I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
I was in Target last night and saw two sets. Every time I have gone in there I have seen sets in stock. Hopefully they are selling well. When they were on sale a week or two ago they had a display of them on an end cap.
Jeff
Sounds to me if the Lionel sets don't move, it might be as much due to store placement as anything else. Retailers have long known that placement of items is as much a key to selling them as is price.
Something I have seen other companies do with products and that Lionel might consider next time around - in light of a lack of a display layout - is some kind of promotional video/DVD showing the specific product and others in layout settings a beginning buyer might hope to reasonably attain. I know I have been in stores and seen small TV's playing videos promoting some kind of new product.
Since most of us older guys do remember those days of display layouts and know the effect they can have, seems to me some kind of promotional product video might be something of a modern answer to the display layout. Of course, nothing can replace the desire of the retailer. If they don't promote or place the products well, there's probably little that can be done. In the case of Target, at least they did promote the train set in their circular advertising.... something that hasn't happened for Lionel (or anyother major train maker) in many many years. Save for Jeff Cohen's (of K-Line) appearances on the Home Shopping Network promoting K-Line train sets.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
brianel027 wrote: In the case of Target, at least they did promote the train set in their circular advertising.... something that hasn't happened for Lionel (or anyother major train maker) in many many years. Save for Jeff Cohen's (of K-Line) appearances on the Home Shopping Network promoting K-Line train sets.
In the case of Target, at least they did promote the train set in their circular advertising.... something that hasn't happened for Lionel (or anyother major train maker) in many many years. Save for Jeff Cohen's (of K-Line) appearances on the Home Shopping Network promoting K-Line train sets.
We discussed this previously. We all had/have tons of common sense merchandising ideas for Lionel that are obvious to everyone interested in trains BUT Lionel. Things like putting the NASCAR sets and addons on the QVC program that does NASCAR diecasts. I don't know what idjit at Lionel is in charge of advertising, but I would sure put a lump of coal in his sock this year. If Lionel WANTS to sell their stuff, they have to AGGRESSIVELY merchandise it with a PLANNED merchandising program. How many times have we seen that new Wii ad and the ads for all those cartridge games on TV? HUNDREDS of TIMES is the answer. I dunno about everyone else, but anything I didn't send or ask for that I get in the mail, automatically goes in the "junk mail" catagory and heads straight for the garbage. Especially at this time of year. So an ad in the Target flyer would never be seen by me or anyone else that is sick of junk mail.
I think the simple fact is, Target and any other store is gonna advertise and display stuff based on how well it sold LAST YEAR or how big the demand is THIS year. Their bottom line is $$$, not trying to get toy trains into every household in the country. It's up to LIONEL to create the demand among the kids for their product. A few ads in a Target flyer just before Christmas or a quickly forgotten blurb/TV newspot are NOT going to cause any major boost in Lionel sales. Like anything else in the business world, you have to SPEND money to MAKE money.
Dep
Virginian Railroad
I had seen the sets at Target but wasn't really ready to put out the $249.99 for one. My son is only three right now and I thought it might be a bit too early for him to play with. My daughter is six and would enjoy running the train but both kids together tend to fight over everything.
On a return trip to the store after Christmas they still had 3 sets on the shelf and they were marked down to $174.99. I figured this price was be about as good as I might ever see so I bought a set. I opened it up when I got home just to look it over and was very pleased with the set overall. I've boxed it up for now and stored it away out of sight so it'll be a surprise later. (I really wanted to run it and bring back those memories of the Lionel set I had as a kid but my better judgement took over and I packed it up. I wish I knew what happened to my old set, I can still smell the smoke. Maybe we'll wait just a few months instead of the whole year...)
In the meantime, I can start putting together some additional track and switches for a bigger layout when we set it up for the first time.
Bob
to the forum Bob !! Congratulations on your purchase & I believe you got a great deal & a nice starter set !! Hope you can locate your old set too, someday !! Let us know how you like it when you do get it going !!
Thanks, John
Good to see electric trains back in department stores!!!
underworld
mgmlodi wrote:Will Target repair Lionel trains, or sell StandardO items? When that happens Hobby shop owners may well be in Chapter 11
No, of course they won't repair Lionel trains. They don't repair anything. Buy any product at a big box store and one of the things you'll find in the box is a slip of paper that says "Thank you for selecting this _____ product. Please do not return this product to the store. Call us toll free at _______ or visit our website if service is needed."
And you'll never see Target or any other mass merchandiser sell train items other than starter sets, and perhaps an accessory or two. They are not geared-up to do that.
The thing that is killing hobby shops is US--the consumer whose primary source of shopping is eBay and "blowouts" or clearances and who, in the next breath, laments the passing of the local hobby shop. We have met the enemy, and he is us!
My local hobby shop blows out Lionel sets at 10% off after Christmas. Sometimes more. Target is no different. They are not making the brand cheap for two reasons. First, their prices points ($250, $200 on sale, and $175 on clearance) are still more than you pay for the basic set at the hobby shop and Hobby Lobby. It is just that their set is a good value with a few extra goodies but a little less power.
I believe the next stop after Target will be locating the closest hobby shop for accessories.
Jim H
Skullie wrote:Theres 4 Target stores near me and Ive been to 2. But I havent seen any train sets. Of course from the sounds of it I might have not looked in the right spot. I havent asked any of the employees either.
I went to a local Target and did not see any sets and I asked an employee, and she had no clue. I went to another Target and found the last set they had on a lower shelf in the toy section. It was not in a easy to spot section at all. I snatched it up before checking with the bride as I didn't want to lose it. The price was about $174. You may have to ask or search hard for the remaining sets.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
last week, in our Target stores, the Lionel set was on 30% clearance for $175. I had seen posts from others that elsewhere in the country they were down to 50% at $125. so i decided to wait. Today, there were still 6 or more on the shelves, but now at the regular price of $250 again. the worker in the toy section told me that they had gotten a mssg from the "vendor" (Lionel?), to mark them all back up to $250. not sure if they will ever get back to $175, or lower. does anyone know more info about this?
p.s. It's SABAN Time!
RollTideBama wrote: last week, in our Target stores, the Lionel set was on 30% clearance for $175. I had seen posts from others that elsewhere in the country they were down to 50% at $125. so i decided to wait. Today, there were still 6 or more on the shelves, but now at the regular price of $250 again. the worker in the toy section told me that they had gotten a mssg from the "vendor" (Lionel?), to mark them all back up to $250. not sure if they will ever get back to $175, or lower. does anyone know more info about this? p.s. It's SABAN Time!
Yikes...not sure if Lionel would be the vendor or not. But that doesn't sound like a good idea. Target is NOT going to want to keep them on the shelves now at that price when the season is over and they are trying to clear the shelves of seasonal items. And even if Lionel isn't the vendor, Target isn't going to like getting dictated to like that. They aren't going to be crazy about handling that stuff next year with that kind of attitude.
There are several on e-bay right now. Most listings include something about a "50 piece set", so if you search on "50" you are bound to find a few.
Heres one;
http://cgi.ebay.com/Electric-Lionel-lines-Train-NIB-50-PC-Die-Cast-Engine-O_W0QQitemZ250070685760QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4148QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
njalb1 wrote:My three local targets indicated that Thier home office raised the price (Target not Lionel) as they decided to sell trains all year long.
Have to agree with you. It would be a good thing if they sold year round. I hope they have a larger selection. Perhaps they can have some nice K-Line offerings.
I would think, if Target is going to be a regular year-round retailer of Lionel products, that Lionel or Target would have made some kind of announcement to that effect. Haven't heard a peep from either one about it. One or both of these companies is missing the boat if that is true I also find it odd that if Target wasn't able to sell the Lionel trainsets during the holiday season when they were advertised and in any kind of demand, that they would decide to keep them as a regular item all year round. Not a very sound business decision. Target as a "hobbyshop" for Lionel products is also a stretch to believe.
QUOTE " Target as a "hobbyshop" for Lionel products is also a stretch to believe "
No one ever said that I was told that they will continiue to sell trains in thier toy department (store or online) all year long as other TOYS are. Why would an announcement be needed ?? Target web continues to sell the 3 sets. Under the Special set it does indicate that it is now available only on line and not in the stores. Maybe some stores will send back thier extras.
IMO I can't understand why there is always this negative energy. That is one of the reasons that I stopped posting here before Christmas
After buying the Target set the small flyer inside indicates where (LHS) to buy other items. Target is not trying to be a hobbyshop ? Here is what the outer booklet looks there are items shown inside available at LHS!
njalb1: Read Dennis' post above. "It would be a good thing if they sold year round. I hope they have a larger selection. Perhaps they can have some nice K-Line offerings."
That would indicate Target getting into toy trains pretty heavily. I think, if that were the case, there would be more fanfare than what has existed so far. It's a nice optimistic outlook, but I question whether it will be a reality. Why would an announcement be needed? Because Lionel needs all the publicity they can get if they really want to sell trains as a year-round quantity. The holiday trainsets, from all reports we have heard, were not exactly "flying off the shelves". We didn't hear anything about shortages of Lionel/Target sets or Target desperately trying to resupply the shelves with Lionel products. On the contrary, the Target sets are now being discounted heavily due to lack of sales. I'm sorry if I don't buy into the optimism that others so readily grasp at. Those handouts that were included in the Target trainsets would be more encouraging if TARGET was mentioned somewhere in them.
Deputy wrote: njalb1: Read Dennis' post above. "It would be a good thing if they sold year round. I hope they have a larger selection. Perhaps they can have some nice K-Line offerings."That would indicate Target getting into toy trains pretty heavily. I think, if that were the case, there would be more fanfare than what has existed so far. It's a nice optimistic outlook, but I question whether it will be a reality. Why would an announcement be needed? Because Lionel needs all the publicity they can get if they really want to sell trains as a year-round quantity. The holiday trainsets, from all reports we have heard, were not exactly "flying off the shelves". We didn't hear anything about shortages of Lionel/Target sets or Target desperately trying to resupply the shelves with Lionel products. On the contrary, the Target sets are now being discounted heavily due to lack of sales. I'm sorry if I don't buy into the optimism that others so readily grasp at. Those handouts that were included in the Target trainsets would be more encouraging if TARGET was mentioned somewhere in them. Dep
Sorry lion....but them's the facts
Quote"
On the contrary, the Target sets are now being discounted heavily due to lack of sales. "
Not any more ???? They are full retail...........
.
"Those handouts that were included in the Target trainsets would be more encouraging if TARGET was mentioned somewhere in them"
Why ? Lionel is directing the purchasers after thier inital purchase to thier LHS !! Now that makes sense to me, as Target is not a Hobbystore ???????????
njalb1: Just because they are forced to advertise them at full retail, doesn't mean they will be SELLING them. They didn't sell during Christmas season, which is prime time for Lionel, so why would people buy them now???? And if they aren't selling them at all, then all those handouts won't be getting into anyone's hands anyway.
Deputy wrote: njalb1: Just because they are forced to advertise them at full retail, doesn't mean they will be SELLING them. They didn't sell during Christmas season, which is prime time for Lionel, so why would people buy them now???? And if they aren't selling them at all, then all those handouts won't be getting into anyone's hands anyway. DepIMO I can't understand why there is always this negative energy ???
IMO I can't understand why there is always this negative energy ???
Deputy wrote: njalb1: Just because they are forced to advertise them at full retail, doesn't mean they will be SELLING them. They didn't sell during Christmas season, which is prime time for Lionel, so why would people buy them now???? And if they aren't selling them at all, then all those handouts won't be getting into anyone's hands anyway. Dep
They did sell well in some markets.ALL retailers discount items after the holidays.Target is NOT, thank God!, a HobbyStore, and I don't want them to become one either! Could you imagine going to Target and asking some 16yo how an engine works? Or taking an engine into Target to have it fixed? It would most likely end up lost in their inventory.
Don
Dr. John wrote: Wow! $124.95 would be a steal for this set! I've heard the $174.95 price in several market areas. I'll make a run to Target this Friday to see if they have the set in stock and if so, for how much. Last time I went they had none in stock.I would be greatly tempted if the price is around the $175.00 mark.
Exactly right John!!!! Target SHOULD be discounting them right now. Isn't it better to get the trains out into the hands of consumers, rather than trying to get max price for them, which at this time would be pretty hard, if not impossible to do?
Dep--
You SHOULD forward your advice onto Target, I'm sure they would appreciate your insightful knowledge on marketing. Actually, maybe not, I think they are doing OK.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
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