Large Scale Central

Catalogs $

General Discussion
#21
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Shawn said:
Mike Williams said:
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
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.
Shawn,

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? :wink: :slight_smile:


I understand but when one looks at how much a product cost (i would love to know how much those products cost the company to make) they cant give you a catolog. I deal with a lot of companies in other industries like high angle rescue. There is not a demand for that but they can afford to get you free catologs and sometimes a free product when you order on a regular basis. ( i never expect a free product but rather then just using it as an example) I dont expect everything for free but a little more courtsey goes a long way in my books, especially when I look at how much i pay for that product. Its just another way of promoting something. I just think there are other ways to promote this hobby and having catologs more available is one of those ways.

#22

I gladly paid for the LGB catalogs, they were books in their own right. Some were beautifully bound with near archival quality paper. Received many Lionel and some USA catalogs for free. USA ones were darn nice too! I don’t mind paying for a high quality “book” I know will last literally for decades and become a valued resource later on.

I get dozens of free catalogs in the mail made from low quality “news-print” stock, won’t pay a dime for 'em. But I don’t expect them to have an honored place on my bookshelf either.

Edit: I get Victorias Secret catalogs for free, best darned value anywhere! :stuck_out_tongue:

#23

K, another “experience” from the other side. I often took “free” literature to shows, and other “free” stuff they could pick up like pens or hard candy. (NOTHING is really “free”, I paid for it…) Many, if not most, of those free new product flyers simply ended up in the next trash can when somebody got bored carrying it. And there was always some clown who would take 10 pens or enough candy for an orphanage… And you guys REALLY think this is a cost effective way to spend finite advertising dollars?

#24

With the internet why do you need a catalog??? everything is at your fingertips!! The Regal

#25

In the days before the implosion, at the BTS a rep from LGB was giving out the complete catalog, the big format one, for free, so I guess it depends in what venue you are in. Pay $$ for one at the LHS, or get one for free at a show, go figure.

When I was in the smaller scales (before the internet) I used to get a Walthers catalog every couple years just to keep current of product avaliability, today its easier to follow along on the internet.

#26
Jerry Hansen said:
With the internet why do you need a catalog???? everything is at your fingertips!! The Regal
I'd like to agree with you, but Lewis said the other day that they are no longer updating their on-line catalog over at Aristo. He says the On-Line Store will replace it, but I don't find it as easy to use as the catalog and there are no pictures for many items. The ones that do have pictures are tiny.

That said, I don’t hold on to any paper catalogs.

#27

I just got a nice personal email from Lewis Polk in response to my post in this thread. Lewis reminded me that he also said they are developing a new Internet version of the catalog that will be on-line in a few days. I look forward to seeing it.

The AristoCraft website has always been a great research tool. Thanks Lewis :slight_smile:

#28
Jon Radder said:
Jerry Hansen said:
With the internet why do you need a catalog???? everything is at your fingertips!! The Regal
I'd like to agree with you, but Lewis said the other day that they are no longer updating their on-line catalog over at Aristo. He says the On-Line Store will replace it, but I don't find it as easy to use as the catalog and there are no pictures for many items. The ones that do have pictures are tiny.

That said, I don’t hold on to any paper catalogs.


I hold on to most paper catalogs of interest out dated or not!!! My computer won’t fit on the magazine rack in the bathroom. I once heard that people used to use the Sears catalog as TP during the depression! Hope they didn’t use the hardware pages…

#29

I just checked out Aristo-Craft’s new on-loine catalog. All I can say is WOW. Nice job Aristo!

Find it at http://www.aristocraft.com/ and click on Aristo-Craft Catalog