The Polar Express

[Anonymous]

It's very true that nobody can predict what will become a "hot" collectible. Only the overall market can determine that, and only over a significant period of time. What one person chooses to collect is strictly a personal decision. If enough other folks seek those same items, then you have the core of a collector market for that item or group of items. But individual tastes and desires change over time, and what may seem like a "hot" collectible today may not have much value--intrinsic or otherwise--to others in the future.

That's why it's best to simply collect what appeals to you, regardless of what others choose to do. Perhaps someday you'll find yourself sitting on a collection that everybody and their brother wants. Then again, you may be the only person on the planet with such a collection (a noteworthy goal in itself).

These Polar Express sets will likely be available in plentiful quantities (assuming that the folks at Lionel have done their homework), and most items deemed to be truly collectible--again over time--tend to be those that are somewhat scarce, or which tended to be ignored by the consumer at the time of their initial release. Items made and marketed as "collectibles," and which may tend to be gobbled-up by people who buy into that sort of promotion, generally suffer the same fate as any other item. Virtually nothing made and marketed as a "collectible" ever proves to to really be one.

If the Polar Express Set appeals to you, then by all means purchase the set. But to do so because you feel it's destined to become a highly sought-after collectible would be a big mistake, and probably lead to some significant disappointment down the road.

[Anonymous]

just another hype. things become collector items because no one buys them when they first come out. than 25 years later,people say ,"what ever happened to that,wish i saved it."that's when it becomes a collectors item. if everyone ran out & bought a Canadian pacific f3 when it first came out,i doubt it would be worth that much now. I hear beenie babies are a dime a dosen now. i'l just fini***he book.

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll,

Your right. In the furture I will be a great cllectors item some day. So ya'll think about that and get them while you can.

Nick

[ChiefEagles]

I think everyone in the family will enjoy [movie, book, and train]. I preordered one to make sure that one would be available. I figured it would be a "sell out". Will become a real collectors item years from now. My grandkids will brag about the Polar Express that Gramps passed down to them.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Baby Buckeye can't wait to get her (yes that is correct) Polar Express Set, see the movie and have the book read again this Christmas. It was a gotta have it mentality on her part.[:)]

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

Well, I usually go by CTT reveiws, so I will wait ti'll the reveiw appears, before making any purchases. You right about the popularity of the set. A very reliable source told me that My local Hobby Shop has had so many orders for the set, that If it goes well, he might keep the store and run it instead of letting someone else. The set looks great, and I think Gentlmen, that this is lionel's greatest product since After the Postwar peiriod. I think that you will all agree

Nick

[3railguy]

It does look like a real bargain but we won't know for sure until we actually run them. My hopes are it is a good running set and they offer more schemes in the future at the same price.

[Bob Keller]

I didn't catch the question directed out way.

Although we'll have some special coverage, if we're lucky we'll get the set in time for the March issue (January is all complete).

One dealer I spoke to last week said that preorders for the Polar Express set were the largest he'd ever had (and he is a very large retailer out west), and he said he'd been told that Lionel had twice as many sets ordered that they'd expected).

It could be the hottest set ever offered in O gauge (this may be what the thread on promoting the hobby needs to see).

[MartyE]

Release date was to be August and is now September. That is the latest.

[Anonymous]

No, the release date hasn't been shifted, to the best of my knowledge. It was always due to be released in late October or early November--I don't recall the exact date. In any event, the release was originally scheduled for just a short time before the release of the film. However, Lionel has, on occasion, made some items available before their scheduled date, so I wouldn't be terribly surprised if this set was out before the end of this month, or early next month. Your "train lady's" information may be more up-to-date than mine.

[ChiefEagles]

Allan, has it been moved back more? It was suppose to be out in August. Three weeks ago, my "train lady" said September. ??????

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

Thank you for clearing that up

Nick

[Anonymous]

Just to clear up what appears to be a bit of confusion: The Polar Express Set has not yet been released. It is scheduled to be available shortly before the debut of the film. The film itself debuts in November.

[Anonymous]

Actually, I was aware that it was a book. One of my favourite childrens books to. I read this book to my sisters class every year. I have seen this set for sale in many magazine ads in CTT The recent one anyway. I understand the reveiwing circumstances and respect them totaly. It would be a good product to reveiw and have a video of the reveiw like the product before it.

Nick

[MartyE]

Here is a preproduction from the TCA convention.

[spankybird]

CTT can't do a review until Lionel makes the train and send it to CTT for review.

Bigger question is, will Lionel make the train before the movie is out [?][:D]

[BigJim]

May I take a guess that you didn't know it was a book either?

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll


Since Lionels Realease of their Polar Express, I did a little reasearch. I had no Idea that it was a new movie when I read the catolog. I thought It had been realeased long ago, but after seen Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanon the day it was released, I saw the trailer and it completeley changed my notions about the movie. I plan to purchase Lionel's set to have to run when my grandfather's freind and I put up a train display when our church has festlvals and the like. If you want more info on the movie, go to yahoo and type in The Polar Express and up at the top, you will see a poster for the movie, click on the words next to it and you can see the theatrical trailer and the teaser trailer. Or, just type in www.polarexpressmovie.com and you will find more.

Nick


P:S: Does Clasic Toy Trains Magazine plan on revieiwing this set before the movie opens November 10?