Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
I have yet to even see a cheap train set at Walmart, even after looking specifically for one. It was just before Christmas last year, and it was only in one store, but I did not find even one set. At the Toys R Us store next to Walmart, they only had about eight boxes of a single type of Life Like train set at the same time. Needless to say, the selection (if you can call it that) was pathetic. I was thinking to myself at the time, that if I had wanted to get a kid (or kids) interested in the hobby without spending much money, I didn't have many choices without going to the LHS (which would cost 2 to 3 times as much as the set at Toys R Us). When I was growing up, Toys R Us carried sets from Life Like, Bachmann and Tyco. They also carried accessories like extra track and snap together structures. If it weren't for these things, I probably would not have ever become interested in the hobby. This cheap stuff was fairly short lived, but it did get me into this hobby. I then discovered a few LHSs and found out that there was a model railroad club at my dad's workplace. It was because of the influences from these sources that I learned of the better products out there. <br /> <br />What I think Walthers should do for the benefit of all parties involved is to include a condensed version of their catalog (similar to their sales flyers) in each of their "toy" train sets, offering low cost accessories to the purchasers of these sets. They could make a selection of these accessories available through the big box retailers and offer other items through mail order or special order at the LHS. They could also include a coupon for $5.00 off the purchase of their full catalog. In the full catalog, they could include a coupon for $10.00 off any Walthers special order through the local hobby shop(s), which could be listed on an enclosed page supplied with the catalog, specific to the purchaser's location. That way, Walthers could cater to the low end, low priced market by mass producing products to be sold by the big box stores, but could also influence consumers to get more involved in the hobby and promoting the LHS in the process. I see something like that as a win-win for all concerned.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community