KATO and the EAST

[bbussey]

You can say "no", except that you don't have all of the facts.  You have absolutely no idea what their internal sales numbers are juxtaposed with the production/import/distribution costs and their production timetables and whatever resources are available to them from the parent company.  Without seeing all of the data, there is no way you can make an informed argument to support the theory that Kato is leaving money on the table.  You can't.

[SkipGear]

  And Tony may very well be correct about GG1 bodyshell variations being used to reduce excess mechanism stock, but there sure have been a bunch more GG1 offerings than there have been GS4 offerings over the past three years.

I'm taking my cue from Atlas. Where do you think all those decorated shells they have listed in their parts department website are coming from?

Hi skipgear,
I promise, it is way far easier to ask that the correct-for-me  model be built
than to even get the tools out.

from all I can tell it is far cheaper also.

so have no fear,  I ( and everyone in their right mind... )
will ask for what they want before starting any such project.

now If you are telling me to change hobbies
(to sctatchbuilding locos?) all I can tell you is that
one of my hobbies is asking for what I want.

victor

Nobody is asking anyone to start scratch building locos, just change some details. Moving a horn, or a light here or there is certainly not scratchbuilding and well within most peoples means if they just give it a try. If you want to get more accuarte, it is possible with the plethora of different parts out there, look at what Steve4 can do to a loco with off the shelf parts (cabs, radiators, etc. etc.)

[Puddington]

With the number of model railroad marketing and cost accounting "experts" here on "The Railwire" I'd swear that we were on either the A board or that the market for CFO's and COO's of the various companies we frequently discuss is grossly under represented in the "help wanted" marketplace.....

Ok; those that really, truly have experience in running a model railway company please stand up and be recognized;(not those who think they know because they worked with/or briefly for one, those who have skin in the game need only apply....)  because there are a whole lot of "webside quarterbacks" (myself as number one) here making noise..........................

[victor miranda]

I'm taking my cue from Atlas. Where do you think all those decorated shells they have listed in their parts department website are coming from?

Nobody is asking anyone to start scratch building locos, just change some details. Moving a horn, or a light here or there is certainly not scratchbuilding and well within most peoples means if they just give it a try. If you want to get more accuarte, it is possible with the plethora of different parts out there, look at what Steve4 can do to a loco with off the shelf parts (cabs, radiators, etc. etc.)

with the complete understanding that it works both ways....

skipgear,
I am pretty sure you did not understand what I said.

victor

[victor miranda]

You can say "no", except that you don't have all of the facts.  You have absolutely no idea what their internal sales numbers are juxtaposed with the production/import/distribution costs and their production timetables and whatever resources are available to them from the parent company.  Without seeing all of the data, there is no way you can make an informed argument to support the theory that Kato is leaving money on the table.  You can't.

wow.
You want facts?
Tell me you got facts.

Ain't no one here, and this does include you, has any facts about Kato's business.
You asked a pretty conjectural question and you got two different reasoned answers
and now you want insider facts? 

I did not make any claims that about Kato that I don't have good evidence of.
like new mikes sitting on shelves. 

I will give you some facts.  they are from a small set I admit. I think you will not like them.

you asked and I hope I have this right....
"Don't you think, if the demand existed, that Kato-USA would have offered more steam engines over the last 15 years, of any kind?  "

you could have worded the question better.
what I heard you ask: " there is no demand for steamers, or kato would have made them, don't you think?"

here are the facts:
1) I know at least two people who would have purchased more Kato steamers during the period from 1996 to 2011
If Kato had made them. 
and
2) yep, Kato has left at least some business on the table.

you can claim it is not much business.  I won't argue.
However, it is still there for them to claim.

v

[sundowner]

Nobody is asking anyone to start scratch building locos, just change some details. Moving a horn, or a light here or there is certainly not scratchbuilding and well within most peoples means if they just give it a try. If you want to get more accuarte, it is possible with the plethora of different parts out there, look at what Steve4 can do to a loco with off the shelf parts (cabs, radiators, etc. etc.)

See this is were my problem lies, no one make detail parts like vents and screens for GE, for EMD you have plenty but not GE.

[bbussey]

... Ain't no one here, and this does include you, has any facts about Kato's business.
You asked a pretty conjectural question and you got two different reasoned answers
and now you want insider facts? ...

... I know at least two people who would have purchased more Kato steamers during the period from 1996 to 2011
If Kato had made them... 

you can claim it is not much business.  I won't argue.
However, it is still there for them to claim.

Since I am in the business, and I have dealings with Kato, I know more about their decisions and their reasoning than you do.

The fact that you believe siting the desires of two consumers is enough to fortify your argument isn't even worth commenting on further.

[SkipGear]

I can give you two facts that nobody can dispute about the Kato Mikado's......

1. Kato BLEW OUT complete mechanisms minus the tender at $25 a piece last year. I know, I bought 3 of them.
(conjecture - these came from complete loco's that they parted out to satisfy the demand for tender parts because the complete loco's were not selling.)

2. We sold our last Mikado at the shop this summer, after it sat on the shelf for over 2 years.

This to me is not a sign of a piece of equipment that is in high demand. I don't care how good the loco runs, if it doesn't fit the modelers needs, they are not going to buy it. The only reason I buy them is for the mechanisms to turn them into stuff I can use. B&O had no Heavy Mikado's, C&O had some but they looked nothing like the Kato model.

[victor miranda]

Since I am in the business, and I have dealings with Kato, I know more about their decisions and their reasoning than you do.

The fact that you believe siting the desires of two consumers is enough to fortify your argument isn't even worth commenting on further.

hahahahohohohohohoh!

allow me to translate your post so you will know what you said to me.

Victor,
I will ignore your clear proof that Kato is leaving business on the table.

you have ignored a lot of other salient responses on the subject at hand also.
I guess when you are on a roll it is good to stick with it.

as far as a claim of insider knowledge at Kato may get you with me,
I happen to think it lacks for  substance.

yeah, I'd ignore me too Iffin I was you.

[Virginia Atlantic]

I like Kato, but I'm biased.

[Dave V]

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Wow, this thread kind of sucks.

Kato does what Kato does. They are like the Porche of the model train world. No one needs them, but its a nice option if you are in the market for the kind of product they build.

Broadway, Amtrak regionals, PC.... no, I don;t see a western bias here.

Why don;t you ask Bachmann for a K4? They seem receptive.

[bbussey]

yeah, I'd ignore me too Iffin I was you.

That's the smartest thing you've posted all week.   I'll stop egging you on so that you'll stop making a fool of yourself. 

[Puddington]

...Meanwhile, at Kato USA headquarters, the staff is gathered around their monitor, passing the Coors and popcorn, watching normally intellegent clients make $#@$#!# out of themsleves arguing about something that they have no stake in; knowledge of or input to whatsoever... They all look to the sign on the cafe wall that says "Kato will do what Kato will do" as they roll around in laughter... rumour has it they are planning the next big announcement; and are throwing around the idea of making a Mexican consist so they can offend all 50 states and them Canucks to boot.......................

Arguing about Kato's intentions and business plan might just be the biggest waste of time since you spent hours making puff ball trees gents.......

[Bob Bufkin]

Considering that the Mexican railroads bought up a bunch of old U.S. passenger equipment, there just may be some cars for kitbash or repainting - yeah like it will ever happen.