Thoughts In Regards To The Sustainability Of Our Hobby...
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2020 2:40 pm
The "Big Two". The two main manufacturers in our hobby, Hornby and Bachmann have been such a success over the years and have worked so hard at supplying us with lovely models that they have, wether they intended to or not (And if they did who can blame them? As in their position we would likely do the same!), they have captured between them the monopoly of the loco and rolling stock market in the main scales we prefer modelling in.
Now as the costs incurred in past loans to take over smaller concerns, in which some were snapped up because they had hit the buffers themselves (E.g. Lima who's little empire sadly collapsed when the UK importer collapsed... Which basically happened (To my logic) when modellers kept placing orders and orders from listed catalogue items which in 10 years of doing this myself to try to get hold of ten 82T pallet vans where not one reached my local model shop, and neither could other model shops get them either as the importer concentrated so much on importing limited edition locos (More profits involved) that the big joke was that the catalogue items were as rare as hens false teeth).
So in effect, these big loans need to be paid, so retail prices have risen to the effect that their monopoly is under threat.
We now have some established competition who can take advantage of things by offering potentially more reasonable prices, however, they maybe also trying to invest as much as they can to enlarge their little empires so prices, for now remain high. (The work and investment involved is quite something, and it can take a while before this investment pays for itself).
For the modeller, the more manufacturers out there the better as when we look at things, if one manufacturer finds they can no longer stay afloat, we still have others to take the reins, and this was the major concern to most of us (Even I who due to my desired scale and gauge who needs to kit and scratchbuild or RTR bash, still need to buy the odd budget loco and obtain wheels or chassis to do this). That if Hornby did go bankrupt, we would be left with such a large gap in the market that it would take about a whole decade or more to fill.
It goes to show how we rely on them just being there for the continued success of our hobby. We may not buy their expensive items even if we would love to do so, but we do buy little bits and pieces and the occasional budget loco and/or item of rolling stock which keeps us happy, and keeps the manufacturer going.
I do think personally that our models are quite a bit overpriced as personally I would prefer a less detailed model and for detailing packs to be available so I could at least afford the model and when I had extra money, I could at a later date detail it... And a semi step in this direction has been attempted but I feel there is room for more... But that is my personal oppinion.
The real question is, that with the eye popping high prices, does this prevent new people entering into the hobby if they see a nice budget trainset, but then look before they buy at the other items and think twice. When I worked on the railways as a guard/conductor, I would often find both the parents of children I was talking to, and adults (Work collegues who though they didn't think so at times, but they were actually well paid) say to me "I would really love to take up the hobby but it is just too expensive". And this was back in the days before the prices doubled and doubled again.
So, when I see or hear of £50 or more for a bogie coach, I have to ask who actually buys these things? Even if I had a decent job (And was able to do it), so I was earning a good income, I would see the prices and in my mind I would say "How much? It's plastic!" If it was made in metal I would understand. I may grumble a bit hoping for a discount, but a plastic model? And you see the point. Even though these are exceptionally lovely models, when we put our logical minds to it (And shut off our collecting addiction...Which we may not realize we have.. and deny it to our family but sneek out to order ourselves a lovely model...), then we have to ask ourselves how much longer can the hobby sustain itself?
True, we have always had the odd special super detailed but accordingly high priced model, but these used to be the exception rather then the norm. But when the super detailed high priced models become the norm, and the industry decided to think of the less detailed but budget models as a sideline, it is tempting for them to specialize in the highly detailed models and stop providing the budget lines and the whole area of the hobby available for the budget concious, or the new modeller to enjoy could dissapere, which is a concern.
Thankfully Hornby still provide for this. Bachmanns entry level was in the past aimed at the very young (I have not recently checked their range much since I changed scale. Do they still do them?) Hornby's entry level is thankfully more universal. I feel that this area of the market is vitally important for the hobby to have a future.
Now as the costs incurred in past loans to take over smaller concerns, in which some were snapped up because they had hit the buffers themselves (E.g. Lima who's little empire sadly collapsed when the UK importer collapsed... Which basically happened (To my logic) when modellers kept placing orders and orders from listed catalogue items which in 10 years of doing this myself to try to get hold of ten 82T pallet vans where not one reached my local model shop, and neither could other model shops get them either as the importer concentrated so much on importing limited edition locos (More profits involved) that the big joke was that the catalogue items were as rare as hens false teeth).
So in effect, these big loans need to be paid, so retail prices have risen to the effect that their monopoly is under threat.
We now have some established competition who can take advantage of things by offering potentially more reasonable prices, however, they maybe also trying to invest as much as they can to enlarge their little empires so prices, for now remain high. (The work and investment involved is quite something, and it can take a while before this investment pays for itself).
For the modeller, the more manufacturers out there the better as when we look at things, if one manufacturer finds they can no longer stay afloat, we still have others to take the reins, and this was the major concern to most of us (Even I who due to my desired scale and gauge who needs to kit and scratchbuild or RTR bash, still need to buy the odd budget loco and obtain wheels or chassis to do this). That if Hornby did go bankrupt, we would be left with such a large gap in the market that it would take about a whole decade or more to fill.
It goes to show how we rely on them just being there for the continued success of our hobby. We may not buy their expensive items even if we would love to do so, but we do buy little bits and pieces and the occasional budget loco and/or item of rolling stock which keeps us happy, and keeps the manufacturer going.
I do think personally that our models are quite a bit overpriced as personally I would prefer a less detailed model and for detailing packs to be available so I could at least afford the model and when I had extra money, I could at a later date detail it... And a semi step in this direction has been attempted but I feel there is room for more... But that is my personal oppinion.
The real question is, that with the eye popping high prices, does this prevent new people entering into the hobby if they see a nice budget trainset, but then look before they buy at the other items and think twice. When I worked on the railways as a guard/conductor, I would often find both the parents of children I was talking to, and adults (Work collegues who though they didn't think so at times, but they were actually well paid) say to me "I would really love to take up the hobby but it is just too expensive". And this was back in the days before the prices doubled and doubled again.
So, when I see or hear of £50 or more for a bogie coach, I have to ask who actually buys these things? Even if I had a decent job (And was able to do it), so I was earning a good income, I would see the prices and in my mind I would say "How much? It's plastic!" If it was made in metal I would understand. I may grumble a bit hoping for a discount, but a plastic model? And you see the point. Even though these are exceptionally lovely models, when we put our logical minds to it (And shut off our collecting addiction...Which we may not realize we have.. and deny it to our family but sneek out to order ourselves a lovely model...), then we have to ask ourselves how much longer can the hobby sustain itself?
True, we have always had the odd special super detailed but accordingly high priced model, but these used to be the exception rather then the norm. But when the super detailed high priced models become the norm, and the industry decided to think of the less detailed but budget models as a sideline, it is tempting for them to specialize in the highly detailed models and stop providing the budget lines and the whole area of the hobby available for the budget concious, or the new modeller to enjoy could dissapere, which is a concern.
Thankfully Hornby still provide for this. Bachmanns entry level was in the past aimed at the very young (I have not recently checked their range much since I changed scale. Do they still do them?) Hornby's entry level is thankfully more universal. I feel that this area of the market is vitally important for the hobby to have a future.
