Here Comes The Question . . . .

I don't know how much does your Mistress cost you? 

I don't have exact figuires but it costs money to rent a building for a day or by the week.

Used to cost close to $600.00 a day with $400.00 deposit($1000.00 a day), usually after clean-up you got the deposit back. That was at a condo type clubhouse here in WPB FL.

There are many costs to doing a special holiday open house, advertising also costs money; newspaper or radio or TV ads. Do you pay the people to help you or are they volunteers?

Lee F.

I try to be polite because I believe the question comes through their being impressed by the lights, sounds and activity rather than a more calculating response. I deliberately misinterpret the question telling how i started out with a $100 train set, and how fun it is to be creative with 'found objects' - then point some projects out.  

How about "I don't keep track"

I also use 'cheaper than therapy'.

Here is one:  Dunno, my wife buys it all for me

Over 100,000 plus easy and they can have it when I die. And when you tell them that the next thing you hear is SILENCE! Honesty is the best policy!

Eliot;

You could always hit them with:  When you calculate all the manhours involved and using the standard labor cost tables, OOOOOOhhhhh maybe somewhere between $250K & $500K.  Of course, then you have to help them pick up their jaws from the floor.

Just tell them that you never kept track of costs.  It's a hobby that I like to share with friends and family.  It's my own make-believe world where there is no crime (notice - no jail in the towns) and the trains always run on schedule.

"Oh, about the price of a used car"

or

"less then a boat"

My favorite is "Less than some hobbies, more than others.  Worth every single penny to me."

I don't Know, A lot of the items are gifts and I don't ask what they cost.

tell them it's not something that's generally available off-the-shelf.

How about "not as much as you think"?

--Greg

I always say, "Model trains are like any other hobby - it costs whatever you are willing to spend . . . "

A dollar three eighty

I just don't answer anybody who ask that question. 

Two possibilities:

First, someone that insensitive to ask such a personal question isn't going to get or appreciate sarcasm. Dump it back in their lap by asking, "Why do you ask"? If they press on, and say just curious, then I'd say I'm really not comfortable discussing my hobby spending with anyone except my wife. Deliver this with the same smile you would give a student who cut your class on exam day as you tell him that he can't take a make-up test. In essence you are telling the person nicely that by bringing up cost they are making you uncomfortable.  

Second, the person is just so awed by what they see, they forget their manners and are overwhelmed by their curiosity. I'd give the same response as in the first possibility.

"I have no idea. My wife got it. It's all hot".

Feigning displeasure or contempt over a quite natural curiosity re: cost...

I've seen this type of question posed before; usually, by guys who have an abundance of train stuff, that love to show it off.

It's no secret that people gravitate towards spectacle/the extraordinary things in life; including, the things that are, realistically, out of their reach. "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" was a TV show that was based on people's natural curiosity and their vicarious enjoyment of others good fortune.

People generally have a pretty good understanding, that when it comes to the special things in life, money is frequently involved.

It's part of the allure...

Rick

"Morgan Fairchild gave it to me. Yeah, that's the ticket".

"We'll have two layouts running, including the Munoz Lines downstairs."

what's the other one?

More than a root canal, but less than the Panama!

Simon

I suspect that a signifcant percentage of those who would ask fall into that latter category and actually know better than to ask.  I would probably not come back with a sarcastic/rude response.  I'd probably put it back on them as Trainfun suggested.  If they say they are "just curious", I'd have a polite but non-commital answer like, "I never really kept track".  On the other hand, they might be interested in the hobby but be scared by the potential cost.  In that case, I'd want to reassure them that they would be able to build slowly over time and could have fun with whatever level they could afford.

I know rude questions can be annoying but I don't know who shows less class, the original asker or someone who comes back with a MYOFB as a response.  Of course, if it is family, all bets are off!

"These trains cost a few pennies," or "It's allot more than I'd like to think about."

If they press on, you can ask them how much they think it costs. They usually give a far lower estimate and I'll usually respond "That's about right."  

Always with a smile. I'm not offended by the question at all.

Hi Mr. ES, I think if a person were to ask me that question it is because for that moment in time they are very impressed with what they are looking at! I also believe that same person asking the question is thinking if they could also build and have what they see in front of them. That person (I believe) is thinking if building a model just like the one they are looking at is in within there financial means. To me that has always been a great opportunity to bring a new person into the hobby. I always tell poeple that first and formost that this is a hobby and that a person can spend as much or as little as they would care to do, or should I say as much as they can afford too. I would show an example of a low end Lionel post war locomotive or car and then compare it with a present day MTH locomotive and then restate that the choice is all theirs while being honest about what thing really cost. I would explain that our hobby is not about just buying and collecting, but rather it also includes carpentry, electrical/electronic, planning and scenery just to name a few piece parts that make up the hobby and what goes into making a model railroad like yours, the one that they looking at!

I wish that I could attend your open house, perhaps next year!

All the best

Bill Seader

I always give the Late Chester Holleys answer when people would ask him how much his collection was worth. "Quite a bit" I'm sure he had not idea since he had trains that he didn't know he had. OGR did a two issue article on him back in the 90's which they tell you his answer on the how much is it worth question.

I just reply "About the same as someone who's really into hunting,fishing,woodworking or restoring a classic automobile" and leave it at that. 

Ricky

     My feeling is that, maybe they're interested enough to get into a railroad of

their own, maybe for their kids.  Don't forget, we need to grow this wonderful

pastime.  I think I'd see if they want to go beyond just an answer to one

question.  My reply would be that, if you're interested in something for

yourself, you can start out with a basic set with all you need to get going,

and just go from there; to be honest, the sky's the limit as far as expense

goes, depending on your level of interest/fanaticism.

     Hoppy

Must be a regional thing. In Va it's "Dollar 'Leven Seventy Five".

In drag racing terms,

Dollar=$100

Hun-dirt=$1000

Try, "What's your annual salary (income)?  Too bad."

"I stole 90% of it."

I tell 'em " twice the cost of a cocaine habit, and three times as addicting." Tom in PGH

"That's a trick question. Isn't it?"

When folks have asked me what my collection is worth, I usually ask, do you want to know what I have spent on it? what its insured for? what I can sell it for? what the auction house could get for it? Its a very difficult question to answer but its all priceless to me, hahahaa

Boy, I have enjoyed reading all of your suggestions. Thanks to all of you who took the time to think of something meaningful and post it. Ginny and I love to share the layout and host a Holiday party and we certainly don't want to offend anyone. I know we are going to get that question, though. 

Happy Holidays to all !

Scrappy

You might try, "I have been so busy building the layout, I have had no time to actually figure out the answer to that question. Next question, please".

We will be in a similar position. We have a Christmas Open House planned and we will start with our new Christmas layout on the first level of our home, and then move to the train room in the barn if anyone is interested in the big layout. I plan to use the above response if asked the same question.

Tree-fiddy!

Don't give him no tree-fiddy. You'll never get rid of him.

Still paying for it.  The collection box is at the end of the tour.

I was taught by my mother that if you want to disarm a person asking a personal question of you, then replay with a question of them such as:

Why do you ask?  or  Why do you want to know.   In my experience, most nosey folks will stumble, as they do not have an answer.