Large Scale Central

Slivergate Update

General Discussion
#41
LES DITTRICH said:
Two things strike me about this announcement:- 1 The bit about "small quantities" of stock produced in Hungary and China. That's actionable in my opinion particularly in the light of the freely available production schedule for 2008. Producing enough product for the european market isn't "small" by any means, if we are to believe the threads about percentages of NA sales vs total sales. 2 The bit about having "some desireable items in stock". I had to laugh at this one. Surely after such a long period of time since the last "delivery" surely all the desireable stuff would have sold out already? It would be interesting to be Silvergate's auditor next year when they have to consider whether any provisions are required for slow moving stock. The prices they are charging are quite high too, though this is merely catching up with the exchange rate imbalance between the euro and dollar. However, in spite of all the shenanigans, after seeing some of the latest sterling and euro pricings for track etc, it appears my LGB collection has increased in value. A shop I visited apparently sold an ex-demo 2-10-2 HSB locomotive (sound+MTS) for £1,395 - I bought mine for £1,200 16 months ago. Track appears to have gone up by 50% in the UK and again, since I have around 100m purchased at £1 per 10cm, I just "gained" around £500. Sterling is weak against the euro though and this will adjust back over time. Les
Les,

The announcement proves once more that it doesn’t matter which name they run under, they still lack class in a big way.

On the desirability; all I know is that time and again I got the “last of” from RRS of what I considered desirable.

Slow moving stock? They just ship it back to Germany to a special buddy for clearance on eBay. BTW that buddy has changed his name on eBay a few times, too. Seems to be a genetic affliction in that circle.
Tons of stuff showed up from that source shortly after the insolvency was under way, to the consternation of many and the annoyance of quite a few. It was thorn #2 for some dealers, thorn #1 was the wholesale disposal at the 125th.

#42

So the sale at the 30th Birthday party wasn’t a thorn? The “genetically afflicted” just wish they were there to pick up some good buys. 30-40% of it was Dekoware anyway. Pick a horse, “Savior of Märklin”, “Savior of the dealers” or “Savior of the consumer”. You can’t serve all three.

#43
Jack Barton said:
So the sale at the 30th Birthday party wasn't a thorn? The "genetically afflicted" just wish they were there to pick up some good buys. 30-40% of it was Dekoware anyway. Pick a horse, "Savior of Märklin", "Savior of the dealers" or "Savior of the consumer". You can't serve all three.
Jack-O

I’m just relating some of the less well-known reactions to the 125th and the period up to the present.

If the dealers are peeved - no skin off my nose!

If Märklin needs a Saviour - all the same to me, somehow they’ll manage!

If the consumer doesn’t find what he thinks he’s entitled to - not my problem, let him do a bit of homework!

#44

Dear HJ,
This story started in September 2006 - 21 months later it’s still running.
There is every prospect that this one will run until 2012 [if some sources are accurate] and a little longer after that.
I never thought I’d get so much entertainment from this little saga.
Many of the [split] personalities are very amusing.
Les

#45

look what was posted on MLS…more speculation…

Quote:
........ BNGP10User is Offline

Fairview(Erie), PA
Brakeman
Brakeman
Posts:11

Send Message

07/09/2008 7:28 PM Quote ReplyAlert
Personaly I would stay with LGB products, one its a great way to introduce a child to the railways of the world. The little European Stainz loco runs around the tight radius curves with ease, in fact most all LGB engines will run on R1 curves with relitive ease. Contact Dave Watts at Watts train shop in Zionsville IN for LGB products. According to his meeting with Marklin reps, we should start seeing new LGB product in time for the holidays, while all euro prototype for the moment, USA prototype stuff should resume next year. LGB locos are very robust, weather proof and thier track is first rate. I have had the cheaper stuff and it just doesnt compare, I would rather have to wait longer and save up for the better stuff, than get the cheaper stuff to satisify a need. … Above all, have fun with it. I know my wife and I are having a blast building our small garden railway, featuring the trains of Germany. Cheers Mike and Michele T

…


http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/forumid/23/postid/36817/view/topic/Default.aspx

#46
John Joseph Sauer said:
I would write a letter to Märklin if I were you guys!
I could but then, what is the purpose behind this.

Granted, cars are different, but I could still (until I sold it 15 years ago) get parts for my 1969 Citroen DS 21 Pallas automobile here in the US long after the closure of their network.

#47

This is just a guess or maybe just my humble opinion, but the long wait could be caused by Marklin building up a bigger inventory to fill a couple of containers for shipment. I would imagine they’d want to fill up 5 or six or maybe a lot more, large containers with their product for shipment overseas. Takes a lot of stock to fill a large container.

#48
Garrett said:
John Joseph Sauer said:
I would write a letter to Märklin if I were you guys!
I could but then, what is the purpose behind this.
Garrett, Your original statement was "....and no support for 40 years of previous product Stateside?" My suggestion to write to Marklin was simply so that you can let the manufacturer know you have products that require support.
#49

True that you can get parts from Marklin in the US, that is the obvious bit, I still cannot sort out the reasons behind the other tho?

#50

Problem is you can’t get parts from Marklin in the U.S.

#51

Why not? A fellow Nashvegan has got them shipped here from Germany for years.

#52

Garrett,

The whole shebang i.e. phone number, FAX number, email address and postal address has all been posted here on LSC. If LGB® ships parts to Canada (warranty parts free of charge and postage paid!!!) I’m sure they’ll ship parts to the US.
But it will take some time until certain people comprehend that!

BTW I found a very nice write up by Bob Brashear on how to order LGB from Germany. It has been done for years and years, anyone who tries can do it! The same applies to ordering parts from LGB® in Nürnberg, anyone who tries can do it! Oh, except those who figure the world is flat and when the Richters went TU LGB dropped off the edge! If one believed in demigods in Nürnberg … wellllll demi perhaps, gods certainly not.

#53

ha ha, he said: TU, Tango Uniform, like one “RCH”…

what, the world is not flat? dang!

:wink:

Greg

#54

Ah, but the finer measurement is a SPLIT RCH…

#55

Ahh, I’m still undecided on whether a split RCH is a good thing or not!

On one hand, obviously a finer measurement, on the other hand, could be a sign of neglect or disuse, both a bad thing. :-0

Regards, Greg

#56
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Garrett,

The whole shebang i.e. phone number, FAX number, email address and postal address has all been posted here on LSC. If LGB® ships parts to Canada (warranty parts free of charge and postage paid!!!) I’m sure they’ll ship parts to the US.

But it will take some time until certain people comprehend that!

BTW I found a very nice write up by Bob Brashear on how to order LGB from Germany. It has been done for years and years, anyone who tries can do it!


HJ, very much agreed, and still many do not get my point made in each of my replies, but that is so common on any and all forums.

On ordering, that is a good write up, and how I imported much of my Bemo, Tillig, technomodell, Piko, Liliput, etc H0/H0e stuff. Used to do it a lot when the Amero bought a lot more DM (and even early Euro).

#57

Read Bob Brahear’s dissertation on ordering from Germany as well. Can’t picture too many folks jumping through those hoops to get thier hobby products. But then again it takes all kinds to make up a world!

#58
John Joseph Sauer said:
Read Bob Brahear's dissertation on ordering from Germany as well. Can't picture too many folks jumping through those hoops to get thier hobby products. But then again it takes all kinds to make up a world!
When I read BB's "How to" with the detailed pointers I thought "That should be easy enough for anyone to understand; even Marvin in all his guises."

OTOH that is a factor that has variables, lots of them!

#59

As I said, I ordered from a lot of dealers. Some took credit cards, others took bank transfer, one dealer in Holland took Guilders (sp?) sent in greeting cards. Response? I had a couple slow to ship, but never a problem of not getting items or not the right thing.

And a lot of it for a LOT cheaper than domestic sources. Including shipping, I could often beat domestic prices on Preiser by 50%!

I did it all by e-mail also, in broken German and (broken = redneck) English.

#60

I have been communicating with a German Braille scale resin armor manufacturer. A few minor miscommunications in the beginning on both sides but otherwise no other problems. They even take Paypal!
LAO