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Menards

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Menards
Posted by traindaddy1 on Sunday, December 13, 2015 2:03 PM

Every now and then, there is a thread about Menards.

Being from New York and now living in Florida (perhaps naive), but I was not even aware of  Menards until reading the posts on this Forum.

When it comes to Classic Toy Trains, would Menards be considered in the same genre as Lionel, Marx and American Flyer?

As always, many thanks.

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Sunday, December 13, 2015 3:22 PM

 I would say no.

Menards is a home improvement chain and do not toy train manufacture and for whatever reason years ago they started selling toy trains stuff at Christmas. I would guess it has to do with something one of the owners did as a child. They are providing more and more each year.
Here is a link to their store. Just look up collectibles and then O gauge trains. They do sell on-line.
http://www.menards.com/main/c-14331.htm

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, December 13, 2015 4:25 PM

KRM
I would say no.

Menards is a home improvement chain and do not toy train manufacture...

Menards is as much of a manufacturer as Lionel is.

Rob

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Posted by phrankenstign on Sunday, December 13, 2015 4:31 PM

ADCX Rob
KRM
I would say no.

Menards is a home improvement chain and do not toy train manufacture...

 

Menards is as much of a manufacturer as Lionel is.

Do you state that because Lionel and Menards both have their trains made by outside contractors?

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Sunday, December 13, 2015 4:49 PM

phrankenstign

 

 
ADCX Rob
KRM
I would say no.

Menards is a home improvement chain and do not toy train manufacture...

 

Menards is as much of a manufacturer as Lionel is.

 

Do you state that because Lionel and Menards both have their trains made by outside contractors?

 

Good point on manufacturer............

I would hope that Lionel still has some kind of engineering group to develop and market their stuff. If they don't then I would have to agree. I doubt Menards is doing O scale engineering and development. If they are let me know.

 

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:07 PM

phrankenstign
Do you state that because Lionel and Menards both have their trains made by outside contractors?

Yes, of course.

Rob

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:10 PM

KRM
Good point on manufacturer............

I would hope that Lionel still has some kind of engineering group to develop and market their stuff. If they don't then I would have to agree. I doubt Menards is doing O scale engineering and development. If they are let me know.

Menards must have some, as they certainly have access to proprietery tooling for their own branded O gauge merchandise... including a pretty broad array of "O" track in various radii.

Rob

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Sunday, December 13, 2015 6:30 PM

Rob,

More likely Menards has lawyers and marketers maybe not an engineering group???  Would be interesting to know. They could sure do more on how to display and sell their products.

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Sunday, December 13, 2015 7:10 PM

They do have "Mark the Menards Guy" in Eau Claire, WI, who heads up the O gauge train program. The in-store program is generally seasonal.

Rob

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Posted by traindaddy1 on Thursday, December 17, 2015 3:55 PM

BowThanks to all for your replies. Appreciate it.

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Posted by BigAl 956 on Friday, December 18, 2015 4:30 PM

Speaking of. In my newspaper today a clearance flyer, they are selling all thier boxcars and flatcars at 1/2 off, $14.99 (after rebate). Get them while they last.

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Friday, December 18, 2015 4:56 PM

BigAl 956

Speaking of. In my newspaper today a clearance flyer, they are selling all thier boxcars and flatcars at 1/2 off, $14.99 (after rebate). Get them while they last.

 

WOW I will need to check that out. Most of their rebates are only good for store credit, not cash returned so I wonder if this is the same? I would think so. If you have a store around there is always something you can use the rebate money on.  The store closest to me still has those nice Alaskan Flats with the load that are sold out on line.

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by Rescuedtrains on Saturday, December 19, 2015 4:48 PM

Say what you will about Menards "manufacturing/engineering capabilities", what I see is a new, fresh face in O gauge. They have a nice selection of rolling stock and some very nice preassembled bulidings, all at much better prices than the "established" suppliers. Also from what I read they will introduce O gauge track soon. Can locomotives be far behind?

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Saturday, December 19, 2015 10:16 PM

Rescuedtrains
...Also from what I read they will introduce O gauge track soon.

They are way ahead of you - track has been on the market for weeks and is available HERE.

Rob

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