quote:

Originally posted by mikeporterinmd:
Why do you say this? While Premier GG-1s need lots of space, there is plenty
of Rugged-Rails and other lower priced stuff to buy if one wants to. O-Scale
can cost a lot, but not O-Gauge.

Mike

Because some people routinely, invariably point at top-of-the-line locomotives when they try to cite obstacles to new blood coming into this hobby, ignoring the examples you list (among others) as an alternative.

---PCJ

Long live Williams.....

BillP wrote:
"I would venture the guess that a large percentage of folks here on the forum could go for years without a new train purchase and simple enjoy what they have."

That about sums it up for me. Right now, I need no more "stuf" to take care of in my life.

The law of supply and demand will control profit margins, and train companies will adjust thereto, or fail.

quote:

I prefer to see the various manufacturers stay healthy and involved, and I don't worry overly much about the nuts and bolts of profit margins, how they run their business, etc. If they make something I really want, and if I can afford it, I'll likely do what I can to see that I get it. If it's out of my range, I'm content to move on to something else because there is almost always something else competing for the relatively few extra dollars I have.

Simple, yet accurate explanation..... let's add to that....

If you're sitting where Jerry and Mike are at you're trying to cover payroll; your fixed expenses; and pay something to the people that funded the working capital..... You're having a conversation with the CFO about what your assumptions are to sell enough product to somebody to cover the above costs.... you have products in the pipe and you're forecasting when they arrive and how long it takes to sell through.... You are looking at all of your options - what projects do you want to do and deciding where to invest.... Jerry is shifting resources to sets; Mike is shifting resources to Europe and to HO.... Both are selling "hope" and "growth" to the invetors and the banks..... Time well tell.... Bottom-line you're hoping things will work out at least well enough that you are still around to fight another day.....

Jerry's advantage is he has brand recognition.... Mike's is he is moving into bigger markets - if he can just get 5-10% of the HO spend.....

WOW to all of this???!!!!!
Reminds me of some old song lyrics that go something like "and the circle shall be unbroken" ...?????
What he said was round and round we go!!!!
So I agree with ALL the posts.....

Now about the candidates......

L