1:87 scale automobiles at Wal-Mart for $1.67

[bcawthon]

Jim,

To be honest, I don't know how much a letter (not e-mail) campaign would help, but I am sure it wouldn't hurt.

I would suggest a polite, one-page letter to:

Mr. Thomas A. Gottschalk
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
General Motors Corporation
300 Renaissance Center
P.O. Box 300
Detroit, Michigan 48265-3000

Mr. Gottschalk is in charge of all of GM’s legal and contractual affairs.

In your letter, let Mr. Gottschalk know model railroading is enjoyed by a quarter-million American adults and teenagers the majority of whom select 1:87 as their primary or only modeling scale. Urge him to request the standards be revisited, examining the issues and balancing any possible benefits of the new requirements against the probable loss of goodwill among a rather large number of current and potential GM customers. You might even suggest he request the responsible executives seek some input from the model railroading community, just as they bring in focus groups to evaluate future GM products.

Remember this is a business letter, so make it first-rate. Do use your spell-checker and proper grammar. Please don’t threaten mayhem or say you will or won’t buy a GM product based on the outcome, even if it’s true. That will only defeat your intention and hurt the chances of any meaningful response.

Good luck!

Bill

[Anonymous]

BIll,

Thanks for being such as good source of info. Do you think if we were to start a letter/email campaign to GM that they might change their minds? If they heard from enough of us about how we would like to display Chevrolet cars on our layouts and that for them is really GOOD FREE advertising.

I was planning on going to "The World's Greatest Hobby on Tour' show in Chantilly, VA today but it is snowing and I'm not sure it is still on. I have emailed them but have not received a response yet.

Thanks again, Jim

[bcawthon]

With all of GM's very real challenges, it amazes me someone in their organization had so much time on their hands that they decided they needed to fix something that wasn't a problem at all. But they did and now GM will not license a model shorter than 2.5 inches in length. This not only means no Corvettes, it means no Camaros, no Corvairs, no Blazers, no Novas, Cobalts, Vegas and a host of other new and classic GM vehicles.

Pity the poor guys who model in N scale. The best they can hope for is a bus or big truck with a box van or flatbed body. No cars, no light trucks.

I have had a prolonged, but so far fruitless, discussion with GM and their licensing agency about the silliness of their new standards. GM faces no liability because of small collectibles. At least since 1977, there has never been a recall or safety warning issued over an HO scale vehicle model. I know; I checked all actions brought by the CPSC for the past 28 years. As far as I have been able to determine, there has never been a tort claim even filed over an HO scale vehicle model that was related to product safety or injury. As a matter of fact, the only collectible toy car or scale replica that was ever involved in any kind of legal action over product safety was a larger diecast packed in a cereal box. Other than that, no recalls, no lawsuits, zero, zip, nada.

As you mentioned, Jim, the warnings found on most toy cars are adequate. According to federal regulation (16 CFR 1500 and 1501) and ASTM standard 953, the small parts and Choke Hazard warnings are all that's needed. in fact, if the package says "Not suitable for children under 8. Contains small parts and sharp edges" and has an age advisory like "8+" on the package, you don't even have to have the Choke Hazard warning.

I don't know this for sure, but I have come to believe GM decided that licensing in HO and N wasn't bringing in enough money so they decided to restructure the program to eliminate it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Bill,

I just got back from my local Wal-Mart and picked up 18 more of the older model Malibu cars. I figure I will get them while they last. Sorry to hear about the cancellation of the Vet by Model Power. The Malibu cars do display the "8+" label on the front of their boxes and the "WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD•Small parts Not for children under 3 years." And another warning on the bottom, "Not suitable for children under 3 years old due to the danger of swallowing small parts."

Isn't that enough warning for consumers? I would think so, but knowing how some judges rule - maybe not.

Jim

[bcawthon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JimPeters

A response to Bill C.

Thanks for the info. I understand what you are saying about higher costs for materials and shipping, but how can Yat Ming produce 1:72 scale cars of the same or better quality and have them sell for $1.44 in the same Wal-Mart toy section as the Malibu cars? Is Wal-Mart loosing money on these little wonders? I kind of doubt it. ....
.... Yat Ming makes lots of great quality scale model cars and trucks and if they can sell the 1:72 scale ones to Wal-Mart and both companies make a profit, its too bad they don't want to get into the "train" market.

Jim

Jim:

Wal-Mart isn't losing a penny selling the Yat Mings at $1.44. When you can make a gazillion 1/72 models, your cost per model is quite low plus the models are being sold directly to Wal-Mart, cutting out the necessary margins for distributors and the standard retail markup. And before anyone complains about distributor and retail markups, they are what allow your LHS to stay in business and hobby markups are about the same as other retail markups.

I have a hunch Yat Ming is waffling on their reason for selecting 1/72. Hongwell is doing the same. They want a scale they can sell in the toy and mass-merchandise stores so they can reduce their cost per unit (see gazillion models above). 1/64 scale is so crowded it's hard to get a new line established without spending a ton on promotion. 1/87 is not widely regarded as a collector's scale and can run into problems as a toy scale because of its size and potential child safety issues. A lot of 1/87 scale models would fit in the "choke tube" used by the CPSC and thus would require special labeling. As a matter of fact, General Motors will no longer license a model that fails the choke tube test, meaning no more Corvette models (the one listed on the Model Power website has been cancelled). In fact, there are an awful lot of GM models that can no longer be made in HO scale.

Bill C.

[GAPPLEG]

Just stopped at one of my local Wal-Marts, they had two cases out on the shelf, Bought a bunch. I don't know why but we have 4 Wal-Marts here in Erie. It's not that big a town. But I just hop from one to the other looking.

[Anonymous]

the High Speed models distributed by Schuco can be seen at www.schuco.de and are $4.50-$5.50, even for sets including a caravan and multi-car sets. also a LOTof racing cars and a lot of new models / colors being released soon. i currently have a first order of 44 cars from a new contact in Germany that can order them from a distributer, I will post his contact info when my order is completed successfully. shipping will be a killer but well worth it. they often have limited editions also. they have a big variety of tractor-trailors, emergency vehicles, even a few military tanks! There is a snow plow on page 4 of the 1:87/Cars section. not sure how much the tractor-trailors run, will ask about them for my next order (when this one is done). thought some of ya's might like to see their selection at least

[Anonymous]

You know most Company's don't care about the little guy. Forget Ming Ying or what you call it. I will stick to the traditional options.

[jlrc47]

Any one in the Springfield Ma area the Walmart in Westfield Ma has a few 1:87 cars for $1.67 , Not too many but hope they get more .
Joe

[Anonymous]

A response to Bill C.

Thanks for the info. I understand what you are saying about higher costs for materials and shipping, but how can Yat Ming produce 1:72 scale cars of the same or better quality and have them sell for $1.44 in the same Wal-Mart toy section as the Malibu cars? Is Wal-Mart loosing money on these little wonders? I kind of doubt it.

I did receive this reply from Yat Ming today:

"We chose the 1/72nd scale for a reason and that was not selling into the market for trains. There is also another problem with safety in that scale being sold in the toy department. When Wal-Mart has our full line of modern American vehicles, I am sure that they will sell much better. Boley alreadys does a nice job in 1/87th."

Thanks for your interest.
John W. Adams
Yat Ming Industrial Factory Ltd.
131 Spencer Woods Drive
East Greenwich, RI 02818
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Yat Ming makes lots of great quality scale model cars and trucks and if they can sell the 1:72 scale ones to Wal-Mart and both companies make a profit, its too bad they don't want to get into the "train" market.

Jim

[bcawthon]

PLEASE READ THIS!

What you have seen from Malibu International is likely all you're going to see.

Model Power has no relationship whatsoever to Malibu International. The models are made by High Speed, a Chinese contract manufacturer. HIgh Speed models are sold under a variety of brand names. The Malibu International line is the result of a dispute between Model Power and High Speed, which has apparently now been resolved.

Following the termination of its contract with Model Power, High Speed was using 21st Century Toys of San Leandro, California, which is the owner of Malibu International Toys, to dispose of the existing models through an exclusive agreement with Wal-Mart. So what you have been paying are "fire-sale" prices that bear no resemblance to the real world. This doesn't mean you shouldn't stock up whenever you can find these models (I have a bunch) but it does mean you shouldn't expect much more that what you've already seen. Especially in terms of new models of American vehicles.

On the other hand, Model Power will have a number of new models. The new Ford F-100 and Oldsmobile 442 are especially nice. You can see these on the Model Power website. I can't discuss any future Model Power products except to say they will be exclusive to Model Power and will NOT be sold in Wal-Mart. They will be available at your LHS with a suggested retail price of $3.98.

Yat Ming, Maisto and most other diecast manufacturers have no interest in 1:87 scale. They want big sales through the toy channel and do quite well in other scales. There are some other "pioneers" looking to try their hand at HO scale but NO ONE is planning anything like the $1.67 models. In fact, prices for diecast are likely to increase because costs of manufacturing and shipping have risen quite a bit.

And how about those $8-plus models at your LHS? Get used to them, guys, though I think there will be some good action in the $3-$5 per model price range, too. With licensing, tooling recovery and other costs, that's about the least it takes to get a model on the shelf at your retailer. Cheap may be good, but it doesn't inspire investment, which is what is required to get new models made.

BTW: 1955 Chevys wouldn't have ridden a multi-level auto rack, which didn't appear in America until 1959. By that time car rooflines were several inches lower (there's four inches difference between the heights of the 1955 and 1959 Chevrolets). The height of Model Power/Malibu International Chevy is about 1.4 scale inches lower than factory spec, which is right at five feet. The width and length are off by less than a scale inch. So if there is some reason the Chevy doesn't fit, check your rolling stock. You could also try the smaller CMW '55 Bel Air, which is actually closer to 1:90 scale.

Bill C.

[reklein]

Thanks for the tip on the 1:87 cars. I found 50 -60 of em in the Lewiston ID Wal-mart. Only a few fifties vintage cars though,chevys and ,VW's. I'm a littlesurprised at all the conversation on this subject though.

[Hauckra]

I decided to send Brian Thompson an e, asking him to reconsider his decision. Hopefully he will do a little R&D and realize the market potential. Personally, I'd really like to see him market 20's, 30's, 40's, and 50's. All those would fit nicely into most any era.

[Anonymous]

What are we gonna do with all the 8 dollar cars in the LHS??? No one is going to want em now. Besides I think the Accurail Autoracks are now out of production.

[Anonymous]

Forget Yat Ming! I just got a response from Brian Thompson and they have no plans to make 1:87th scale cars.

Jim

[Anonymous]

The response by those who are able to buy the Malibu International 1:87 scale cars is great and for those of you not able to get them at your local WalMart you should contact the toy manager in your store and ask him/her to order them. The same is true with the Athearn brand 1:87 John Deere tractors and the Norscot brand 1:87 Caterpillar yellow construction equipment. "If you ask them, they will order it." If they do not, contact WalMart headquarters at walmart.com.

I have contacted Jonathan B. Tager, the vice president of Model Power (Malibu International Toys) and he said they were going to add some new (older) cars to their line in the future. These new cars are those being displaying on their website - modelpower.com. I did ask him if they would be doing any others and he said they did not have plans to do others at this time.

Here is a new idea!! In all of the Walmart stores in my area they stock 1:72 scale cars made by Yat Ming right next to the 1:87 scale Malibu cars. These cars are as nice as the Malibu cars and sell for $1.44, that's less than the others. The shipments of 1:87th sell very quickly but the 1:72 just sit there for obvious reasons, THEY ARE TOO BIG FOR US TO USE!

I have emailed Yat Ming and asked them to make older cars (30's, 40's and 50's) in the right scale, 1:87th. After the third email I did get an answer - I'm not sure he read what I wrote, so I have written again to ask for 1:87 scale.

Any of you who are as interested in WalMart stocking more of the 1:87 scale cars for us might like to also write to Yat Ming to encourage them to change scales. If they hear from enough of us, they may just think it would be a good idea to give us what we want.

Brian D. Thompson
Office Manager
Yat Ming USA, Inc.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Thanks, Jim

[Anonymous]

Hey Guys,

I have emailed WalMart twice about the Malibu cars and both times gotten a phone call from the manager of the toy department in our local WalMart saying they were getting more in a couple of weeks. He did say that Malibu International Toys was probably just a name used by the manufacturer making the cars for WalMart. The company which makes the cars is Model Power which (unlike Malibu) is on the web at www.modelpower.com.

I emailed Model Power telling them how much we all love the little cars they make, but that we all wished they would make more of the older models, like the 30's, 40's, and 50's.

They do have on their site some models not carried by WalMart at this time as far as I know. They are a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado, 1963 Ford Thunderbird, 1969 Oldsmobile 442, 1956 Ford F-100 Pick up Truck, they also picture a 60's Mustang and Corvette and some cars pulling little camping trailers.

In my email I encouraged them to produce a larger variety of years and models, and I believe if they really understood the market out here they would give us what we want, SO GO TO THEIR SITE AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT. If enough of us tell them they may just do it. I had a U. S. Congressman tell me one time that when he gets a letter from someone he figures that there are at least 10,000 more people that feel the same about an issue. If the Model Power people see it the same way your communication could have some real clout!

[Anonymous]

I tested the Accurail RTR Double Deck for these models and the Chevy fits both decks no problem.

[davekelly]

The two WalMarts by me seem to have these every now and then. It's kinda hit or miss. I've managed to score about a dozen cars (VW's and the Chevys) so far, but would like to get some more. Unfortunately there seems to be someone else in my area looking for the same thing as the last four times shipments arrived someone already had picked out the VW's and Chevys. Oh well. Keep trying right?

[Budliner]

hay with all this hoopla
I trcked over to wally mart (15 miles away in lynn MA)
wow its like some other country in spain
I cant find no ho cars nothing even close
*** I was looking for some piggy backs and cant beleve the price like 5 to 8 on line pluss shipping yikes
walmart strikes again nadda

[DALCruiser]

OK, I give up!! It looks like these cars are in Wal-marts on a regional basis. I have been to several Wal-marts in the San Jose, CA area and NO HO SCALE CARS in stock. The only thing they stock are Hot Wheels (1:64) and larger. The John Deer stuff was there but it looks like 1:64 or larger. Now I'm jealous[sigh]

Dave

[accord1959]

Anybody in the Ottawa, Canada area find these cars in a Walmart store? I've checked the Orleans and South Keys stores and there are none.

[Medina1128]

I guess you could model the 1950s and explain that Marty McFly wrecked the DeLorean and made another time machine out of a Viper...

[bryanbell]

I have no problem finding the cars but I've checked five WM's in my area and not one tractor to be found. It might be a suburban thing, I'll have to venture out to a rural WM to look for them.

bryan

[Anonymous]

I found a bunch of Chevy 55's at the walmart today. Sadly they dont fit the Accurail Ready to run TRIPLE deck Autorack.

I will be evaluating the Accurail Double Decker as a possible canidate soon.

If I cannot find a working autorack to load, then I guess Im a owner of a HO scale dealership! LOL.

[Anonymous]

I found some other sets at WM today. There were 2 Bachmann and a Life-Like. The Life-Like was a Santa Fe Diesel, one of the Bachmanns was the Casey Jones, and the other, I think was an F7 Santa Fe. Another WM had an Athearn Santa Fe (once again, I think it's an F7).

[Soo Line fan]

They must be scarce, I have never seen one.

Jim

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by PABELT

does wally world have train sets?

They have 2 by Athearn, but I've only seen them online. A John Deere one and a Coca-Cola one. Both are $75.00, and the engines are F-7's.

[Anonymous]

After going to 5 Walmarts, I have now 5 Beetles, 2 Karmann Ghias, 2 VW Vans and 15 55 Chevys. The Chevys will populate the streets, and if I can get enough Volkswagens, I might have to open up a VW dealership in town!!!

They look great on a bi-level rack, but the car gets a little heavy with 12 vehicles on board....oh well, I'll just add another engine!![:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

does wally world have train sets?