Are prices going up?

[teedoubleudee]

I got an email from Hornby yesterday regarding NEW wagons. Now I'm not really in the market for buying additional stock right now, but had a look anyway. The new wagons are horse boxes and one in GWR brown (R6972) really took my eye as it's something I dont currently have any examples of. That is till I saw the price! £23.99 for a small 4 wheel wagon!

I know the likes of Hattons etc will probably discount by a pound or too but surely that is a ton of money for such a small model? Prices like these must surely stop new young modellers from joining our hobby. No doubt you all have your own thoughts and share them on here.

[Walkingthedog]

That’s not unusual. Bachmann open wagons are over 20 quid and most of the other wagons at least 25 or over 30. Been like that for a couple of years.

[brian1951]

It is quite amazing what some people will pay for small wagons, i have over the years collected a very large amount of Dapol specially commissioned PO wagons. Some make mad money on ebay, i recently sold 50 for £10 each, the guy who bought them is selling them for £45 each inc £6.50 pp. and people are snapping them up, its a mad world.

[Puddles]

That does look rather expensive for what it is and the postage cost still to be added. I feel that the price of everything we purchase from day to day is going to creep up as we will all be having to pay for the last three months one way or another.
There has been lots of bargains to be had during lockdown and now the prices are climbing, l do agree that it will make people think twice about taking up the hobby.

Puddles

[Walkingthedog]

If you want to run a full length passenger train you need to mortgage your house.

[Walkingthedog]

These prices have been around for some time. 3 years ago Bachmann were selling a Cadburys Presflo wagon for £25 and that was at a discount price.

[dtb]

I think it's about right for what it is
plus you can get it from Derails at under £22 post free

[teedoubleudee]

I think it's about right for what it is
plus you can get it from Derails at under £22 post free

Thanks dtb, but even at that price I won't be parting with my money any time soon. I would have thought a sub £20 retail price would still have made a reasonable profit margin for retailer and manufacturer.

To run a small goods train of four wagons to cost nigh on a hundred pounds without a loco must look extortionate to the parents of a young lad wanting a model railway. It's no wonder the second hand market is so buoyant.

[glencairn]

The Dapol wagons I get from Medway Queen Preservation Society priced £12.90 + P&P seems rather reasonable then. and they make a profit as well.

Glencairn

[Mountain Goat]

I can see the future of the hobby will turn towards obtaining what one can in the secondhand market and creating a freelance model railway from what one can get, where one picks ones own livery and repaints and changes a few details to make it all look and feel plausable. I say this because it takes less skill to achieve results. I do something like this in 7mm narrow gauge and I have seen others also do this in 00 gauge with pleasing effect.

Part of the issue has been is that there are greater effects of the divide between those who can afford and those who can't. Now we have always had the finer models for those who are blessed with a generous budget, but those who do not used to be catered for... Unfortunately I believe that if it wasn't for the secondhand market, we have already passed the point where model railways can be considered a hobby for all, as I consider myself lucky in that I am already in the hobby so I am more able to adapt. But someone new into the hobby really needs a helping hand and advice. Unless the individual is blessed with a good income, I no longer advize them to go down the main route of 00 gauge and dwell on the lovely models, as what is the point if they are going to remain out of reach of ones budget?