So yesterday at Mendards I buy the Lionel RTR WI Central passenger train set and as I’m in the checkout lane, the woman behind me asks “What size is the train”. I tell her its O-scale, but that doesn’t help. I fumbled for some words and used my hands to approximate size and assured her that it would fit under a Christmas tree, but I’m sure that if I had a nice, simple answer to her question, she might have purchased the set. So, what’s the right answer to this simple question when trying to explain to someone not familiar with toy trains.
Boy did that hit home!!! I have talked to a small LHS that has time and time again mentioned that the packaging of Lionel/MTH trains does not help sales. People want to see the engines and cars. Many of the HO sets are packaged so that you can see what is inside the box.
This particular LHS tries to display a set with box open.
I guess you did the best you could, if someone knows nothing about trains,saying Lionel size is not going to help.
That’s a great point Buckeye I had not recognized. If they could display even just the engine or if the packaging lent itself to seeing the contents then no need for words, it would sell itself.
I’m not so sure. The HO packaging is a major problem at Hobby Lobby - they actually take the engines out and display them in a locked cabinet - because of so many theft issues.
Frankly, I just say the magic word … Lionel . and instantly people of a certain age have or at least seem to have an idea of what I am talking about - a gigantic change from when I practiced in the smaller scales.
True, at my local hobby shop if yu say lionel they knnow exactly what yuor talking about. but if they dont the only thing that works for me… is to find someone else.
OK, look at his/her feet. Normal size? Tell them the freight cars are about the size of their shoe (O-27). If it’s a woman with small feet (5-6) tell her that’s about the size of a caboose. If it’s a guy with 13 E’s its the size of a standard diesel loco (Geep/F unit).
BTW, most of the ready to run sets are O-Gauge not O-Scale but either term is meaningless if you aren’t already familiar with the hobby. Telling them it’s 1/48 isn’t much better. Maybe comparing them to Dept 56 or Lemax ceramic buildings would work better. I like the shoes because most people have feet and keep them with them for easy reference.[;)]
I agree with comparing them to the Dept 56 and Lemax buildings. How about twice the size of HO?
Kurt
I just got back from the local Target, and there was an end-cap with 2 Lionel train sets, expansion packs of track, and hats. Both sets had a fold-up front, and dispayed the engine/tender or engine/passenger car behind what I assume to be clear cellophane. No question of the trains size packaged like that.
NAW!!! Keep it original! All the postwar accessories, train sets, and seperate sale items didnt have the plastic windows! [swg] Perhaps having a train or two on display would help sales…
Sorry but some did and in fact some had a piece that would tear out persay to display.
Back to the original question you may have tried to answer in the point that O-27 trains are basiclly 1:43 scale in other words it would take 43 of these in height to equal the hight and same with with and legnth if that help mam . Also this is the size that 8 years old and older can handle the best and work with as HO and n is usually kinda small for them to handle and G is too big in most cases. This is the size most folks had when we were growing up that they put around the christmas tree. (yes I know people that did ho but I remember most having O/O-27)
I’m skeptical that describing O-gauge trains by length is a good idea. There’s not much difference in length between many O-gauge toy pieces and HO scale pieces. For example, a 90-foot HO boxcar is over a foot long, longer than many O boxcars. Width might be a better measure for this purpose.
Ladies size 6, mens size 12
I like your answer Chuck. There I was standing in a home improvement store with thousands of items nearby and I couldn’t come up with anything as a reference that I felt she would relate too. Shoes would’ve not only provided a good approximation, but a great conversation starter. Oh well. I also sent an email off to Lionel just to get their take on packaging. I’ll share any response I get from them.
“Ma’am, this is a Lionel. To you and me these trains are 10 or 12 inches long. To a youngster, they’re bigger than life.”