Here Comes The Question . . . .

I think folks may ask that question for a number of reasons other than meddling.  Perhaps they've always considered the hobby but honestly have no idea what our toys cost.  When asked, I respond with the average cost of an electronic engine vs. conventional and the average price of a high end and low end car.  They can generally figure the rest out on their own.  I do usually see a lot of dropped jaws and bugged eyes.  I do like the "Cheaper than therapy" line, think I'll try that one out!

 

Stack

did not j p morgan say when someone asked how much his yacht cost-if you gotta ask then you can;t afford it

I think these are all great answers from previous posters. I prefer humorous or vague.

 

"How much does an outfit like this cost ?"

 

"Less than therapy."

"Oh, about the price of a used car"

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

"About $1.00/hour of enjoyment"

Hi Eliot, My wife and I have been asked such questions a few times. I have responded,  very cheerfully and with a smile, of course, since they are guests in our home (as opposed to a public venue,) "A buck of two." My wife usually replies, "We don't discuss money."

Frank

How about somethin simple like...... alot?

Much cheaper then a 12 inch to the foot live steam sitting in the ballast.

Somewhat less than the National Debt...........but fully paid for.

 

They were gifts!

 

Gunny

Silence

Then burst out laughing.... And say "want a drink"? Cause I sure as **** can use one!

It depends on the person. If it is a close friend who is in a similar income bracket to mine, I'll usually tell them. For anybody else, the answer is: "I don't know. I don't keep track. As long as I can pay the credit card bill at the end of the month, it doesn't matter." That distracts, provides no information whatsoever, and is the exact truth. 

Humor. Still the best shield in the world.

 

"Let's see. I always gets these mixed up. K is thousand. M is million. T is....how much is T again? But I think it is P. Yes. P. And I need to. Would you excuse me?"

 

ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!  Giving it your very best Dr Evil.

"If you guess the correct amount that I have spent on it...than you win it!"

You could go for the "All American" approach and "Plead the Fifth".

The most recent inquiry was from a "young man" who said "If I broke into your house and stole all of this stuff, how much would it cost you?" I looked him squarely in the eye and said "Not as much as it would cost you".

 

My honest answer is "I don't know". Never added it all up.

Funny you should post this question.  I have been back in the hobby for over 37 years now  and it has only been in the last three years that I have received this question and each time it has been from a young person (8 to 17).  I would never had dared to ask such a question when I was growing up and was appalled the first time it was asked.  I used the opportunity to let the person know that it was an inappropriate question that the questioner had know right to ask or to have it answered.

 

Am I the only one who points out bad manners or in today's society, is there no such thing as "bad manners"?

 

Just wondering.

 

Don

It seems to me that the people who see my trains are friends or family. I wouldn't use the  some of the answers given in this post if I wanted to maintain friendships or family relations. The few times it has come up I tell them it started with a train around the Christmas tree and just kind of took on a life of it's own, no talk of dollar amounts, seems to satisfy them.  It has come up only a few times in the last thirty years or so. Fred

My feeling is that, maybe they're interested enough to get into a railroad of their own, maybe for their kids.

Naw.  I get that question even if they're only looking at trains on a shelf, and haven't even seen the layout.  My locomotives are all postwar, and the questions stem from the old, pervasive belief that anything marked "Lionel" must be worth a sizable fortune.

 

I always answer "I have no idea," which is true, because I don't.  But I don't think they believe me.

 

 

When asked cost of the trains

A. I usually say the cars can go between 1 dollar and several hundred or more,each

B. Not as much as you would think

C. A bit

Which are all true but after reading other peoples replies these responses now seem really lame

The reason people ask is they think every broken Scout engine is an original Hudson 

The answer also depends how well you know the person asking and if you like them And yes I was raised not to discuss stuff like this,

hello guys and gals......

 

Just say "TOO MUCH" 

 

the woman who loves the S.F.#5021

Tiffany

Eliot I don’t get too specific but I give a comparison of something and then move on to looking at the layout with them.

 

Generally I say something like

“Model RR can be an expensive hobby, but mine is not as expensive as many others.

 

If I get a follow up question like “Well what ball park is it in”

 

I will say it is not in a Ball park as you can see lol,,,Then I say …Well only what I feel I need to have….

 

Its sort of like the price of cars none are cheap,,, but some are  really expensive .. mine is like a Ford or Chevy”

I always just say..." 194 band aids, 12 bottles of tylenol and 1 trip to the hospital.....don't ask!"....

I usually respond with: about a hundred hours of overtime.

Joe

Perhaps the questioner isn't trying to be rude, but rather trying to engage in a conversation about something he (or she) knows nothing about. But everyone knows about money, so it's a common ground.

 

We get it a lot in our modular club, right behind "how long does it take to build this?" (which time is another common topic that everyone knows about). I generally answer the money question at the club with an answer of around $100 a table plus the trains and scenery, which is fairly close.

 

J White

 

As much as the presidential election but with more value & FUN!!!

"Oh, I don't know...... I watched my son learn to use my tools, learned AC & DC circuits, fun with plaster and fake trees, little people. "Can I have a train horn on my car?'' I guess you could say PRICELESS!!

Tell them the exact figure to date.

 

Pete

I always say, "I don't know?...but I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't do drugs and my wife can always find me a few steps downstairs in the basement".

 

After that perspective sinks in they know I am not anwering the question and the answer isn't important.

 

 

After something is purchase (train related) I log it in a book with MFG, #, Description, and Price (what I actually paid) for insurances purposes. I am NEW to he hobby and have currently spent just over 6K. That is peanuts compared to many of you. If somebody asks "How much?" I just say lots, and maybe add - donations are appreciated. (LOL)

"If I had a dollar for every dollar I've spent on this layout, I'd have a layout twice as big!"

Natoli, that is absolutely hysterical !!!

Scrapiron Scher

Living a stones throw from the Atlantic, most people in my area can relate to "cheaper than a boat."

 

Tim

I don't see any reason to be rude with your answer.  I don't consider it a rude question, just curiosity.  More often I am asked, "how long did it take you to build this".  I just tell folks the truth in vague terms like, "a car cost anywhere form $20 up to $100 and engines anywhere from $200 to a $1000".  Then I follow it with something like, "it keeps me out of bars and home at night".

.....

Dennis

....or, if I think the person is really interested in the hobby, for themselves or a child, I say, "Like a lot of things, they'll let you pay as much as you want for it. What's your budget?"  Then depending on their answer I'd point out what they could afford.

The classic "it depends..." works well for me.  It's not really evasive:  as mentioned earlier, it's like every other hobby - you can spend a ton or you can be a budget shopper.  I've had a LOT of hobbies over the years, and this is definitely more "reasonable" than motorcycles and watches - at least the up front costs.  

That is a great come-back.  I'll remember to use it, and, after their reply, gently (really Southern) tell them that, bless their hearts, it's just none of their business.

"How much does an outfit like this cost ?"

 

It's a crass question, I think best to disarm with a vague, humorous, brief response.

 

"Less than therapy."

"Oh, about the price of a used car"

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

"About $1.00 per hour of enjoyment"

 

"Why do you ask?" That's somewhat confrontational for a spontaneous question from a stranger. But I think it's a good retort for many other situations, like meddlesome relatives.

 

Just my two cents worth ... 

Hey, Eliot -

 

I have not been asked (yet) how much the layout cost, but several people have asked me about the engines or a specific engine. I tell them that the diesels are a few hundred dollars and the steamers a little higher, retail, but that I never pay that. If asked about the cars, I say they are $10 and up.

 

Providing a believable but not specific answer lets them know, without being sarcastic of rude, that you prefer not to provide details. If they appear to have a genuine interest in actually buying something, I tell them that we can talk later.

 

Alex

I can't help but wonder... Why dodge the issue?

 

It's normal that people are curious, just like they might be about golf clubs, a hot-rod, a boat, an airplane, or whatever, and I bet if they were asking about those types of things most of you would be more forthcoming.

 

"How much did it cost?" is a legitimate question.  Why all the evasiveness when it comes to trains?

 

Pete