What was the last Model Railroad Comercial You've Seen from a Manufacturer?

[ksax73]

I was thinking,

You never see TV Commercials for model railroad manufacturers. The last one I can remember was a commercial from Bachmann when they introduced thier EZ track (around 1996/97 I think) and it was only once.

I've seen thier stuff sold on QVC occasionaly as well. Other than that, I haven't seen any Commercials for Model Railroading.

What was the last MRRing commercial you remember and when?

[mikebonellisr]

The same here, a bachmann commercial.It was a few years ago,but I could'nt tell you how many.I do know that commercial time is very expensive.

[Fergmiester]

Maybe Lionel years ago, or was that Gomez Addams? No I'm pretty sure it was Lionel.

For a market that complains about growth problems it's no wonder. There's a very limited marketing strategy.

Fergie

[Anonymous]

The only commercials I remember seeing for ANY hobby is RC commercials during the RC program on one of the outdoor channels. I've also seen commercials for hobby shops chains and they mention model railroading. Don't you suppose most hobbies each have a rather small niche to make tv advertising feasible or profitable? I've never seen commercials about building plastic models, water color paints, coin collecting, etc. Be reasonable, guys.

m

[Anonymous]

Most model railroad manufacturers are small companies who could never afford a decent television campaign. Even for Bachman, or Athearn, or some of the biggies it would be a gross waste of resources. Television is a true mass medium reaching all kinds of people. How many of them are prospective model railroader? Percentage wise, very few. In the audience for Alias for example, what percentage of the viewers are model railroaders. It may very well be less than 1%, but the advertiser still has to pay the rate to reach ALL those people, including the 99% who will never explore the hobby. Money spent on media which targets the modeling community makes much more sense economically. Here in the Kansas City market, for example, it takes at least $4000 per month to make an impact on RADIO. And that's just ONE metropolitan area. The big mass media are not profitable for highly specialized advertisers.

How do I know? 30 years in the broadcast business before going into insurance.

Cheers,

[Anonymous]

I saw one during December for Hornby - they seem to get one out every year around that time. I remember being amused by the prices mentioned - "from 83p to £200" (or thereabouts) - what they don't tell you is that the 83p part is probably either a buffer stop or a pack of track pins!

[Anonymous]

I got to thinkin'...I was at Papa Ben's in Houston the other day, and I THINK I heard a customer come in and say he saw their ad on tv. Any of you guys from Houston able to verify that? If so, that's pretty bold, and also tells you how good their business is.


m

[vsmith]

Last one I remember on TV was years and years ago, a Tyco commercial for their Absolutely Horrible "Chattanooga Choo Choo" set, the one that had the powertrain in the tender? Even had a cover of the old song, but boy that was a lame trainset, part of Tyco's last gasps before vaporizing...

[trolleyboy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Last one I remember on TV was years and years ago, a Tyco commercial for their Absolutely Horrible "Chattanooga Choo Choo" set, the one that had the powertrain in the tender? Even had a cover of the old song, but boy that was a lame trainset, part of Tyco's last gasps before vaporizing...

They didn't vaporize they just melted away in a large puff of ozone![xx(][xx(] I don't think I've ever seen a TV commersial for anything hobby related. The only mrr'ing commersials that I have been witness to are a LHS"S anual Christmas sale radio commersials but at most you would hear them once an hour for about two days before the sale.[;)][swg] TB

[jabrown1971]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Last one I remember on TV was years and years ago, a Tyco commercial for their Absolutely Horrible "Chattanooga Choo Choo" set, the one that had the powertrain in the tender? Even had a cover of the old song, but boy that was a lame trainset, part of Tyco's last gasps before vaporizing...

Twenty some odd years ago. The one I remember was Tyco too, but it was for The Silver Streak set. Came with the operating piggyback unloader and "night glow" action. Wow, no wonder Tyco couldn't compete. They are still in the RC business though

[Anonymous]

I'm with "jabrown1971" in that the last (and only) model (more like ... toy) railroad commercial I've seen was also for the "Silver Streak" by Tyco. It was the better part of thirty years ago. I was about 8 years old when that came out and I wanted one in the worst way. I got it for Christmas, and outgrew it by February, by which time I was already into "real" model railroading. I don't have any idea what happened to that set (except that it never really worked well), but I did get interested in a fun, lifelong hobby because of it.

[jabrown1971]

jdavid-I was to ashamed to admit that I got one

[Anonymous]

I would have been ashamed, too, except that's what got me into this hobby!

[jabrown1971]

Was like a third trainset, actually I thought the night glow strips were pretty neat. Turn off the lights and watch en glow. Pretty cool for a 10 year old. I too don't know what happened to any of the set, but of all the things I wish I still had it would have to be the Alco locomotive that came with the set. Can't by them now and wish I could upgrade it.

[Anonymous]

[#ditto]
As a kid, I thought the glow in the dark feature was cool. Then I went to see a real model railroad in action about two weeks later, realized that what I had was just a toy, learned about Athearn products, authenticity, detail, flywheels, block wiring, etc., etc.!!!

[jabrown1971]

It is a different world when you move to the "real" trains. looking back now, it started me off, but moving up was more fun.

[TurboOne]

Tim here, gotta be different again. Here in San Diego, this Christmas, we have many hobby shops ads on TV. Lots of R/C cars, and some planes. Also quite a few Thomas the train ads for many different store. And are you ready, Reeds Hobby Shop in La Mesa, CA. They showed trains running, and its a train only store. All gauges from z to G. And it ran quite a few times on different stations. Later at night but it ran. They do have a good selection there.

Also we have a craft store that carrys a pretty good selection of HO and G gauge trains, running bimonthly ads in the comic section on Sunday, in their part of San Diego.

Tim

[tatans]

MRR is a very, very limited category, it all boils down to exposing their product only to avenues where MRR people may see them, (not a bad idea) conversley, would a company that makes water tap parts advertise in a beauty products magazine, not likely, and I'm sure they can't afford to buy ad time on Oprah. It's all bucks out there now !

[grayfox1119]

QVC back at Christmas time, 2000

***

[willy6]

When Moby *** was a minnow.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

MRR is a very, very limited category, it all boils down to exposing their product only to avenues where MRR people may see them, (not a bad idea) conversley, would a company that makes water tap parts advertise in a beauty products magazine, not likely, and I'm sure they can't afford to buy ad time on Oprah. It's all bucks out there now !

Exactly!!! You've got it!!! The water tap guy advertises where plumbers or do it yourselfers will see it. I sell auto insurance (among other things) so I advertise in a little "throw away" paper that is distributed to quick change oil outlets and left out for customers to look at while they wait for the oil change to be done. It's called targeting and it's the only strategy the little guy can afford.

[ericsp]

I have never see a model railroad company commercial. I did hear commercials for Hobbytown USA back in mid-December.

[Anonymous]

Back in the mid 1960's my Grandmother told me we were going to pay some bills and we got into a cab and went to Cincinnati Gas and Electric's main office. It was the annual Christmas time display of model trains. That is the greatest advertising any hobby could hope for. It was not long after seeing that disply that I got my first train set. I took my grandaughter to see the display last month and that got me thinking about building another layout.

[boomer5344]

A looooooooong time ago!

I remember the Johnny Cash-Lionel commercial touting the "mighty sound of steam" in the early 70's. Can't remember any electric train commercials since.

Boomer

[ericboone]

Does anybody remember the advertisements for the Tyco "Super Train"? The "Super Train" was more like a slot car set than a train set. If I remember correctly, it climbed walls and jumped.

[TurboOne]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericboone

Does anybody remember the advertisements for the Tyco "Super Train"? The "Super Train" was more like a slot car set than a train set. If I remember correctly, it climbed walls and jumped.

I remember a train that climbed walls. By the time I saved my allowance to get it, there wasn't anymore. Guess it didn't wall climb very well.

Tim

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

I have never see a model railroad company commercial. I did hear commercials for Hobbytown USA back in mid-December.

I saw a commercial for Hobbytown USA on the TV after I wrote this. There were no trains in it through.