In the Lionel 2007 Train Catalog, Volume 2, page 216, the price of a single 10 inch section of Fastrack is listed at $4.19, which works out to $16.76 for four. The same page also shows a 4-pack of the same track for $17.99. Whadda bargain! [:)]
Disclaimer: this post is not intended to bash anyone’s favorite toy train company, or to start a flame war. I just found it amusing.
bf;
I noticed that and it is true with some other multi-paks as well. I just thought my mind was playing tricks with me.
Mel Hazen; Jax, FL
I think that “bargain” has been in effect for the last few catalogs. I know I’ve seen it before and said “what the…”?
the 4-pack comes in a cardboard box with styrofoam packing…
The track packs have all the retail packaging included. The siding pack, figure 8 pack, passing siding / outside loop pack, all cost more than their components.
I bought just the 5" pieces and the 90 degree x-over when we expanded the PE last spring(we were already top heavy w/ curves & straights). Had the figure 8 pack actually been less than the individual components, I would have bought more track from a Lionel dealer…
In most retail applications, the intention of “packages” is to sell more product, not less, like Lionel is doing.
Rob
maybe we need to email Lionel
This is a familiar ploy you often see in marketing because people have a bias in thinking larger amounts and multipacks should be cheaper.
Has anyone noticed how often the large Sam’s club pack is actually the same per unit cost or even higher than Wallyworlds smaller packages? As a consumer, we must always be on guard.
Jim H
Well folks it’s really nothing new at all. The Lionel corp. sold track that way in the 50s, the one that I get a kick out of is a lockon with two coils of wire in it. talk about mark up.
You really can’t go by the price in the catologs anyway. If you look nobody really charges that price anyway.