Availability of Williams by Bachmann O scale models???

You should be fine. Williams should continue to make some of the same items over and over. What it seems they do is they will have the Blowout and then they will offer the same items next year and just raise the retail price. Exact same engine but each year they increase the retail price. But Williams are good engines and will continue to get better. IMO... When you get them on Closeout they cant be beat...

Just because WBB isn't announcing product fast enough is no reason to suspect they bought Williams to use the tooling as doorstops.

And anything "new" isn't going to be as inexpensive as old Williams, conventional or otherwise.  The $100 O gauge locomotive is a thing of the past.

The conventional RS3 MSRP's out at $429.  As Bachmann get rid of old Williams inventory, you can expect the discounts newer stuff to get smaller.

Rusty

It would not make much sense to recently buy Williams run it a few years and then just shut the doors. They have tooled two 100% new locos, a steam and a diesel, are re-tooling some old K-line locos....and when iHobby open a week from today we may see another announcement. My only fear is Bachmann moving WbB into the MTH Lionel range of expensive gadget locos. 

Quote: "It would be helpful if manufacturers such as Bachmann would provide the consumer advance information about their plans for future products.  The best way would be to ask the O scale modeler what models and roadnames are in demand before they commit to production."

I was at York in October last year and standing right in front of the Bachman booth. I heard what appeared to me to be a "big shot" talking and he said "If I don't think it will sell I will not make it!". You can draw your own conclusions from that. I don't think they care.

Rob

With the recent blowout of the Scale GG1's by Trainworld and others I think that might be an indication that Bachmann will not produce them anymore. How can they make one of these and have them sell for a little over $100.

Well, somebody has to make final the decision on what to produce. 

NOBODY is going to make something if they think it won't sell...

Seems we always hear the "they don't care" comment somewhere with every MTH or Lionel catalog release, also...

Rusty

It would be helpful if manufacturers such as Bachmann would provide the consumer advance information about their plans for future products.

Ain't gonna happen, given the competition in today's market.

If I don't think it will sell I will not make it!

I've been told time and time again that a company will not make an item that only 1 or 2 RRs owned, but yet I continue to see items that ONLY 1 RR had (3rd Rail Jawn Henry is a good example).  I would guess the total orders for that engine are less than 100, maybe 50.
I think what gets made is what folks whisper/holler in their ear at places like York.It's sad in a way, because a lot of people who buy trains don't go to York.  Other shows (like Greenbergs) don't even have manufacturer reps there, and they hardly ever solicit forums such as this one for ideas, although they do visit here.So in the end if a person doesn't promote his/her favorite RR (SEABOARD AIR LINE ) every chance he/she gets then chances are it'll never get made, usually because the "BIG 5" crowd (PRR, NYC, UP, ATSF, SP) is so vocal.(After 100+ years you'd think they'd get tired of making GG1s and Hudsons )

There's also the mentality of "I'd only buy one if (insert favorite train company here) makes it" to deal with.

Rusty

Who was this guy and was he an actual "big shot" or just an underling running his mouth? Was he referring to a current production item or someone asking/telling/demanding that WBB make a particular item because that one particular person wants one and research showed that it wouldn't sell well? We all know someone who would like to see some obscure railroads obscure whatever made by someone out there in the manufacturing sector even tho he'd probably be the only one who would buy it. Some of WBBs roadnames don't seem to move very well but others always seem to be popular and for the most part their locomotives always seem popular. Kind of hard to gauge what this guy meant without knowing the full context of whatever it was he was talking about.

Jerry

MRSP's done mean much.  I pay no attention to them, they are a waste of time.  The new WBB RS3's will be selling for a little more than $250.  If nobody wants them the price will drop and there will be more blowouts.  Bet on it.  Same goes for MTH and Lionel stuff!

They are going to O Scale using new and old O Scale items from the former K-Line product line.

They are lessening the reliance on the well worn Traditional O gauge items.

Andrew

I am very happy with my E units from Williams. Got them on blow out. I'll put some more electronics in them and they will do just fine. Don