An MTH Product that's gone down in price, Operating Reefer

Sometimes this happens when a product uses new tooling.  After several runs, the tooling gets paid for, so the cost of the product gets reduced accordingly.

If it were a matter of tooling...just think how many steam engines would now cost practically nothing.

Think about all the ubiquitous  freight cars...MTH 3 bay ACF covered hoppers for example...that have been produced probably hundreds of times...but, the price never goes down.  Lowering prices will lead any importer to the land of K-Line.  I doubt any importer's overhead has gone down...surely someone at the company has gotten a raise, rent may have gone up, medical cost risen (really??).  Prices are not tied directly to what it costs to produce anything.

Someone, probably, just goofed with that car.

I think that they were overpriced when they were first released. On the MTH product locator, 20 dealers show the 20-94022 in stock.

I have a similar Iron City Operating Reefer and if I am not mistaken, the MSRP was $99.95.

I think MTH is missing the boat when it comes to features I'd really like in an operating car.

What I want:

#1 - flange squeal when going around curves

#2 - work off the DCS remote and NOT an operating track.

#3 - operating couplers.  (tho I don't care as I use kadees)

DOH!  Not sure how I missed this as I read over those descriptions several times, but I did....

It appears the early version had a 'die cast metal' body.  I guess that explains a good bit of the difference.  Although, honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see them have switched from die cast to abs plastic and maintain the price.  I'm guessing the guts of them are about the same.

I do agree they're pricey, and it would be really nice if you could get direct activation of operating functions thru DCS.

EDIT: Like on this one I'm guessing the little smoke unit for faux cooler effect doesn't kick in until it lands on the operating track...it would be nice to cycle it along any section of track without the extra wiring and hardware.

I saw where another member mentioned modifying one for some type of remote function device...not sure it was dcs compatible, or not.

It would be nice as well if MTH expanded on their operating car functions.  They have some cool buildings seems they could really play off that.

Thanks for the replies guys!