FRom: Alan Lambert Fort Worth, Texas Ed, I like what you said, especially "buy it immediatly when it is announced". Does that qualify as pre-orderso that they know what to produce and how many. I guess I got lucky with my S-12 Balbwin. I saw it and jumped on it, plus I let you all know what I found. Guess I stired the kettle again. Alan Lambert
________________________________ From: Ed <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 11:37 AM Subject: {S-Scale List} Buying now or later....?? > Billy W. or Ed L. will relate the story of approaching some guys about > advertising in 3/16's--their reply was that...if they advertised they would > sell more stuff, so they would have to go through the 'trouble' of making > more! So in their mind they were happy just the way things were. > Bob Werre I remember that happening at an NMRA convention years ago. The product was some neat flashing-red-light grade crossing signals in all the scales including S. The gentlemen's reaction was just as Bob described, I am already busy enough and Walther's keeps placing big orders with me. No need to advertise. I do not think any S scale guys even knew about this product. After thinking about this, I realized many model RR products are made by folks in their basements, attics or garages. Some folks are retired and just want to make enough money to finance their hobby and pay for a couple of conventions each year. Anything more than that and they lose interest in a hurry. Then they get sick and die. Which brings us to the age-old concept of how to get things in S. Simple -- buy it immediately when it is announced if you EVER think you will want it. If it fits into your theme, buy it NOW! Chances are it will be gone later. And "later" will come sooner than you think. Even SHS and ACGilbert disappeared from the S scene along with their products. Not to mention Overland Models, ALCO Models, Sunset Models, SouthWind Models, Omnicon Scale Models and so forth. Learn from history and plan ahead -- way ahead. If you end up buying too much stuff or change your theme later, just sell the stuff off or use it for trade bait. Waiting until the precise weekend when you really need an item is frequently too late for acquiring it. Heed the olde tymers -- we have been there and done that. Cheers....Ed Loizeaux
