Walthers announce "New" structures

[sirenwerks]

Joe,While I understand what you are saying agree to a certain point I fully believe until we unite as one voice we will continue getting crumbs since most manufacturers has cut back on N Scale production or tickle our ears with "exciting plans for  N Scale" while cranking out new HO models which may not sell or worst recieve bad forum reviews from the detail gurus...Maybe that's the key we are overlooking by being too nice or by defending the manufacturer...I don't know but,I have contacted several manufacturers and recieve that age old "we have exciting plans for our  N Scale line " reply..

Maybe they don't realize we have money to spend too?

And perhaps worse for us, when they don't sell in HO scale, an N scale version gets immediately trumped despite the fact that THE N SCALE MARKET HAS A UNIQUE/DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC, AND PRODUCT NEEDS. (caps intentional)

[Wlal13again]

Rather than just bad-mouthing them on the forums, you need to call and send emails or post on their FB page.

Been doing that for 10 years, and It`s my guess they dont care....And I agree with John, they do lend themselves well to kitbashing, but then again many of the choice kits were "retired" in N and were hard to find,, at least some of them are back..My biggest complaint is that HO gets big factories, scrap yard stuff etc, N scale gets windmills, outhouses and fruitstands and they act like it`s a big deal..

[asarge]

I respect Joe's opinion I don't doubt many of the things he says. I'm pretty sure Walthers is HO centric and that doesn't help the N scalers in the organization nor help us get things done. I just don't see how the latest Cornerstone announcement would sell better than some of the HO structures done in N scale. 

He also said the following, "You can't use the smaller companies as a indication of how N is doing because their overhead is much smaller than the "traditional" manufacturer."

Based on the past he maybe right, but they are getting products done that have been shunned by others or put on the back burner and they have appeared to have done resonably well with them and that maybe where a good part of the future in N scale is headed.

[DKS]

...we go through a useless exercise trying to force a company to produce product they can't pay bills with.

This needs to be reproduced at the start of many threads at Railwire (and elsewhere) that go on for pages with no regard to this very hard reality.

[CBQ Fan]

This needs to be reproduced at the start of many threads at Railwire (and elsewhere) that go on for pages with no regard to this very hard reality.

When others go to market with the same product line and do additional runs they are making profit.  If it wasn't for the Reference Book I doubt they would do anything in N scale.  Applying that logic no one makes any profit in N scale by the way Walthers acts.

[up1950s]

Shipsure wrote , I guess what I am saying is that we go through a useless exercise trying to force a ...

This needs to be reproduced at the start of many threads at Railwire (and elsewhere) that go on for pages with no regard to this very hard reality.

Trying to force is a exaggeration . Posts and eMails are requests , suggestions , votes , etc . By your standards a wink is a conjugal encounter .

[SkipGear]

I respect Joe's opinion I don't doubt many of the things he says. I'm pretty sure Walthers is HO centric and that doesn't help the N scalers in the organization nor help us get things done. I just don't see how the latest Cornerstone announcement would sell better than some of the HO structures done in N scale. 

He also said the following, "You can't use the smaller companies as a indication of how N is doing because their overhead is much smaller than the "traditional" manufacturer."

Based on the past he maybe right, but they are getting products done that have been shunned by others or put on the back burner and they have appeared to have done resonably well with them and that maybe where a good part of the future in N scale is headed.

Andy,
 Our shop had a good Walthers rep a few months back that was an N scale modeler. I traded e-mails with him a lot about many things........now he is gone. Now our rep is very HO centric. He sent out an e-mail asking who would be at the NMRA show. I replied that is was too far to go from Cincinnati but still may try to make it to the N scale convention. His reply.....

"Better take your magnafying glass, those things are small."

I still have the e-mail saved. It will go in a collection of things to send to them when they ask for their yearly shop survey.

[Mark5]

"Better take your magnafying glass, those things are small."

The essence of WKW! 

[GaryHinshaw]

...Craig and others don't have to worry about supporting hundreds of employees and that gives them the opportunity to do some of this amazing stuff they do....

Joe

I guess this means we should be holding back on our BLMA purchases, lest Craig becomes too big to succeed. 

But seriously, if you run a larger company, isn't the best way to generate a minimum return on investment to have a diversified portfolio?  A mix of low risk/low return products with high risk/high return?  Walthers seems to stick with low risk/low return in N, which I think just reflects a lack of vision.  If no one in your company understands the market, then best to stay out of it.

-gfh

[DKS]

Trying to force is a exaggeration . Posts and eMails are requests , suggestions , votes , etc . By your standards a wink is a conjugal encounter .

Sometimes you need to exaggerate to make a point.

The way some modelers carry on in some of these threads, you'd think it was life or death if a particular product was made or not.

[bbussey]

Some people also seem not to read explanations when they are presented.  As Joe stated, the larger companies don't have the luxury of producing items that have longer ROIs when they have greater monthly expenses (i.e., building leases and employee salaries) to be concerned with.

[up1950s]

Some people also seem not to read explanations when they are presented.  As Joe stated, the larger companies don't have the luxury of producing items that have longer ROIs when they have greater monthly expenses (i.e., building leases and employee salaries) to be concerned with.

I think many large manufactures would do well to drop half of their freight car production and produce more of the locos folks are wanting . They could rotate their freight car types every 4 years or so .

[CBQ Fan]

Some people also seem not to read explanations when they are presented.  As Joe stated, the larger companies don't have the luxury of producing items that have longer ROIs when they have greater monthly expenses (i.e., building leases and employee salaries) to be concerned with.

Again, if you don't run a business like a business than you are going to be flawed.  If you are into selling HO because that is what you model than you are in a flawed business model.  If I had my way Kato would ditch HO and spend that money on more U.S. N scale and Walthers would leave N scale to those who can actually handle it.

[SkipGear]

Again, if you don't run a business like a business than you are going to be flawed.  If you are into selling HO because that is what you model than you are in a flawed business model.  If I had my way Kato would ditch HO and spend that money on more U.S. N scale and Walthers would leave N scale to those who can actually handle it.

HUH??? Talk about flawed logic. So Bryan should stop selling N scale stuff because he models it? If you follow a true business plan and only go after the money, you would only produce HO and O. HO because of the quantity, O because of the profit margin.

[conrailthomas519]

I understand the principles behind ROI's. However, It shouldn't matter what scale you're personally modeling. A manufacture should be producing items the market is begging and seeking for. In my opinion the manufacturer would be more profitable than one who chooses to ignore its clientele.