Much to my surprise, I got a big 'ol full blown color catalog from Williams in today’s mail. Not a mailer or brochure, but with pages even. Did anyone else get one? What do you think of it?
Is this the Fall 2006 catalog from York?
Got mine Saturday. Sure was surprised as usually only fliers. Looked it over. Interesting if running conventionals.
I’m looking forward to seeing their catalog. Alas, as of last night, I have not received one.
Jim
I don’t know if its the same as they handed out at York. Makes sense to me. They have a few ‘new’ sets engine/tender, four cars, caboose: N&W Blue Ridge Hauler; B&O Time Saver Fast Freight; Virginian Tidewater Express. Also, it features their transformer, power units to retrofit into dummies, track, smoke fluid, sound and reverse boards and box 'o lights in addition to the usual engines and rolling stock.
I got mine today. They have some new hopper cars. New reefers.
Nice catalog. And, it was free. Marked $5.00.
Still no catalog in my mailbox. Skunked again . . .
No catalog yet, but then again, it takes on average an extra week for me to get the CTT. Guess the USPS needs another hike in stamp rates. I did get a two page flyer from Williams with some S2s on it.
Dennis
I’m just wondering if I’m mistaken. For those of you who have the Williams Catalog, have you read page 2 carefully? I was somewhat amazed at what I saw there. It states that Williams comes with a 1 year warranty. Has something changed, or was I mistaken that the warranty was lifetime?
I got my Williams catalog today…Nice. [:)]
mpzpw3- On page two I’m reading, lifetime limited warranty and 30 day money back guarantee.
Stan.
Thanks Doug,
cordially,
Dino [;)]
I finally recieved my new Williams catalog today November 15. I must be on the bottom of the mailing list! However, it should really help when I want to order something.
Jim H
Still have not received mine.
I’m starting to wonder if my wife chucked it in the trash so that I wouldn’t order any more from them.
jaabat…The trick is to (eventhough it’s a loss to you) do what I do, and that’s buy her something of equal value evertime you buy something in trains. Example… you buy an engine then turn around and buy her a coat or something of the same value, etc…It hurts but what are we going to do…these trains is serious bussiness.
Got mine last week. Different from the usual foldouts. I have tons of Williams and have converted several using Digital Dynamics setup. They run forever and pull fantastic. Just dont have the level of detail we all love.
Tim
My Williams catalog arrived today. I’m somewhat surprised as my club membership expired about a month ago. Since they were nice enough to send me their catalog, I guess I’ll re-subscribe and order the GM&O boxcar. [:)]
Dr. John, I think they send the catalog to everyone who sends in a warranty card. I have only bought one item direct from them and that was several years ago. I buy most from dealers as they will give you a better price than you can get buying direct.
I think that was a smart marketing move on their part as the LHS has been selling quite a bit of Williams since the catalog came out. I’m told that the bulk of the customers are running conventional.
“Just dont have the level of detail we all love.”
You have to speak for yourself pigseyes… their detail level is absolutely perfect just as is.
And according to Lionel’s own published statements, the bulk of their sales are in the starter set area and traditional starter rolling stock/items areas. And given that Lionel has the bulk figure (approx $60M) of the $100M 3-rail market, it is actually quite easy to conclude that there are a good many folks out there who do not like or cannot afford items of higher detail. And one has to also consider that out of that $100M, in addition to companies offering the higher detail level trains, there is (was) also K-Line, Williams, and now RMT. Even the kings of high detail, Atlas O, have seen the economic light of re-introducing the Industrial Rail line. High end stuff gets all the attention, but I have a strong sense it is the low end stuff that pays the bills. Truth be told, Lionel would go out of business immediately we it not for the majority of buyers like me who likes non-scale, less detailed trains.
And again, in accordance with Lionel’s own statements of command control usage being at around 25%, and since it is the higher end, more detail locos that come with command control, it would be pretty safe to assume that interest in the more detailed trains hovers at a little more than that figure, taking into account MTH and their recent emphasis towards scale higher end trains.
Not to mention that I have heard it directly spoken from those in charge of two train companies that the low end products make the most profit. The high end products make the least amount of profit due to all the excessive engineering and tooling costs, combined with the low production runs due to lack of sales. Recall all those nice scale K-Line locos being blown out at 50% off retail. Any first year economics college student knows that’s not a good formula for staying in business, but K-Line had to learn the hard way.
So the
I finally got my catalog in yesterday’s mail. I thought it was going to be something new. But all it is is the same old stuff from the flyers put into catalog form. The entire Golden Memory section was just artwork. Nice catalog, but I guess I was expecting something different.
Jim