Hornby and the price increase.

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I think that some of the prices are getting to the silly point, hence recent sales. £55 for a passenger coach is simply too rich for me. Even at £28, roughly half price, that’s still strong, especially for something made largely of plastic. If prices keep climbing, as they seem to be doing even in the few months that I’ve been back in the hobby, people won’t buy.

It’s not just prices though, it’s quality. I watched a Sam’s Trains video today where he reviews a new Bachmann loco. Some of his comments were perhaps slightly wide if the mark for something mass produced, but he did raise an interesting point, in that the quality level just didn’t reflect the retail price being demanded, let alone the discounted price that he paid.

I think that things will flatten out next year, assuming that the pandemic eases and China PLC ramps up production. Bargains, or at least, sensible price reductions can be found, but without doubt, this hobby is expensive.

[dtb]

That is a usual comment for Sams Trains regarding quality over price. I watch him sometimes and he always uses the same rhetoric and I get bored and fall asleep. The individual can take what they want from his reviews but at 40 minutes for a review there is a lot of comments that are repeated.

Anyway back to prices, whilst there have been increases in all raw material markets including plastics, I am in a position to know that the recent increases are helping manufacturers and suppliers milk the situation to take the opportunity to increase profit margins on the products they sell. However I do agree that 55 quid for a coach is beyond many people. I have disposable income to a certain extent but would not pay that for a coach.

[Walkingthedog]

How about £37/for an OO wagon.

https://railsofsheffield.com/products/i ... 65ca&_ss=r

[teedoubleudee]

How about £37/for an OO wagon.

https://railsofsheffield.com/products/i ... 65ca&_ss=r

It is crazy. Interesting that when I started a similar thread on here some time ago I seem to remember the general response was to put up or shut up!

There have have been a few half price sales that almost tempted me recently, but with outstanding pre-orders from Hattons and Kernow I'm keeping my money in my pocket and only buying stuff I REALLY need

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I’m caught in the early modelling stages. There’s the temptation to buy lots of rolling stock and locos., and I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve already made some stupid mistakes when it comes to purchases in that regard. Lesson learned, and all that. Part of it, for me, is also not being in familiar territory, so forums like this are a godsend. But I need to spend cash on getting the infrastructure up and running before the modelling, the fun bit can start — automating points, signalling, etc. and all this stuff, assuming that you can find it, ain’t cheap.

I’m definitely of the opinion that the sales are reflecting that a lot of the stuff being offered is simply too rich for the average modeller. Hornby seems to be the worst offender, but Bachmann’s stuff is also very expensive. I managed to find a Bachmann guard’s van that I wanted on eBay for ~£20, the retail being £28. Bargain, I thought, but on TMC (as I recall), it’s now £14.49! Of course, adding in postage bumps the price, but £14 is nearly a 50% reduction, which seems to be the average discount.

The big issue here is that it’s a captive audience. However good you might be as a modeller, you have to buy stuff, or go without. Be honest, it’s difficult to suppress the desire to purchase. Just one more bit, and I’m finished … yeah, right! Still, that’s what’s credit cards are for.

[IanS]

The big issue here is that it’s a captive audience. However good you might be as a modeller, you have to buy stuff, or go without. Be honest, it’s difficult to suppress the desire to purchase. Just one more bit, and I’m finished … yeah, right! Still, that’s what’s credit cards are for.

Depending on your desire for accuracy, modelling with 3D printing seems to be the way to go. Many already have capable laptops for the design stage for basic wagons and once the purchase of the printer is done the cost is mainly time. At £300 or so you can only buy 10 or less detailed wagons or you can buy a printer and make as many as you wish. I don't know how much the PLA in a 'typical' 7 plank wagon would cost, but my guess is it is considerably less than the £10 charged to members on Sam's Trains. (Of course he is including an element of the cost of the time it takes to print and the 'design skills'.) Budget Model Railways also sells 3D printed bodies for 00 and I think now N gauge. They're nowhere near as expensive as those from Bachmann or Hornby, but not as good either. ThingyVerse have a lot of free models to print and other railway items.

[brian1951]

It all good for used sales on ebay.

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It’s a bit of a punt with second hand stuff on eBay. My idea of something in good condition may not match the seller’s determination. Of course, it’s certainly a place to find kit no longer being manufactured. Stuff that I’ve bought on eBay as being marked as new has certainly seemed that, and the associated seller ratings are high. Caveat emptor.

My two half-price Hornby coaches arrived today from Kernow. I can definitely appreciate the quality of the models, but that still doesn’t justify the silly RRP.

Coming back to Sam’s Trains, his latest review that I mentioned earlier did highlight just how poor a couple of recent Bachmann locos. were. Engines that needed a helping hand to get across points, or that were seen spinning their wheels tying to pull three passenger coaches does make me wonder just how much product development and testing goes into these expensive lumps. My ‘hobby starter’ Hornby 0-4-0 locos. seem quite happy pulling reasonable loads. If a cheapie loco. can rise to the challenge, then a model costing three times as much should also be able to. Or am I missing something here?

[Walkingthedog]

I’ve had some incredible bargains on eBay.

[teedoubleudee]

And I've sold a few, some with nothing more than a gentle running in. When I downsized my layout last year I realised I didn't need more than two dozen locos!