I had to laugh because I came across a very exciting announcement that I thought people would appreciate. I shared it in a thread that I thought was relevant but interestingly, the post went ignored.
Given all of the talk about how the sky is falling and a related thread I posted the following:
This was virtually ignored with the constant talking in circles with the same rhetoric and whining despite the fact that it bumped the topic to the top of the forum. Did anyone acknowledge the fact that
Nothing I can use or want, so no lowering of prices for my layout.
Bob
But isn’t imagining conspiracies more fun than the real world?
Joe
Now will the other manufactuers follow suit? Wonder if their supposedly upcoming SD40-2 will have a price decrease?
Well, now THERE’S a good excuse for some new motive power! [:D] I’ve been looking for a new wide-cab road loco since my MTH SD70ACe is…well, that’s for another thread [;)]
Thanks for the heads up. It’s so funny, human nature. A weatherman was once quoted “I can get the forecast right for 100 days in a row and nobody says anything. But on that 101st day when I am wrong…you get the picture.”
Point being we as humans are quick to criticize and don’t often notice things like this.
Just my [2c], I hope I don’t start a fire with this…
Acela
Somehow, I just can’t imagine an outbreak of threads complaining about Athearn or anyone else cutting prices. [<:o)]
Good for Athearn.
This also shows the volatility of trying to do business internationally and make a profit in the current situation. Can you imagine the howls if Athearn faced a price increase and raised prices $30?[:o)]
Ya but:
The hobby is still getting old and dying.
Computers are driving kids away from the hobby.
The proliferation of RTR is killing the craftsman side of the hobby.
There are not enough kits, where are the blue box.
The local hobby shops are dying.
And something, something, something killing the hobby something something…
[:P]
Chris
I ignore (or attempt to) the 'sky is falling" threads, I also ignored your thread because it was not relevant to me, matter of fact, most threads on this forum are pretty much irrelevant to me anymore. The place seems to be missing content. Perhaps it will return when the leaves drop and the snow flies.
Of course, a cynic might point out that Athearn stuff was overpriced in the first place. [;)]
They’re still making the same amount of money on the engines, they’re just lowering the price by the amount their price from the manufacturer is being reduced (or at least part of the amount). I mean it’s nice that they’re doing that, but I suspect they’re still making a very good profit on them.
So when the price of gas goes up a dollar and then drops by a quarter, we should be singing the praises of dropping a quarter rather than going up 75 cents?
Ofcourse this doesn’t help me since it’s not a locomotive I need and it’s been at least five years since they made one I want to buy. Which by the way I pre ordered and they placed a hold on my credit card for months only to find out “We didn’t make enough to fill the preorders, sorry, better luck next time.”
In the following order:
Thank you Athearn for passing on your cost savings to your customers. You didn’t have to do that. You could have pocketed the extra $30 and nobody would have known. Apparently at least Athearn understands that gouging their customers is not good for business. I suspect that many other manufacturers operate the same way despite the occasional accusations to the contrary.
Comments to the effect that the content of these forums is deteriorating is like complaining that your grass isn’t growing because you didn’t fertilize or water it. If you are a regular contributor then you might have the right to bellyache, but for the rest - let’s hear about what you are modeling or have done in the past.
OH dear! I just fell off my soap box and broke my loud mouth so I will quit now![}:)][swg]
Dave
I don’t see the big deal here. So Athearn apparently dropped its MSRP by $30. Prices are discounted all of the time by shops like MB Klein and Caboose Hobbies. Items go on sale at places like Walthers. Sometimes even manufacturers like Athearn drop their prices, run sales, promotions, etc. As others have said, Athearn was probably overpricing at least some of its locos anyhow. Maybe in this case it was just trying to stir up more orders.
Rich
Rich!
You cynic!
Actually, I think your comment is a more accurate assessment of the situation then the first part of my post was.
Dave
I just bought a long awaited set of Athearn Genesis locos. It is a pair of Monon F3A’s, equipped with Tsunami sound and DCC decoder.
These locos were just released by Athearn after a years long wait.
The MSRP is $459.98.
I got them for $321.99 at MB Klein.
Did Athearn cut the price by $3? $30? $300? Who knows?
Did Athearn raise the price by $3? $30? $300? Who knows?
If they did cut the price or raise the price, did MB Klein pass that savings or that price increase to me?
Dunno.
What I do know is that it all seems expensive to me but what are you going to do if you want it?
Rich
Kyle,Nice to hear…
But…
Athearn wasn’t the first to do this…ExactRail slice their prices after going direct sales only.
I said many months ago on this and other forums sooner or later the price bubble will burst…
Are we begining to see this?
I dunno but,hope it becomes the newest trend.
Come to think of it…
Even a weekly sale would work-don’t laugh that’s the only way I go Krogering…[:O][(-D]
As far as the sky is falling…Maybe its begining to crack in sales? [swg]
Brakie:
You brought some fun to my morning with that phrase. I hadn’t heard it for a long while since I moved from Columbus to Pittsburgh.
Joe
Huh. Volume causes prices to drop? Economy of scale seems like a play on words here but true. Go middle class buying power!
Of course, no one notices or comments on the price falling, it means they are getting a new bargain…and everybody LOVES a bargain…In fact a chain store around here in the NE USA has a jingle [8]" Don’t you just LOVE a bargain"[8]
It’s all about sales and profits, I tell you!
SO why do people complain about higher prices? because they can’t buy as much!
The reason prices go higher is that the world is now competing for all the finite, yes finite resources old earth can provide. We need to recycle more and THAT, too costs more money. Also everybody wants MORE wages world over too!
It’s all about profits, profits, profits!!! If you own stock, you WANT profits to get dividends and increased value for your stocks!! Just because a company does NOT have stockholders and is owned primarily by one family or group of people, doesn’t mean they don’t want profits!
Even “Non-profits” want lots of excess money to pay bills and CEO’s of “non-profits” don’t volunteer their time and energy!
Profits, like the “ferengy” on Star Trek used to look for, make the capitalist world go around! Profits, Profits, Profits!
Apple’s new Iphone needs new cables for charging and docking and such, so the conversion kit was invented. I heard on the raido that if everyone bought one, the company would rake in another ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS in sales {And more profits, too}!
Profits, I say!!!
profitably yours,
-G
[8-|]
FWIW, my complaint is that I never water or fertilize my lawn, and it STILL KEEPS GROWING so I have to keep mowing it!!
[:(!]
I did notice the drop in price on the AC4400CW’s but being that it’s a loco I can’t use due to tight curves and general era it does me no good at all.