PS 5077cuft boxcar from NARC/PWRS

[James Costello]

It doesn't look like we've discussed this here yet, but tucked away on the latest MRH email was an announcement from NARC/PWRS of their new HO & N Scale Pullman Standard 5077 cu.ft. boxcar.

The announcement is here:
http://www.pwrs.ca/announcements/view.php?ID=11796

I wish all manufacturers presented their proto information as thoroughly as this!

N Scale specific SKUs etc at the bottom of this page:
http://www.pwrs.ca/announcements/view.php?ID=13225

Something for everyone....

[daniel_leavitt2000]

It's annoying they are releasing cars I would actually buy as it is damn neat impossible to order from them without membership

[Scottl]

  They have a loyalty program and send out emails with product info.

[unittrain]

These look to be pretty good models, would definitely take PC and Railbox and Chessie. But will have to figure out how to order.

[tom mann]

What's the deal with ordering?

[Scottl]

It's pretty difficult.  You pick things for the cart, then enter your mailing and payment info. 

I have a number of their products and they are on par with BLMA's offerings in terms of specific detail, which for me is about as good as we can get in n scale.

[jpwisc]

The last order I made from them was two covered hoppers. When they billed my card the amount was odd. Shipping was as much as one of the cars. When the order arrived, it was only car. They didn't tell me (or state on their web page) that the second car was back ordered. Two years later, they attempted to bill be for the second car and another large sum for shipping. I told them to cancel the order and I haven't bought from them since.

[ednadolski]

Do they still keep nagging their customers with endless sales calls?

Ed

[gbcaboose]

I'm sure they're nice, but at $89.98 US they ought to be      

[tom mann]

I'm sure they're nice, but at $89.98 US they ought to be      

For 3 packs.

[Catt]

They look great,but at $89.95 for a 3 pack they should be AWESOME!

[gbcaboose]

For 3 packs.

Thanks, My Bad. Didn't see the "..sets of three..." info.

Mike

[Scottl]

I have no connection to PWRS, but these comments remind me of previous iterations of this discussion.  I don't buy a lot from them, but my experience is much the same as with MBK or any of the other retailers- that is to say positive and unremarkable.

PWRS does a lot of custom tooling and paint schemes, something that I particularly appreciate. They have a loyalty plan of sorts but you can ignore it and the phone won't ring.  They email with promotions like MBK and all the rest.  I get three MBK emails for every PWRS, as an example.

Their tooling is very high quality work, with prototype-specific details and they have brought some very unique models to market. The stuff TRW usually demands when criticisms are brought to bear, but we still buy foobs on old tooling by the usual suspects (you know what I mean!).

The pricing is actually comparable to the Microtrain announcements posted yesterday where the going rate for a freight car of this quality seems to be around $30.  $89 for a three-pack is competitive.

[jagged ben]

$30 for a boxcar is still expensive.  And since I gather they don't sell through anyone else, you don't get that typical discount that you do from e-tailers.

[peteski]

$30 for a boxcar is still expensive.  And since I gather they don't sell through anyone else, you don't get that typical discount that you do from e-tailers.

I had this explained in great detail at the Springfield show (by the CEO himself).  He makes slightly more than the preorders and since he only sells direct and always sells out he has no need to offer any discounts.  That's his business model and it is not going to change.  He knows very well that many will see him as an a$$hole, and he is ok with that - actually he seemed proud of that, and of his business model.