Large Scale Central

LGB Repair time!

General Discussion
#101

Hey Joerg,
I would not say that i am a fundamentalist, but since i own more then 25 LGB engines and a huge rolling stock, i guess i could say that i am a big fan of LGB products. How ever my dilemma is that it is not possible to get all the spare parts i need, to keep everything rolling. I bought for xx thousands of dollars LGB products from LGBoa, and now i can"t get spare parts, what do you think how that makes me feel. interesting to know is that any firm, by law has the obligation to support customers with spare parts, that obligation is ongoing for years.
I have the awareness how things went down, how LGBoa bought the rights to the LGB name, and how LGBoa and Marklin are in a deadlock, why LGBoa does not get any parts from Europe. How ever, as a customer i have no interest to be involved in all this mess, all i care is that business is going on like before.
It took me a while to understand why LGBoa suddenly felt the need to change the name, trade a well known name to something unknown, something new. I could also image that " Piko, Noch, EMEK, Bridgewors and and, rather would like to see their names listed under the umbrella of LGBoa. If you think , i am sure you find the right answer for the name change, and i can just describe how it makes me feel. It gives me the feeling that LGBoa is trying to dance on several parties at the same time.
How ever, where i have a problem is to accept that Silvergate is working to get acceptance in the large scale market, and in the same moment they let me down with LGB spareparts. I know Officially Silvergate is not LGBoa anymore, but that is just playing head games or politics. We all know that the name LGBoa is still active, that the right to the name is still active, so that no LGB Product can enter the US.
I am sure you can image what my reaction is to the confusing situation, for sure i will not buy anything from Silvergate.

think global, and try to see the big picture PJ

#102

Hey Joerg,
I would not say that i am a fundamentalist, but since i own more then 25 LGB engines and a huge rolling stock, i guess i could say that i am a big fan of LGB products. How ever my dilemma is that it is not possible to get all the spare parts i need, to keep everything rolling. I bought for xx thousands of dollars LGB products from LGBoa, and now i can"t get spare parts, what do you think how that makes me feel. interesting to know is that any firm, by law has the obligation to support customers with spare parts, that obligation is ongoing for years.
I have the awareness how things went down, how LGBoa bought the rights to the LGB name, and how LGBoa and Marklin are in a deadlock, why LGBoa does not get any parts from Europe. How ever, as a customer i have no interest to be involved in all this mess, all i care is that business is going on like before.
It took me a while to understand why LGBoa suddenly felt the need to change the name, trade a well known name to something unknown, something new. I could also image that " Piko, Noch, EMEK, Bridgewors and and, rather would like to see their names listed under the umbrella of LGBoa. If you think , i am sure you find the right answer for the name change, and i can just describe how it makes me feel. It gives me the feeling that LGBoa is trying to dance on several parties at the same time.
How ever, where i have a problem is to accept that Silvergate is working to get acceptance in the large scale market, and in the same moment they let me down with LGB spareparts. I know Officially Silvergate is not LGBoa anymore, but that is just playing head games or politics. We all know that the name LGBoa is still active, that the right to the name is still active, so that no LGB Product can enter the US.
I am sure you can image what my reaction is to the confusing situation, for sure i will not buy anything from Silvergate.

think global, and try to see the big picture PJ

#103
John Joseph Sauer said:
I believe if Maerklin wanted the distribution rights in North America they could make an offer for them (if they had the money).
Hi Joseph, what ever mone maerklin will pay to LGBoa, you and me have to pay in the end. so hope it will be not to much.

think global pius

#104

Pius,

Since you know a bit of the G45/LGBoA background and “the Transfer” :wink: what do you think the chances are? Märklin is in no hurry and from what is making the insider rounds there are other avenues in the offing.

#105
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Pius,

Since you know a bit of the G45/LGBoA background and “the Transfer” :wink: what do you think the chances are? Märklin is in no hurry and from what is making the insider rounds there are other avenues in the offing.


hi Joerg,
there are many different scenarios possible, and all of them will cost the large scale friends in the USA a lot of money. For example, it means that i pay today $130 for a medium LGB switch, where a year ago i paid $58. I know there where some material price increases, but they would not push up the price to 2.5 times the price. What i know for sure is that prices for large scale in general will increase in the future, and all of us will have to pay the price.
You can turn and rotate the picture as you like, the picture will remain. The way i see it is that LGBoa is the reason for all this incredible price increases we seen in the last year. As long LGBoa is blocking any LGB imports, the prices will continuously rise. Even if LGBoa will lower the asking price for the trade name, the end user, we the large scale users, have to pay that sum it in one or the other way. Luckily i have a huge LGB collection, so for me there is no immediate need to buy more, and i am so sorry for all the folks which have to deal today with the humongous prices.

think global PJ

#106
PJ said:
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Pius,

Since you know a bit of the G45/LGBoA background and “the Transfer” :wink: what do you think the chances are? Märklin is in no hurry and from what is making the insider rounds there are other avenues in the offing.


hi Joerg,
there are many different scenarios possible, and all of them will cost the large scale friends in the USA a lot of money. For example, it means that i pay today $130 for a medium LGB switch, where a year ago i paid $58. I know there where some material price increases, but they would not push up the price to 2.5 times the price. What i know for sure is that prices for large scale in general will increase in the future, and all of us will have to pay the price.
You can turn and rotate the picture as you like, the picture will remain. The way i see it is that LGBoa is the reason for all this incredible price increases we seen in the last year. As long LGBoa is blocking any LGB imports, the prices will continuously rise. Even if LGBoa will lower the asking price for the trade name, the end user, we the large scale users, have to pay that sum it in one or the other way. Luckily i have a huge LGB collection, so for me there is no immediate need to buy more, and i am so sorry for all the folks which have to deal today with the humongous prices.

think global PJ


So buy PIKO switches when they appear in a few months!

#107

Pius,

Think global!

If I were in the position of needing LGB material I would get it from Germany and I would look at all the alternatives. Today’s consumer got so pampered that doing a bit of homework to find the alternatives apparently really hurts. There is so much stuff on the market that feeling sorry for that type of consumer is (in my opinion) a waste of time!

PS Pius (or anyone else) don’t buy PIKO switches “sometime soon”, when you can buy TrainLine45 switches today! They come in R3 1200mm rad and - hey just what people have been hollering for for ages - in R2 900mm rad.

That’s what I mean by alternatives!

#108

PJ, Pius

Talk about multiple names…

#109
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Pius,

Think global!

If I were in the position of needing LGB material I would get it from Germany and I would look at all the alternatives. Today’s consumer got so pampered that doing a bit of homework to find the alternatives apparently really hurts. There is so much stuff on the market that feeling sorry for that type of consumer is (in my opinion) a waste of time!

PS Pius (or anyone else) don’t buy PIKO switches “sometime soon”, when you can buy TrainLine45 switches today! They come in R3 1200mm rad and - hey just what people have been hollering for for ages - in R2 900mm rad.

That’s what I mean by alternatives!


Hey Joerg,
since LGB was the market leader, many of the com petitioner reference their prices on LGB items. So if folks pay $130 to 170 for a LGB switch other suppliers will raise the prices. all this “bla bla” we heard in the past about the increased material prices was just a coverup to compensate twice for the actual raw material cost.

Piko switches:as mentioned, i will not buy anything what direct or indirect supports Silvergate. I do not know Trainline45 switches, but from other suppliers like Aristo i know that other brands of track will never match what i have already in my layout. However, as mentioned, i have what i need, and i feel so sorry for folks which have tu jump this new hubs.

think global PJ

#110
John Joseph Sauer said:
PJ, AT, Pius

Talk about multiple names…


Hi john,
i am sorry that you have a problems with my first name and my initials.

think global Pius / PJ

#111
John Joseph Sauer said:
PJ, AT, Pius

Talk about multiple names…


Marvin,

Do you feel threatened in your exclusivity? :lol: :lol: Don’t, PJ stands for Pius Job, resident of Phoenix, AZ. But honestly I don’t know if he’ll have the patience of Job to explain “things” to you. :smiley: :wink: :smiley:

Now about JJ Sauer in Mt.Airy, MD; welllllll that’s a real airy-fairy tale, isn’t it!?? At least it was last time we did a bit of background checking. :wink: :wink: No virtual changes, or are there?? :stuck_out_tongue: :smiley:

#112

6 weeks since ship date of my Mikado. No new news since week 3 confirmation of receipt.
JimC.

#113

Pius-
I recall the “mandatory parts supply by law” stuff.
Auto manufacturers were faced with that, and when I worked for one mnay years ago, found out there was no such mandate!
How does Bachmann survive if there was such a law?

#114

The TOC may have the right of it! As to repair parts - is there such a thing or do we look for a secondary market business? It seem to me that there might be an opening for an enterprising person to creat what is needed. Also, you might make your own!

Paul

#115

As parts manager and purchasing agent for 15 years for a major manufacturer, I was told, by law, I needed to keep on hand parts for 10 years for discontinued items.
Whether that applies to LGB, I do not know.
jb

#116

PJ or Pius or whatever name you are using,
The reason that LGBoA is not distributing LGB goods in North america was blamed by the president of the company, as a failure to come to agreement with Marklin on terms of payment. Now one would assume that he was referring to LGBoA paying for goods in a timely manner, say 30 days or 90 days credit or maybe cash on delivery.

      You seem to be blaming LGBoA for all your woes,  although I am not sure of your actual position on this situation.  It would be nice if people used real names as then some credibility would be given to their statements.  There are too many hiding behind aliases to stir up the pot.

       You talk of LGBoA paying for the rights to the worldwide distribution rights of the LGB brandname.  I have yet to see in the press where LGBoA paid even one cent for those supposed rights.  The only word used in relation to ownership of rights is the word 'transfer'.  Transfer implies movement,  not payment.  In so far as worldwide distribution rights to the name,  then Marklin have made distribution arrangements with seemingly most major markets outside of the North American market and no mention in the press of any legal action to halt these agreements.  Under German bankruptcy law,  any rights are required to be returned to the parent company.

        People complain of lack of spare parts in the marketplace and yet they seem incapable of looking outside the square.  For twenty years the American market was spoiled rotten with incredible service support from LGBoA.  I did not have access to a support network and was required to be resourceful in securing spares.  Daily,  I scoured the internet for supplies of spares sold by relatives of deceased owners or sellers reducing their spares inventory.  I also purchased complete items to strip for spare parts.  The recent firesale in 2006 was an invaluable source of spares.  If one has a locomotive that has failed then,  rather than lament,  do as others have done for years,  without access to service agents such as LGBoA and secure the parts for yourselves.  There is enough new old stock or items listed on eBay to provide ample spares.  One simply needs to dig deeper in their pockets as charity organisations like LGBoA are no longer available.
#117
Tim Brien said:
Now one would assume that he was referring to LGBoA paying for goods in a timely manner, say 30 days or 90 days credit or maybe cash on delivery.
Tim, You made a very logical assumption. Any of the above would be reasonable business demands. The problem, as I understand it, was in a different direction completely. Think of demands for payment much, much earlier in the process.

Jack

#118

Jack,
now if one were of the mindset that LGBoA actually owned the rights to North American (and worldwide) distribution of the brandname, then payment would not be an issue. The ‘sticking point’ would be how much Marklin was prepared to pay to enter the American market (or the worldwide market for that matter). As payment centres on payment for goods before even production, then that confirms what most believe.

  There are still some stalwarts who believe that LGBoA actually has claim to rights to the brandname,  although, to date,  no press of any legal action to claim (and retain) such rights.
#119
Jack Barton said:
Tim Brien said:
Now one would assume that he was referring to LGBoA paying for goods in a timely manner, say 30 days or 90 days credit or maybe cash on delivery.
Tim, You made a very logical assumption. Any of the above would be reasonable business demands. The problem, as I understand it, was in a different direction completely. Think of demands for payment much, much earlier in the process.

Jack


Jack,

A lack of confidence in the liquidity of a customer may well make a supplier/manufacturer forego a relationship with that customer. That confidence is all about past record, reputation and reports/references from other mfgs who deal with that customer. Normal business practice in most industries and business sectors. :confused: :slight_smile: In this particular case there are a few additional factors which would make me as cautious as LGB®Märklin evidently is.

#120

Oh my good man if innuendo were banned, you would be rendered speechless! Märklin didn’t have any problem taking LGBoA’s money in 2007. No body in any business gets anywhere asking for payment in advance of intended production. Not and survive!

The real problem may be that Märklin is short of capital, plenty of rumors of that in Europe as well!