Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
POLL RESULTS: Are Model Train Manufacturers Doing Enough To Promote Model Railroading?
The latest survey asked “Are Model Train Manufacturers Doing Enough To Promote Model Railroading?”
415 model railroaders responded as follows:
— No, I think they could do more (79%, 326 Votes)
— Yes, I think they are (21%, 89 Votes)
Add your comment
5 Responses to POLL RESULTS: Are Model Train Manufacturers Doing Enough To Promote Model Railroading?
Leave a Reply
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
Download Your Free Catalog
Use Tiny Railroad Micro Controllers
Model Train Help Ebook
The issue for me is the price for the choices have reduced the number of rolling stock and engines I can afford. While many applaud the super detailed kits I would prefer more hands on building of detail kits to customize for each individual while keeping a lower price but giving good to great detail. Some what the most realistic they can get while others need a good look from 3 feet away but at much cheaper price. At this point I feel manufacturers are catering to the super detailed modelers. Some of us would prefer the range of choice at low end or high end price.. Mayve I am expecting to much…
They need to promote there product on television and radio as was done in the past. No the toy train manucturers are not doing enough to promote the hobby.
Model Railroad MFG’s are not doing enough to promote Model Railroading. They are all making only enough for one run of an item. Preordered runs is all they do now it seems High priced, they force the price up by doing limited runs. I will not purchase that way. I want to see how well an engine performs either at the hobby shop or ones my friends have purchased. A very good example id the trackmobile that came out with Factory direct trains. Very tiny yet heafty price was on it I might add. All of a sudden there were prices half off and more and from what people told me it wouldn’t pull itself much less a car. I bought the half price one and they were correct. But it wasn’t because it didn’t have the power. When I tore into it I found the gears were slipping. I finally used a small piece of card board to wedge the motor down in place where the worm gear and motor was lifting out of the gears. Seems there is no testing these days. Now it will pull an autorack or 2 or 3 other freight cars depending on the weight. I sure wouldn’t have wanted to find that out at the full price. I also believe that this ready to roll stock at these heffty prices are not worth that. Even if it is a well made car, it most likely came with a cheapo coupler just as the ones I have purchased. I now go to the train shows and get a good deal on a car and convert wheels and the couplers to better quality at a fraction of the cost. One last thing here. If you want to get younger generation into this hobby then it has to be priced to do so. That means getting this stuff out on the shelves and plenty of it. If they cannot get an in- expensive start to the hobby then they will not stay with it. THE MFG’s are ONLY Cattering to the retirees and collectors and not to their future custumers. Also it seems many just want to hire their layout to be built. There is less and less kit or scratch building any more. One person a few years ago had is layout in a major RR magazine and it was beautiful. But when it got to the owners Biograghy it said he Hired the whole thing done. I was very disappointed. What one thing on that layout did he do with his own hands that got him in that magazine. I understand folks can’t do everything on their own, But just One item Lets get back to model railroading and promoting this sport for kids. Newman Atkinson
I don’t think that they are reaching far enough outside of the already established groups of modelers.
No TV adds, or radio adds. I do see promotions via Face Book, and personal emails, which is good, but I’m already well informed on products. I have had Marketing Classes, and perhaps the Manufacturers have tried TV & Radio with poor results, so therefore pulled adds? You try to reach the desired target groups, but then again, anyone (in my opinion) can be into Model Railroading…
As kids, most of us grew up watching the awesome Lionel adds on TV, wow! But that was then.
The big train shows do a great job, but they might discourage folks who don’t have a whole lot to spend on hobbies. I will be first to admit, today’s products are the best ever on the market, but they are not cheap by any means. That means that a customer has to have a strong desire to put out the big cash for the hobby. I look at some adds for great products, and I wonder who can pay so much for them? I have a HUGE collection, but to be honest I don’t usually pay department store prices. To be fair, I still like the older collectible stuff, that can’t be found in stores.
So to sum it up: The cheap products are a good start for newcomers. The good products are going to dig deeper into a customer’s pockets so it will also require that it fit into their everyday budget. Strongly interested customers will make sure to factor Model railroading into their budget.
Being in the retail business all my life and knowing the ins and outs of how to reach your customer, I see a few problems where the MFG can do more especially for the Stores to give them an advantage over the internet. 1. have the MFG publish a schedule where they will go to these shops and bring in a pre fabricated layout and have the customers see whats going on in the Model Railroad industry. Woodland scenes can give clinics etc. Give the retailer some advertising money to get the word out in local news papers or Magazines. 2. Radio and TV is expensive but there are some cable channels that are not. Model railroad hobbeist is talking about running a model train tv show support the show with your advertising. 3. Lionel and American Flyer use to run ads all the time when I was young and would get so excited seeing the action they simulated on TV. Im sure the bigger companies can find some bucks to run some ads. 4. Last but not least what about flyers that are stuffed in papers and list the dealers in and around the area. Manufacturers take heed you are loosing the stores where modelers meet and BS and buy to the internet give them an edge so you get new blood. You need new blood. Look what happened to GM the cadillac division and Olds division catered to all old people. When you got behind one of those cars you knew the guy driving was a few days from death. When they died they olds went out of business. Caddie changed there care and ad format to appeal to the young and women. Support the stores there are many incentives to bring younger people in and keep the hobby shops in business. If any of the MFGs read this and want to tap into some of the ideas. I am willing to help