"are you a list or impulse shopper"
Definately a list shopper. Very specific goals, seldom waver from them.
Sheldon
Barry said:Great for the collector--not so much if your impulses tend towards the small switchers etc----
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Indeed..That's why you should buy what you're looking for if/when you find the fool thing or lament later..
Of course if one is willing to pay the full MSRP there are still some available.
http://www.amherst-depot.com/atlashoS1S2S3S4.htm
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
A little of both I usually go in with a list and come out with a longer list than I started with ,
Does "impulse" mean you go out shopping with a wad of money and NOT know what you are looking for?? When I need something, I take some money and go to the store and buy that screwdriver then go home, what other method of shopping is there?? you mean there are people out there that stuff money in their pants and head to the LHS and wander around until they see something they fancy, then simply buy it?? GEE that must nice, I wonder what planet I've been living on. How can you go out and buy crap if you don't know what you want (need) ? ?
I email both of my hobby shops with orders and wait 6 months to two years for some items when they are announced. That way Im certain to have these new items sold to me when they get here from China.
Athearn had a set of tankers for Acid service. I have been waiting on these for almost a year now. They should arrive sometime within a month.
Otherwise I go into the store with a small list of items to buy specifically or perhaps a list of needs from the workbench.
Once in a while I spot something and pick it up instantly as a impulse knowing it will not be there after I leave.
For me the bottom line is manufactor's product announcements followed by part numbers suitable for pre-orders. That completes my next hobby shop run months or years ahead of time.
If I wasn't, I wouldn't have 25 locomotives..
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
tatans Does "impulse" mean you go out shopping with a wad of money and NOT know what you are looking for?? When I need something, I take some money and go to the store and buy that screwdriver then go home, what other method of shopping is there?? you mean there are people out there that stuff money in their pants and head to the LHS and wander around until they see something they fancy, then simply buy it?? GEE that must nice, I wonder what planet I've been living on. How can you go out and buy crap if you don't know what you want (need) ? ?
Well, not exactly, but in the days of yore (and yore wasn't all that long ago - maybe as late as the mid 90's) it was an every day occurence that, while visiting the LHS to get something you had planned on buying, if in wandering around the shop (and you always did) and you unexpectedly came across some new model(s) or item(s)...and that definitely included things up to and including Athearn, or similar then up-scale locos...you'd think nothing of picking the item(s) up without a second thought.
Now there are certainly at least some folks who can still afford to do that currently, but their numbers are far, far smaller than in the past. The really big difference, at least for most guys, is that in the past the extra/disposable cash you normally carried around in your wallet would more than have covered the total cost of the unexpected purchases. The expenditure was considered no big deal and we're talking real paper money, not plastic.
It was certainly nothing at all out of the ordinary to come home from the LHS with several extra new freight cars, perhaps a couple of structure kits, or maybe a new but not really necessary loco. Typical reasoning for the purchase: I bought it 'cause I just liked the look of it. Did it dozens of times and so did all my buddies. It was almost a ritual! Today you simply don't see that sort of purchasing going on in most hobby shops. On-line purchasing isn't nearly the same situation but I still wonder if any folks peruse eBay and buy on impulse today?
CNJ831
CNJ831I still wonder if any folks peruse eBay and buy on impulse today?
No, not really. Mostly my problem is in the touchy feely world of a hobby shop. I shop more carefully online and especially E-bay because I'm waiting to get stung. (I have not yet). But when I'm in arms length of the car or structure I can touch it, feel it,smell it and it's calling my name, that's when it gets tough!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
but I still wonder if many folks peruse eBay and buy on impulse today?
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I suspect that may be so..The thrill of winning a auction I suppose?
I know this I am not impulse buying like I did simply because I am breaking old habits of buying IPD short line boxcars instead of the cars I really need...
I am using Kato Unitrack that not so long ago I turned my nose up at...It fills the necessary need of easy bullet proof track laying..I had a rough time trying to use rail joiners on Atlas N Scale track due to the limited use of my right hand and I didn't want to use standard "snap" track.
I believe many of us is still spending mega bucks except now we are more conservative by buying the needed items and a extra or three..After all look how fast some locomotives and car sell out.
I also suspect some may be using their extra "pocket change" for DCC and DCC/Sound decoders.
Which will it be a $20.00 car or a $24.00 decoder or a $120.00 DCC/Sound decoder?
tatansDoes "impulse" mean you go out shopping with a wad of money and NOT know what you are looking for?? When I need something, I take some money and go to the store and buy that screwdriver then go home, what other method of shopping is there?? you mean there are people out there that stuff money in their pants and head to the LHS and wander around until they see something they fancy, then simply buy it?? GEE that must nice, I wonder what planet I've been living on. How can you go out and buy crap if you don't know what you want (need) ? ?
Yep that's pretty much the way I do it - only at train shows. Part of the fun of this hobby for me is buying neat stuff. I usually limit my purchases to things that fit my scale, era, road modeled, etc.; but sometimes I stray - I have a fondness for billboard reefers and Maine 2 footers. By taking what I can afford to spend with me I don't use the plastic and wind up with a huge credit card bill. Once I spend what's in my pocket, I'm done - not that I have to spend it all and frequently don't.
Enjoy
CNJ831Now there are certainly at least some folks who can still afford to do that currently, but their numbers are far, far smaller than in the past. The really big difference, at least for most guys, is that in the past the extra/disposable cash you normally carried around in your wallet would more than have covered the total cost of the unexpected purchases. The expenditure was considered no big deal and we're talking real paper money, not plastic.
I have to disagree. All of your statements about how much "other" people have to spend are not based in a facts as far as I can see. How do you know how much others are spending? Or where they spend it?
It has been debated on here before, and documented in great detail, that ajusted for inflation the products offered today in this hobby are no more expensive than they have ever been. And considering the improvements in detail and loco performance, things may well be cheaper today than in years past by any sort of "value" test.
Now as to how much disposable income people have today, that may be a different story. But that too has a lot to do with individual life styles and personal situations. Buy a Ford instead of a BMW and you will have lots to spend on trains. Do you really need that $200 month cell phone habit? And yes, the government takes more today than they ever have.
If, and I do mean IF, high prices are effecting model train sales, its not the price of the trains, but the price of a host of other things reducing that disposable income. If you where walking around with $50 in 1968 and buying that Athearn F7 for $20 was no big deal, THAN, AJUSTED FOR INFLATION, you should be walking around with about $700 today and buying a a new Genesis F7 for $200 should still not be any big deal.
It is not the fault or responsablity of the model train industry that there has been a shift of wealth in our economy or that peoples habits, wants and needs have changed. Many people "need" stuff today that they did just fine without 20 years ago. It appears to me that market forces in our hobby have lowered prices and kept them as low as possible.
I posted earlier that I am not an impulse buyer, never have been, never will be. Sure, while in a retail store, I may find and purchase something not on "todays" list. But I only buy items that fit the layout theme and have purpose for the modeling goals I have set for myself. Never bought anything just because it was "shiny".
Having been in retail businesses myself, and having worked in several hobby shops, I know that most people come in looking for specific items. If your store is well stocked and your prices reasonable, you will sell stuff. If not, you won't. Too many small shops today are poorly stocked. WAY back in the early 80's when I worked as the train department manager of a full line hobby shop, we saw where the industry was going. We saw then, with the increase in available products that was starting even then, that only big stores with low prices (from buying dirrect), with very complete inventories of current product, would be able to survive. We were right. We looked into such plan, but found no investors willing to take the risk.
So now big stores, who also sell mail order/internet rule the day and smaller product lines are now sold direct to consumers also by mail order/internet. I could have told you all this in 1985. It is an absolute fact that less markup is being made by the model train industry today than was being made in 1968. Wholesalers have been largely eliminated, giving their 20% to the customer and the lower overhead of mail order is reflected in all sorts of heavily discounted products.
So model train prices today are just fine compared to the rest of the economy. Fix the economy or earn more money.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL CNJ831Now there are certainly at least some folks who can still afford to do that currently, but their numbers are far, far smaller than in the past. The really big difference, at least for most guys, is that in the past the extra/disposable cash you normally carried around in your wallet would more than have covered the total cost of the unexpected purchases. The expenditure was considered no big deal and we're talking real paper money, not plastic. I have to disagree. All of your statements about how much "other" people have to spend are not based in a facts as far as I can see. How do you know how much others are spending? Or where they spend it?
AAAHH!! But how many people are going around charging it to their credit card? I still think there is a huge difference in terms of how it is done---I save up the hard cash and buy it by cash. Someone else may buy the same thing using credit card when they may be nearly maxed out--is this a good thing? Maybe not?
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
I live in northeastern ohio, what's a local hobby shop? R. Staller
blownout cylinder ATLANTIC CENTRAL CNJ831Now there are certainly at least some folks who can still afford to do that currently, but their numbers are far, far smaller than in the past. The really big difference, at least for most guys, is that in the past the extra/disposable cash you normally carried around in your wallet would more than have covered the total cost of the unexpected purchases. The expenditure was considered no big deal and we're talking real paper money, not plastic. I have to disagree. All of your statements about how much "other" people have to spend are not based in a facts as far as I can see. How do you know how much others are spending? Or where they spend it? AAAHH!! But how many people are going around charging it to their credit card? I still think there is a huge difference in terms of how it is done---I save up the hard cash and buy it by cash. Someone else may buy the same thing using credit card when they may be nearly maxed out--is this a good thing? Maybe not?
OR, maybe they just use a credit card rather than cash and pay it off every month when the bill comes?
I am self employed, and I manage 4 rentals my wife and I own. I spend thousands every month, personal and business, on credit cards that I pay in full every month. I do carry some cash, more than many people these days, but I understand those who don't. My wife carrys only enough cash to buy an occasional lotery ticket and to get the grandchild a happy meal. EVERYTHING else she spends is on credit cards we pay in full every month.
Cash/credit, makes no difference IF you have the money. If you don't I would suggest you should not be buying trains.
luvadj Well, unlike going to the grocery store on an empty stomach, I go to the LHS with a list to keep those urges at bay...:)
ATLANTIC CENTRALOR, maybe they just use a credit card rather than cash and pay it off every month when the bill comes?
If that is done then fine but apparently, all too many go the opposite route. I was at our favourite clothing store recently and saw about 3 people in front of me getting told that their cards were no longer good. And the cards taken----everytime I use a card the money is already in the bank. ACCH! Some people just have different criteria--
ATLANTIC CENTRALCash/credit, makes no difference IF you have the money. If you don't I would suggest you should not be buying trains.
And some who did not have the money either found ways to save up or got another job-----simple- Not quite like some nowadays who do not even understand the concept of saving. HMMM in 1968 the saving rate was about 7.5%. In 2006 it stood at 0.2%. Is/was that where the disposible income came from?
Well, here's two examples of "Planned" and "Impulse"
Planned:
PCM Rio Grande F-81. Was new in the brass case at Railroad Hobbies. Asked Mike if he could put a hold on it while I figured out the finances to buy it. He did. Came in a week later and bought it, after CAREFULLY planning out how I'd pay for it.
Impulse:
Rio Grande L-131 2-8-8-2 from PFM. Saw this at CabooseHobbies while I was perusing their brass consignment page. Didn't even think, grabbed my Visa and typed all of the goodies into the ADD TO CART. It arrived four days later. Run in and painted about three days after that.
An instance where both have REALLY worked for me.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
ATLANTIC CENTRAL CNJ831Now there are certainly at least some folks who can still afford to do that currently, but their numbers are far, far smaller than in the past. The really big difference, at least for most guys, is that in the past the extra/disposable cash you normally carried around in your wallet would more than have covered the total cost of the unexpected purchases. The expenditure was considered no big deal and we're talking real paper money, not plastic. I have to disagree. All of your statements about how much "other" people have to spend are not based in a facts as far as I can see. How do you know how much others are spending? Or where they spend it? It has been debated on here before, and documented in great detail, that ajusted for inflation the products offered today in this hobby are no more expensive than they have ever been. And considering the improvements in detail and loco performance, things may well be cheaper today than in years past by any sort of "value" test. Now as to how much disposable income people have today, that may be a different story. But that too has a lot to do with individual life styles and personal situations. Sheldon
Now as to how much disposable income people have today, that may be a different story. But that too has a lot to do with individual life styles and personal situations. Sheldon
Sheldon, given the length of your post, let me address only a couple of points.
While I admit that I can not provide hard figures regarding exactly who spent what, when...I doubt such exist...I can say that for many years every hobbyist I knew, when making their weekly trek to the LHS and after putting the item(s) they came specifically to buy up on the front desk, would most definitely spend an additional good half hour perusing the shop's aisles and shelves inevitably picking out extra items that simply caught their eye. This was a universal practice, at least in my area, but a procedure that is rarely evident any longer in any shop I visit. Guys now mainly come in, purchase the item(s) they came specifically for and leave. If some of the guys happen to hang around to chat, the conversation will sooner or later turn to how pricey the hobby has become. This was not a topic of conversation I recall covering in years long gone by and certainly not an imaginary situation. Rather, it is an area of growing general concern among a great many longtime hobbyists I know.
As you point out, many earlier threads counter that when prices are adjusted for inflation, the relative numbers supposedly don't change over time. However, what one actually considered the relative value of X number of dollars to be back in say 1968 is not necessarily what the government today says the"adjusted" figures are equal to. Back in 1968 virtually any locomotive in the Athearn line was available in the NYC area for between $9 and $12 retail (nothing like the $20 you quote, just look in MR). Such a price ($9-$12) might have been considered by the individual as perhaps around what $40-$50 is today but nothing like the $200 some Athearns go for today. I recall walking around with $50 spending money in my wallet back in '68 without giving it much thought and I can tell you very quickly that in recent years I've certainly never done so with anything like the $700 you suggest it equates to today. The adjusted numbers simply don't accurately reflect the actual situation that existed.
Regardless, the real change in the cost of the hobby is more obvious when one uses much more recent times than 1968 for comparison. Compare prices from the late 80's or early 1990's across the board with today's. I suggest this because hobby prices experienced a very long plateau through the 70's and much of the 80's, where the hobby actually became progressively cheaper relative to a hobbyist's income. This situation is overlooked by many in discussing the matter at hand but is highly significant.
Another point that always troubles me is when someone brings up how much better models are today than long ago and what a great value you are getting today. Have folks not heard to the progress of technology? Products always get better with time...and most of them do so without much increase in retail price. HO trains in 1968 were incomparably better than what was available in 1945 (and dramatically less expensive to boot!). By the early 1990's the better HO models were putting most of those from '68 to shame. So, that today's models are much better all around is simply to be expected...but a doubling or tripling (or more) of their prices is far out of line in my book.
Of course, I expect none of the above will alter the mindset of those that insist nothing has changed with regard to the hobby's cost. But as someone who has been associated with the hobby to one degree or another for the span of a lifetime, I can definitely say that neither I, nor any of my hobbyist friends, ever regarded model railroading as an expensive pursuit until relatively recently.
CNJ831 Of course, I expect none of the above will alter the mindset of those that insist nothing has changed with regard to the hobby's cost.
Of course, I expect none of the above will alter the mindset of those that insist nothing has changed with regard to the hobby's cost.
Quite right in that this discussion isn't changing people's minds or contributing to our enjoyment of the hobby. Now let's try spending our time on interesting and productive discussions.
Mark
CNJ831,
As I said before, I will agree many people may not have the disposable income of years past, that is not a result of hobby prices.
I also agree with your analysis of the price level plateau, the same thing happened with energy costs but that does not make $2.40 a gallon gasoline unreasonable today, it just gives us a higher "emotional" resistance to it.
I will also completely conceed the technolgy advancement issue.
I am 52, I actually started in the hobby at 10 years old, my father helped me bulid a rather nice layout on 2 5x9 platforms. At age 14 I got my first job in the hobby shop (1971), I worked in hobby shops either part or full time until the early 80's.
As to the perception of whether or not the hobby is expensive, at any particular point in time, depends mainly on two personal issues - how much layout your trying to build and how much disposable income YOU have at that time. Has the cost of the hobby changed in relationship to your, or your friends, personal situation? - Maybe. But I submit this is not the doing of the manufacturers or the retail distribution network - but rather a function of our poor economic policy and the state of the economy.
If you just want to fill two 5x9's and run a few trains around, I submit its still not very expensive, but if you NEED DCC and sound, if you are buiding a basement size empire, with hundreds or thousands of freight cars and hundreds of locos, if you have radio throttles or signals, etc, etc. I submit it has always been EXPENSIVE.
As a person who has spent most of my life self employed, and who has studied economics, I do not look at the cost of the hobby from an emotional or personal view, but rather from a mathmatical one.
Like this: Number of hours worked = cost of new F7. With some fluxuation, they are the same, 1968 and today. The fact that I may need that money for other things, or did not need the money for other things in 1968, has no bearing on the "value" of the F7.
Hence my comment - Earn more money or fix the economy.
Market forces have squeezed all the excess markup from the hobby industry and kept prices as low as possible. The rest of the "probelm" is outside of the hobby industry in our over taxed, over regulated economy.
To further deminstrate the "emotional" side of this, I personally struggled for many years getting business going, raising children, etc. But now, children are grown, house is PAID for, no bills, dispite the economy I have had plenty to spend on trains in recent times. So while you thought it was inexpensive, a big layout seemed out of reach for me, now you think it is expensive and I am building my dream layout.
Your path in life may have been different. Maybe you worked for a big company, made lots of money at 40 years old and now have a fixed retirement. So everything seems too expensive, I don't know. I chose a path that was risker and harder in the begining and more secure once it succeeded.
Again, I don't know any of that about you, but that does not make the cost of the hobby higher or make it the fault of the hobby industry.
And I've never been an "impluse" buyer of anything because I have ALWAYS had to work hard for what I have.
Impulse buyer here, if I have a list or not. I have the money to buy a little something every time I visit. A magazine, scratch building parts, etc, etc. I enjoy my LHS and go to visit if I need something or not. Most of the time I don't need anything. I want that place to stay open for ever, and I may not always have the money to spend, but I do now and I will. My visits there are relaxing and enjoy this hobby too much to start thinking about the economy and how it has affected the pricing at the store.
Dan
markpierce CNJ831 Of course, I expect none of the above will alter the mindset of those that insist nothing has changed with regard to the hobby's cost. Quite right in that this discussion isn't changing people's minds or contributing to our enjoyment of the hobby. Now let's try spending our time on interesting and productive discussions. Mark
Well Mark, I'm about to give up on this forum in regard to actually sharing modeling ideas since every time I share something from my 40 years experiance in the hobby, someone responds with "that can't possibly work" or "why would you do that when you can just go buy XXX" (for three times the money - hobby too expeinsive?) or "that's not good enough because it only has six rivets and the prototype had seven" or "you use Atlas track (nose snubbed up), you can't be serious" or "what do you mean, you don't use DCC" or, going back to my very first post on here "you can't talk about that because you might eventually make a dollar or two from it" and so on. What about all the hobby shop owners, custom painters, DCC installers who are on here all the time and it is clear who they are and what they do?
I gave up on snob appeal modeling years ago and am having fun. But apparently that is of little interest here. Here everything is snob appeal or whinning about something. So admittedly I have played along a little.
CNJ831It has been debated on here before, and documented in great detail, that ajusted for inflation the products offered today in this hobby are no more expensive than they have ever been. And considering the improvements in detail and loco performance, things may well be cheaper today than in years past by any sort of "value" test....CNJ831
It has been debated on here before, and documented in great detail, that ajusted for inflation the products offered today in this hobby are no more expensive than they have ever been. And considering the improvements in detail and loco performance, things may well be cheaper today than in years past by any sort of "value" test....
If you consider "Nickel-Silver", which is a commodity of interest to many of us I'd wager, its cost has risen only moderately in the past 20 years-- about a 50% increase overall. While products made with "Nickel-Silver" have increased substantially more than that, depending on the manufacturer.
Nickel-Silver (which actually contains no 'Silver') is an alloy made up principally of about 18% Nickel, 65% Copper, and 17% Zinc. The exact proportion varies a little from mfgr to mfgr, but is approx the same- enough for our purposes. The 1990 prices for those metals (per pound were: $3.60, $1.50, and $0.80 respectively, making a pound of "Nickel-Silver" cost about $1.73. In 2000 the prices were: $3.40, $1.75, and $1.25, respectively, making a pound of "Nickel-Silver" cost about $1.97, which is about a 14% increase. In 2009 the prices are: $6.00, $2.50, $0.50 respectively, making a pound of "Nickel-Silver" cost about $2.84, a change of about 44%.
Then there are the costs for "plastic", tooling, stamping, etc. I suspect those prices however have remained essentially the same or have dropped over the same period, seeing how everything seems to be made in China these days, but I'd have to do additional research in order to substantiate that statement. Perhaps someone else here knows and could provide more information.
However, in contrast, the cost of track though has risen more sharply than the cost of Nickel-Silver. I know I paid $270 bucks in about 2003 for *two* cases (100 pcs each) Atlas Flex Track and cases are now running around $400 bucks each for the same thing today, although you can sometimes get it for a little less on ebay and such. (When I get home tonight I'll look it up in a relevant issue of MR and re-compute with the prices stated).
I'm basically like the guy who goes to Bass Pro Shop to get a tackle box and comes home towing a boat. But I still get the tackle box!
The Narrow Gauge Man
To misquote John Armstrong a little:
The hobby cost has always been the same - all you can afford.
Some years I can afford more than others. I buy ahead when I have the money and cut back when times are a little tight. Frankly, I have enough stuff after 38 years in the hobby that I could happily model in any of 3 scales for years.
I admit you need a little to get started, but 5 turnouts about 3 lengths of flex or equivalent sectional track, 4 - 6 cars, one switcher, one power pack and you are in business with a Timesaver layout. Total cost to start can be less than $200. Optionally you could add bumpers, uncoupling magnets, switch machines, buildings, scenery, etc. After that it's just more extras as you grow the empire..
Paul
jwhittenHowever, in contrast, the cost of track though has risen more sharply than the cost of Nickel-Silver. I know I paid $270 bucks in about 2003 for *two* cases (100 pcs each) Atlas Flex Track and cases are now running around $400 bucks each for the same thing today, although you can sometimes get it for a little less on ebay and such. (When I get home tonight I'll look it up in a relevant issue of MR and re-compute with the prices stated).
Around 1970, when Atlas introduced code 100 nickel silver flex track, the price was $1.00 ea or $100 per box of 100 pcs.
There was very little discounting going on at that time, but I did find one MR ad from back than offering it at $0.69 ea. 30% off was a BiG discount back then.
Standard Hobby has an ad in the latest MR offering code 100 NS Atlas flex for $249.99 per box of 100. And the new improved code 83 is only $309.99 per box of 100. I use this price because discounting in the norm today.
Even using the $0.69 price, that is only an increase of 3.6 times. EVERYTHING else you buy in the real world is more than 4x its 1970 cost. That would mean nice cars should only be $16,000 (my father bought an expensivre car in 1969 for $3,450.00) and gasoline should only be $1.40 and so on.
Even comparing retail to retail you still get something similar to the costs of other items in the economy.
1970 - $100.00 per box of 100, 2009 - $525.00 per box of 100 or 5.25x. $4000 car in 1970 x 5.25 = $21,000. I just bought a new car, not a budget model, not an expensive one, $31,000 or almost 9 times what my father paid in 1969.
Still seems to me the prices of hobby items are right in line with other values in the economy.
Yes there have been peaks and valleys between than and now, but the longer the time span, the more you see the REAL value of things does not change much.
CNJ831:
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Actually you can't really compare today's prices with yesteryear's.We are talking about 2 complete and different eras.Yesteryear mom stayed home and did the house wife routine..Today she works to help makes ends meet...Yesteryear there was thousands of good paying Union jobs.Today they're all but gone being replace with $10.00/hr light industrial jobs...
Sure a BB kit was $1.98 back then compared to $7.00-10.00 today but,like yesteryear people still have disposabile income for their simple pleasures of life..
I can still remember the outcry when Athearn raise the price from $1.98 to $2.25 and higher for some cars in '61.
Nothing new there except back then I didn't hear anybody comparing the 50/60s prices with the 20/30s prices.
ATLANTIC CENTRALStill seems to me the prices of hobby items are right in line with other values in the economy. Yes there have been peaks and valleys between than and now, but the longer the time span, the more you see the REAL value of things does not change much. Sheldon
It should also be noted for the record that I do most of my grousing as I'm opening and closing my wallet...
I'll offer just one last post and then drop out of the discussion because, as we all know, it's leading no where, as is unfortunately the usual case. Folks wish to selectively cite only long ago prices as a basis of comparison, rather than those from much more recent times when the hobby was without question, far cheaper.
As I've pointed out here many times, there was a long lull in prices from the 70's through the 80's when the hobby became steadily less expensive relative to personal income. Sheldon, too, acknowledged that fact but I don't think many wish to recall that in these discussions. So let's look at some of the prices from just over 20 years ago, rather than those more than half a lifetime in the past.
The following are taken from ads in the February 1987 MR. Athearn F-7, GPs 9 and 35, SW-1500, S-12...all $11.99 . Most Mantua steam $20-$60. Atlas N.S. 3' flex track $.89 to $.95 per. Athearn freight cars $2.25-$2.75. Shinohara regular turnouts are in the range of $8. DPM structure kits $4.95-$5.95 Hejan structure kits, mainly $6.30 to $12.99 . California Models kits, virtually all under $14.00 . Kadee freight cars $7-$10.
Now go to your current MR or your LHS and see what the same, or similar, items retail for today. According to the accepted inflation figures, the change should be 1.9x. Let's hear what you find.
I make a list, but since my LHS rarely has anything on it, I turn into an impulse buyer.