Buying a locomotive on sale

[Rene Schweitzer]

How do you buy your locomotives--right away, on sale, wait until they're clearanced out?

[Anonymous]

Hi Rene:

I guess I have changed. I use to have to buy each new 1:20 scale B-mann locos right as they came out, or several. Then I sold them all off, and only have a few "picked" LGB locos and I don't think I will be buying any more for some time, except maybe the new B-mann Shay when it comes out. So anything I buy now will have to be on a blow out sale.

[Anonymous]

Hi Rene
I WAIT FOR IT TO GO ON SALE, UNLESS, IT'S ONE I SAW A PICTURE OF AND I LIKED IT. I KEEP WATCHING THE GARDEN RAIL ROAD MAGAZINE, FOR NEW TRAINS, AND CARS, THEIR ARE SOME GOOD DEALERS IN IT, I LIKE HERSHEY G SCALE WHEN I CAN GET IT . I RETIRED FRON THEIR. BEN --OF--PENNA.[:D]

[cacole]

I learned through membership in an HO-scale club to wait for sales instead of being the first kid on the block with the latest and greatest locomotives. After six months or so of a new locomotive release, prices start to drop as the market begins to get saturated and demand decreases. I can sometimes save enough to add a sound decoder and have the locomotive cost no more, overall, than its original price.

[Anonymous]

Hi Rene
Dosn't make any difference too me brand new full price sale price or second or more hand or even custom build.
If I haven't got the money I don't get it
Just as well I got the ones I have when I did.
I dont think I will be buying too many more have to build that railway extention first badly over crowded as it is now, then more stock but no locomotives unless I can afford ones that don't need track power tried it liked it but that regulator can get hot
[:D]
regards John

[bman36]

Hi Rene,
Won't pay retail....sooooo I always wait. Having the funds on hand sure does help too. Clearance / blowouts are hard to resist sometimes. The farther I can make my money go the better!!! Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

I am of the school that waits, I find that saving for a locomotive provides, not only a sence of having accomplished a goal; but allows all the benefits of waiting for the martket to "cool down."

My father gave me some good advice about automobiles that applies here, never by from the first run of a car. It might be full of bugs. Waiting a while and checking a forum such as this offsets problems and allows "marketshare trouleshooting." We seem friendly enought here to steer eachother away from trouble and out of problems. [4:-)]

I am also fo the school that locomotives should be "first hand," or from a reliable second hand. This insures that any problems I buy are my own. [2c]

[Curmudgeon]

You don't have enough choices in the poll questions.
One of the questions should be "Do I wait until the problems with first run have been isolated and fixes implemented?"
Gauge issues, gearbox issues, wheel issues, plastics isues.
I know a guy who writes reviews for specific products in GR, so far every one has needed something, second runs have fixed a couple from the factory.
But, if there aren't enough purchasers first run, there won't BE a second run.
It's always helpful to know the market indicators used by the manufacturers to cut production.
I know for the first Shay, when a certain discounter dropped their price to their cost, the last 6,000 of the first batch were cancelled.

TOC

[Anonymous]

I wait until I have the money.This is why I have hardly any trains.However,I point out all the nice features to my Dad[:D]and then go and play with His one!!
He is bringing his "shay" down this weekend to see if it fits with my logging wagons.Hopefully He'll buy me some extra track so we can make it move as well[;)]

[Anonymous]

I wait until Ive paid a bit off the plastic, ( the last shipment ). But I model 1:24- LGB or B-mann, but love diesels so I have to wait a while for those to be released. Im also limited to what suppliers have that ship to New Zealand, all this providing the WIFE says I can.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

All my locos were bought on sale. I have been selling a few and still have ten on hand. As my interests change I will probably sell a few more or try converting them to 7/8 scale.

I like standard gauge but not enough to model that..... 3' narrow gauge makes me smile so this is what I've been building for the last ten years..... but tramways of 2' gauge or less stir my sole so I am moving in that direction.

OLD DAD

[Anonymous]

I only have one train set. I got that one because the price was right. I will not purchase another one until the layout is finished. At that time it will probably be a sale item. Construction continues.

[vsmith]

This is kind of a tricky question ... I never buy new and I cant afford to pay full retail so i'm always bargain hunting. Sometimes i have money but cant afford to use it for trains, sometimes I find a deal but have no ca***o spare, and just occasionally i have some spare cash and I find a good deal...thats when I will buy. [8D]

[Anonymous]

Every time I go into the local store I see something that I want and just now and then I give in and buy it. Lately all my purchases have been track, except for a Bachmann 'Rio Grande' box car. The UK model shops tend not to have sales but now and then you find soemthing that has been sticking has got a few pounds knocked off. I was amazed at the Aristo offer of getting a free train engineer receiver by sending in your receipt, mine is on its way! A guy I buy from in Scotland has an Aristo, Union Pacific FA1,FB1,FA1 on sale at £285-00.........I'm tempted, oh I'm so tempted.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

I am also fo the school that locomotives should be "first hand," or from a reliable second hand. This insures that any problems I buy are my own. [2c]

That statement is toooo true!
I bought from a friend quite alot he was going through the Big D and he did not want her to have his trains which he had all his life almost.
So he sold to a newbie (me), which I was quite proud and honored to be thought of.

[Anonymous]

I bought two undecorated Aristo SD-45's on eBay for way less than half retail. Both are new, in the box, bought from the same dealer. Both run great. Also--spend $200 at Wholesale Trains, join the club (free), and get an average 9 % discount on purchases. Happy railroading
Walter

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by walter42646

I bought two undecorated Aristo SD-45's on eBay for way less than half retail. Both are new, in the box, bought from the same dealer. Both run great. Also--spend $200 at Wholesale Trains, join the club (free), and get an average 9 % discount on purchases. Happy railroading
Walter

Thanks for the heads up Walter [:)]

[Anonymous]

Remember the Bachmass Shay and their problems? Those who waited got the benefit of improved technology.

[Gary Crawley]

It,s like marriage, you can look, you can dream but when it comes to owning I get approvoval from the minister of war and finance. (wife)
I feel that if it,s what you want and you don,t have to sell your first born child then go for it.
I have pr-ordered the new B-Man shay from Wholesale trains, seems to be good value as we in Australia take ages to get any G-scale stuff and believe me it is expensive.
Like life, you make the choice and stick to it
Gary

[Anonymous]

Hi Gary[#welcome]
Enjoy that Shay when it arrives mate, hope you enjoy the forum.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

I have to pay at least halve as much again for US built rolling stock in the UK, this means I have to save for longer or see what turns up on the second hand market.
The one advantage is that because I am forced to wait other buyer test and review the equipment and I am better imformed as to long term reliability.

Trevor Harvey, Berkshire,UK.

[Anonymous]

Trevor, [#welcome], another Brit!!

You've come on board a great forum. Hope you enjoy.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Trevor, hi, [#welcome], another Brit!

Enjoy the forum mate, great guys!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

My God.Another British person.[#welcome][wow]
Well Kim,that's three of us.
Do you now think we have sufficient numbers to force the UK G scale market to lower their prices to the US affordable (and I really mean affordable ) prices.[;)]
Troy

[Anonymous]

Troy, Trevor, great idea. If we pool our resources we can force the market into massive discounts. Or, start our own import business - should manage 3 or 4 locos per year!
Next year we can have our own Denver show in a garden shed somewhere!
Deep joy,
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]