The result of these policies by the manufacturers for me is to turn me into a bit of a hoarder. Sometimes I buy because I feel I might need it in the future. If I don't buy it when I see it I might not be able to buy it when I want it or need it. As a result, I have more projects than I can finish.
UPinCT
Yep! been there, done that too, with the result that I now have several structures that will not likely find their way on to my layout.
When it gets really bad, I find myself buying something and then telling myself that if I don't use it I can always re-sell it. My wife is patiently waiting for me to actually follow through on that.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
If it sells, it will never be retired. Simple as that. Supply/Demand.Mold dies cost money and wear out.Warehouse space cost moneyUnsold inventory cost money in terms of tied up capital and taxes
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Yes, some kits will never be "retired" but the term is actually used by Walthers to describe certain kits, which is what I believe the OP was referring to. They say in their reference book: "Retired Model - Indicates a Walthers product which has been taken out of production. Supplies are limited to the remaning inventory at your dealer or in our warehouse. A future production run may be scheduled."
Jim
NEMMRRC The bananas don't come for free. Walthers is only ensuring it can still make money from one of its assets. It's cheaper to take an existing mold and make a "new" product than make a new product from scratch. Regardless, I found a seller on eBay selling the original Kit for $99. Is that a good price? Jaime
The bananas don't come for free.
Walthers is only ensuring it can still make money from one of its assets. It's cheaper to take an existing mold and make a "new" product than make a new product from scratch.
Regardless, I found a seller on eBay selling the original Kit for $99. Is that a good price?
Jaime
You're kidding, right?
I mean, the value of any item is what someone is willing to pay for it, but still. The new kit has an MSRP of $35. Unless you're a collector, why would you pay nearly 3 times that, when it sounds like you could buy the new one and do a little kitbashing to get back to the original.
BTW, I notice that some previously retired models (Aunt Anne's House, Cottage Grove Church, Cottage Grove School) are back by "popular demand".
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
CTValleyRR NEMMRRC The bananas don't come for free. Walthers is only ensuring it can still make money from one of its assets. It's cheaper to take an existing mold and make a "new" product than make a new product from scratch. Regardless, I found a seller on eBay selling the original Kit for $99. Is that a good price? Jaime You're kidding, right? I mean, the value of any item is what someone is willing to pay for it, but still. The new kit has an MSRP of $35. Unless you're a collector, why would you pay nearly 3 times that, when it sounds like you could buy the new one and do a little kitbashing to get back to the original. BTW, I notice that some previously retired models (Aunt Anne's House, Cottage Grove Church, Cottage Grove School) are back by "popular demand".
Not kidding. It's out there on eBay right now. Item 301541176541:
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=301541176541
UPinCT The result of these policies by the manufacturers for me is to turn me into a bit of a hoarder. Sometimes I buy because I feel I might need it in the future. If I don't buy it when I see it I might not be able to buy it when I want it or need it. As a result, I have more projects than I can finish.
Yes.
In many ways I am my own hobby shop. But considering the number of items I have that are no longer available, I'm glad I am. But there are some I wish now I had bought when they were available.
Enjoy
Paul
Are you sure any kitbashing would be necessary to get back to the original. There isn't a lot of detail on the structure so I don't know what if anything is different about the current structure other than the name change. It has loading docks front and back with a roof over each, a set of stairs for each loading dock, and a roof sign. A pretty basic structure.
IRONROOSTER UPinCT The result of these policies by the manufacturers for me is to turn me into a bit of a hoarder. Sometimes I buy because I feel I might need it in the future. If I don't buy it when I see it I might not be able to buy it when I want it or need it. As a result, I have more projects than I can finish. Yes. In many ways I am my own hobby shop. But considering the number of items I have that are no longer available, I'm glad I am. But there are some I wish now I had bought when they were available. Enjoy Paul
I have done a little hoarding myself but one of the results is that I sometimes forget I already have a particular structure and end up buying another one. I've done that three times now.
Another thing I did was buy a large craftsman coaling tower for my old layout about 30 years ago (at least) but never did get around to assembling it before dismantling the old layout. I built one of Walthers concrete coaling towers for my main engine terminal on the current layout so now I have to decide what to do with the craftsman kit. It's too big to justify putting it on my branchline so it seems to be a choice of leaving it on the shelf or assembling it and replacing the Walthers coaling tower.
A couple things I'm glad I have acquired are an FSM replica of John Allen's two stall engine house and a large Victorian hotel for a resort town at the end of my branchline. Both of these were limited run craftsman kits which I hope will be top drawer structures on the branchline I plan to begin adding soon.
Bet LION up a lot during the night. HIM only detail input, not ouput.
Mike
IRONROOSTER But considering the number of items I have that are no longer available, I'm glad I am. But there are some I wish now I had bought when they were available. Enjoy Paul
Paul,
That's exactly what drives me to buy when I see because "there are some I wish now I had bought when they were available."
It's a vicious cycle. As pointed out on another thread maybe there is a 28-128 step program for me.
I guess this hoarding behavoir keeps the manufacturers in business.
Derek
UPinCT IRONROOSTER But considering the number of items I have that are no longer available, I'm glad I am. But there are some I wish now I had bought when they were available. Enjoy Paul Paul, That's exactly what drives me to buy when I see because "there are some I wish now I had bought when they were available." It's a vicious cycle. As pointed out on another thread maybe there is a 28-128 step program for me. I guess this hoarding behavoir keeps the manufacturers in business. Derek
I admit to buying far too much stuff because I knew I'd regret it later if I didn't get it when it was first available. It's just the way it is, whether we like it or not.
I try not to hoard, but it's hard because I've found some kits I want are no longer easily found. One thing I highly recommend is to send a polite email to the manufacturer asking if they will ever put that kit back in production. I've found most manufacturers actually respond to my emails (maybe not in my favor, but at least they respond which makes me feel like I'm not talking to a brick wall.lol), even if they don't respond, I feel they see my request and if enough people ask for another run, it may produce it again. It's another reason I like this hobby...we can actually affect it if we are willing to.
If you can't find a particular kit, keep looking. I've found some kits after years of going to train shows, searching the Internet and asking around. I think some Internet sellers are not into this hobby at all and buy a bunch of stuff at "x" price, then try to sell it at "x"+"profit", or just want to sell some of their stuff to someone that will appreciate it (so it doesn't go to waste)...which is why you find prices at 3 times the going rate as well as prices at 1/3 the going rate.
Be polite, make friends and keep an eye out for what you 'need, sometimes you'll find it, sometimes you won't. That's part of the challenge, if everything was immediately available, we wouldn't have as much pride when we actually got what we wanted, after searching high and low for years. :)
http://delray1967.shutterfly.com/pictures/5
SEMI Free-Mo@groups.io