What is going on with MTH?

[Anonymous]

The past few months I have noticed less and less MTH in Classic Trains Magazine and in other similar magazines. Their advertising is only relating to DCS. I see fewer and fewer MTH product reviews. Fewer MTH releases in product news. And, fewer, fewer, and fewer advertisers in the magazines advertising MTH products. I have loved their Premier line since I came back to the hobby about 4 or 5 years ago but am worried that they are disappearing from the horizon. Any thoughts on this? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

The past few months I have noticed less and less MTH in Classic Trains Magazine and in other similar magazines. Their advertising is only relating to DCS. I see fewer and fewer MTH product reviews. Fewer MTH releases in product news. And, fewer, fewer, and fewer advertisers in the magazines advertising MTH products. I have loved their Premier line since I came back to the hobby about 4 or 5 years ago but am worried that they are disappearing from the horizon. Any thoughts on this? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Should MTH disappear, I say GOOD RIDDANCE! All they have ever done is copy everyone else's products and ideas and try to under price their competiters. Their only goal in the market place is to put Lionel out of business, and if they take everyone else down in the process, so much the better. I for one have and will never buy anything from MTH.

[Anonymous]

Should MTH disappear, I say GOOD RIDDANCE! All they have ever done is copy everyone else's products and ideas and try to under price their competiters. Their only goal in the market place is to put Lionel out of business, and if they take everyone else down in the process, so much the better. I for one have and will never buy anything from MTH.

[Bob Keller]

Hi Ken,

Currently, 100% of what the manufacturers send us for news photos or for review gets into the magazine.

MTH's total through our October issue, has been 24 product photos, reviews, or videos placed on the website. Their total last year (Jan-Dec) was 24. Through the October issue, Lionel's total is 39 and K-Line's is 28.

I've got a review of the MTH RailKing NYC Aerotrain coming up in December and the MTH Premier S1 steam locomotive in the January CTT.

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[Bob Keller]

Hi Ken,

Currently, 100% of what the manufacturers send us for news photos or for review gets into the magazine.

MTH's total through our October issue, has been 24 product photos, reviews, or videos placed on the website. Their total last year (Jan-Dec) was 24. Through the October issue, Lionel's total is 39 and K-Line's is 28.

I've got a review of the MTH RailKing NYC Aerotrain coming up in December and the MTH Premier S1 steam locomotive in the January CTT.

Bob Keller
Classic Toy Trains

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ttam

Should MTH disappear, I say GOOD RIDDANCE! All they have ever done is copy everyone else's products and ideas and try to under price their competiters. Their only goal in the market place is to put Lionel out of business, and if they take everyone else down in the process, so much the better.

Thats what their SUPPOSED to do. It's called "Business".
MTH has a lot of good stuff, and most, is just as good as "Lionel".

We NEED MTH, if for anything,- to keep over-rated prices down, to where the average person can afford to stay in the hobby.

I like Lionel, and MTH both, but the world would be an ugly place to live in, if 1 manufacturer had a monopoly on the market, thus being able to charge as much money as they wish.

I'm thankful for some of the reproductions they have reissued. (and MTH isn't the only ones who do this).
It's nice to be able to buy a modern, more technically advanced version, of a classic piece of rolling stock, engine, or accessory, not to mention the superior, cheaper, and less cluttered, command control system (DCS) they offer.
Look how many "Sold-seperatly" perifials (at least 6 or 7) you need to buy for TMCC to do the same things that DCS does with 2 or 3. There's a few things on DCS, that TMCC trains can't even do...

Yes! We NEED MTH, Williams, 3rd rail, Atlas, K-Line, Lionel, etc., to keep each other at bay, where prices are concerned, and to keep each other competetive with function, reliability, and quality.
Lose even 1 or 2 of these companies, and the consumers will suffer.

Thats my 2¢.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ttam

Should MTH disappear, I say GOOD RIDDANCE! All they have ever done is copy everyone else's products and ideas and try to under price their competiters. Their only goal in the market place is to put Lionel out of business, and if they take everyone else down in the process, so much the better.

Thats what their SUPPOSED to do. It's called "Business".
MTH has a lot of good stuff, and most, is just as good as "Lionel".

We NEED MTH, if for anything,- to keep over-rated prices down, to where the average person can afford to stay in the hobby.

I like Lionel, and MTH both, but the world would be an ugly place to live in, if 1 manufacturer had a monopoly on the market, thus being able to charge as much money as they wish.

I'm thankful for some of the reproductions they have reissued. (and MTH isn't the only ones who do this).
It's nice to be able to buy a modern, more technically advanced version, of a classic piece of rolling stock, engine, or accessory, not to mention the superior, cheaper, and less cluttered, command control system (DCS) they offer.
Look how many "Sold-seperatly" perifials (at least 6 or 7) you need to buy for TMCC to do the same things that DCS does with 2 or 3. There's a few things on DCS, that TMCC trains can't even do...

Yes! We NEED MTH, Williams, 3rd rail, Atlas, K-Line, Lionel, etc., to keep each other at bay, where prices are concerned, and to keep each other competetive with function, reliability, and quality.
Lose even 1 or 2 of these companies, and the consumers will suffer.

Thats my 2¢.

[Anonymous]

I like MTH just fine, even with the Proto Sound 1 battery issue, their products have placed ol' Lenny the Lion on the spot to start making some decent trains again..... unfortunately just too darned expensive (Lionel). Thank Goodness for competition, K-Line, Williams, MTH and of course Lionel all have something to offer, I'd hate to have only one type of auto to buy, I love the ability to choose my level of detail and choose what I'm going to pay for it!

[Anonymous]

I like MTH just fine, even with the Proto Sound 1 battery issue, their products have placed ol' Lenny the Lion on the spot to start making some decent trains again..... unfortunately just too darned expensive (Lionel). Thank Goodness for competition, K-Line, Williams, MTH and of course Lionel all have something to offer, I'd hate to have only one type of auto to buy, I love the ability to choose my level of detail and choose what I'm going to pay for it!

[Anonymous]

YO BOB KELLER: I am not concerned to MTH, toooo much, but with the other, two big guy's>>>>>LIONEL & K-LINE,Both seem to be dragging their feet for getting products to hobby & train stores shelfs, what is lionel sending out now xmas stuff,but from what year, I have had a order with K-LINE (membership) circus boxcars ( I got one),still missing two, from a year ago,you talk about a large company giving people the run-a-round, I would say k-line is at top dog,I sent them a email asking for delivery date,1st was fall 2002, the spring of 2003, then summner of 2003>>>>>>>>>>very dumb HUB

[Anonymous]

YO BOB KELLER: I am not concerned to MTH, toooo much, but with the other, two big guy's>>>>>LIONEL & K-LINE,Both seem to be dragging their feet for getting products to hobby & train stores shelfs, what is lionel sending out now xmas stuff,but from what year, I have had a order with K-LINE (membership) circus boxcars ( I got one),still missing two, from a year ago,you talk about a large company giving people the run-a-round, I would say k-line is at top dog,I sent them a email asking for delivery date,1st was fall 2002, the spring of 2003, then summner of 2003>>>>>>>>>>very dumb HUB

[MikeSanta]

I think that it's good that there is some duplication of some products by the different manufacturers assuming that they don't copy each other's equipment numbers. In HO for years the makers like Atheran, AHM, Tyco, etc. did that so that way if someone wanted to model the Allegheney mountains during WW2 or West Texas around the 60's they could do that. Back when it was just Lionel only, you couldn't do that as easily in many cases. Now we in O Gauge can do that. They need to work on different numbers, tho. Remember the idiocy of both Lionel AND Right-of-Way BOTH numbering their Shay engines Number 6!!!

[MikeSanta]

I think that it's good that there is some duplication of some products by the different manufacturers assuming that they don't copy each other's equipment numbers. In HO for years the makers like Atheran, AHM, Tyco, etc. did that so that way if someone wanted to model the Allegheney mountains during WW2 or West Texas around the 60's they could do that. Back when it was just Lionel only, you couldn't do that as easily in many cases. Now we in O Gauge can do that. They need to work on different numbers, tho. Remember the idiocy of both Lionel AND Right-of-Way BOTH numbering their Shay engines Number 6!!!

[spodwo]

I think many of us are forgetting that MTH basically severed their relationship with Samhongsa and moved production to a factory that they own in South Korea. Stuff is starting to flow out the door now although still not fast enough for some of us.

[spodwo]

I think many of us are forgetting that MTH basically severed their relationship with Samhongsa and moved production to a factory that they own in South Korea. Stuff is starting to flow out the door now although still not fast enough for some of us.

[Anonymous]

i buy products when i can from all these people .i do not want to see the same thing happen in the train world that is occurring in retail with wal-mart consuming competiors ie k-mart etc. my only complaint is more things come out @ the same time & i can't afford to get them all @ once & when i can they are all scarfed up and the price has gone out of the ceiling. iguess this is good if you collect but i like to run etc. oh well such is life.

[Anonymous]

i buy products when i can from all these people .i do not want to see the same thing happen in the train world that is occurring in retail with wal-mart consuming competiors ie k-mart etc. my only complaint is more things come out @ the same time & i can't afford to get them all @ once & when i can they are all scarfed up and the price has gone out of the ceiling. iguess this is good if you collect but i like to run etc. oh well such is life.

[Anonymous]

Everything I have ever purchased by MTH has been DOA. I kid you not! My most recent was their new McDonald's with drive thru. The lights don't work. Opening up that thing was a nightmare!

[Anonymous]

Everything I have ever purchased by MTH has been DOA. I kid you not! My most recent was their new McDonald's with drive thru. The lights don't work. Opening up that thing was a nightmare!

[Anonymous]

Competition is great! I have bought stuff from all of them and would hate to lose MTH. If a person is unhappy, they can always vote with their dollars to someone else. That's the best answer I have.

[Anonymous]

Competition is great! I have bought stuff from all of them and would hate to lose MTH. If a person is unhappy, they can always vote with their dollars to someone else. That's the best answer I have.

[Anonymous]

I can agree with those who say that MTH does just copy others, which gets extremely annoying. But they have enough nice qualities about them that I think they'll be a force to reckon with and someone to keep Lionel on it's toes for some time to come.

Now if the two of them would just stop bickering...

-Stefan-

[Anonymous]

I can agree with those who say that MTH does just copy others, which gets extremely annoying. But they have enough nice qualities about them that I think they'll be a force to reckon with and someone to keep Lionel on it's toes for some time to come.

Now if the two of them would just stop bickering...

-Stefan-

[Anonymous]

Hey guys, this is just plan mean spirited. Basking MTh or Lionel or Williams or... is simply biased and out of focus. Nothing in the world is perfect, so why is we expect this hobby to be better than the rest? Yes, I've gotten DOAs, one lap and DOA, broken items. It happens. What we all need to do is chill and deal with it respectfully. It simply can not help if all we do is female dog and moan over everything. 50% of my collection of 700 trains is MTH. I've had 2 DOA, 1 dead after a lap and three arrived busted. In EVERY case, my dealer or MTH has rectified it and its all I think one should expect. Same with Lionel, Atlas K-Line Atlas 3rd Rail and everyone else. Rumors MTH is going out of business are not true. They ahve had to deal with the shift from Samsongsa as their manufacturer and with any new manufacturing operation, there will be intial glitches. I look forward to having MTh around for years to come. They make a great product and our hobby is clearly better off because of them. Nuff said.

[Anonymous]

Hey guys, this is just plan mean spirited. Basking MTh or Lionel or Williams or... is simply biased and out of focus. Nothing in the world is perfect, so why is we expect this hobby to be better than the rest? Yes, I've gotten DOAs, one lap and DOA, broken items. It happens. What we all need to do is chill and deal with it respectfully. It simply can not help if all we do is female dog and moan over everything. 50% of my collection of 700 trains is MTH. I've had 2 DOA, 1 dead after a lap and three arrived busted. In EVERY case, my dealer or MTH has rectified it and its all I think one should expect. Same with Lionel, Atlas K-Line Atlas 3rd Rail and everyone else. Rumors MTH is going out of business are not true. They ahve had to deal with the shift from Samsongsa as their manufacturer and with any new manufacturing operation, there will be intial glitches. I look forward to having MTh around for years to come. They make a great product and our hobby is clearly better off because of them. Nuff said.

[Anonymous]

CNJ Fan:

I respectfully disagree. You're paying premiums for these locomotives and they should work out of the box. Most people who buy a new car expect the car to run flawlessly & not require anything more than normal maintenance for the first 50,000-100,000 miles. If you find a vehicle needs lots of repairs when it's got less than 50,000 miles on it, you feel ripped off.

Now, granted, a new car costs anywhere from 15 times & more what a new locomotive does, but still, $300 - $1,500 is a lot of money for one of these things. And, for me, purchasing a new locomotive & having it DOA is just not good enough.

That's why people don't buy brands or car models that are known to be troublesome. The old joke about what "Ford" stands for comes to mind. Even GM products are not selling as well as they used to.

Tony

[Anonymous]

CNJ Fan:

I respectfully disagree. You're paying premiums for these locomotives and they should work out of the box. Most people who buy a new car expect the car to run flawlessly & not require anything more than normal maintenance for the first 50,000-100,000 miles. If you find a vehicle needs lots of repairs when it's got less than 50,000 miles on it, you feel ripped off.

Now, granted, a new car costs anywhere from 15 times & more what a new locomotive does, but still, $300 - $1,500 is a lot of money for one of these things. And, for me, purchasing a new locomotive & having it DOA is just not good enough.

That's why people don't buy brands or car models that are known to be troublesome. The old joke about what "Ford" stands for comes to mind. Even GM products are not selling as well as they used to.

Tony

[clinchfieldfan]

I must be in the minority, generally I have had good sucess with MTH products. I just installed the DCS system on my layout and it is WONDERFUL. I highly recommend MTH's DCS system. I just received word that MTH is shipping the railking Class J engine (now for a premier one!). Lionel is also shipping the Southerner aluminum passenger cars...boy life is good.

[clinchfieldfan]

I must be in the minority, generally I have had good sucess with MTH products. I just installed the DCS system on my layout and it is WONDERFUL. I highly recommend MTH's DCS system. I just received word that MTH is shipping the railking Class J engine (now for a premier one!). Lionel is also shipping the Southerner aluminum passenger cars...boy life is good.