Question for Bob Keller

[prewardude]

Hi Bob,

Just wondered if you plan to review Lionel's Acela for the mag? Judging from the photos I've seen of the production model, it looks like Lionel got it right. It'll be fascinating to see if everything works as advertised!

Regards,
Clint

[Bob Keller]

Unless Lionel ships us one for review (and we haven't received anything from them for review since 2004) I'd say the odds are against it - but don't let me close the door. anything might happen.

[prewardude]

Bummer. I guess we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed that a miracle happens. [:(]

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ogaugeoverlord

Unless Lionel ships us one for review (and we haven't received anything from them for review since 2004) I'd say the odds are against it - but don't let me close the door. anything might happen.

that strikes me as odd. Lionel is an industry leader, CTT is a leading industry journal. I can't imagine why they wouldn't be sending you one of everything. It is certainly not an unusual practice for manufacturers to send sample products to journals for review.

Do you guys pursue it, or just review items that show up?

[ben10ben]

You know, I was just thinking the other day about how sparse the Lionel reviews had been lately compared to the MTH reviews. It seems like there are hardly ever any high-end Lionel engines reviewed anymore. I completely understand CTT not reviewing them, as it would be asking too much for them to go out and buy ever $1000+ engine that Lionel releases in a year.

It still suprises me, though, that they would miss out on the oppourtunity for free advertising.

[Bob Keller]

All the manufacturers know that they just need to send something in to get it reviewed.

Regarding Lionel, for most of the 10 years I've been at CTT, we would receive an order form for each catalog and request specific items to review. We would get maybe 50% of what I selected, but we'd get something. This was often supplemented by personal puchases that either Neil or I made for our own use.

They could also send whatever they might like for either product news (as in freight cars) or review (locomotives and accessories). We shoot it, review it and ship it back. That stopped with the management change, and while we've spoken to Lionel staffers at York and received positive feedback that yes, this was important to them, I guess they don't feel they need the publicity. Thats fine. Its their call.

As for the other guys, If it is new, Atlas sends us one. MTH selects items, I'll check the list and request additional pieces. With Weaver or Williams, when they have something new, they'll either ship it or call before shipping, or I'll request something. S-Helper is great, and American Models responds very promptly to requests. For the last three years it seems like K-Line shipped us anything and everything they made. They certainly understood that you can't get in the magazine, if we don't have a product to test.

We do have a small budget to buy things for review, but if I have to buy Lionel products to review, I'd rather spread it around and buy multiple things like less expensive diesels or operating cars and accessories our readers can actually get, rather than shoot it all, getting a high end item that is already sold out at the manufacturer.

Normally, between what I want to test and what the manufacturers want us to test, it all works out.

[Frank53]

Sounds like there is a little, for lack of a better phrase, "bad blood".

If Lionel had a PR department worth a flip they would be sending items regularly. It's not like parting with one review item is going to break their budget, and I am surprised to hear stuff gets sent back after review. I guess just giving it to the mag might be perceived as payola or some such nonsense.

They ought to sit down with you folks and make nice. It wouldn't hurt their business, or yours.

[prewardude]

Let's face it: Lionel management still has a way to go before they're back to where they were under Maddox. They aren't advertising in CTT (I don't know about the other mag), and they aren't sending in any products for review. This newest catalog is the first one in a while to actually generate some interest (and some tinplate [:)]). From what I've been reading on the 'Net, their quality control has been a bit lacking (CW-80 anyone?).

This Acela "fiasco" just proves my point: Not sending in their most groundbreaking train since the 700E Hudson for review in the most popular magazine in the industry is just plain incompetance on Lionel's part. Can you imagine the interest this train will generate, if everything on it works properly? Let's just hope that when they get their act completely back together, they keep their management in place for a while. They aren't getting anywhere by firing people every couple of years.

Regards,
Clint

[jimhaleyscomet]

From what little I understand, the Acela is already sold out as far as Lionel is concerned. Why go through the expense of lending one out? I say this in jest, but perhaps it just does not make economic sense.

As for never submitting anything else.......perhaps they figure a review will not help sell product. Seems crazy but it really does not surprise me when I look at how little marketing they do. For example, I was very surprised they did not have a Lionel Ad before the Polar Express. Perhaps folks who saw the movie would know that Lionel still existed. And yet they did not and people still say "Lionel still makes trains?"

It seems they are still living off the marketing done in the 1940's and 1950's. Why submit product for reveiew if all your marketing was completed by 1965?

Jim H

[Anonymous]

With Lionel in bankruptcy there are many controlling factors and in my experience PR is not one of them---rightly or wrongly the lawyers and accountants are focused on the route to survival. And, the bankruptcy referee is the traffic cop on that route.[:(]

[crip]

Maybe they should spend millions for a 30 second spot on the STUPID BOWL so everyone forgets it two weeks later!