Large Scale Central

Pressrelease from Märklin, Inc Waukesha, Wisconsin

General Discussion
#1

Here goes:

Märklin Inc said:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Märklin, Inc. Hires Ron Gibson
Waukesha, Wisconsin (March 16, 2012)…

Märklin, Inc., is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Ron Gibson to the new position of LGB Brand Manager.
Ron comes to Märklin, Inc. after spending three years with Märklin, Inc.’s exclusive distributor, Wm. K. Walthers Inc., in the position of LGB Sales Specialist. In his new position with Märklin, Inc., Ron will use his extensive knowledge of LGB products and G scale model railroading to focus on Märklin’s mission of providing superior customer care and LGB sales growth in North America.
Ron will work in the field visiting retailers to provide merchandising and sales support. He will also conduct hands-on product training, demonstrate LGB at shows, and provide technical assistance.
In addition, Ron will advise Märklin’s product development staff in Germany on LGB new product selection, and growth strategies for the North American market.
Ron’s love of model railroading is reflected in his professional background, which includes positions at United Model Distributors, California Hobby, LGB of America and Roll Models. A past president of the Large Scale Manufacturers Association, he is driven to grow the large scale hobby.
Ron is based in southern California, and can be reached on his cell phone at 760-271-4143 and by
e-mail at [email protected].

Märklin, Inc. is the North American subsidiary of Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH, Göppingen, Germany. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the exclusive distributor in North America for Märklin, Trix and LGB.
For more information contact:
Brenda Hensleigh, Marketing Coordinator
Märklin, Inc.
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Phone: 262-522-7080


My comment: now we all know to whom to adress our wishes, suggestions, questions and complaints. Just don’t bury the man with BS, OK?

#2

Good luck to Mr Gibson, but seeing that my little 0-4-0 Porters now list in the recent Euro catalog at between $250 - $300 US. I doubt I’ll be looking to buy anything from Marklin in the future.

#3

Vic et al,

One can bitch about prices and availability, service and spare parts 'til the cows come home. In my book it all comes down to adressing the beefs to the right person, who hopefully will respond. So now you have an email adress, a phone number and I’m sure that any correspondence adressed to Ron c/o Märklin in Wisconsin will get to him.

In essence there is no need to adress any number of posts in the different fora to “parties unknown”, the info is there. How all those who have a beef, suggestions, a bullet proof way to market product and whatever else now use the information is to be seen. As far as I’m concerned it takes the same time to write an email to the right place as it takes to write a post in a forum.

#4

maybe we should invite him to join the forum here. That way he can find out with out everyone having to call him.

#5

The biggest issue is price and i doubt he will have control of that.

#6

I have known Ron for over twenty years. He is a fair man, ethical, and wants to return LGB to a trusted manufacturer. He has inidicated previously that the need is for starter sets to encourage a younger marketing group interested in “giving the hobby a try.” I think he will target some new avenues for promotion.
Here’s hopes for his success.
Wendell

#7

Wendell as Shawn mentioned, the initial price is a BIG factor. Not many will ‘try’ G Scale if a starter set runs 4-5 hundred bucks, If he can offer a very basic set in the $200.00 range then maybe he can lure some new customers in. IMHO.

#8
Shawn said:
The biggest issue is price and i doubt he will have control of that.
Yes that's the elephant in the room, but .....

I read a very interesting article in the financial pages of a conservative (small c!) newspaper the other day. The standard of living is high in those countries that innovate, manufacture and export. Well in order to export manufactured goods successfully you have to be a cut above the average for good stuff.
And leave flogging the trash to those who can produce it at/for literally nothing.
Then he cited two countries that have the high living standard scenario … Singapore and Switzerland!
Neither has natural resources to fall back on and both produce and sell high quality at a fair price. How is that possible? Very good question! Must be something in the air and the water!

And where is the connection with model railroading? Like anything else there is a fair price for good quality and there is a lower price for lower quality. And it is quite possible that the good quality stuff originates in a location with a higher standard of living i.e. not produced by virtual slaves.
But I fully expect to read/hear a lot more bitching about the price of things - it could be literally anything!
That’s exactly why I started the Hobby too expensive? thread. Can’t - or can no longer - afford it, don’t do it!

PS head down to your LHS (if you still have one) and ask what his rate of returns of defective goods is! Tthen ask him which category they fall into and if he still carries the lines.

#9

I remember Ron from the LGBoA days and like Shawn says prices will be mostly out of his control but maybe he can bring back a little of that selling innovative from the old days. Like maybe persuading the Suits in Germeyland to offer a few items without all the electronic junk to bring the price down. I have enough stuff I don’t have to worry but I am thinking about newbies.

#10

HJ you take a stern position on price/quality but I find little in your argument with which to disagree. I have only reduced my LGB purchases because my focus is on one American railroad - B&O - and there is precious little made in Europe of that line’s equipment. I did buy the recently released Marklin/LGB B&O covered hopper from my LHS (still have one!) and I am very pleased with its quality. Scale consistency over the three dimensions still suffers a bit but it’s quite close enough for me.

I had a few dealings with Ron after he joined Walthers a few years back to promote LGB, and he was first class and very helpful. He should be a great emissary for LGB in North America.

#11

Quote.
You know this whole thread reminds me of “the sky is falling, the sky is falling”. big_smile lol

#12

Be nice if they resumed making the Amtrak fleet.

#13
Nicholas Savatgy said:
Quote. You know this whole thread reminds me of "the sky is falling, the sky is falling". big_smile lol
Nicholas :D :D

Since English isn’t my mother tongue and I’ve always had a fascination for the more colourful turns of phrase in English here is one that fits the price/quality problem perfectly. Posted at a feedmill in Ontario many, many years ago:

“Our oats sell for $8/bag. First quality!
We also have cheaper oats. $1/bag. They have been through the horse once!”

The sky was falling even way back then and I’m sure the gentry who needed oats for their hobby horses were not as amused by the sign as I was. :slight_smile: :wink:

#14

I think Ron faces a lot of challenges but I think he is up to the task.

#15

I’ve known Ron for a long time…most over 20, I think. I talk to him frequently (still), even though I only have one LGB engine “on shed” any more.
I’ve been following this as it developed for some time…glad to see the announcement.
Price…well, for a long time (at least as long as I’ve know Ron) I’ve told folks they’re getting a helluva deal on large scale, price wise.
Look at three rail…see what IT costs now for the bigger stuff. Makes my 2343’s and 726’s that were VERY cheap when I got them seem like they were free.
We knew the day was comiong when we would be priced like everybody else in the general hobby. Adding electronics didn’t help…even when one moron (can you still say that here?) said the adding of same wouldn’t increase the price.
Pull my other finger.
Other changes may or may not be coming…what I know or don’t know goes to the grave with me…just watch.
Someday, compare a LS steamer with a comparative wheel arrangement H0 model.
Lord help you if you look at scale 0. New E units are about a grand…each.
Makes our old sand-cast bronze Adams and Sons casting look more like finishing all the time.
TOC

#16

Ok we might be paying the high price for quality but at what point are we paying too much. All I hear is LGB is not as good as it once was (since production was moved) Yet they are more expensive. I think at that point yes we are paying too much. They move production to save on cost but yet they still jack the price. When prices double will we still say you pay for quality.

#17

I am happy LGB is coming back. I like I posted earlier, I am hopeful the Amfleet comes back.

#18

Everyone is excited about LGB now!!! Amazing… F units that cost twice what they did before the company ceased to exist? Even those who were the most obnoxiously anti-LGB are looking forward to new overpriced products… cut me a break!
The best thing about LGB was that it was produced on Sanganer Strasse by the people that started the company 131 years ago and cared about the product and customers- that’s over now. Now it’s just a logo used by that other company to sell the same products at overly-inflated prices. When the EPL Factory was shuttered so was the history of a once great Toy company.
You can buy it if you want - I for one will never buy a Large Scale Product from that other company. Good luck Ron - you’ll need it!

#19

Whos excited? My first post on this topic tells my opinion, namely that I am totally priced out of Marklin/LGB. Barring any new changes in the US LGB market items, its HLW, maybe Piko and whatever second hand stuff I can find from here on out for me. There is no way in Hades I’m paying over $200 for a stupid Porter.

#20

Ah. Remember the 2018D, no sound, but oh, they had smoke…couldn’t find them for less than, what, $495 back then…in 1985 dollars…now they’ve got sound and all them neato electronics built in the clueless who cou;dn’t do it themselves demanded…and that wonderful company…131 years…what happened to them again?