Is the cost of model railroading out of reach for most?

[csxns]

Got two of the SD70MAC,s Kato by mail order 209.00 dollars for the two and i called the LHS today and ask how much his were and they are 129.95 for one.

[vsmith]

To toss in my [2c]

The primary reason I wont ever build an HO layout in the near (or far) future is lack of SPACE.

Now granted I am older and have no desire to build a 4x8 plywood empire, my G scale Micro-layout at 8 x 10 does that in spades! But for me to do what I REALLY want to do, Los Angeles-1939, would require a HUGE room 50' square or more likely 75' square. I dont have that and never will, I dont another small layout and wont ever build another one. Enough about my selfish desires but...

The SPACE issue is another BIG deterent to drawing new hobbiest. Lets face it, most people dont have or are unwilling to make space for a model RR. If you live in an apartment you know how tight it can be. Most of us dont have basements or spare rooms to devote to a layout and even the ubiquitous 4x8 layout can quickly become a White Elephant if its in the way. RC planes and cars can be stored on shelfs, computer games are no bigger than video cassettes. We are a SPACE DEPENTANT hobby.

[Don Gibson]

WE buy what we can afford - and WANT.
There is more variety today - and price points - then ever before. At one time an Athearn engine was $10 and bought with 1960 dollars. TODAY you can buy a
starter set (engine, cars, track, transformer) for $100 dollars (a $10 equivalent using dollars vs.Gold.).

Can't afford a TRIX? neither can I. What did your computer cost?

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

WE buy what we can afford - and WANT.

Can't afford a TRIX? neither can I. What did your computer cost?

Yeah, but a TRIX can only drain a checking account - not balance, reconcile, analyze, and pay bills with it.

Would you be on this forum if you didn't have a computer? Hum, maybe it's not quite the luxury item you imply it is?

[Don Gibson]

Originally posted by MAbruce

QUOTE: Would you be on this forum if you didn't have a computer? Hum, maybe it's not quite the luxury item you imply it is?

I didn't "imply" anything. There are NEEDS and WANTS. We don't always want what we need, or need what we want. The latter covers Model Railroading.
Regarding WANTS: We generally have to reach for what want. Some of us just stretch a little further .

QUOTE: I am going to take this question as it relates to the general public, not the model railroading community in itself (of which it is an issue, but not as sizeable).

The answer is a big YES. However, I agree that this hobby has always been expensive. But I also think there are factors today that make the cost issue bigger than ever.

Things in this hobby are going pretty good for MRR manufactures right now. The “Baby Boom” generation (by far the largest current segment of the MRR population) is at a point where most have significant disposable income to spend on a hobby. But I think this only a temporary situation. In about ten years, this generation will start to pass in greater numbers and it will have a profound impact on the MRR population. Even if this hobby attracts a record number of new people, it’s going to be a huge challenge to replace the numbers that the baby boomers represent today. And what do you think will happen with their vast collections of loco’s and rolling stock when they pass? Estate sales and ebay. Double jeopardy for MRR manufacturers: A rapidly declining MRR customer base and a wealth of cheap second hand goods to compete with.

Another factor playing against this hobby is today's culture. Trains are not as widely visible as they were in the baby boom childhood days, so more and more young people these days just can’t relate to them. Add to this something that “orsonroy” observed in his post:
While this post was primarily an argument about how expenses have increased for everything, it also effectively illustrates something about today’s competing hobbies. Sure, DVD’s and play station games are not exactly cheap, but they are selling far better. Why? Because they appeal far better to our instant gratification culture. These hobbies are truly “RTR”. Hobbies like ours are not as appealing because besides cost, they require a significant investment of time and effort. So when people consider a $24 DVD or a $24 RTR freight car, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to guess which will win out a majority of the time.

This is where I think cost is now hurting more than ever. Model railroading is a tough enough “sell” for younger people these days, but it becomes more so when it matches (and sometimes exceeds) the cost of rival hobbies. I still think it’s easy to get kids interesting in model railroading. It’s what happens when they (or their parents) walk into a hobby shop and look over the prices that will undo their initial interest: Classic sticker shock. While it’s going to be the same sticker shock they will get when looking at video game systems, I think the video games win out because they get more out of them sooner (little assembly required). You can try to sell the virtue of the satisfaction they will get in building a model railroad, but it’s going to be an uphill battle unless you have something else to “sell” them on. I think that key selling point has to be lower cost.

So in this time of increasing prices and limited runs, I think that MRR manufacturers had better be careful. The market may be ripe today to support these pricing strategies, but it’s not going to last too much longer. Time is ticking away for the baby boomers, and the generations behind them are not going to be as willing to put out nearly as much cash when they will get quality used equipment for pennies on the dollar when the estate sales pick up.

I think you may be intoxicated with the exhuberance of your own verbosity.

[bcammack]

As I always say, when you can't refute, critique and maybe nobody will notice the difference. [:)]

[mikebonellisr]

In the case of TRIX, they have surpassed what I'm willing/able to pay for a plastic engine.Yes they are beautiful and I hear they run well...But the price is too high for me.
My buying BLI is a little stretch for me but I'm more selective as to which of thier new engines I'd invest in.BUT it does seem that they have a market.

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

Originally posted by MAbruce

QUOTE: Would you be on this forum if you didn't have a computer? Hum, maybe it's not quite the luxury item you imply it is?

I didn't "imply" anything.

Here you go again Don. I think you need to look again at what you wrote:

QUOTE: Can't afford a TRIX? neither can I. What did your computer cost?

Just a suggestion. If you don’t intend to make implications, then perhaps you should stop actually making them.

QUOTE: I think you may be intoxicated with the exhuberance of your own verbosity.

That may be, but I thinking you're just plain intoxicated!

Great, now you've spread your cantankerous nature to me! Maybe it's time for me to get intoxicated along with you. Got any extra beers? [:P] [:-,]

[Don Gibson]

My QUOTE:

QUOTE: Can't afford a TRIX? neither can I. What did your computer cost?

: was addressed to a complainer about the "High Cost" of the Hobby.

IMPLICATION: I say if you have a computer, bought some peripherals or additional software (and pay $15 -$25mo. to be on the Internet), Complaining about the "high cost" of this hobby is 'barking up the wrong tree'.

I guess you could say I'm being contrarian to your premise - but using far fewer words to do it. . - No implication

CHEERS! and woof woof!

[darth9x9]

It's the same with most any hobby.... not enough money and not enough time.

BC

[rogerhensley]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

IMPLICATION: I say if you have a computer, bought some peripherals or additional software (and pay $15 -$25mo. to be on the Internet), Complaining about the "high cost" of this hobby is 'barking

Bad example. My first computer was an Acer XT with a 20 meg hard drive, a 360k floppy and 640k of memory and an amber monitor. I paid $1495 US for it. My current system is an HP with a 20GIG hard drive, 128meg of memory, a CD drive and a 1.44 meg floppy and a Super VGA monitor. I paid $695 US for it. I now get more system for far less than 15 years ago.

At that rate, an Athearn Blue Box kit should cost 50 to 75 cents and a R-T-R about $2.50.

The cost of Model Railroading is out of balance when compared to compters. Try automobiles for a better example. :-)

[bcammack]

Even more startling analogy, Roger, is that a Rolls Royce would go 1000MPH, get 300MPG and cost about $1000 if cars followed the same cost/performance trend as computers. [:)]