SOAPBOX -- Track Dealers -- How the Price of Track Affects Our Hobby

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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GUNS OR BUTTER? GUNS OR BUTTER?

The president of the Seaboard and Western Virginia Railway sends greetings and salutations to the president of the South Pennsylvania Railroad–I guess it is a “railroad” as opposed to a “railway”.

Whatever is the case you have, in this topic, raised some very good points for discussion and it has garnished a considerable body of responses. Adding my two cents worth to the mix let me begin by stating that, firstly, at this particular point in time I do not have a layout and most likely not have one for a few years . . . . . which makes my response apropos for this topic since, when I do get around to that new layout, the second thing, behind lumber and other roadbed material, is going to be the purchase of track. Sometime back I joined the ranks of the gainfully unemployed–read that as retired–so subsequently I have not really had a train budget for a few years hence have made few purchases of late. Unless struck by lightning I am anticipating a significant change in that circumstance and hence am preparing, with that change of circumstance, to setting myself a budget and begin the acquisition of new equipment.

As I have stated on other occasions I have, for over a quarter of a century, been a user of N-Scale Code 55 rail and track, first from Rail Craft and currently from Micro Engineering; I have not had to purchase any track for over ten years–that was when I began construction of that last layout which I found it necessary to scrap over two years ago. Despite having made few purchases of late I have, however, been cognizant to the increase of prices over these last few years–slight in some circumstances; abrupt in others. If memory serves me correctly my first couple of cases of Rail Craft’s N-Scale unweathered track, purchased circa 1983, cost about $16.00 per case. The most recent

82

Hi again…for the third time on this post,

Yes some of you have find a way to have better price, but often that mean big order.

I think you could obtain better price if you work whith always the same hobby shop; it’s a win/win deal.

Second try to make a group of buyer.

One thing I highly recommend is to make order whith all friend togheter; you make big order which can flavor cheaper price.

I use this way more and more to obtain affordable price on mass needed products like scenery materials, flextrack, switch machines, even on plywood, hardware, everything you need

We are in the way, friends of mine, a group of 11 people to order switch machines; we are beating between Tortoises one and Hankcraft display motors (switchmaster).

I need myself a batch of 150 motors and all togheter we reach 500 motors.

You can beleive the price offered by some dealers, I don’t understand where they can win money, but all benefit for us!

Some people of my group are asking for an order of infrared detectors for signal position, we are in the way to obtain more than a 15% discount of on the normal price.

We need a lot of plywood, we go all to the same wood supplier, 7% discount on all wood furnitures.

Speaking about layout, of course if you are building a big one you could have better price because of the quantities of material needed.

But even if your layout is small, try to make big order when it’s possible; call your modeler friend, or try an help from your hobby shop by giving him “the exclusivity” of all your order; you can obtain subsequent discounts.

In the industry there are a lot of “group buyer” so they obtain better price, do the same whith friends and you could obtain