The Marklin website indicates Walthers is their exclusive distributor in the U.S.
Wendell
Wendell,
That is not new, that happened some time ago when they downsized the New Berlin, WI op. IF we’re lucky there will be a confirmation/announcement who will be distributing LGB® in NA.
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Wendell,That is not new, that happened some time ago when they downsized the New Berlin, WI op. IF we’re lucky there will be a confirmation/announcement who will be distributing LGB® in NA.
HJ; How does anyone know that the actual distributor for North America is to be in the US of A…it could be up here in Canada, and it might be me…who knows…at this point all we have is that anouncement, that you refer to, from a while back. Everything, like in the past, is pure speculation.
If it is me, I'll sure as heck let you know first...... then LSC......!!!!I heerd the distributor was going to be in Mexico.
I like the Canada idea… $500 Canada equals $393 American… Would make the LGB stuff very cost effective for us…
Ahhhh. The presumption is that to distribute Marklin is NOT presumed to be the distributor of LGB?
If so, does Marklin, with separation of distribution, not separate itself from LGB as a brand name?
HJ, any insight on the reasoning – either by Walthers and/or Marklin - for an apparent separation?
Is this residual LGB of A. legal management strategy?
No matter, what a continuing saga! My argumentation class will be taking on what constitues ownership of a product’s identification once a product has been sold to a like-production foreign corporation who has a “division” in the U.S. and the product’s manufacturing abroad. Further, who holds what trademark and what patent rights? How is transfer of those rights first determined before transfer of ownership and then implemented with any legal (?) enforcement?
And etc., etc.,
Thanks,
Wendell
Wendell;
ANYONE, even this old fart; if he had $500,000 in hard cash (USD) could sign a sheet of paper with Marklin, agreeing to distribute whatever they sell. The money would go towards the inventory THEY would determine, that YOU would have to stock, at all times in your warehouse in North America.
In effect it is like buying a franchise. YOU then would have to advertise and arrange to get new dealers, and the existing ones to purchase from you, what is in your warehouse. If it doesn’t sell, or there is only a certain type of equipment that appeals to the market…then it’s up to you to find a buyer…not their problem.
What fool in the economic situation the World is in, would even think of looking at that arrangement.
The salesman from LGB that used to call on a “General Store” in a valley town near me; told the owner of the store that, “He had to stock a certain list of items, or he couldn’t be a dealer any longer”. The dealer told the salesman that he knew his clientel, and stocked what they wanted, and would order anything they desired if he didn’t have it. His regular stock was mostly NA in nature.
The salesman then told the dealer that, “He could no longer be an LGB Dealer”…so guess what…the salesman ended up out on the road on his arse, and there was no longer any more sales of LGB from a dealer anywhere around Ottawa.
.......does this tell you guys anything about what might have happened, and what could happen again.......to any German toys in North America.
Walthers is probably the only game in town with the betting power to take a crack at it…
Many years ago I was offered the Australian distribution rights for a certain (then) new to the market, Large Scale “manufacturer”.
This was their idea not mine.
When the details were investigated by a friend who was well respected in the toy/hobby importing business here in OZ, it would have meant I would have to supply an open ended Letter of Credit and stock only what they wanted me too. Not what I wanted to.
Same situation.
Fred, Tony,
You replace the name of either mfg with Märklin and you got the scenario! 
I remember that set up here in TGWN back in the 70s, sure didn’t increase sales any, same goes for LGBoA in this century.