Large Scale Central

A modest proposal

General Discussion
#1

I’ve heard it said that if model railroad manufacturing was to be brought back the the USA, it would require a 20% increase in price. I don’t know if that is the real figure, but for the sake of argument, let’s stipulate that it is.

I would be willing to pay that surcharge, just to get a reliable product, manufactured here, with good QC, and not have to put up with the crap imported from China.

What say you?

#2

I certainly will. The next new purchase will be a Hartland.
And I pay a premium for US made goods whenever I can. I don’t shop at Walmart and check labels to see where items are made.
Sometimes, I find an American made alternative. More and more, there is no US made product to purchase.
Especially in clothing and electronics.
Ralph

#3

Ralph said “Especially in clothing and electronics.”
I mostly wear Carhartt, it used to be made entirely in the US, now mostly off-shore.

#4

I would also be willing to pay a little more to have Quality products made here in America. We really do need to bring manufacturing of all kinds back to the U.S. I design and build small electronic circuit boards for a few online robot builders groups and I am proud to say that of the 500+ boards that I have made and shipped that not one has failed, because I take the time and make the effort to see that each and every board is the best it can be. Plus each time I do a run of boards I request feedback from the users to see what improvements could be made to the designs and I incorporate them into the new run. Sadly just about every component that go into the boards are made overseas, but I did find a board maker that makes the bare boards for me here in the good ole USA.

Yes I would pay more for Quality USA made Train products.

Dan S.

#5

N-scale Micro Trains are still made in Talent Or and 90% of my N-scale rolling stock is Micro Trains (formally Kadee). Up until the last few years, they cost about 20% to 30% more than most others. Now the cost is about even with everybody else.

Yes I would and do pay more for good ole “Made in the USA”

#6

I too would be only too happy to pay more for any product that is made in America and that’s of equal quality to off-shore products.

#7

I would love to get made in the USA stuff.
I’m willing to pay the price. But the question is would the rest of the world be willing to?
Would it cost 20% more in the UK, up north in Canada or down under?
I guess the question I have is the USA alone a big enough market to support manufactured here?

#8

I will agree with this thread. My main concern is that I probably won’t be buying many more models, so I’m not sure whether my own response would have much of an impact. I am hoping to purchase the two truck Birney at ECLSTS, and it IS made in the USA.

Best,
David Meashey

#9

Do any of you remember the “Made in USA” LGB stuff?

(http:///NA-Fora/LGB_USA.jpg)

Above from a current eBay listing. Any of you remember the comments regarding the quality? Be careful what you wish for! :wink: :slight_smile:

#10

With the upcoming price increases from China 12%, we are no doubt going to see that in the form of 20% minimum out of our pockets for chineese stuff.

With so many people out of work here in the USA, why not bring back home. I do not beleive you will see a great difference in cost.

#11

Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Do any of you remember the “Made in USA” LGB stuff?

(http:///NA-Fora/LGB_USA.jpg)

Above from a current eBay listing. Any of you remember the comments regarding the quality? Be careful what you wish for! :wink: :slight_smile:

#1. Was it really made in the USA? #2. Was it better than the current Chinese junk that we have to send back? #3. Was any effort spent on QC?

#12

Steve

Ask Ron Gibson!

#13

Who?

I don’t buy LGB for a reason… too spensive for whatcha get.

Compare postwar or even prewar Lionel to that stuff they sell that is made in China, today. Which do you suppose is still going to be running in 5 years?

#14

My last Chinese purchase was a few years ago.
Everything I have added to the roster since then is made and assembled in Spokane Valley, Wa. USA. :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

#15

Me, too.

#16
Steve Featherkile said:
Who? ..............
Ron Gibson at Walthers. To the best of my knowledge he is in charge of the LGB segment at Walthers.
http://www.jigsaw.com/id340422/1/william_k_walthers_company_directory.xhtml said:
Gibson, Ron Head of LGB Sales Sales VP-Level Milwaukee WI
He used to be in charge at LGBoA, before Tony Castellano took over .... and a hell of a lot of funny stuff started happening on both sides of the Big Pond.

Don’t know Tony C either? Happy reading! BTW this could be one entry of the “where are they now?” follow-up on the LGB Saga.

#17

10% no problem, 15% ok, 20% and it needs to be put together right, and tested before shipping.

Easier said than done anywhere.

Greg

#18

The question I have is what % of the profit margin on PRC made product gets eaten up with repairs replacement and shipping? It seams to me there has to be a point when the PRC production advantages vs repair costs cancel each other out. I think moving production back to the US begins to make business sense as things get more expensive and politically iffy as the chinese realized they are being shortchanged by their own government.

#19
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Do any of you remember the "Made in USA" LGB stuff?

Any of you remember the comments regarding the quality?

Be careful what you wish for! :wink: :slight_smile:


HJ,
I actually have quite a few ‘Made in USA’ LGB rolling stock pieces. As regards quality, I really see no difference to the German made items at the time. I believe that Athearn was the chosen contractor. It is suprising how much stuff was actually made in the States from the mid through to late 1990’s. I actually ‘value’ them as much as I do the German made items. Early Chinese made stuff was not too bad (early 2000’s), but late post-Marklin takeover items (2008 onwards) do not particularly excite me.

 In reality,  why should there be a price point penalty markup for U.S. made items.  Actual production costs for rolling stock in particular are not that high.  The biggest markup is in the wholesale/retail part of the sale. Time for retail to cut their margins if they want to survive.  Most of us lost our rose coloured glasses years ago!
#20
Victor Smith said:
The question I have is what % of the profit margin on PRC made product gets eaten up with repairs replacement and shipping? It seams to me there has to be a point when the PRC production advantages vs repair costs cancel each other out. I think moving production back to the US begins to make business sense as things get more expensive and politically iffy as the chinese realized they are being shortchanged by their own government.
I'm starting to wonder just where the next Japan/S. Korea/China will be? Viet-Nam? N. Korea?