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I know most of you here know why prices keep creeping up in train hobby but there is a way to save some money.
We all should know about Accurail, yes Accurail. I have been looking for some cars lately especially Union Pacific box cars. The prices from the main manufacturers are getting pricy on some models. Well I found 5 UP box cars from Accurail for a great price from TrainZ. The only thing I replaced were the wheels. The plastic wheels are just fine but I have a bunch metal wheels and axles so why not use them. The couplers for me work just fine. The price I paid for 6 cars are about the same as 2 from the other manufacturers. Btw they are also new in the box.
I put them with some newer models from the newer makers. I would bet you could not tell which is which as they are running. Now don't get me wrong the others are better detailed, finer detailed but yet Accurails cars compare very nicely.
So if you want to save money and have some nice freight cars, take a look at Accurail you just may be surprised.
As I pointed out in another thread recently, I have over 120 Accurail freight cars. Been purchasing them since around 2000. The earlier ones came with a friction pin to attach the trucks, but a 2-56 screw could be easily substituted since the hole is the same diameter. They eliminated the pin and went with the screw around 2005. Same with the coupler covers. I used to have to shave the pin off them and drill a hole in the cover, but they changed that to screws about the same time. That's also when they changed the coupler to the design that's included today. The couplers have always worked for me. That is once I figured out to add a drop of super glue to the trip pin when installing them. The friction fit was OK unless you switched a like I do. Some fell out and were lost forever. Kadee couplers, then a #5 and now a #148 are a drop-in fit. Most of all, I like them because they are made in the USA.
I agree the price of rolling stock is increasing; in some cases ridiculous imo.
A colleague of mine was closing down his store and offered me some of his stock at a sensible price. (He still made a tidy profit.)
Elsewhere it is a case of looking around different sellers. Same models being sold at various prices. For example one company selling a locomotive at £199.99. Another company selling the identical locomotive for £149.95. Yet the company selling the cheaper locomotive sells others more expensive than the other company.
I have a number of Accurail rolling stock. I agree they are a great value even considering the change of wheel sets and couplers.
I also have numerous pieces of rolling stock I have paid $50.00+ for.
I'm in a place where with 600 pieces of rolling stock I cant really use anymore. I have very few gaps in my needed rolling stock, so my buying has pretty much come to a halt for the last 18 months.
I do have 12 of the Rapido Cryo-trans and Lineage reefers on pre-order and those will be north $60.00 a piece, and I have no issue paying that for them. Its a piece of rolling stock that is essential if you are a present day modeler.
I model the modern era or actually the current times. I’ve moved my era a few times in the 11 years that I’ve been retired. It’s now 2020. So I’ve never really worried about pricing of current rolling stock. If I wanted the current time it was going to be more $$$ then the trains in the transition era or modern eras. With the outstanding details and accuracy of the current equipment I felt it was a cost of doing things.
I still have 8 Accurail cars left in my inventory and they are nice good running and looking cars. For under $25 they are a great value. I have 18 Walthers Mainline brand of box cars. For under $30 each 2 years ago I thought that was a good value. But put either brand next to a $40 now $60.00 Scaletrains Rivet Counter and there is really no comparison. The Rivet counter every day for me.
But there is a caveat for me. I only need 50 cars at most for an operating session on my switching layout and 40 is actually a better fit. So if I spend say $60 for a car and need 50 pieces that’s only $3000. If you need 300 cars at $20 that’s $6000. That’s a huge difference and yes if I really needed 300 cars I’d be looking at Walthers Mainline brand instead of Scaletrains River Counter or Athearn’s Genesis brand.
That said, I see cars being pre -ordered at $70+ and even though I’m certainly not frugal that’s too much.
No matter what you believe or what the manufacturer says causes the new pricing this new pricing level is not going to change, IMO.
I model the modern era or actually the current times. I’ve moved my era a few times in the 11 years that I’ve been retired. It’s now 2020. So I’ve never really worried about pricing of current rolling stock. If I wanted the current time it was going to be more $$$ then the trains in the transition era or modern eras. With the outstanding details and accuracy of the current equipment I felt it was a cost of doing things.
I still have 8 Accurail cars left in my inventory and they are nice good running and looking cars. For under $25 they are a great value. I have 18 Walthers Mainline brand of box cars. For under $30 each 2 years ago I thought that was a good value. But put either brand next to a $40 now $60.00 Scaletrains Rivet Counter and there is really no comparison. The Rivet counter every day for me.
But there is a caveat for me. I only need 50 cars at most for an operating session on my switching layout and 40 is actually a better fit. So if I spend say $60 for a car and need 50 pieces that’s only $3000. If you need 300 cars at $20 that’s $6000. That’s a huge difference and yes if I really needed 300 cars I’d be looking at Walthers Mainline brand instead of Scaletrains River Counter or Athearn’s Genesis brand.
That said, I see cars being pre -ordered at $70+ and even though I’m certainly not frugal that’s too much.
No matter what you believe or what the manufacturer says causes the new pricing this new pricing level is not going to change, IMO.
Your right its not going to change but that does not mean I will still buy. I refuse to buy those higher priced Cars no matter how much they are detailed. I am satisfied with what I buy and if it is Accurail, so be it! I don't buy it so someone can say, look a handrail, how interesting! Too many people are being priced out of the market already.
We have to call out the mfgs. when prices are creeping up to the unaffordable. The only way to get the mfgs attention is to stop buying them.
Your right its not going to change but that does not mean I will still buy. I refuse to buy those higher priced Cars no matter how much they are detailed. I am satisfied with what I buy and if it is Accurail, so be it! I don't buy it so someone can say, look a handrail, how interesting! Too many people are being priced out of the market already.
We have to call out the mfgs. when prices are creeping up to the unaffordable. The only way to get the mfgs attention is to stop buying them.
There's a little something out there called "inflation". The cost of raw materials has gone up, the cost of tooling and production has gone up, labor, etc.
Manufacturers are not making huge margins. A lot of them are probably just getting by. None of them are ripping us off. Quality comes at a price.
It's like cars. You may be happy with a Prius, but some of us like and can afford a Porsche. They're both transportation, but they ain't the same.
The MFGs really aren't the problem here. More modelers are demanding certain models be made thus new R/D, and tooling costs. They are also demanding accurate fully detailed locos and rolling stock. The MFGs are just giving what has been shown that the consumers want. Seems like a smart business practice to me. These pieces of rolling stock are obviously selling out, they keep bringing them out.
Shane from Scaletrains has stated several times that their Rivet Counter line by far outsells their budget Operator line.
As Tom pointed out. There are plenty of options out there for the ones who don't want to pay the cost for high fidelity models.
There's a little something out there called "inflation". The cost of raw materials has gone up, the cost of tooling and production has gone up, labor, etc.
Manufacturers are not making huge margins. A lot of them are probably just getting by. None of them are ripping us off. Quality comes at a price.
It's like cars. You may be happy with a Prius, but some of us like and can afford a Porsche. They're both transportation, but they ain't the same
Your right its not going to change but that does not mean I will still buy. I refuse to buy those higher priced Cars no matter how much they are detailed. I am satisfied with what I buy and if it is Accurail, so be it! I don't buy it so someone can say, look a handrail, how interesting! Too many people are being priced out of the market already.
We have to call out the mfgs. when prices are creeping up to the unaffordable. The only way to get the mfgs attention is to stop buying them.
I agree with Marlin39. There not much a manufacturer can do about inflation or tariffs when it comes to pricing. I know that my $1.00 or $100 absolutely does not go as far as it did 12 months ago 60 months ago or 10 years ago. That a normal progression. Sometimes inflation is low sometimes it’s not. The extra factor in all this is what we all hope is the tariffs go away, get reduced or stabilized.
Elitism, not quite sure how that applies in this conversation based on its definition.
Elitism is the notion that individuals who form an elite—a select group with desirable qualities such as intellect, wealth, power, fame, physical attractiveness, notability, special skills, experience, lineage—are more likely to be constructive to society and deserve greater influence or authority.[1] The term elitism may be used to describe a situation in which power is concentrated in the hands of a limited number of people. Beliefs that are in opposition to elitism include egalitarianism, anti-intellectualism (against powerful institutions perceived to be controlled by elites), populism, and the political theory of pluralism
The manufacturers yes are a small group. They however are influenced by what sells and the builders of the models we use from overseas. They also as a group have no control over inflation or tariffs
Nonsense..... We are all free to make choices how we spend our money. Sounds more like freedom. With few exceptions the perceived top tier always costs more.
Most prudent people will buy what they can afford and meets their needs. It's a freakin hobby, buy what you like.
I have had to lower my sites on rolling stock and locomotives due to increasing prices. Fortunately, I purchased a lot of "higher end" items some years ago knowing/hoping I would have a train layout and I purchased the "more detailed" stuff.
I have purchased more Accurail items in the last year than ever before.
As Willie posted, there was a thread on this subject posted only about 3 weeks or so ago.
Searching e-bay sometimes turns up a deal on some items as someone who is not a train person will sell an item or two that they acquired in an estate sale or bulk buy. All these folks want to do is sell all their items for more than what the paid and show a profit. I have found a couple of Intermountain boxcars for $17.00 each, still new in the box.
Train shows also are a good spot for bargains. You just gotta look.
I can fit only about 32 cars on my layout. I have more than that, so I haven't bought a car in quite a while.
The only highly-detailed cars I've bought were some cabooses, and the highest price I paid (ebay) was about $35. If folks want to pay more, fine with me, but I won't be doing it.
Same with engines, I've got more than will fit (35+). So I'm pretty much done buying those, too, although I did find a Conrail SD60 (Proto2000, new-old-stock) on ebay a couple of weeks back for less than $59...
. They look good enuff.