Speaking as a manager at our LHS, I don't believe anything has really changed re the relationships between the retailer and Bachmann. i.e., Early-Buy and quantity discounts are yet available.
But, as the prices to the LHS go up, so must the shop adjust the selling prices.
Rather, I believe Bachmann's China production and U.S. market sales/economy are experiencing ye olde squeeze play which has been discussed ad nauseam in this forum, and could probably qualify for a 3-credit college-level course to capture the full spectrum of causes.
After the October York meet, hearing pre- and post- discussions re pricing, reading the newspaper nightly, listening to the talking-heads blather on TV/radio, seeing members of our church congregation going through increasing struggles of survival, etc., etc., etc., I have no idea why increasing prices of new toy trains imported from half a world away are so shocking to so many people. To believe that since the advent of Bachmann's On30 product line the average American Joe has been keeping up with the rest of the world economicaly, et al, is....well...stupefying....IMHO.
But, then, that's just this one man's opinion.
KD
