Shops bad mouthing MTH

[Frank53]

I am an avid buyer of MTH and Lionel products built in the USA between 1946 and 1959.

[chuck]

It should be noted that the "rant" has to do with marketability/resale value of older items.  A RailKing loco with PS-1 is not considered a collectors item.  Issues with batteries and scrambled chips and parts may be making these hard to move items.  A Premier loco is scale and probably much better detailed so it could hold its value better than a RailKing item.

[ChiefEagles]

All I'm hearing is MTH has backordered all its track and switches.  Also having hard time getting parts.  This is coming from several sources.  Product wise, build a dependable product per a lot of folks.  Not my favorite as I have had a lot of trouble with their products [hard to snap together track, switches failing and stubbon couplers].

[Bob Keller]

No model maker has a flub-free product line.

My rule of thumb is to buy what I like and if problems become chronic, I drop that brand from my personal buy list.

Save for the Curse of Proto 1, the MTH gear I've bought for myself has been great (both the AS616 and VO-1000 I've recently reviewed were personal puchases for my home layout).

And for the record, I buy mostly Williams.

[Fred Bear]

Trains are like steak, you can get a good one, a bad one, or one that's OK, not really mentionable. Many things in life are like that, not just trains and steaks! Jake

I have an MTH Shay that pulls 17 log cars fully loaded, never a problem.

[Anonymous]

There are a number of shops that focus on one or two lines and tend to badmouth the others that they don't stock. I imagine there are just as many around who will badmouth Lionel in favor of MTH.  Personally, I would avoid any dealer who disparages one line or another because all that tells me is that the fellow isn't someone I could ever trust to give me an honest evaluation or opinion.

[dbaker48]

Toasty -

You wouldn't by any chance be in So. Cal. would you?  If so I have been in the same shop.  As a matter of fact a little story:

In the mid 70's I worked at this company and had a avid interest in trains.  Only MPC or used post war was available.  There were 2 other guys that were also interested in trains, 1 ultimately ended up owning his own shop.  I ended up on a 17 year hiatius due to family obligations.  About 1 1/2 years ago that interes became alive again.  I subsequently went to HIS shop and renewed the acquaintance and asked him what was new.  I ended up spending a LOT of money at that shop, I was jubilent!  Within a month I went to another shop about 20 miles away and was curious about the MTH stuff.  The owner of the 2nd shop carried both products.  He let me analyize 2 passenger cars of equal value.  The comparison was unbeliveable!  I really didn't buy a lot from the 2nd guy, but was really thinking.

I went back to the 1st guy awhile latter, and mentioned MTH.  You would think I made a verbal attack on his mother and wife.  He couldn't carry on a rationale conversation.  I hardly ever go into his shop, and it is unfortunate cause I really wanted to support him.  The 2nd guy  has been extremely helpful and very open minded about all the various manufacturers.  He has earned and receives all my business.  Occasionally I have stopped at the first shop, just to boast about my latest acquisition, and maybe buy a magazine or some little miscellaneous item.  My devilish objective is to flaunt how much of MY business he has lost.  And from what I have found out from various people in the train club I belong to he has demonstrated on more than one occassion less than professional practices.

Overall, I have found that MTH is not really well accepted on the West Coast.  And, that is very unfortunate.  I now have both DCS and TMCC and am having a BLAST!  I like trains!  And, its nice to have a selection and not be limited to one brand. 

[Anonymous]

 Recently I spoke to two different well known hobby shops about selling some MTH RailKing locos and cars. I was told that the RailKing line was worthless and MTH was Junk. The offer of penny's on the dollar offended me. Has this happened to any one else here?

Thanks, Toasty