Exactrail 5277

[Philip H]

Ya know Chuck, IF EXR does come back to dealers, I'd sure be T.O.ed publicly that they kept up the relationship with the outside the US network first, instead of here at  home.  I rarely get protectionist in my worldview, but that one stinks to high heaven for for all the LHS folks that helped get EXR off the ground.

And yes Tomm, I'm done pontificating for now. 

Back to the thread - not in IC, ICG or KCS . . . sigh . . .

[bbussey]

That's the one caveat with this experiment.  If it doesn't work, will there be a domestic dealer base still willing to carry the product line.

When MTL tried this 30 years ago, they were the definitive #1 in quality rolling stock and had a huge following.  So when the direct-only business model was abandoned, the dealer base was pushed by the high consumer demand to resume carrying the product line.  It's a far different environment today, with a bigger ocean and more fish of all sizes swimming in it, so the consumer push would not be there as it was three decades before.

I'm perplexed by the main reason given for the change, that manufacturing costs are increasing.  It's not just increasing for EXR.  It's increasing for everyone.  So it's not as if new EXR product would be abnormally priced above that of the other manufacturers.  It still relatively would be aligned with other new product on the market.

[asarge]

That's the one caveat with this experiment.  If it doesn't work, will there be a domestic dealer base still willing to carry the product line.

When MTL tried this 30 years ago, they were the definitive #1 in quality rolling stock and had a huge following.  So when the direct-only business model was abandoned, the dealer base was pushed by the high consumer demand to resume carrying the product line.  It's a far different environment today, with a bigger ocean and more fish of all sizes swimming in it, so the consumer push would not be there as it was three decades before.

I'm perplexed by the main reason given for the change, that manufacturing costs are increasing.  It's not just increasing for EXR.  It's increasing for everyone.  So it's not as if new EXR product would be abnormally priced above that of the other manufacturers.  It still relatively would be aligned with other new product on the market.

From a dealer's perspective anything is possible. Like you said when MTL abandoned it the consumer drove the dealers to carry the product again and while some dealers no doubt had difficulty swallowing that decision, others were elated to carry it again. The biggest difference today is who really needs them? The answer may depend on what products are being offered that your customers may want and at what price. It is a different market and EXR is just one of a host of manufacturers competing fpr dollars. Dealers will be very wary of carrying them again and dealing with theior screwy ordering strategy. I'm betting that the strategy of going direct and hopefully collecting the consumer sales that went thru dealers and keeping their margins will get them a nasty surprise in the end.

Did anyone see their ad in the latest MR where they listed 280 project they suppoosedly have underway? MMMmmmmm.............

[unittrain]

From a dealer's perspective anything is possible. Like you said when MTL abandoned it the consumer drove the dealers to carry the product again and while some dealers no doubt had difficulty swallowing that decision, others were elated to carry it again. The biggest difference today is who really needs them? The answer may depend on what products are being offered that your customers may want and at what price. It is a different market and EXR is just one of a host of manufacturers competing fpr dollars. Dealers will be very wary of carrying them again and dealing with theior screwy ordering strategy. I'm betting that the strategy of going direct and hopefully collecting the consumer sales that went thru dealers and keeping their margins will get them a nasty surprise in the end.

Did anyone see their ad in the latest MR where they listed 280 project they suppoosedly have underway? MMMmmmmm.............

280 projects  what are they attempting to do every freight car variation thats ever existed! There is no way 280 projects, me thinks they had a typo in their ad, if not it will be very interesting to see what they come up with heck with that many projects we N scalers should definatley get all the 60' boxcars they have in HO and the Southern waffle sides, along with all the gondolas we will ever need and maybe some locomotives too!

[asarge]

280 projects  what are they attempting to do every freight car variation thats ever existed! There is no way 280 projects, me thinks they had a typo in their ad, if not it will be very interesting to see what they come up with heck with that many projects we N scalers should definatley get all the 60' boxcars they have in HO and the Southern waffle sides, along with all the gondolas we will ever need and maybe some locomotives too!

Well I'm not gonna count them to see if they are deceptively advertising! 

When you think of every version of a car and every specific car type be it one off or mass produced for alot of railroads, there could very well be 280 different cars just in the diesel era. But why advertise all of those "projects"? I doubt they have all those cars tooled, but wouldn't be suprised they were in various stages of progress. Some of the conspiracy advocates on other forums are talking about them being advertised for a specific reason....maybe too help a certain major manufacturer that may have trouble accessing their tooling right now.

[ceiteach1]

The price you actually paid if ordered through Wig Wag on last years release, was $17.22. Looking at today's price to you of $21.95 makes for a huge 27.5% increase.
Exactrail  can make the list price anything they like. All most buyers care about is the massive increase in the end user purchase price.


Yes, the $150 minium order amount for free shipping, is a virtual steel toed financial boot to the groin for Canadians.

Keith.

[Scottl]

$150 purchase for free shipping?     I'll forego further comment.

[ljudice]

I'm only interested in the Railboxes and no more than 1-2 for heavy weathering/urban art application...

[nkalanaga]

At the prices mentioned here $150 is only eight cars...  If, like ljudice, you only want a couple, that's an issue.  If they have several you want, it might add up quickly.

I remember when MT went direct-only.  I ordered enough undecorated cars to keep me supplied for years, and a pile of decals and dry transfers.  I still have a bunch of both, and have bought very few MT cars since!  Those I have bought have been mostly CenterFlows and GS gons, new since the debacle.

[Brakie]

$150 purchase for free shipping?     I'll forego further comment.

If Canada's mail system wasn't so costly..

When I sell on e-bay I won't ship to Canada-sorry.

[SkipGear]

Just to keep perspective, the IM version retails for $19.99.