Wendell Hanks said:
To all:
Hans-Joergmueller offered on a previous post one bombshell for me: “Spotted Dear” mail order large scale trains is actually located at the same address in Hummelsown, PA, as Buffington Associates. When “Spotted Dear” notes on their website that their company “ships from the largest inventory of LGB products in North America,” there is quick understanding: LGB of America now has a retail operation direct to the public.
Is there any other interpretation?
I find this amazing in context of my having heard directly from LGB of America that they do NOT sell directly to the public. The public is directed to purchase from an LGB dealer.
Mr. Buffington is president (correct?) of G45, the current owner of LGB of America.
Has LGB now offered factory-direct purchases via “Spotted Dear” mail order?
Strange, the “Spotted Dear” website does not list the address for the company. I trust Hans did, in fact, affirm the information as to companion locations for both Mr. Buffington and “Spotted Dear” website sales of LGB, NOCH, and PIKO.
Any further information on this development?
Thanks,
Wendell
Wendell,
Marvin mentioning that these were the people behind “G45” and a surefire bet to get an Amfleet coach made me look at the site in the first place. Then it was the lack of mailing address, phone number etc. etc. that caught my attention. It is quite unusal to not list a mailing address, phone number and FAX number.
A look at the source code of www.spotteddeer.com didn’t indicate who designed the site, but for some strange reason the word “haupttabelle” (main table) showed up. Hmmmmmm … strange.
Next was a look-up on one of the many “whois” sites and sure enough that’s where the tie-in showed up, same address etc. etc.
As a LGB customer I don’t worry if “G45” is trying out a new sales concept, I keep on buying where I get excellent service and a fair price. The missing information on the spotteddeer site could be a simple matter of “we forgot” … (is that bridge still for sale?)
However it remains to be seen if the many LGBoA dealers across NA will take the same approach. Our EMM operation is just one of those small Ma and Pa outfits, but I can assure you that I wouldn’t dream of listing anything but our MSRP on our website. OTOH everyone has their very own standards and business approach.
Some time ago I questioned the marketing approach in regards to the PIKO Taurus, since there was a considerable difference between the German and the NA MSRP. That one will bear watching!
Of course I mentioned a while back that 2007 is shaping up as an interesting year, didn’t I?? 
