When you place an order, the word is Spotted Deer sends the order to the customer’s nearest LGB dealer…who then ships it to the customer…Spotted Deer is what we call in Industry a “10 percenter”…take 10% off the top for processing the order (no real work involved.).
Stephen Podwojski said:Hey Pod,
The above is a model that Amazon.com has employed for years....
Yep! I ordered one book like that, then I called the dealer to clarify something and to find out what commission goes to Amazon and if I would get an equivalent discount. Very nice dealing with that dealer! 
You could say I’m not very fond of people who collect money for basically doing little to nothing. 
Feb. 7
Am I accurate holding the conclusion Spotted Dear is actually an “arm” or subsidary of LGB of America.
Also, is LGB of America also known as the G45 corporation?
Wendell
It could be worse.
We could be paying full retail prices for the LS stock we buy.
Then we could complain about the 2 to 3 times wholesale markup
that the LS dealers are charging us!
Be happy there are places like, St Aubins, TrainWorld, HOGZ,
Wholesale Trains, RidgeRoad Station…
Spotted Deer? If they can make a living, more power to em’.
Dave…
Wendell Hanks said:
Feb. 7Am I accurate holding the conclusion Spotted Dear is actually an “arm” or subsidary of LGB of America.
Also, is LGB of America also known as the G45 corporation?Wendell
Wendell,
The tie-in is Spotted Dear - if you look it up on one of the WHOIS services - list the same address as Buffington Associates.
G45 is nominally the owner of LGBoA, who owns G45 is not known. What is known is that Mr. David Buffington, of the above mentioned Buffington Assosciates, is the President.
Now I’m a firm believer that this is just a peculiar coincidence, but I’ m also seriously looking at that bridge they have for sale in Brooklyn, it would go really well with that prime swamp land in Florida and make an excellent attraction in a “We have been duped” theme park.
Or at least I think it would. Of course that is just my opinion and you know what a “strange” attitude I have. 
It’s most likely a website that LGB can distribute to people at public events and displays where there is no retailer present or nearby. Seems like a reasonable idea.
gloria & david said:
It could be worse. We could be paying full retail prices for the LS stock we buy. Then we could complain about the 2 to 3 times wholesale markup that the LS dealers are charging us! Be happy there are places like, St Aubins, TrainWorld, HOGZ, Wholesale Trains, RidgeRoad Station....... Spotted Deer? If they can make a living, more power to em'.Dave…
Dave,
I really like Ridge Road Station; excellent service, fair prices, no hanky-panky!
John Joseph Sauer said:Perfectly reasonable! By all means, cut your costs and increase your profits!
It's most likely a website that LGB can distribute to people at public events and displays where there is no retailer present or nearby. Seems like a reasonable idea.
I would think you would discharge all your reps, then open a web-page and a way to order directly, make sure you meet or beat the middle man (discounter), so they don’t carry the line anymore, and now you have your client base coming to you!
I don’t have a problem with that.
Not right away, at any rate.
But, when you’ve eliminated all middle-people and you are THE ONLY source, and you say, gee, we can charge what we want, then what?
Of course, that is just a scenario based upon no know business.
Doesn’t bother me in the least.
Stick it to them discounters!
But, no retailer nearby?
What do you mean by “nearby”?
Phone?
I’ve gotten stuff from TrainWorld, Ridge Road, St. Aubins…and the last time I was in New York City was 1971, I-95 southbound, filled the tank in Connecticut and never stopped.
Never been to Chicago. Not sure where RidgeRoad is, last time in Vegas was…I think…1965?
So, “retailers nearby” means what?
People seeing the product for the first time who haven’t a clue where to buy it and have never seen a copy of model railroading magazine need direction. Selling them a starter set puts them on the road to the local Hobby or train store to buy more track, etc…
John Joseph Sauer said:Oh, okay, so we're just dealing with starter sets?
People seeing the product for the first time who haven't a clue where to buy it and have never seen a copy of model railroading magazine need direction. Selling them a starter set puts them on the road to the local Hobby or train store to buy more track, etc.....
Okay, no problem.
I guess Spotted Deer only sells starter sets.
Good to know!
John Joseph Sauer said:JJ
People seeing the product for the first time who haven't a clue where to buy it and have never seen a copy of model railroading magazine need direction. Selling them a starter set puts them on the road to the local Hobby or train store to buy more track, etc.....
I’ve written this before, but I write it again: When I come across an Internet store that has no contact information i.e. you can only send them an email to reply to you, then I would be very cautious.
I’m old fashioned, I like a street address, city, state and postal code, phone number, fax number etc.
And that just doesn’t apply to the “Bambi” outfit called Spotted Deer, I just checked for changes.
I guess everyone is entitled to be skeptical,cynical and a bit paranoid, eh?
Scepticism and cynicism are welcome.
Forget about paranoia.
We already have enough blatant paranoia in another forum.
John Joseph Sauer said:JJ,
I guess everyone is entitled to be skeptical,cynical and a bit paranoid, eh?
Sure, you can be as paranoid as you like; I’m just being cautious.
Curmudgeon said:They did fire their reps...effective Jan 31, 2007. Now there are only 3 Regional Managers.....The Boy from Bucks County is the Eastern Division Guy.
I would think you would discharge all your reps, then open a web-page and a way to order directly, make sure you meet or beat the middle man (discounter), so they don't carry the line anymore, and now you have your client base coming to you!
The Lone Railroader said:And who are the other two??Curmudgeon said:They did fire their reps...effective Jan 31, 2007. Now there are only 3 Regional Managers.....The Boy from Bucks County is the Eastern Division Guy.
I would think you would discharge all your reps, then open a web-page and a way to order directly, make sure you meet or beat the middle man (discounter), so they don't carry the line anymore, and now you have your client base coming to you!
It seems funny that all the people that seem to have the most problems with acquiring stuff; have their major probles on Ebay, or ordering by email.
Those that pick up the old fashioned telephone and talk to a human being, at a known address seldom report problems (Trainworld excluded)
Is there a lesson here ?
I also notice that when shopping around for fair or low prices; I can usually beat anything that appears on Ebay, simply by looking at the ads in Garden Raiways; then picking up the telephone. (Speaking of new stuff)
Today I called Aristo and ordered some parts…no problem, and the call cost me 15 cents Canadian.
I also called Kadee to get some information and to order several sets of couplers; cost me 20cents.
I'm doing this all from here in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
I also called my friend Deryck Coleman in Winchester England. We talked for about 20 minute; cost me 30 cents.
The web is handy, but the good old TELEPHONE is still KING, for great communication.
Fred Mills said:
It seems funny that all the people that seem to have the most problems with acquiring stuff; have their major probles on Ebay, or ordering by email. Those that pick up the old fashioned telephone and talk to a human being, at a known address seldom report problems (Trainworld excluded) Is there a lesson here ?I also notice that when shopping around for fair or low prices; I can usually beat anything that appears on Ebay, simply by looking at the ads in Garden Raiways; then picking up the telephone. (Speaking of new stuff)
Today I called Aristo and ordered some parts…no problem, and the call cost me 15 cents Canadian.
I also called Kadee to get some information and to order several sets of couplers; cost me 20cents.I'm doing this all from here in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.I also called my friend Deryck Coleman in Winchester England. We talked for about 20 minute; cost me 30 cents.
The web is handy, but the good old TELEPHONE is still KING, for great communication.
Fred,
I fully agree.
The old saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way” still applies. Just like there are different approaches, there will be different results.
On that “TELEPHONE is still KING”, one could add “COMMON SENSE WORKS”.
And, of course, there is always a LETTER.
But, in this day of instant gratification (gee, that new release was nice…what’s next?) the time involved to write it and wait for a response is not conducive to the mantra of instant gratification.