Walther's missing N-Scale...

While browsing through the recent ModelRailroader and counting all the Walthers ads I could not believe it. Not a single ad for N-Scale items. It is if this scale does not exist.
In the last MRR there where at least some structures, but now....
sad,sad...

 

Perhaps they are saving up for a real slam bang advertising campaign? Sorry... that was a bad joke.

 

I think Model Railroader should really change their name to "HO Model Railroader"

 

Unless I was lied to at Houston, we will see some exciting things coming from Walthers and their L-L subsidiary within the next couple of years.

Specific projects were discussed and I received confirmation that they were in process.

I think part of the reason you see fewer N ads is that the N-modeler learned over the last 30 years that some of the best items had to be sought out. Thus they are more net savvy and not afraid to do their own research.

Also the chain of info (web announcements and forum chatter) on new items is excellent in N. Heck some N products get "torn to shreds" on the web by modelers who haven't even seen the product. Others buy the model to simply disassemble it and 'dis' it on the web without ever putting it on a piece of track. With that kind of incentive I can see why companies are lining up to advertise.

A magazine can only publish that which is available. Articles and photos have to be submitted. I have learned from articles about garden railroads and tinplate as well as HO & O. I also have had photos published in Trains and R&R.

 

George,

I would definately agree that N scalers use the net more effectively to spread the word about new products and such. The big wigs at the various companies probably know this and in an effort to save money, they cut back the amount of N scale advertising since the word is getting out through other means.

As far as people ripping apart models that they haven't bought, I agree with that too. I don't know how many posts I have seen ripping apart Model Power, Bachmann, ect.. locomotives from people who have only "heard" that they aren't that good. Thats why I like this forum - the information here is accurate and usually unbiased.

Eric

 

Ken, Even there, Walthers is conspicuously absent. They had 1 ad in the latest N Scale Railroading and that was for their modular structures. Not a single ad for LL products. They may figure that they are reaching a majority of their target market with their monthly sale flyers, the latest of which has about 8 pages of N scale stuff, and would see little return with more magazine ads.

 

:slight_thread_drift:
Talking about shredding products.
Well, I guess it falls down to making a quality product.
Con Cor just brought out the pioneer zephyr (i have one) and it is a great product and has been praised again and again on the net.
Bachmann brings out a 2-6-6-2, but must have failed to test run them? how could so many be bad? how can Bachmann take the chance. they have a well known bad rep from their history of cheap bad products, they tout new "spectrum line", suppposed to be high quality, MSRP $275, etc and bring out a more rare articulated model and most of them have problems! that is a huge mistake they could not afford. now you can't trust their expensive primo brand? I was willing to give them a chance even though I have experience with their old product.
Talk about customers trashing online, I'm at LHS and the guys behind the counter are trashing Bachmann worse than anyone on the net. I was saying that I hear the spectrum consolidation is supposed to be a good runner. they LHS guy says "who built it for them? then a big LOL" and I'm like, why am I trying to defend them???
In the case of Bachmann and the 2-6-6-2 they screwed up big time when they could not afford to.

[ January 12, 2006, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Kozmo ]

 

Exactly Kozmo - do mfrs deserve a pass on every new model? - especially ones with poor track records?

A healthy skepticism is justified IMHO.

 

I don't think Walther's places much emphasis on N scale even with the acquisition of LifeLike.

Another thought to ponder, who is now responsible for the lifetime warranties on the LL 2-8-8-2's and 2-8-4's?

Stay cool and run steam.....

 

Just to be clear, I am not saying that products should not be criticized. All I'm saying is that ccriticism should be left to those who have actually tested the model or have some kind of first hand knowledge about the item. If you decide to pass on a model because of someone elses review, fine. But I don't think anybody should bash a model based just on what someone else says about it.

Eric

 

I just received the Walthers e-update and 4 out of 5 What's New messages concern N scale stuff. I'd say someone at Walthers must be reading these messages
cam

 

"Milwaukee" has a one track mind! Or should I say "one scale mind"! When I read about the preparations for the " World's Greatest Hobby" promotion, I just shook my head. There was a picture of the MR staffers and others boxing up promotional boxcars labeled for the campaign. Guess what? It was exclusively HO equipment being sent out to the masses in the form of a "press release"!!

Before the home computer, it was N-Trak. Now we get our information via the net. N scale publications have done an excellent job also, but most magazine stands only carried MR and RMC. True, you sometimes do have to sift through the baloney on the net, but we N scalers have always had to fend for ourselves. Now we have mediums that afford us the ability to exchange ideas. In my opinion, we have left MR and "Milwaukee" in the dust and thanks to the net and specialty publications that have come along over the years, they have no chance of ever catching up to us!!

 

The allocation of advertising/marketing expenditures depends on many factors, and differs from industry to industry. Jeanne and I together have about 70 years experience in these allocations. For a multi-product company, sales volume in usually the first consideration. If one line accounts for 80% of sales volume, then close to 80% of expenditures will probably go to that line. Sales volume is what pays for the fixed costs. Second is profitability, but with a catch. If your high-volume line is losing money, you have to make a decision: promote it more heavily, to achieve more volume and turn it profitable, or let it slowly wither. More volume does not affect fixed costs very much.

OK, let's say our 80% line is profitable. Do you want to cut advertising for it? Sometimes you can; at others it's just not a wise business decision.

So what to do with the other 20% of the business? You may have only 10% to 15% of expenditures to promote it. Big, spashy advertising is probably out. And you already got, as doofus pointed out, a pretty effective albeit unruly alternative. You may decide to put your marketing dollars elsewhere.

These are hard business decisions, and don't necessarily indicate a company's direction for the future. Do you promote your winners with the chance of losing out on future opportunities? Do you promote your up-and-comers for the future with the chance of losing the lines that keep you in business?

It will take someone far more astute than I am in the model business to make a more specific presentation. We sometimes forget that businesses are run by people. It's people who champion projects, and turn losers into winners, or vice versa.

Walthers has been around a long while, and it has lasted because it has made more smart than stupid business decisions. I don't see why it won't continue that way in the future.

 

My LHS had a similar take on the N scale vs the HO crowd in terms of his own store sales. He felt the HO guys would come in and buy that item, he does carry a decent HO selection, while he noticed the N scale crowd for his store was a little younger, more web savvy and usually came in to see the product then go and buy it off the web at a $ compared to $$ from him.

Since I have been filling in for him, I see a lot of N scalers, well more then a few, and the age range is in my eyes 40+ it seems. So unless he is mistaken, or the local LHS market is changing, or because I am an N scaler and comment it when I have a customer, I see them buying what we have on hand, though they don't seem to order anything we don't have, as were the HO guys order like mad from us. I do see that you (Wig-Wag) do more internet and mail order then we would ever do. The 40+ N scalers coming in though are pretty internet savvy, as opposed to our HO crowd seems more afraid, not willing to use. The N guys also seem to visit the forums pretty heavy, but not it seems the ones I do

I do hope that Walthers is going to keep the LL line moving, as well as try and pickup other smaller lines in N. The 2006 catalog did seem to have picked up some new manufactures.

 

In my opinion, the Life Like proto N line was a solid value for the price it once was. They sold fine engines and sets for beginners as well as seasoned modelers at very attractive prices. I've seen the Walthers/Life Like ads and the MSRP's are now the same as Kato's. It's good stuff but it just isn't Kato. All Walthers has done is add knuckle couplers to Life Like designs. Walthers has been a byword of the HO industry for decades and they seem to think their name can command a higher price.

I get the same impression. Model Railroder often celebrates Walthers as though they were the pope of model rairoading and that turns me off. I don't want a magazine that is influenced that way by manufacturers. We N scalers share some commonalities with HO scalers but we are a breed of our own in many ways. I sent off my subscription to N Scale Railroading because the mag is on target with my tastes.

I am in the process of building a low budget 2 x 4 ft "tribute to Life Like" layout with NOS Life Like grass mat, power lock track, lichen, and structures by Life Like and Model Power. I have the track down and wired and it runs very well. If I someday get a photo page, I will post a pic.

[ January 12, 2006, 07:46 PM: Message edited by: J Long ]

 

I think you may have been told what you wanted to hear at the Houston show George. I talked to the same person and was treated much differently. I think Walthers promises are without substance. I hope I am wrong since so much offered in HO would be great in N. If Walthers was as dedicated to the hobby and not just to the HO cash cow portion they would find a bonanza. N scalers would be loyal customers and willing buyers if we had anything exciting to buy.
Oh yes, PA's in very limited road names, a rehash of the old model and not DCC ready. Walthers could at least improve a rerun and make it compatable with available technology. I think we lost when Lifelike was bought.
Please prove me wrong Walthers, please!
Doc

 

Walthers 2005-06 New Products
http://www.walthers.com/page/ads/05-06%20Incredible%20Promotion.pdf

that new powered & indexed & built N turntable looks nice, but $299! ouch!

 

LL raised prices and added Accumates before the Walthers buyout.