Walthers announce "New" structures

[bbussey]

You need to separate emotion and comfort level to succeed in business.  If you only stay with what you know and shun what you don't you will not maximise your business and eventually be out of business....How many 8-track, cassette players and turntables are still being made.  How many companies that made these items that did not evolve are still in business.  Kentucky Trailers started out making horse drawn wagons.  They evolved.  Obviousely there is money in this scale or we would not all be here talking about it.  How many modelers could be in N scale if a shop actually stocked it and supported it?  Companies like Walthers have a bias and that bias impacts their results, poorly.  Would it be a bad thing if they said we are going all in to invest in N scale and actually stuck to it?  Researched what we wanted, priced it competitively and was actually happy to engage us with meaningful conversation.  If they did these things they would not sell more product and grow?  ...

Walthers is made up of HO guys and gals, are opposed to thinking outside if that box and it could hurt them one day.  Who is to say N scale won't overtake HO some day?  I have seen it take leaps and bounds over the past few years and that is with a cruddy economy.

Couple of things to note.  Your first sentence is dead on point.  But to explore that further, who's to say that Walthers isn't doing that simply because they are not producing N scale product at the quality/frequency we want?  Who's to say they haven't expended any effort, even though that effort has been expended differently than what we would possibly do?  The company has a strong foothold in HO scale, and despite disagreements with some (or most) of their methods, it's working for them and has been working for decades.   Doesn't that follow your business model?  What we've seen in N in recent years is the advancement of technology, not necessarily the advancement of market share.  HO is still the dominant scale, and they cater to that market.  I would think, truly, that if the encroachment of N on the HO market share accelerates, they will adapt.  Would it be nice to see more of their HO products released in N now?  No question.  But we are not privy to Walthers' internal analyses, so we have no idea how and why they arrive at the conclusions they do.  Yet I think it's fair to say that if they begin to see a growth in N at the expense of HO, they will adapt accordingly.

In the meantime, the number of primary and secondary N scale manufacturers (and their commitment to N) is greater than it ever has been, so it's not as if we're out in wilderness looking for salvation from Milwaukee.

 

[bbussey]

But you need to be looking for the next big opportunity and be able to evolve with your marketplace.  This is why McDonald's sells more than just and hamburger or cheeseburger and are constantly testing out new products.  Have you ever had McDonald's pizza, or wonder why the McRib only comes out part of the year........

As an OT aside here - I remember in college circa 1980 when McD's started testing the sirloin steak sandwiches, on the same rolls now used for the McRib sandwiches.  They were incredible, but they only offered them for about three years or so, and only in certain areas.  For whatever reason, they didn't meet their potential, but boy were they good.

[bbussey]

The S Series switchers have been asked for many times . 2 body styles and 2 sideframes makes the 4 models . This is a sure profit winner . It does not get better or easier than this .  To you biggies out there , no excuses anymore .

And you would think that this would have been a natural for Atlas, since they released all the S switchers in HO and released the RS-1 (proper hood width) in N - yet with all the road power and switcher power they've released since then, they haven't.  So again, there are internal analyses that we are not privy to that help determine what is and isn't produced.

[bbussey]

... Since this is a Walthers thread (and I am waiting for my wife to come out of the store and have nothing else to do) here is a short list of irritating things they do: 1) Their sales reps don't have a consistent story about their interests in N. 2) They recycle old rolling stock tooling and charge a premium price. 3) The let their popular structures go out of production for long periods of time and then offer clunky old tooling at premium price. 4) They make really nice products in HO and borderline products in N.

I think the one thing we can agree on is when ex-Life Like motive power has been released, the quality is there and it's not overpriced (relative to everything else in the hobby), and it's been marketed well.  However, what we don't know is how the sales are juxtaposed with their expectations, which obviously dictates the frequency of ex-Life Like motive power moving forward.

[asarge]

I think the one thing we can agree on is when ex-Life Like motive power has been released, the quality is there and it's not overpriced (relative to everything else in the hobby), and it's been marketed well.  However, what we don't know is how the sales are juxtaposed with their expectations, which obviously dictates the frequency of ex-Life Like motive power moving forward.

Many dealers are REALLY tight on keeping these in inventory in both HO and N given their pricing history. Why order a bunch at MSRP's based wholesale prices and hope you can sell them before they get put in the sale flyer or bargain bin at basement prices. Most modellers now expect that to happen and pre-orders from customers for P2K/LL product VERY light because they expect the price to go down if tehy wait around. Since dealers can get them at the better pricing if they do clear them out, why hold on to inventory you paid a higher price for. The same holds true to an extant with the Cornerstone structures. The only difference is you tend to sell quite afew in the first 6 months they are out and then the demand wanes a bit.

[mcjaco]

tar and feather would be the next step

I stand corrected.   

[CBQ Fan]

Again, I think it is the simple feeling that we are not getting an honest dialog with Walthers.  I recall a few posts from Rapido and the response to a backlash for not bringing more N to market faster.  They had limitations and we have to understand that.  They were genuine in there response and commitment to the market and you could feel the frustration in not being able to "do it all", so I wait and am fine with 2012 for the next passenger release.  How fast would all the train forums light up if Walthers did here what guys like Joe do?  Viewership and membership would skyrocket.  The lack of communication combined with buying companies that produce N scale and shelving the products indefinitely have created a poisoned well.

[bbussey]

Again, I think it is the simple feeling that we are not getting an honest dialog with Walthers...

I don't disagree that their communications skills could be better.

[sirenwerks]

I don't disagree that their communications skills could be better.

I honestly believe Walthers thinks its communication skills are fine. The problem is they don't appreciate the whole of the communication model - namely the feedback/listening part. Even I could do a better job, and I have a brand of autism.

[asarge]

I honestly believe Walthers thinks its communication skills are fine. The problem is they don't appreciate the whole of the communication model - namely the feedback/listening part.

I agree. Especially with regard to N scale. The self fulfilling prophecy model works well with them.

[TiVoPrince]

Some
marketing moron continues to put 'excellent communications skills' on his/her performance appraisal every year.  For this reason management believes everything is fine...

[Nato]

      The Combo (Grand Junction) Depot is a model of a Southern Pacific Depot,I do not rember which plan number it is without digigging out one of my SP Historical and Technical mags that covered all station types. The assembled Revell Rapido version currently serves as "Riverside" on my layout with all the trim pieces correctly painted brown for an SP look. The train order signal is very clunky(oversize) as was a baggage cart. Model came with a seperate add on small end platform with a ramp. Details included a train schedule board listing trains (printed paper schedule) a ticket window. Revell's being a SO. Cal company I'am sure was why SP prototype was selected. AHM later offered the station as a kit. Luckely I purchased one, my friend Bob/Robert Gilmore who has been helping me with scenery is building it with some improved details, like scale train order mast,it will replace the old factory built one at the Riverside location. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[Brakie]

Some
marketing moron continues to put 'excellent communications skills' on his/her performance appraisal every year.  For this reason management believes everything is fine...

Maybe they are over educated in business 101 to realized customer input is common sense business skills that should never be ignored.

Of course that may mean their business is to wrapped up in their business 101 education  that they lost their common sense in doing business.

[sirenwerks]

Maybe they are over educated in business 101 to realized customer input is common sense business skills that should never be ignored.

Too much management confuses marketing for advertising, and ignores the power of a well-designed product to sell itself (ahem, provided people know about it, a common error small MRR manufacturers seem to forget). Of course, designing a product well means potential end-user feedback, not the "I know best" maxim Wally seems to apply to its product development. Alas, if only I were king...

[Bremner]

Grand Junction COMBO depot look great, hope the price is....

now for better news, it looks like a Southern Pacific Type 22 station! I hope for a kit