Union Pacific and are Money

[mls1621]

Big_Boy_4005,

The Kato add on the back inside cover of the April MR lists their new GE AC4400 at $150 MSRP, $155 for UP.

Their BethGon Coalporter 8-car sets are listed for $105/set, $109 for UP.

I'm glad I've already got all the motive power and rolling stock fo my N scale layout.

I don't begrudge them licensing their name and logo, but I'm still glad my roster is complete.

[Anonymous]

I knew that the UP charged what could be considered "royalties" for it's logo and paint schemes, but I didn't know that they charged that much. I though that they might use the money to stage the monopolistic takeover of yet another railroad. I'll never forgive them for what they did to the CNW!! I think I'll go over to our local MOW yard and put the proper colors back on those SW-1500s! long live the CNW!! If you'll excuse me, i'm off to stock up on some more yellow and green spray paints.

[CBQ_Guy]

At least they could donate it to the NMRA or WGH organizations. No shame!

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by michealfarley

No one has suggested the obvious solution to this problem........don't model the [}:)] Union Pacific!

This extra fee applies to more than just UP stuff. All roads absored get screwed too. Southern Pacific, CNW, WP, Mopac, D&RGW and what ever.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Sorry N2mopac, I had no idea they were gouging that deeply. Which manufacturer is doing that to you, because it makes me wonder if some of that extra money was sticking to someone else in the "food chain", namely the manufacturer, the distributor, or even the retailer, in an effort to cash in on the controversy.

It almost sounds like everyone along the line is marking up the markup, OUCH!!!

[michealfarley]

No one has suggested the obvious solution to this problem........don't model the [}:)] Union Pacific!

[n2mopac]

I must say that I think UP's trademark charges to model rr companies is rediculous. To the contrary of Big Boys comment above, I am noticing the UP locos are consistently $5 higher each than the exact same loco in other road names. I don't model UP, but if I were paying the extra $5 each time I bought a loco i'd get pretty tired of that.

On the other hand, I don't think we should begrudge UP's charitable contributions. These are two completely unrelated issues and should not be intertwined. Even if the model rr revenues were going directly to charitable contributions, I cannot think of a better use (I say that without knowing which charitiable organizations are being supported and thus am not endorsing UP's specific charitable contribution choices). Let's not get so greedy that we begrudge money that is going to do real good in the world, no matter how we feel about the giver of that money.
Ron

[JPowell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

Thank God Disney not into the RR business or we'd be giving mega money for Mickey Mouse stuff.

Speaking of Disney and RR's, there's a interesting forum on this site under the TRAINS Magazine forums about Disney and the FEC....... incase anyone is curious...

[lupo]

as an "ïnnocent bystander" ( I live in the netherlands )
[:0][:0] I must confess that I collect UP locomotives in HO scale[:0][:0],
so I am glad they handed out some of my money for good causes.
as for the business/politics of the UP company I do not know much, and maybe it is better I don't know eiher,
I chose to model UP because of some SPECTACULAR motive power they had around, and I look at UP and my collection as looking [:D] at some beautiful women [:D] : the looks are great but sometimes their character: [xx(] you don't want to know and you don't want to deal with either.![xx(]

so I guess I do judge the book by the cover this time.

[brothaslide]

How dare your local pizzeria charge you extra money for the sausage and then sponsor the local pee wee soccer team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

We have to remember that UP is a corporation.

The giving away of money for a typical American corporation is beneficial to the recipients needing the help while giving a tax break to the corporate donor, in this case the Union Pacific. This is a very common practice, though corporations today now must scrutinize carefully what organizations they donate to as there have been many scam artists, fraudulent organizations, and even terrorists involved in receiving corporate donations.

Antonio is DEAD ON here!!! UP probably donated 10 times the royalty revenue generated.

If you only bought models of UP equipment last year, your total contribution would be less than $2, an amount which most people waste without blinking, just look at the price of gas.

Save the outrage for the truly outrageous, and give it a rest boys. [:0][B)][:(][V][;)]

[Anonymous]

Yes, rda1964 is right! How dare you post this subject without his or my approval! We are the self appointed rulers of this subject on this forum.

Randy, I'm tired of this job, you can have my position, also. I'm starting to think the U.P. sucks, too. Oh well, at least our money is going to good causes!

Mark

[AntonioFP45]

We have to remember that UP is a corporation.

The giving away of money for a typical American corporation is beneficial to the recipients needing the help while giving a tax break to the corporate donor, in this case the Union Pacific. This is a very common practice, though corporations today now must scrutinize carefully what organizations they donate to as there have been many scam artists, fraudulent organizations, and even terrorists involved in receiving corporate donations.

[Fergmiester]

Thank God Disney not into the RR business or we'd be giving mega money for Mickey Mouse stuff.

[Anonymous]

Its the UPs money to do with as they please. Its time to GET OVER IT and move on.

Do it now.

Randy

[AggroJones]

Crikey! Thats the first thing I thought went I read that too! We are getting screwed out of money so they can give it away and make themselves look good!

[Anonymous]

Just read in the Trains email news letter that union pacifc has been giving money to non profit organazations. Could this be the model rr communities
royalties money. It kind of bugs me to see UP giving money away and charging model rr folk. I don't model UP but I think there buisness practices [censored]!