Talk about ripping off the modeler, I was going to reorder the semi trailer axel assemblies from Micro Trains until they quoted me a price of $6.00 an axel. In the past I have used these nice spoked wheels to upgrade trailers and chasis and paid around $1.00 per axel but $6.00 each. You can buy the whole van for $8.40. They will not see anymore of my modeling dollars.
You couldn't sell them, but if you needed large numbers, they could be cast for pennies vesus the MT version.
Thanks for your responses Watash and Hemi. It never occurred to me to do a casting. Must be another senior month starting for me.
This sounds really different. Usually, MT is very helpful in supplying such items. I wonder what is going on? Boxcab E50
Charlie Vlk has explained this before...something to do with corporate amortization of the cost of the molds. Basic rule: Kato - expensive; Atlas - very reasonable. Lesson Learned (Line) - kitbash with Atlas parts.
Flash- Flattery will get you everything. John- As to corporate amortization ??? I assume the mold has already been made to produce the part for the original truck. It does not seem logical that MT would charge that much for an axle. I do not want to question your contact with MT, but I would suggest another attempt. I would bet someone misquoted the price. On the other hand, I bet the Red Sox would be in the World Series this year.
I'm thinking the same thing. Almost all of the MT replacement parts I have purchased over the years have come in multiple units per pack and have been reasonably priced. I wonder if the person quoting you the price may not have know it was a multiple unit package. Well, I picked the Phillies, so I may be way off
Well fellows, It sure surprised the heck out of me as well. I called MT and a man told me he would have to look up the part number and return my call. He called back a couple days later and said the price would be $1.20 per axel. I gave him my credit card imfo and ordered 80 axel assemblies. He called back a few hours later and said did I want the plastic wheels on both sides of the axel. Yes I wanted wheels on both sides-imagine that. Well that changes the price to "arround $6.00 each" was his reply. Once I got up of the floor, he inquired if I still wanted to place the order. Told him no but thanks for your effort. I had placed a similar order a coule years ago with a very nice lady at MT at a price of about $1.00 an axel as I remember. Inflation must have hit the MT company hard. Cheers, John Nutt
Well, that is certainly enough confirmation. My faith in another bastion of American/Chinese capitalism is destroyed.
To clarify Charlie Vlk's statement (as I remember it), the resulting price is an accounting procedure, not an actual cost or justified amount. In other words, the expense is recovered in parts instead of somewhere else. Maybe I had better stop.
