ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – January 8, 2004

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering how Horizon Hobbies will deal with other distributors, such as Walthers. Will they stop providing products to other distributors, thereby making themselves the sole distributor and price-setter?

[Anonymous]

[:D] I think it will only be easier to get Athearn products after the buyout from a large ,well known distributor such as Horizon Hobby. Let's just hope they don't get greedy, as our hobby isn't getting any cheaper as time goes on, and we all know that when products become too expensive, thier sales drop, so keep your fingers crossed and hope that Horizon Hobby realizes this as well!

[ellisjamesrobertson]

A sole Distributor often means Monopoly.
Monopoly often means higher prices.
Higher prices often mean reduced sales.
Reduced sales often mean product withdrawn.

Let's hope not.

[Allen Jenkins]

Golly! What a bunch of fatalists! You'd think Uncle Irve's been sold out to the terrorists! to my recollection Athearn is not a publicly owned company, and the business that bought them is an established entity, I believe this will better the hobby. Remember the family made awesome decisions throughout the years which were important for the survival of the company, and so go to the website and see the results. Do you think we'll loose Athearn? I remember when Athearn bought out Rail Power Procucts. I wondered what would happen to all those unique carbodies, and I still want to go out and buy all that I can get my hands on, enter the Gen. GP-60M, and GP-60B units. Athearn has done a great job on that project! Give the new owners time. However I could suggest-The Seaboard Air Line Railroad never owned the SD-45! Enjoy Your Hobby!

[JoeUmp]

The more I think about it, the more I'm afraid that Athearn's quality will go down hill in a hurry.[xx(] HH please prove me wrong. Don't limit the distribution of the Athearn product line, don't lower the quality or raise the prices too high; especially for the kits, and don't drop the kit line. Do these things and I will remain a loyal Athearn customer.

Joe

[bruce22]

in the whole scheme of life, does it make any difference ? I doubt it .

[Anonymous]

I hope the quality doesn't go down and as for pricing they need to be careful. Model railroading is a great hobby but is getting very expensive. If it doesn't slow down I think it will deter the next generation from getting involved.

[alpreston]

No. I haven't bought an Athearn product in years since they don't make anything for my preferred gauge. I've never expected them to do so, and I'd be very surprised if the change in ownership changed that fact.

[Anonymous]

Horizon Hobbies? Not really sure who they are. I've always known Athearn to mean quality kits and locomotives at reasonable prices. I've noticed that these two hallmarks are the first sacrificed in any sale, merger or aquisition. I think this will have an impact on the hobby. Horizon should concider how best to make profits. One suggestion is to keep Atehearn as close to what it has been for all these years. Quality, affordability, selection, and availability are very important to those of us contributing to those profits. A good start would be more products in G.M.&O livery. ( since we're tossing our two cents into this, there's mine).

[CP5415]

As long as HH doesn't decide to pull the big bully routine on the industry, I think everything should be ok.

Gordon

[ShaunCN]

I think this sucks. I also think that the new company will raise prices putting the people who cant spend all that much money right out of the hobby............THAT WOULD SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ShaucnCN

[Hawks05]

as long as they keep the kits simple, locomotives have great detail for a good price, and lower the RTR stuff nothing will change.

[Anonymous]

This is bad. BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD!!!!

I am half tempted to find a group of investors and Buy out Horizon. Then once we own it. Dissolve the company and order any and all non-model railroad inventory destroyed on the spot. And then restore walthers as its one true national distributor. I would keep everything the same. Except make avialable more undecorateds. (I havn't been able to find those for a few years)

But I live in the western US. That means Caboose hobbies is going to be the only place to get athearn for the States of Nevada, Arizona New Mexico Colorado. Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota North Dakota Montana and Idaho. If Horizon is going to make people order from business that can order $10,000 a crack from them. That takes Athearn out of the Local Hobby stores in all of those States. This is bad news bears.

James

[Anonymous]

[xx(]As long as they keep their prices basically the same I see no problem, but I have a bad feeling about this.

[Anonymous]

Like others, wait and see. What concerns me is not so much who owns what company but why so much ready to run stuff. Where are all the good kits? Athern started as Globe...all kits, and developed into Athern; affordable stuff to introduce younger modelers to the hobby. Silver Streak! Even Varney. Walther was all kits, but now very few. Why all the R-T-R. I've always thought that R-T-R were toys (Lionel, Am erican Flyer, Marx etc)a place to introduce kids to the hobby and that kits were the real model railroading materials, part of the maturation process. Add to that; super detailing, custom paint etc etc and you have a great hobby. Check the prices over the past few years also. Walther appears to be pricing themselves out of the market for new comers. Anyone can get 30% off of Walthers prices from any good hobby shop, on or off line. I get better prices from my local hobby shop than from Walther.

[Anonymous]

I'm suprised that 186 (as of 2:53 PM eastern time) people are calm, this is the worst thing that could happen to a teen modeler like myself. Most of my equipment, both locomotives and freight cars, is Athearn. And I thought the Ready to Roll series would be going strong for years to come.

[Anonymous]

More and more Athearn has been upgrading the detail in their models. This has lead to higher prices. But the inexpensive kits which were their main claim to fame for many years seem to be disappearing. Therefore it's going to take more thought to buy equipment. Since they were bought it seems that trend will only accelerate. But that's just another sign of the convenience society we're now in.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ckuehncnwhs


Charles Kuehn

Charles, were you not part of the Lionel Family?

[Anonymous]

In any merger, acquisition, leverage buyout or reorganization the objective is to enhance the bottom line/shareholder values/profitability.

There are always minuses and pluses, losers and winners.

[Anonymous]

i can see a concern of quality products but if they want to stay in bussiness they will have to keep up with others -- i have 19 athearn engines love them but have kato and many oyher brands too ---- i'm addicted to buying engines and i like the way they all run some good some not so good--- so i hope athearn stays the same-- cpr rr

[Anonymous]

I think it may have an impact on the market, but do not know that much about horizon hobby. I model N scale and was looking forward to Athern's inroad to N scale with items that have been heretofore unavailable. I hope this decision does not put Athern N scale on the "backburner." Only time will tell!!!
Al SC

[ckuehncnwhs]

Mergers/acquisitions/buyouts, etc., ad nauseum - no matter how they're sold as beneficial to the consumer - seldom result in a more consumer-friendly climate. I have no illusions about this one.

For decades Athearn has done a fine job of providing good-quality, inexpensive model railroad products to the low and mid-level hobbyists. Athearn has (even before this news) begun catering to the high-end clientele. I feel no optimism that this "improvement" will in any way result in improved service to the overall hobby.

Charles Kuehn

[Anonymous]

The buy-out is unlikely to make availability of Genesis items any worse in the UK where I live, as the delivery times are ridiculous at present. The models are of course 2nd to none. I've waited over a year for WP ABB sets of F3s in passenger livery and it now looks unlikely that they will ever arrive. I could give other examples too. Lets hope the situation improves.

[Anonymous]

Excuse me. Have You actually loooked at an Athearn box in the last two years?
Made in China, China, China.....
But I sure hope the quality will remain as is.
What I fear is higher prices with an exclusive distributor.

QUOTE: Originally posted by JamesL

I hope that that Athearn production stays in Compton and won't move to China or India. Greater corporate profits are realized by using offshore manufacturers.
I think the quality will remain high, whatever happens.

[Anonymous]

Good excuse for a price increase! Although, the older Athearn kits my become collectors' items in their own ruight now!

[ClinchValleySD40]

No effect on me. If I want something, I buy it regardless of who makes it. Probably biggest impact will be if they stick to hobby shop only sales. I still do most of my purchasing on line.

[Anonymous]

As a modeller in HO scale I have no real problem using other manufacturers for my motive power or rolling stock, but would really hate to lose Athearn as my major equipment seller. Don`t derail a good product line Horizon Hobbies!

[Anonymous]

The classic blue box line has been quietly shrinking over the past year. As many posters have already stated, the kits represent great value, especially for beginners.

WIth the time and money Athearn has put into the Genesis and Ready-to-Roll lines, it would seem that there is more profit in these pre-assembled products.

Time will tell if this is good for the hobby. I'm not afraid of change, change just doesn't have a perfect record.

[Anonymous]

[V] My local dealer is already having trouble ordering Athearn. Horizon does not want to deal with small dealers.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully Athearn will go with a two tier product line, stay with the classic old timer line that many of us grew up with and develop a high end product line that more experienced modellers will want to aquire.

Many other manufacturers have done this except their bottom end is, how does one say

ROCK BOTTOM!

Athearn maybe simple but is an excellent runner and definately the way for beginners to peak their interest.

Remember most kids can't afford $15 to $25 kits. Most Moms and Dads don't have the time nor the ability to put these kits together.