I can’t speak for everyone here…it’s not my place…but this post seems perilously close to a business advertisment thinly disguised as a good will passing on of information. Ethically, you have a stake in the disbursement of these locomotives, and to adverstise openly that you have some that are not spoken for implies that you would be pleased to have buyers…“on the net”. Ergo, advertising.
The Athearn newsletter; Greetings. Here’s some late breaking news about the happenings at Athearn. ------------------------------- HO Genesis 4-8-8-4 Big Boy ------------------------------- These have been shipped, and should be in stores in the next week or so. They are beautiful! Check them out! -------------------------- HO Roundhouse 4-4-0 -------------------------- These have also been shipped, and should be in stores in the next week or so. Also beautiful, they are cute little things with a cool sound system. WE just LOVE some of the whistle sounds. Check them out! N 2-8-0 ---------- Ditto. ------------------------- ROAD NUMBER CHANGES ------------------------- Based on input, we have changed road numbers on the below HO Scale RS3 locomotives. Item #94030 HO Scale RS3 Reading new road number 484 Item #94031 RS3 Reading new road number 492 Item #90436 HO Scale RS3 Western Maryland new road number 188 Item #90437 RS3 Western Maryland new road number 195 Ok. That’s it for today. The Folks at Athearn Can’t get enough trains? Visit http://www.Athearn.com, http://www.Roundhousetrains.com and http://www.McHenryCouplers.com for more great train products. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well it does kind of look that way I guess…if it does to others I apologize… I can’t delete it.
This is what I was talking about a couple months ago when I asked if it was even going to be OK to openly be a store owner on this forum. Folks said to quit worrying about it so I did and started posting.
Would not have posted this one at all if I had not misinformed folks last week.
But take a close look at it. #1: seriously, I have had offers to do business off of this forum, and noticed other instances where I could have done some business. But that is not what this forum is for and it is not why I am participating. You can believe that if you want. Wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t.
But I have not made a dime off of this forum and do not intend to.
#2 and #3…could’ve said all of mine were sold, but that wouldn’t be honest…might sound like bragging, anyway…mostly it was a thinly veiled attempt to say I’m not Train World…I’m just a small shop so don’t ask me for any because I didn’t order that many.
I don’t think it implies that I would be pleased to have buyers on the net. I’ve tried to maintain a presence here of exactly the opposite. I have refrained from doing some things that would even have a whiff of doing business on this forum.
But I would also like to see thoughts from others to see how you all think I am doing in walking this fine line. I can’t make a rational observation about my own posts. If anyone else thinks I am close to being unethical, I can take constructive criticism and we’ll see where we go.
Nothing against Selector, either, as he may very well have a valid point.
I saw nothing comercial about your post One Track Mind , I for one enjoy your point of view as a Hobby Shop owner. It’s nice to hear about the new stuff as it is being shipped. You do have a fine line to walk but I think you have been doing a honest job of it. The information you provide about how the people who manufacture our trains and stuff think has explained a lot why this or that has not been made. Keep on posting as we have already lost to many good posters due to the infighting and heated debates. This talk about trains from now on! I’ll be quiet now. Jim[:)]
Personally, I don’t think its advertisment. I’m glad to have One Track Mind here on the forum to help keep us up dated as to what is going on with our hobby. [:)]
You know, I am one of One Track Mind’s customers and I for one, am very pleased to learn about the bigboys and new roundhouse 4-4-0’s Now I have to go and research these little engines and see what they are about on the Athearn Website.
I dont believe any of the posting violates rules and support the ability of hobbyshop owners to talk about upcoming product as it helps alot knowing what is happening in the hobby as the product heads to the store.
I think One Track Mind has done a very good job refraining from doing business on these forums as a customer, Im still very pleased with the level of service at the store in person.
I may or may NOT order/purchase one of these 4-4-0’s but that is in the future and unrelated to the information on this thread as the Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 is undergoing production and to be released. I just happen to be seriously considering one of these for my small roster.
I do worry that there might be a culture where a duct tape is placed on the store and no information gets out onto a public forum. I dont see this any different than the information I might have gotten had I visited the store in person today.
I dont really expect very many hobby shops to participate in the forums with a sort of online bulletin boards in addition to all the other resources out there but support any information that is useful to the customer and modelers in general.
You have made my point…thank-you. By establishing that you, a member of this forum, are a customer of his, you make it clear to me that he has a business interest in the dissemination of the information here, whether or not he has any spare Big Boys.
Geez…get a life…I think it’s great that someone who actually WORKS in this business pipes up on these forums now and then. Their viewpoint is often much more relevant than that of the armchair quarterbacks.
I did not post to put anyones oppinion’s down! Everyone is intitled to their oppinion and I respect that but it seems that sometimes someone will post and people will disagree and then it becomes a heated debate. I come here to relax and learn about trains,after all it is a hobby. I guess what I am trying to say is I think we need to try not to take the forum so personal and try to relax.
I feel that Bergie does a good job watching over the forum and if he feels someone is breaking the rules , he will step in.
Just my [2c] worth and a little more. I hope I haven’t offended anyone if I did it was not intended to.
I think you’re doing fine. I don’t see anything commercial in your post. If I was still in HO I would appreciate the info. Keep on the way you have been.
Not wanting to rain on anyone’s parade, but Horizon is still showing 9/12 as the official shipping date. This has been changed several times in the last month, so I’m fairly certain it is updated often. Hopefully they will come sooner, but I’m not holding my breath… [xx(]
On a side note, the Roundhouse 4-4-0’s are showing to be in stock in the Illinois warehouse… [:D]
Well, the Trix Big Boy was a gorgeous product. Maerklin bought Trix trains, and then basically made the focus of Trix the “North American modeler” line of their target markets. This meant that these DC powered RP25 trains were much more US-modeler friendly than all their Euro-prototypes running on 3-rail AC. The Big Boy is outstanding in looks and functionality. Note that this is ALL METAL, whereas the Genesis big boy I don’t believe has metal boiler or cab.
The Trix big boy has probably better pulling power (because of the weight) but in looks alone, I bet the Athearn model will stand very nicely as its rival. In operation–well, Trix trains run like Swiss (or even better, Saxony) watches! Marklin has had traditionally some of the best QC in the world for hobby/toys. Marklin has always thrown quality in before any other consideration (like price!). You can pickup a Trix Big Boy for about $650 and this is actually a reasonable deal considering its equivelent to a brass model. It comes with DCC sound system. However, there is a catch…
…It seems that this business move of Marklin to make North American line thru Trix (although a very sound one) was too little , too late. I hope I am WRONG in saying that, but right now Marklin has been sold to a British investment firm after years of being family-owned, concentrating on 3-rail AC trains, and having all products produced in Germany…all which seem to have resulted in losing revenue and spending most of their loan limits.
Because the future of Marklin is unclear (although it seems likely they will still go on ), and because the Trix Mikado is apparently “out of production”…I wonder where this leaves the Big Boy? And what if you need service in 5 or 10 years for these locos (as I really believe that such items ar