Wow - did it freeze over?

[asciibaron]

Abolish the Federal Reserve

I heard that!

politics have no place here, right?

[sizemore]

As also noted, production volumes have a lot to do with it...while the manufacturers don't release that information, notice that MBK got in something like 12 of each Atlas SD50/60 and 50 of each Kato SD70M...

Tim

Shane only does that to get people to buy online. They get more like 50 to 60 of each number, they only post 10 - 12 at a time.

The S.

[AlkemScaleModels]

Over at MB Kleins site -

Atlas Master Series SD-60  $79.99

Kato SD-70                      $72.99
   

I never would have thought this is possible .. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big Atlas fan .. but what has changed in the SD50/60 to make them worth $80  ...

It's been a long time since I bought a modern N Scale diesel, so I am unfamilar with the current prices. Did the price for Atlas locos go up?

I think with large Federal  deficits we are running, we will be experiencing a lot of inflation in the future, so buy your locos now before they all go up.

[Mark5]

For products made in China, we've been spoiled for quite a while as the yuan has been undervalued against the dollar going back to the 1990s (and earlier). In recent years this trend has been reversing (the US Govt has been pressuring China to correct this).

So, prices for Chinese made products have been artificially lower than they should have been.

Anyway, looks like those days are in the rear view mirror.

Mark

[wm3798]

They make Hot Wheels in Malaysia now, don't they?  What's next?  Elbonia?

Dilbert

[sizemore]

They make Hot Wheels in Malaysia now, don't they?  What's next?  Elbonia?

Dilbert

Kids are gonna kick it turn of the century style. Low temp lead and pour them in the molds themselves.

[inkaneer]

Well, we will see.  For me I have curtailed my buying.  Unless somethng comes out in my "just gotta have" category [meaning an H20-44 in P&WV paint] my wallet stays in my pocket.   

[JDouglasFisher]

Abolish the Federal Reserve

I heard that!

politics have no place here, right?

Your right, but you know how hard it is for some of us to to seize an opportunity when one presents itself so easily?

Besides, its not like I am the first here to get an occasional jab in, this forum has then scattered by several people if you look hard enough.

On a serious note, both Kato and Atlas make a great product, and in all honesty, the free market will set the price if your willing to curb your enthusiasm and wait a few months for the dust to settle on the arrival of a new product. A quick stroll through ebay confirms this.

J.

Food for thought, it was "politics" that brought about the creation of Conrail, while watching the Rock Island lay dying on its deathbed.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Abolish the Federal Reserve

I heard that!

politics have no place here, right?

It's funny, people generally just ignore political stuff until someone makes an issue out of it.

Ever think of why there's the ban on politics here? Because it causes people to get all riled up and start fighting. But it's only really a problem when people DO JUST THAT.

[Mark5]

Abolish the Federal Reserve

I heard that!

politics have no place here, right?

It's funny, people generally just ignore political stuff until someone makes an issue out of it.

Ever think of why there's the ban on politics here? Because it causes people to get all riled up and start fighting. But it's only really a problem when people DO JUST THAT.

THE POST ABOVE IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

(paid for by the committee to re-elect Ed Kapuscinski)

[JDouglasFisher]

I'll second the motion in favor of Ed, and ask that it gets put on the floor for a vote...

J.

[wm3798]

Just wait until Saturday night, that's usually when Ed ends up on the floor...

Lee

[inkaneer]

For products made in China, we've been spoiled for quite a while as the yuan has been undervalued against the dollar going back to the 1990s (and earlier). In recent years this trend has been reversing (the US Govt has been pressuring China to correct this).
So, prices for Chinese made products have been artificially lower than they should have been.
Anyway, looks like those days are in the rear view mirror.
Mark

Sorry but I don't buy your argument.  My reason is simple.  In my first post I used the commodity price of nickel going from over $56,000 down to about $8,500.  This nickle is mined in Siberia and smelted in Russia.  Any devaluation of the US dollar would be factored in with the price.  Still the price is a lot lower not higher.  I submit to you that a lot of big people lost a lot of big money in the economic downturn.  Higher prices is away to increase profits and recoup losses.   I don't expect Atlas to put out a press release admitting it.  But the explanations offered here so far just do not add up.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You know, I think Atlas is actually out to screw over the modeler with their price increases. I think they're trying to make sure the riff-raff can't have their products since they're obviously undeserving.

Jerks!

[Mark5]

For products made in China, we've been spoiled for quite a while as the yuan has been undervalued against the dollar going back to the 1990s (and earlier). In recent years this trend has been reversing (the US Govt has been pressuring China to correct this).
So, prices for Chinese made products have been artificially lower than they should have been.
Anyway, looks like those days are in the rear view mirror.
Mark

Sorry but I don't buy your argument.  My reason is simple.  In my first post I used the commodity price of nickel going from over $56,000 down to about $8,500.  This nickle is mined in Siberia and smelted in Russia.  Any devaluation of the US dollar would be factored in with the price.  Still the price is a lot lower not higher.  I submit to you that a lot of big people lost a lot of big money in the economic downturn.  Higher prices is away to increase profits and recoup losses.   I don't expect Atlas to put out a press release admitting it.  But the explanations offered here so far just do not add up.

What does Russia and or nickel (commodities)have to do with the price of tea in China? 

Higher prices can increase incremental margin, but demand is not necessarily inelastic.

Ignoring speculation about who may or may not have lost money in the downturn and looking purely at the cost to have a piece of model train equipment tooled, manufactured and shipped to the USA - if it costs more dollars for Manufacturer X to contract any one of the Chinese factories to do any given contract, then unit costs for that item will go up.

This is only a guess. ;D

Mark