Big sale at BLI

[CAZEPHYR]

trainsBuddy

I don't understand this dumping of inventory either. The review for this unit came out just a couple of months ago in MR, and now it's closing out. I'm fairly new to the hobby, but I've never seen any kind of products available in such limited releases and certainly with such high price swing.

 

It all comes down to money and the need to generate CASH.    They have done this type of blow out several times in the past six or seven years.  After the first and second round of blow out sales, most LHS stopped stocking the BLI line.  The two local LHS that I live near will not purchase from them unless they have an order with cash in hand.   Since that seems to be the practice and attitude for many of the LHS in America, BLI has to hold the extra models in reserve since LHS will not stock them and when money is tight, BLI blows them out with big discounts.  They actually get more money for this sale than the discounting the models to distributed.  

 CZ

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

CAZEPHYR

BLI has to hold the extra models in reserve since LHS will not stock them and when money is tight, BLI blows them out with big discounts.  They actually get more money for this sale than the discounting the models to distributed.  

Most likely not true. Factory Direct Trains is technically a seperate company. When they have a "factory authorized" sale, at least on paper, FDT get them cheaper from BLI.

I purchased a N&W Class A on one of the first such sales years ago through Standard Hobby Supply. Even though I paid Standard Hobby, my loco was shipped directly from BLI. The price was well below the known wholesale, and I'm sure Standard Hobby was not loosing money, so BLI ate the price reduction. They sold those locos to me for less than my LHS would have paid to special order it if he had chosen to be a dealer.

Why would anyone buy anything that is not a neccessity of life knowing that is 3-6 months the price will be cut by another 25%? You may like being treated that way, but I simply won't be.

Sheldon

 

[blownout cylinder]

I'm a kind of conflixed fellow here----I thought these same people were going to pre order sales. And these sales keep popping up-----huh?

Maybe someone is in firesale mode-----are sales as solid as claimed?

[Driline]

CSX Robert

Driline

 

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

I read the post, sounded like a statement of known facts and the posters opinion about those facts. What name was anyone called? 

None. At least no poster here anyway that I could see...

In the rule regarding personal attacks and name-calling, I don't see that it says anywhere that this only applies to personal attacks and name-calling directed at other posters.

 

Nobody's listening to you 

[CAZEPHYR]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Most likely not true. Factory Direct Trains is technically a seperate company. When they have a "factory authorized" sale, at least on paper, FDT get them cheaper from BLI.

 

Joe at FDT is a relative of Bob/BLI and they seem to be the right arm for blowing out many of the items.  When I purchased my PCM Big Boy's from Joe, they were shipped directly from BLI in Florida.  This is the case for many of the large sales that have taken place.  The PCM F units also were shipped from Florida, but I purchased them from Joe at FDT.   That is because the units were in the stock at BLI since most of the distributors would not stock them after the first and second round of blow out sales.   I know Trainworld seems to be stocking the BLI products in a fairly large amount, but they are the ones that recently blew out the NYC Brass Hybird Mohawks for $225.  

I picked up an addition one of the brass hybrids since that is almost as cheap as the Pargagon II Hudson and for my money, is a better value. 

 

 One LHS near me, a very large and old established LHS, that has many of the first and second run of BLI models on hand, but will not do business any longer with BLI.  This was due to the fact that their stock is full price and BLI sold off their stock to the public at less than half price.  That left the dealer stuck with his stock and even at the 40% discount, he could not unload the stock.   

CZ

[CAZEPHYR]

MisterBeasley

This particular sale is limited to Hudsons only.  That makes me think that this sale is strictly based on production exceeding demand for this model.

 

It is true this last sale is limited to the Hudson, but if you check their in house stock, it is almost completely gone.  That would lend me to believe they are doing what they can to raise money and the Hudson being the last recent locomotive into their stock, would be the only major ones to blow out.  We will see if the California Zephyr cars or the latest N scales show up on the list any time soon.

CZ 

[don7]

I am surprised that this bashing session of BLI which is full of speculation has not been locked, or even had this thread deleted.

The thread looks like it is to advise the readers of a sale, but instead is really another bashing session by the poster who has also done this in the past and will likely continue to do so in the future.

The Moderators are even helping the thread along. Go figure.

[CAZEPHYR]

 

don7

I am surprised that this bashing session of BLI which is full of speculation has not been locked, or even had this thread deleted.

The thread looks like it is to advise the readers of a sale, but instead is really another bashing session by the poster who has also done this in the past and will likely continue to do so in the future.

Don 

I personally don't see it as bashing, but going over some of the past things that have happened with BLI and their dealers.  I now have over fifty of their sound models and like every one of those engines, but some have had issues and some were really cheap in price.  

I hope my thoughts have not been bashing as much as reporting my perspective with the BLI products over the past eight years.  I like the products and have the future brass hybrids on reservations along with the 1953 SP Daylight train.   I expect that set of cars to be very good overall since I have the first run set of the California Zephyr and hope BLI can keep everything going in the future.   I do realize the price I pay for the first brass hybrids will be higher than the final sales of that product, but I don't want to miss out on the Q2 and the UP 4-12-2.  

CZ

[blownout cylinder]

don7

I am surprised that this bashing session of BLI which is full of speculation has not been locked, or even had this thread deleted.

And you seem to post vents about others venting---

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The situation here is a 'normal' one I think. The only problem is that they seem to have a lot of differing ways to sell their wares----much like some bigger retail outlets have differing prices on catalogues and websites than what they have in their stores---and I'm thinking in terms of non MRR related places-- 

Communication is a good thing I think

 

[rclanger]

csmith9474

My guess would be that Kalmbach sold our e-mail addresses to them

 

I can't speak for all but I have NEVER received an email from any company relating to the hobby.  Though I do get spam.  Less and less now that I use Mail Washer.

 

[Driline]

blownout cylinder

don7

I am surprised that this bashing session of BLI which is full of speculation has not been locked, or even had this thread deleted.

And you seem to post vents about others venting---

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I agree....Like the Pot calling the kettle black LOL!

[tstage]

Looks like it's time to move this one along...

Tom