"Why do you hate steam locomotives???"

[GearDrivenSteam]

I would stock the Bachmann Spectrum series. Some of them, such as the On30 models are still not DCC equipped. I think Broadway limited is a good quality for the money as well. Atlas makes the new N scale Shay, but it's pricey. I don't understand your thinking on the Broadway being in the high end mix. It is as far as quality, but I've seen them go for right around a hundred bucks on Ebay with sound and all. I know retail will be higher, but the difference should be about the same.

[BRAKIE]

I would stock want SELLS and special order those items I don't stock..Reason? simple..You must maintain a good turn over in stock and that leaves out any item that collects dust after all a quick cash turn around means cash for new stock and paying the bills..

[BigRusty]

There is an old, old saying: "You can't do business from an empty wagon".

If your wagon is empty Sir, then I can't do business with you. I realize, that you can't afford to stock bad items, or items that your customer base is not interested in. Unfortunately, that is the case with most Hobby shops nowadays, because of the aging of the transition era generation, of which I am a member. That is why, I have no choice but to buy from internet sources. Over $15,000 in the past three years and counting. Your store is no longer relevent to my needs, and can't ever be.

I sympathize with your situation, but believe me, it can only get worse. My best friend, an ardent Model Railroader who ran an excellant shop in a Chicago suburb, finally had to give up the ghost for the very reasons you cite. And that was in 1980.

[Anonymous]

Steam is boring!  I didnt grow up in that era so it does not please or excite me.  now if I was born in the 40's I would have saw alot of steam and would have a different feeling towards it but since I was born in the late 70's I do not KNOW srteam.  I do not like cars from the 40's-80's either.  Steam for me is just old guy stuff.  OOOPs I mean well experienced guy stuff.

Goldmine,

You may not like steam but how can you call it "boring".  It's anything but.  Take a SD70 and a 4-8-4 or 2-8-8-2, run them side-by-side, and tell me which one is visually the more interesting one to watch.  Side rods, pistons, steam, smoke, wheels, sound - all in synchronized motion.  Old?  Maybe.  Boring?  No way!

Goldmine, have you ever ridden on or been next to a real steam engine when it is fired up?  If not, take an opportunity for an eye-opening experience.  You just might see it in a different light.

Tom

P.S.  I wasn't born in that era either...

 

 

Ok I am sorry but I have to rephase my first comment on steam.  Surely it is not boring but I guess the words of OLD is a better choice of words. I am sure that you are absolutely correct about the SD70M and a 2-8-8-4 side by side which would be more interesting but when it comes to looks I would enjoy seeing the SD70M but thats just what I like.  I apologize for the first statement of being boring

[howmus]

Steam is boring!  I didnt grow up in that era so it does not please or excite me.  now if I was born in the 40's I would have saw alot of steam and would have a different feeling towards it but since I was born in the late 70's I do not KNOW srteam.  I do not like cars from the 40's-80's either.  Steam for me is just old guy stuff.  OOOPs I mean well experienced guy stuff.

Steam is boring????????  Goldmine, take a trip to a steam museum like Steamtown National Historic Site and take a ride behind one of those beasts and there is a good chance you will change your mind.  The sound, smell and visual effects of steam locos are something to behold.

One Track Mind,  my LHS carries the IHC line in stock and a few others on occasion, but stocks mostly diesels as that is what most customers are going to buy.  He also makes it clear that he will order in almost anything for a customer.  There is no way any LHS can afford to stock everything out there so choices have to be made bsaed on the market. 

[tstage]

Steam is boring!  I didnt grow up in that era so it does not please or excite me.  now if I was born in the 40's I would have saw alot of steam and would have a different feeling towards it but since I was born in the late 70's I do not KNOW srteam.  I do not like cars from the 40's-80's either.  Steam for me is just old guy stuff.  OOOPs I mean well experienced guy stuff.

Goldmine,

You may not like steam but how can you call it "boring".  It's anything but.  Take a SD70 and a 4-8-4 or 2-8-8-2, run them side-by-side, and tell me which one is visually the more interesting one to watch.  Side rods, pistons, steam, smoke, wheels, sound - all in synchronized motion.  Old?  Maybe.  Boring?  No way!

Goldmine, have you ever ridden on or been next to a real steam engine when it is fired up?  If not, take an opportunity for an eye-opening experience.  You just might see it in a different light.

Tom

P.S.  I wasn't born in that era either...

[Dave Vollmer]

I have to be honest, I wouldn't buy a steam locomotive from a LHS.  The kind I need (highly specialized, i.e., N scale PRR like the PCM M1b 4-8-2) would be so expensive and low-demand that no LHS would carry it.  Even if they did, they're so darned expensive that I would have to search for an online bargain.

I love my LHS and support it whenever I can.  I buy rolling stock, kits, magazines, and supplies there.  But I draw the line at locomotives.  When we talk in terms of hundreds, I just don't have enough cash to ignore the 30% or more savings I can often find online.

Sorry, One Track Mind!  But I'm sure you've heard that before...

[Anonymous]

Steam is boring!  I didnt grow up in that era so it does not please or excite me.  now if I was born in the 40's I would have saw alot of steam and would have a different feeling towards it but since I was born in the late 70's I do not KNOW srteam.  I do not like cars from the 40's-80's either.  Steam for me is just old guy stuff.  OOOPs I mean well experienced guy stuff.

    Well, I didn't grow up in the steam era, but that hasn't stopped me from enjoying steam engines.

[Anonymous]

Logic would indicate that the question must come from your clientele so it would seem other LHS's are of little matter. More importantly, it would seem, is are your customers seeking to buy steam loco's, if so, what manufacturer do they favor? DC or DCC? price range? or are they just window shopping and looking for an exit strategy for not buying anything at this time? IMHO. I believe you presented a substantial argument for your position and wouldn't advise a change.

Don

[Anonymous]

Steam is boring!  I didnt grow up in that era so it does not please or excite me.  now if I was born in the 40's I would have saw alot of steam and would have a different feeling towards it but since I was born in the late 70's I do not KNOW srteam.  I do not like cars from the 40's-80's either.  Steam for me is just old guy stuff.  OOOPs I mean well experienced guy stuff.

[SOU Fan]

I see the dilema.  I don't really have  a local hobby shop and so if I need something I go to caboose hobbies so I can't really help you out on this one.

 

dekruif

[One Track Mind]

A few times lately I've been accused of "hating" steam locomotives because (most of the time) there are few or none in my shop.

Of course, I do not hate steam locomotives.

While trying to defend my business practices, I offer the following explanations for why there is a lack of steam in my store. Let's look at what is offered:

The Cheap Toyish Stuff - guess we can all agree a 40.00 steam locomotive is not worth stocking? If I can't have any faith in the product, I'm not going to stock it.

Next up the food chain is IHC: decent runners, look OK also. Not cheap, not real expensive. Had some a few years ago that tended to wobble. Short discount from my more convenient distributor. Never know when IHC will have one of those 2 page blow-out sales. Just not worth the risk for me to stock.

Bachmann Spectrum: this brand seems to be a good balance of quality and price. Now that DCC has been added, I'm not willing to stock them as not everyone here wants DCC and those that do don't want Bachmann DCC. One recent run of locomotives appeared on eBay a month before real shops took delivery...not sure how that can happen and certainly no one has given me an answer. Used to sell OK here, not so much anymore.

Now we get into the heights of detail, performance and quality with the price to prove it. I'd rather this thread not be turned into a "everything's over-priced" debate...but 300, 400, up to 700 dollars for a steam engine is a little steep for most of my market. I'm not saying they are not worth 400.00, I'm saying most folks just don't have that kind of money. Add in the limited run nature of the more expensive items, and it is the rare time when you see a Genesis, P2K Heritage, Broadway or PCM model in here.

So I get accused of "hating steam" due to the lack of steam inventory.

What would you stock if you owned a store? What does your local model train shop stock? Anyone have any practical ideas for addressing folks when they ask where are all my steam locomotives?

Would like to hear your thoughts. Any opinions will be appreciated!

A clarification edit: the title of this post was a direct quote (note the " "s) from two different customers in the last couple of months. I did not mean for it to be taken literally as to why anyone specifically would hate steam locomotives...sorry about that!