bad product choice at walmart,someone dropped the ball!

[alcodave]

While shopping at Walmart tonight i discovered a new train related toy. Unfortunatly this toy represents a negative part of railroading. The toy im talking about is a series of railcars covered in graffiti, These cars are known as Enamalized. I felt that selling an item like this at Walmart is not a good idea and i brought it up to the Assistant store manager who told me she would pass the word onto her boss. I honestly hope that this toy is removed from the shelves.It represents a very dangerous and very illegal activity. Also i would think that a family oriented company like Walmart would not condone glorifying Graffiti, not to mention the possible lawsuit from a family if a child was injured or killed while trespassing in a trainyard after seeing it made to look "cool" to spaypaint on trains after getting this toy from Walmart. ok well im going to get off my soapbox! Here is a picture of this product.

[CShaveRR]

Hmmm...CSX is as good about protecting its trademarks as UP, and, last I heard, the B&O capitol dome was one of them.  Maybe somebody in CSX's legal department would like to see this  (The yellow cars are also inaccurate for C&O equipment, I think).

[Anonymous]

While shopping at Walmart tonight i.....

LOL!!

[Modelcar]

....Good luck alcodave...I hope you fnd someone in management there that knows what you are talking about.  {May not be easy}....I agree graffiti is not a product to be selling {on a product}, to the masses....Legitimizing it.

[fuzzybroken]

Who produces this?  I would get in contact with that company as well.  Assuming, of course, that it's not mass-produced in China by some mass-production company...

[Anonymous]

Actually, I think they are cool in a way.  For those who wish to model the "real world" the way it is, this presents an oppotunity for real "realism"

No one has to buy it, if they themselves do not approve.

Anyone who is dependant upon the likes of Walmart to teach their children values, has missed the boat (IMO)

[One Track Mind]

sheesh....do we get mad at the model train shops for selling Blair Line decals depicting graffiti for realistic modern models too?

Oops...just remembered, people already have. Oh well, I'm going to keep selling them anyway.

I kinda like the idea of being mad at Wal-Mart, but really, where do you draw the line?

Hope this doesn't cross the line of promoting my store, just trying to show another side to the story.

[Anonymous]

  I have got to gets me one of these!  Now on the other hand its been a while since I saw toy trains at wal-mart

[solzrules]

Wal-MArt is selling railcars with grafitti on them?  Isn't that real life?  Also - why would someone rely on Wal-MArt to tell kids what is right on wrong?  I don't think there is any harm in this.  Let the police worry about those who break the law.  I don't think we need to rely on Wal-Mart to tell people what is legal and what isn't.  Wal-MArt is not a surrogate parent.  I understand that some model railroad suppliers are now pre-weathering their products (graffiti included).  Is that wrong too?  Should we make model railroading a 'rated pg' hobby?  I think this is a bit of an over-reaction. 

I also seem to notice a distinct anti-Wal Mart strain in this thread.  Would anyone care to elaborate? 

[David_Telesha]

Actually, I think they are cool in a way.  For those who wish to model the "real world" the way it is, this presents an oppotunity for real "realism"

I call BS...what kinda trucks are those and yellow on a B&O car? Realism and the real world my foot..

[TimChgo9]

 I actually hate cars with graffitti on them, they look horrible, but unfortunately, that's the state of affairs when it comes to trains.  I think the point that is being made here is not so much using Wal Mart to teach values, but the glorification of the "ghetto culture"....  But, it all boils down to teaching kids values, and etcetera.  So, if Wal-Mart wants to sell the darn product... who cares?.  Because if we are going to worry about the effect a toy is going to have on a kid, then we better remove the toy guns, sports cars, military vehicles, fighter planes, race cars, monster trucks, super hero costumes, and Star Wars light sabres, Barbies, Bratz Dolls, and Cabbage Patch kids from the toy shelves, lest a child get the wrong idea about morals, life, and right and wrong from one of those toys.  As a  parent, it is MY responsibility to teach my kid not to do things that are wrong, illegal, immoral, or otherwise stupid. If he grafitti's a train car, then I will blame his  stupidity, and  him, long before I blame a toy train car..... 

[solzrules]

 I actually hate cars with graffitti on them, they look horrible, but unfortunately, that's the state of affairs when it comes to trains.  I think the point that is being made here is not so much using Wal Mart to teach values, but the glorification of the "ghetto culture"....  But, it all boils down to teaching kids values, and etcetera.  So, if Wal-Mart wants to sell the darn product... who cares?.  Because if we are going to worry about the effect a toy is going to have on a kid, then we better remove the toy guns, sports cars, military vehicles, fighter planes, race cars, monster trucks, super hero costumes, and Star Wars light sabres, Barbies, Bratz Dolls, and Cabbage Patch kids from the toy shelves, lest a child get the wrong idea about morals, life, and right and wrong from one of those toys.  As a  parent, it is MY responsibility to teach my kid not to do things that are wrong, illegal, immoral, or otherwise stupid. If he grafitti's a train car, then I will blame his  stupidity, and  him, long before I blame a toy train car..... 

[zugmann]

I also seem to notice a distinct anti-Wal Mart strain in this thread.  Would anyone care to elaborate? 

Did you ever see the documentary that CNBC had on a year or two back?  And to think, walmart used to have banners advertising "we buy american!" in their stores.

LOL.

[Anonymous]

I also seem to notice a distinct anti-Wal Mart strain in this thread.  Would anyone care to elaborate? 

They sell low quality products at rock bottom prices, don't like 'em.  Isn't that where 'joe dirt' bought his wardrobe?

[Anonymous]

<BLOCKQUOTE><table class="quoteOuterTable"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/trccs/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>TimChgo9 wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4"><P> I actually hate cars with graffitti on them, they look horrible, but unfortunately, that's the state of affairs when it comes to trains.  I think the point that is being made here is not so much using Wal Mart to teach values, but the glorification of the "ghetto culture"....  But, it all boils down to teaching kids values, and etcetera.  So, if Wal-Mart wants to sell the darn product... who cares?.  Because if we are going to worry about the effect a toy is going to have on a kid, then we better remove the toy guns, sports cars, military vehicles, fighter planes, race cars, monster trucks, super hero costumes, and Star Wars light sabres, Barbies, Bratz Dolls, and Cabbage Patch kids from the toy shelves, lest a child get the wrong idea about morals, life, and right and wrong from one of those toys.  As a  parent, it is MY responsibility to teach my kid not to do things that are wrong, illegal, immoral, or otherwise stupid. If he grafitti's a train car, then I will blame his  stupidity, and  him, long before I blame a toy train car.....  </P></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>
mhm

[Anonymous]

I call BS...what kinda trucks are those and yellow on a B&O car? Realism and the real world my foot..

Well, I guess you "got me" there.  That really wasn't the debate I thought we were having   but oh well.

[SchemerBob]

I believe these toys are a new version of Maisto's "On-Track" trains, which are close to TT scale. I have lots of them, I was real excited when I finally saw TRAINS in Wal-Mart (besides the junky HO train sets during holiday time). Now, I know that graffiti is depresing (I guess), but it's just real life. I think that having one of these cars on your train would make your consists look more realistic. After all, if you see a freight train go by, every single car is usually very dirty and most have some sort of graffiti art on them. You NEVER see a train where each car is spotless with no nicks or dirt or spots (yes, including passenger trains, too). I don't think there's anything real wrong with these cars; it's just another try to promote this train series, which I think was a failure. Just as long as the graffiti doesn't say anything bad, they have every right to put these cars out. Heck, I may even get a few for my OnTrack collection.

[solzrules]

I also seem to notice a distinct anti-Wal Mart strain in this thread.  Would anyone care to elaborate? 

They sell low quality products at rock bottom prices, don't like 'em.  Isn't that where 'joe dirt' bought his wardrobe?

Yeah but that was a great movie!!!!!

[solzrules]

I also seem to notice a distinct anti-Wal Mart strain in this thread.  Would anyone care to elaborate? 

Did you ever see the documentary that CNBC had on a year or two back?  And to think, walmart used to have banners advertising "we buy american!" in their stores.

LOL.

No I missed that one.  What did CNBC have to say about it? 

[zugmann]

They talked about their buying practices.

went like this:

Walmart:  "we will only buy those lamps if we can get them for 3 dollars a piece"

American Lamp Maker: "It costs me 4 dollars to make each one"

Walmart: : "So make them in China"

__________________________________

Also talked about stores oversees, activists aginst them, labor problems, the usual.  It is kind of sickening to watch.  I haven't been to a Mal*Wart ever since.

[Anonymous]

Yeah but that was a great movie!!!!!

Sure fire ways to incite a riot:

1) drive through a trailer park, diss'n Walmart

2) Start a thread here about the Milwaukee Road

3) CSX paint your bridge(s)!







(last one edited  to avoid offending young eyes)

[solzrules]

They talked about their buying practices.

went like this:

Walmart:  "we will only buy those lamps if we can get them for 3 dollars a piece"

American Lamp Maker: "It costs me 4 dollars to make each one"

Walmart: : "So make them in China"

__________________________________

Also talked about stores oversees, activists aginst them, labor problems, the usual.  It is kind of sickening to watch.  I haven't been to a Mal*Wart ever since.

Well, I guess I can't fault you for that.  Just curious as to what they said.  I guess my take on Wal-MArt is a little different.  They provide a lot of things cheaply to people that usually don't have a lot of money to begin with, me being one of them.  If I can save money by shopping there, I certainly don't have a problem with it. 

As for their labor problems, I get stuff all the time from my union telling me I shouldn't shop there.  They have a laundry list of reasons as to why we shouldn't shop there, but it is implied that the biggest reason is that they aren't union.  I suppose one could find something wrong with everything if they looked hard enough.  Perhaps the union could reimburse me for the extra money I would have to spend shopping at a 'pro-union' store instead of Wal-Mart.  It is kind of funny.  They expect me to spend more money in the persuit of an ideal but offer me no benefit for it. 

Oh well.  I just buy toilet paper and toothpaste there anyhoo. 

Cheers.

[solzrules]

Yeah but that was a great movie!!!!!

Sure fire ways to incite a riot:

1) drive through a trailer park, diss'n Walmart

2) Start a thread here about the Milwaukee Road

3) CSX paint your bridge(s)!







(last one edited  to avoid offending young eyes)

 

Come on now.  What is a good 'progressive' like you doing dissing communism?  Maybe they are right?  China's economy is growing at something like 10 or 11 percent.

[Anonymous]

I'm really not a 'progressive'

There is enough bogus about both the liberal AND conservative platforms that i refuse to be pigeon holed with either of them. I tend to be older, and think in ways that are republican, so that makes me more conservative than liberal, but:

 Both stand for things worth opposing (in my way of seeing the world, anyway)

I think I'm more of a Libertarian.

[zugmann]

I also lost the love of wal*marts when they started doing announcements in spanish.  Also the stores around here looks like dumps.  Plus they sell crap for cheap.  I can live without cheap crap.

We used to go to the (I believe) first wal*mart north of the mason-dixon line.  It even had (get this) a MALL entrance.  Yep, Walmart was once a part of an indoor mall with is own interior entrance. 

[solzrules]

I'm really not a 'progressive'

There is enough bogus about both the liberal AND conservative platforms that i refuse to be pigeon holed with either of them. I tend to be older, and think in ways that are republican, so that makes me more conservative than liberal, but:

 Both stand for things worth opposing (in my way of seeing the world, anyway)

I think I'm more of a Libertarian.

True enough.  I disagree with planks in both parties platforms.  Both parties have produced excellent leaders, and both have produced scoundrels.  I do happen to side with one party more than the other, as I am sure you have deduced by now. 

I have also heard libertarians describe themselves as 'progressive'.  No offense ment. 

 

 

[solzrules]

I also lost the love of wal*marts when they started doing announcements in spanish.  Also the stores around here looks like dumps.  Plus they sell crap for cheap.  I can live without cheap crap.

We used to go to the (I believe) first wal*mart north of the mason-dixon line.  It even had (get this) a MALL entrance.  Yep, Walmart was once a part of an indoor mall with is own interior entrance. 

Well, Wal-Mart isn't the only store guilty of selling cheap crap.  There are some hobby shops in the area that are guilty of doing that too. 

Wal-Mart is quite the success story.  They have market share, which means they can influence their wholesale prices (some migh call it bullying).  I call it running a business shrewdly.  They are only savings that get passed on to the consumer.  There are also a few things that Wal-Mart sells that can't possibly be crappy.  Have you ever used bad toilet paper or deoderant?  They are all pretty much the same (and they go to the same place.)  They sell Sony electronics, some of the best in the business. 

Sometimes I think people don't like Wal-Mart because they got big.  Some times the mindset exists that big companies are bad, no matter what happens.  I, for one, wished I was old enough at the time to dump ever dime I had into Wal-Mart shares back in the early eighties because I am sure by now I would own my own railroad.

Wishful thinking, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Well, Wal-Mart isn't the only store guilty of selling cheap crap. 

True, but walmart is the iconic success story of "If you sell it cheap enough, people won't care if it's krappe"

Now I fully realize that it takes a certain mentality among the public at large to make that working philosophy a success, but as a person who much prefers to pay more for quality, who sees quality offerings dwindling across the board because the public has embraced that (walmart) philosphy, I see walmart as a "grand enabler" to the general decline in merchandise quality.

Just because everybody's now doing it, is no reason why I can't blame walmart for inception of concept and making it work.



There are varying values in toilet paper btw, but it has more to do with how many sheets you get per roll. I laugh at the folks who buy the "super bargain brand" that is wound so loosely on the core that there are only 360 sheets per roll. half the bulk per roll is air between the sheets

So they get a dozen rolls much cheaper than I buy my 1000 sheet per roll dozen paks.

The difference will be that they will change rolls 3-4 times per week (more with kids) while I get  a good week (+/-) out of each roll.

[selector]

They talked about their buying practices.

went like this:

Walmart:  "we will only buy those lamps if we can get them for 3 dollars a piece"

American Lamp Maker: "It costs me 4 dollars to make each one"

Walmart: : "So make them in China"

__________________________________

Also talked about stores oversees, activists aginst them, labor problems, the usual.  It is kind of sickening to watch.  I haven't been to a Mal*Wart ever since.

Well, I guess I can't fault you for that.  Just curious as to what they said.  I guess my take on Wal-MArt is a little different.  They provide a lot of things cheaply to people that usually don't have a lot of money to begin with, me being one of them.  If I can save money by shopping there, I certainly don't have a problem with it. 

As for their labor problems, I get stuff all the time from my union telling me I shouldn't shop there.  They have a laundry list of reasons as to why we shouldn't shop there, but it is implied that the biggest reason is that they aren't union.  I suppose one could find something wrong with everything if they looked hard enough.  Perhaps the union could reimburse me for the extra money I would have to spend shopping at a 'pro-union' store instead of Wal-Mart.  It is kind of funny.  They expect me to spend more money in the persuit of an ideal but offer me no benefit for it. 

Oh well.  I just buy toilet paper and toothpaste there anyhoo. 

Cheers.

LOL!!!!   solzrules for president!!  Go get 'em, tiger.

 

(that was GOOOOD!)

[ericsp]

I would guess that most people who buy these cars are inclined toward vandalism. So, I say keep selling them, but in order to buy them, one must show ID. Then they can be put in a database for the RR police.