Large Scale Central

So, what's the latest on Generationext

General Discussion
#1

Since I don’t twit, and am not a twit; I don’t tweet, as I’m not a tweeter. I also don’t need facesbook, as I can contact all my friends with just simple email, anytime I care to…I haven’t heard a thing from young Scot Polk’s latest efforts at starting up a business.

If he really wants to start up a new business, and have any hope of success…how come his efforts at just putting together a simple business web page is taking so long ?

Johnathan Polk supposedly is a computer junky, and I know many of that type that could put together a great page overnight.

Again we were told that a container was on its way (Shades of the old Aristo firm), but not much promotion is taking place.

Does young Polk want to sell stuff, or just moan that stuff won’t sell…

Is there going to be a new business, that will avoid the mistakes of the past ?

I hope so…but so far, is anyone impressed ?

What are the facts…does anyone really know ?

I’m NOT trying to bash or put down anyone’s efforts at trying to start up a new business, out of the ashes of the old Aristo.

I’d just like some truth, and facts about what is going on. So…please, no bashing by others…just give facts if you have them…PLEASE

#2

Facts… I’ve seen a new web page.

Hearsay; the list is endless,
I’m still on wait and see.

John

#3

Fred,

the web site says seven days to go before a ‘fresh and interesting’ new site. Scott did say, initially, that he would not start a web site until it was something which he believed was complete. He knew there would be adverse comments on a part built site.

Interestingly, on the Facebook page few, if any, of the names I see on Facebook are known to me as users of the three Fora I use, so I guess he is reaching out to another market. By the way you can read Facebook in many cases without having to sign in etc.

I also find comments about another large scale manufacturer, made on this Forum, quite revealing as regards the present health of G1 scale.

I am not in the market for anything: I have enough - more than enough truthfully - and I have seen many others say much the same. I would not be surprised to see things other than 1:29 listed on the new site. We shall see.

#4

Since he’s a computer geek, I’d guess he’s waiting to get other ducks lined up before putting out the web site. There would be LOTS of other ducks he needs to get in order. Don’t hold your breath.

#5

Why another Polk topic, if you looked there is one only 9 posts below this one

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/20553/aristo-generation-next-latest

#6

Fred Mills, BSc, BS, SD said:

…

I’m NOT trying to bash or put down anyone’s efforts at trying to start up a new business, out of the ashes of the old Aristo.

I’d just like some truth, and facts about what is going on. So…please, no bashing by others…just give facts if you have them…PLEASE

Padre,

As posted “Lets see what actually shows up by the end of this year”.

The only LS mfg that I know/have seen of late who announces product and delivers on time is PIKO. While their products are “G - wie Gummi” (both European and NA proto) at least they deliver, none of the stories of stuff “sitting on the dock of the bay” and other crummy excuses. They even make a big deal of publishing their year-end results and showing how they’re doing in the different segments of the MRR market.

#7

Personally, I would like to see more (ex-Aristo) track available but preferably the better stainless variety, although not holding my breath.

Honestly, with the number of modellers who actually know Scott is setting up a new business to sell his uncle’s line of goods, is a new swings and roundabouts website really that important? I am sure given the price being right that people would not even know how good the site is. They just want the ability to purchase the product, not the website.

I see the new fangled website as an ‘excuse’ awaiting that magical container that was apparently on the horizon a few weeks ago or was it still on the docks in China. I love these magical stories of container loads of goodies that arise like the Phoenix when a company winds up, but at least in the case of the German mob the stories were true.

I hope that Scott gets his act together soon and remembers that there are railroad modellers outside of the States as well as inside the borders. I am concerned that the company will do a shipping deal with a particular freight company like FedEx or UPS which is fine for domestic U.S. customers, but the death knell for those outside the mainland borders (ask the Canadians and they live next door).

#8

Not much point in having a website if there is not much to put there. Scott is flogging off a limited amount of track stock he has on hand, I guess to gain some cash flow and turnover. Give it time… Nothing much will likely happen over the year except maybe more track.
The OS prices were never attractive and there was no point in any of the AristoCraft deals by the time I paid extortion shipping rates to said companies.

Andrew

#9

Andrew,

the good old days with Ridge Road Station and USPS economy/surface shipping. They were the heydays.

I purchased the bulk of my stainless rail locally from the Australian distributor until I realised that for a fraction of the price and a few months wait time, I could get it from Ridge Road. Alas, both Ridge Road and USPS surface shipping are fond distant memories.

No matter how cheaply Scott markets his goods (assuming he realises that there is a worldwide not only domestic market), if he does not allow reasonable worldwide shipping options then his container loads might as well stay on the docks or where ever they are. Most of us ‘locals’ have been stung with the high freight company shipping costs, plus the GST they mandatorily impose and their ‘office’ costs.

#10

While the bulk of American’s think fastest is best, I rather enjoyed every minute patiently waiting a few months for a slow boat knowing half my train money wasn’t being spewed out into the atmosphere in the way of burnt av gas.

I am very suspicious these big shipping companies have ‘incentive deals’ for sellers which by design is to elude the customer. That is how everything works in this day and age, formalized deception. I don’t buy it, all BS! USPS Express and Priority International is fine with me, the rest can go jump.

Andrew

#11

Andrew,

the freight companies ‘entice’ sellers to become their contract customers. They offer their official customers discounts, but the full shipping cost is passed onto the buyer, along with any ‘local’ fees payable on delivery.

It concerns me that Scott will align himself with a freight company which is more convenient for him than the post office. This does not penalise his domestic customers, but definitely dissuades his international sales.

#12

Tim, I assumed as much. Have you every tried to calculate a shipping price on these extortion shipping companies websites? Take me to the moon! It is a complete dysfunctional scam to throw you off balance. Lies, lies, lies! We know what they are doing, I can see straight through it.

While we are on the subject of shipping, eBay’s Global Shipping program is a con too. For items costing over a thousand dollars which are taxable in Australia plus customs fee. Global shipping pay it on behalf of you but add another 15% on the entire deal. Something ends up costing several hundreds of dollars more because those maggots touch it. The savings in buying globally is being scoffed up by design of corporate America. I imagine that is why they removed surface shipping service from USPS so the influential corporations could reap as they do…

Andrew

#13

Do tell me gentlemen, why is it there are no ‘local’ vendors to import container quantity and sell directly to the local client? At least then all the monies you are complaining about would be spent in your local economy.

I would imagine that there is either no one willing to take the risk, or the market is too small to support the expense. I would also guess that making a special deal with shippers to cover a very small portion of a ‘Yanks’ business model is also not very economic sound. Lest we mention that the USPS you are so fondly speaking of is financially BROKE. Been running in the RED for the last several years. See if your local carrier can do that.

I fear the days of prosperity for the ‘Yanks’ is a thing of the past. We are only beginning to pay the price for the last 40 or so years of overindulgence.

My tuppence worth.

#14

Bob,

99.9% of all largescale items sold in Australia that have an origin outside Australia, are sold at full retail or perhaps a few percentage points off full retail. Limited distributorship of product lines (read MONOPOLY) and thus lack of competition ensure full retail in the marketplace. We have a distributor for LGB and a single distributor for the rest of the market.

#15

A container load of G scale items from one manufacturer would barely sell here. Most people wouldn’t know a G scale train if they tripped over it. They would probably like to have one but being more than the cost of a cheap toy under $100, they freak at the price.

I think we only represent perhaps 2% of the market in Australia. The purchasing volume for an importer is just not there for G scale. The local Bachmann distributor initially bought in some Thomas stuff for the retail hobby shops then flogged the remaining Thomas locos off cheap, some to my local toy shop which does not usually carry G scale. Guess who bought one, then the other loco sat there for weeks so I ended up buying that one too. I was told the distributor is not bringing any more in.

We had a guy that gave it a go with Aristocraft but he is competing with online OS sales from discount vendors. There may be shipping cost involved for the customer but no tax or customs fees under $1,000. An importer would have to pay tax but at his wholesale cost. There is just not enough fat to go around to keep a large range of slow moving stock.

Andrew

#16

Bob,

as Andrew says the market is very small so discounts are rarely applied. Take a look at the following website as an indication of prices downnunder, particularly the locomotive prices.

http://www.pamakhobbies.com/Products/Bachmann.html