This drives me nuts why do train catalogs cost money? I can get catalogs for everything else like my outdoor things such as climbing, skiing etc… I send the company an e-mail and I get a catalog for nothing. On the other hand I want a bachmann catalog or any other train catalogs I have to pay a price and it is not cheap. What is the reason for for this? You would think if they want to promote their products they would have catalogs for free. I never understood this.
Shawn,
You are not alone… Why do they want to make money on track… They should follow the old Kodak plan… Here is a camera, but have to buy the film from us… They should sell the track for cost & make the profit on the loco’s & cars…
Bob Burton said:
Shawn,You are not alone… Why do they want to make money on track… They should follow the old Kodak plan… Here is a camera, but have to buy the film from us… They should sell the track for cost & make the profit on the loco’s & cars…
They make sure to make money on track because you need the track, and can buy the loco’s and cars from someone else.
And you only need one loco and a few cars.
Ralph
Ralph Berg said:Bob Burton said:
Shawn,You are not alone… Why do they want to make money on track… They should follow the old Kodak plan… Here is a camera, but have to buy the film from us… They should sell the track for cost & make the profit on the loco’s & cars…
They make sure to make money on track because you need the track, and can buy the loco’s and cars from someone else.
And you only need one loco and a few cars.
Ralph
That is true. Same goes for I-pods etc… You buy the product for 120$ but when you have to replace the battery you have to pay 80$ for the Battery. They sure know how to get yuo today
Ralph,
You only got 1 loco & 3 or 4 cars??
Seems the way you all want it they should just give it all away so they can go out of bussiness then we will have no choices. Why do you NOT want a company to make money? Money that goes into new product development and keeps these rather small companies going. You would not beleive how much catalogs cost to produce and besides its all available on line FREE. Seems like some people just need to complain about somthing. Must be the half empty gang. LOL
I got a USA catalog free when I got my Christmas loco. It was in the box.
Bob Burton said:
Ralph,You only got 1 loco & 3 or 4 cars??
No,
But I’m one of those that can never have too many…of anything.
Ralph
Mike Williams said:Wow you are a great help mike thanks. :-) No im not complaining im just wondering why they charge and no one else does? They over charge on their products to start so a free catalog wont break them.
Seems the way you all want it they should just give it all away so they can go out of bussiness then we will have no choices. Why do you NOT want a company to make money? Money that goes into new product development and keeps these rather small companies going. You would not beleive how much catalogs cost to produce and besides its all available on line FREE. Seems like some people just need to complain about somthing. Must be the half empty gang. LOL
I made a very small O scale order to a train store on Staten Island and received a free MTH catalog. Of course this isn’t goofy gauge stuff.
Cheers,
Why the charge?
Simple: People are willing to pay.
Free? Sure, at the Big Train Show – and, I suspect, other shows where the mfg.s have their displays.
The customer is in a competitive environment standing in front of the vendor’s show booth and has already announced intent to participate as a consumer by buying a ticket to even get into the show!
Now, here’s the real puzzlement: Enthusiasts will pay to get into home shows, photo shows, train shows, gun shows, and boat shows – and would scream if that same vendor at the show charged to get into their place of business.
Sigh.
Wendell
Let’s see. When I printed catalogs the pages cost me 13c/sheet (double sided so 6.5c/page) times 30 pages = $1.95 The nice 3 ring covers cost something like $1 each, the big white envelope another 30c, Postage via media mail was usually around 95c That makes $4.20 or so going out for EVERY catalog…I charged $4 and they had a $5 off coupon in them… I still had a lot of people get huffy over that pittance. A supplier (national distributor) once said to me, “If they are too cheap to buy a lousy catalog, what makes you think they will ever spend the money to buy your products?”
If/when somebody actually BOUGHT something, I’d usually throw one in if they asked. BTW I made SOOO much money on those catalogs (and everything else) that I’m out of biz… My friends were right, the only way to make a small fortune in the hobby sector is to start with a large one.
Wendell,
twenty years ago, I had a local hobby store owner mention that he was considering a ‘cover charge’ for customers entering his store. My instant reply was that there were other stores who provided a similar service to him and that I would sever any further connection with the store.
Shawn said:Shawn,Mike Williams said:Wow you are a great help mike thanks. :-) No im not complaining im just wondering why they charge and no one else does? They over charge on their products to start so a free catalog wont break them.
Seems the way you all want it they should just give it all away so they can go out of bussiness then we will have no choices. Why do you NOT want a company to make money? Money that goes into new product development and keeps these rather small companies going. You would not beleive how much catalogs cost to produce and besides its all available on line FREE. Seems like some people just need to complain about somthing. Must be the half empty gang. LOL
Have you ever considered how much those catalogues cost to produce? Have you looked at how many LS modelers there are? Small print runs on reasonably good paper are expensive, four colour with all the fancy stuff costs even more … and on … and on … and on!
Have you ever considered to just forget about the catalogue and print your own straight off the Internet? Ooooops that will take a lot of ink and paper and it will all be your own, right? 
These catalogs are expensive to produce.
My company used to offer free “catalogs” twice a year for every hotel location. Then we went to one per year and two years ago we stopped altogether. There were EXPENSIVE and appealed generally a demographic that was dwindling. It was decided that our marketing dollars could be best spent elsewhere.
Print is a dying medium.
Hans-Joerg,
If they give catalogs away @ train shows & you take the time to ask for a catalog from a manufacturer, they should send you 1 pronto… If they do not, should by from some one else…
Shawn,
Just come to York in March and you’ll get all the catalogs free.
-Brian
Bob Burton said:
Hans-Joerg,If they give catalogs away @ train shows & you take the time to ask for a catalog from a manufacturer, they should send you 1 pronto… If they do not, should by from some one else…
Hey, I fully agree, everything should be for free! You just go to work because it is so much fun or you just love you boss. He doesn’t pay you, he just tells you how much he appreciates your efforts and please help yourself to all the free stuff.
hmmmmmm … wait a minute? Didn’t you at one time or the other mention that it’s a free market system and that’s just how it is … there is no such thing as a free lunch? Or is my memory playing tricks again?
Oh BTW, I think that idea with buying from someone else and spreading the money around a bit is very good, I’m all for it! Especially since everyone offers the exact same thing and there is no reason you’d want a catalogue from some specific outfit anyway.
Yes! be it resolved all of us should get FREE catalogues.
The best place to start is Wm.K.Walthers, their FREE catalogues would be a super deal, all that stuff in one place! Order it all either from them or your LHS … oh wait, that’s no good because their prices are outrageous and their service sucks, right? Or did I get that one wrong, too?
Welcome to the brave new world!
Tim and others with equal surprise:
A cover charge to enter a store!
Incredible. What worked at the “shows” must work at an individual store.
Did he get any takers? Still in business?
Good stuff.
Wendell
I can understand small hobby stores but the bigger companies. You cant tell me they cant afford to give someone a free catolog with a purchase of a product or if you ask. I have delt with many companies and never had a problem receiving a catolog for free. It seems only this hobby charges for every little thing. I dont understand how anyone can support this reasoning. You want to promote a hobby why not be able to walk into a hobby store be able to pick up a bachmann or hartland catolog for free. That way a child or adult can take it home look through it and get the brain thinking about a great hobby. Take that same person walking into the store and sees a price of 10$ for that catolog, i bet they walk away and now have nothing to take home and forgets about it. I know for myself catologs have inspired me. Yes there is the internet but a catolog sitting on someones night stand or bathroom gives you a reminder. You dont get that reminder when on the internet. This might sound stupid but it is true. Many of catologs have got me started or intrested in a product this way. Its nice being able to go to work and being able to open up that catolog during break. Thats how ideas can get started and this helps the company sell the product. I know this is what has helped me. How is it all these other companies in other hobbies etc do it. They even give free stickers. Its a great way to promote a hobby or product.