuff, usually not available, and, For some reason I’m a little reluctant to dish out @ $30.00 cdn. for a catalogue of stuff for sale (if it’s available). You may have noticed by the lack of responses to this subject and to the popularity of this catalogue that this is a very touchy topic (remember the 4 verboten subjects??)