I was just wondering how this forum fills about this. With so many Hobby Shops closing, should Lionel and MTH provide sets and other items to Wal Mart.
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I thought Wal*Mart had already carried Lionel battery-operated sets in the past.
I don't think so, I don't think Wal Mart would want to pay the wholesale price for them.
It would be nice if these stores did carry trains. In the retail business, however, stores only have shelf space for best sellers. It is unlikely that these stores will carry train items by any manufacturer. NH Joe
The fact that so many hobby shops have closed indicates the volume is not there for a mass marketer. In the glory days, dept. stores had trains before the holidays, much in the manner of Menards, and they disappeared. Louisville, Kentucky had one hobby shop that carried Lionel and no Marx or Flyer, year around.
I would say no. When Lionel took all of there small mom and pop dealer stores and said they had to buy from a distributor, taking the price advantage away has hurt them in an emotional and monetary way. The big ten dealers set the pricing, whether low or high for many of the hobbyist. If Lionel really wanted to help their dealers and their Sales, they would advertise on nationwide television, or social media. They would promote their TMCC, Legacy, Blue Tooth operation for all to see how Wonderful the hobby is today..... You see the Geico figure (Insurance) everyday, the Citi Card “what’s in your wallet”, everyday, why not Lionel “Lion” that our children and grandkids could see. That’s just a thought, I know they advertise in some of our magazines, but, that’s nothing like TV.....This being said, I am very happy with my hobby shop, ABC Hobbycraft, Evansville Indiana, he treats us fantastic. Happy Railroading
Hi Jim, it would be great to have a toy train display at Walmart at this time of the year. But I'm afraid that their return policy would make it very hard on the manufactures.
You could buy something at Walmart and bring it back a week latter no questioned asked and then they wont a full refund from the supplier. I don't know how many people could eat that kind of loss. 
I think stores like Walmart should start selling a better quality starter train set, such as Atlas' new battery powered Amtrak Acela by Atlas Trainkids. The current cheapo battery sets offered each year at walmart, drug stores, discount stores, with plastic rail and poor quality do little to create new hobbyists.
I thought I'd seen this set at Wal*Mart either last year or the year before.
Walmart HAS carried Lionel sets. And not just the battery ones. So much for the experts here.
Now, I haven't seen any THIS year, but the past 2 or 3 years I've personally seen them there in my 2 local stores. Last year they had several each of the 0-8-0 PRR Flyer set and the NYC RS-3 set. They also had a few different battery powered sets. I remember the specific sets last year because after Christmas, the ones left were marked down a lot. There was one NYC RS-3 set marked down to $125.00.
Walmart stocks what sells. If the train sets didn't do well, then it's not likely they would devote shelf space to them. And really, only Lionel and Walmart know how well they did.
As far as TV advertising.... dream on. All you have to do is get online, Google Lionel Trains, and you get lots of hits. Go to Facebook, Lionel proper is there. Go to YouTube, and you have all the product videos from TrainWorld, plus loads of other videos.
And of course, even this forum will come up. But if any novice was to come to this forum, and to this particular sub-forum category, and read all the complaining and grumbling, the vast majority of it about high end products (some of it justified, a lot it.... hmmm) from people who don't appear to be having much fun with their trains... well, who'd want to get into a hobby that makes you miserable. I'm glad it doesn't make me miserable. I have fun with it, and I don't need scale anything or the latest digital feature.
And then you read the needless wise-cracks and putdowns about starter sets... well, once again, bad advertising. And I am qualified to comment on starter sets because in 31 years I have never had a single defect or DOA out of any brand new Lionel starter type product. Which includes many sets made overseas in China. And also includes a lot of MPC era stuff, which all still runs today.
brianel_k-lineguy posted:in 31 years I have never had a single defect or DOA out of any brand new Lionel starter type product. Which includes many sets made overseas in China. And also includes a lot of MPC era stuff, which all still runs today.
On the contrary, I don't think even Walmart could handle the returns!
I'm joking of course (needless wise-crack!) but my experience is exactly the opposite. I'm only 2 years in the hobby. I've purchased four Lionel engines resulting in two RA's, one dealer exchange, and one return for refund. So YMMV.
No, not walmart.....I'd say Menards....look at all the great cars and buildings....let alone you have a full hardware store with which to build your layout with. I think O-gauge in general is something better handled at something like Hobby Lobby, or other national Hardware stores.....Ace and True Value used to do limited run Lionel.....why not start pushing that again?
Menards seasonal is a great thing, but in my opinion they need a locomotive to sell with all their nice track, rolling stock, and buildings.
Walmart does carry a number of o-gauge Lionel train sets.
Yea, so much for the experts.
- Santa Fe Super Chief w/remote and Bluetooth capability.
- John Deere LionChief
- Blue Comet w/remote and Bluetooth capability
- Hogwarts Express w/remote and Bluetooth capability
- Winter Wonderland w/remote and Bluetooth capability
- First Responder
- Union Pacific Flyer w/remote and Bluetooth Capability
- New York Central Flyer w/remote and Bluetooth capability
- LionChief Polar Express w/Bluetooth
These are just the o-gauge sets not to mention all of HO and G gauge they carry.
I am going to limit my discussion to just "Starter Sets". There are a number of other costs associated with stocking an item in Wal-Mart. The first is what's called "slotting fees". This is the price the manufacturer has to pay to get an item into the warehouse. The next is shelf positioning. Manufacturers pay big bucks to get an item placed at eye level. Another problem is employee knowledge, if you can find one. Returns would be a nightmare. Unscrupulous customers would buy the item, run the heck out of it for a few weeks, then return it. Wal-Mart would want a competitive wholesale price to compete with your local hobby shop. Why alienate your retail outlets, especially when starter sets are a major source of sales this time of the year that drives customer traffic. On-line has most of the same disadvantages.
Mth or Lionel don't have the product .. Walmart wants a huge order. That's how they sell at low price.
Plus everything that has been said.
My 736 and cars super 0 track came from a discount store. Unimart...which sol price started. And that turned into price club.
A few years back Wal-Mart tried selling Lionel Trains, putting up a large display, and it failed miserably. The display also included the Part one of the famous video that Lionel had produced, Part two never was produced.
Bill T posted:A few years back Wal-Mart tried selling Lionel Trains, putting up a large display, and it failed miserably. The display also included the Part one of the famous video that Lionel had produced, Part two never was produced.
Yeah, I remember that being posted here with pictures. An impressive display as I recall. Lionel was in Home Depot for a year too. Target had a special set for a few years. Lionel O doesn’t sell in volume at the big box stores.
Costco has another battery G size set for sale this year. This year is a General steamer set with remote. They had one last year too. I’m a vendor for Costco. Last year I walked into the receiving area and saw a still wrapped pallet of the battery sets. I remember my brain couldn’t process what I was seeing. A whole pallet of something with Lionel on the boxes.
Walmart is just too long a drive to be convenient. We usually only go if we're in that neck of the woods, and we HAVE to HAVE something only they carry.
I'd like to see Lionel is stores where they carry other items needed in the building of a layout, like Ace Hardware or Aubuchon.
Jon 
Don't know. Don't shop at Walmart, so don't care if they cary trains or not.
Insufficient volume. Because hardware stores have successfully resisted the Walmart&Amazon paradigms this venue would be a much better fit, especially if space could be dedicated for small display layouts. The type of people who enter hardware stores are already predisposed to "electric trains" and a working display layout would be a big attractor. Like a magnet. 
brianel_k-lineguy posted:As far as TV advertising.... dream on. All you have to do is get online, Google Lionel Trains, and you get lots of hits. Go to Facebook, Lionel proper is there. Go to YouTube, and you have all the product videos from TrainWorld, plus loads of other videos.
I thought the point of advertising was to let someone know about your product who wouldn't ordinarily be thinking about your product. That's how I got back into the hobby all due to an ad for a train show. I had totally forgotten about trains so I would not have been searching for them on the internet. With that being said I do agree with you that we won't see advertising from Lionel or MTH. I think they would love to advertise but it just isn't in their budget. My opinion.
I live about 6 miles from a Walmart and a Home Depot. It would be awesome to have trains available at either place. What the heck is a Menards? LOL
Getting trains in stores these days is a bit of a viscous circle. Walmart and other big box stores won't deal with toy trains because they are slow movers. Toy trains not that popular nowadays partially due to lack of visibility at popular stores. Kinda like trying to get your first job. You want the job to get experience, but they won't hire you because you don't have experience.
I think toy trains would sell better at Target and Walmart if the quality were there as well as a low price. How did companies like Marx do it during the depression years? Even dime stores carried Marx trains.
I say YES.. they should but I'm sure they would only sale online on their web site... Only reason is because you will get a great price but NOT all items are returnable to the store.. and you have to deal with that business that wall-mart let them use... (I have bought of the web through wall-mart and could not return my item at the store)... and had to go by their (not wall-mart) company policies....daniel Hey but PRICE was better....
Just wanted to say thank you, to everyone who responded to my question. Each and everyone of you provided me with some great answers and wonderful information.
Merry Christmas
Wild Mary must live some place that has a Super Wal Mart and a huge amount of clientele , here in the Arm Pit of Texas, I've been in 3 different Wal Mart's that are all located within about 7 to 10 miles of each other and all are super busy, have been thru the toy sections of each and have not seen one train set by Lionel at all. They do have some "El Cheapo" plastic junk for sale but not Lionel stuff. It would be nice to see some of it for sale this time of year or even any time of year.
Menards has routinely carried some Lionel sets at Christmas time, I believe, so the point is moot. Walmart is not a likely source for what is a premium priced product, a niche product to boot. The same goes for MTH, whose sets are even more expensive than most of Lionel's sets, which have at least some at lower price points.
Not going to happen, the market is just too small, only the cheapest sets sell at big box stores.
Dave
Dan Padova posted:Don't know. Don't shop at Walmart, so don't care if they cary trains or not.
Why?
Dave
Hi Jim Sutter, this is a really good Question which I answered no to earlier in this section and my reason was in reality not to accuse Lionel for its business model, but, the big retailers like Walmart, Sams Club, Cosco, Amazon, lacks the help a Model train store offers, in design of layouts, how to use the product for its best service, the folks with the assistance necessary for their customers to really enjoy the hobby of true model railroading. Price is important, but not the most important, and our smaller dealer stores try their best to be competitive, but in reality, they offer something more than just price, they offer help, advice on electrical wiring, layout construction, scenic effects, the little things that you can’t find at the self serve retailers. Our OGR Videos help, The OGR Magazine offers lots of helpful advice and product reviews, and this hobby is a People business. Yes, I like our hobby shops where modelers get together and talk about their layouts and enjoy the fellowship that is essential to the true growth of the hobby. Thank you for asking the Question concerning the yes or no to the big retailers carrying our trains, Lionel, MTH, Atlas O, etc., possibly good Train Sets, encourage LionChief Plus Sets, or Blue Tooth operational merchandise. One thing for certain, the computer with internet has made the availability of our products a lot easier to find. We live in a global community. It is the Best of Times. Happy Railroading
One word......NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it makes more sense for Jim's Train Shop to reopen and forget about WalMart!
In 2009 Walmart offered the O gauge set shown below (7-11175) which was exclusive to them. Also sold a bunch of misc Lionel branded items like shirts, key chains etc.
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I saw the Lionel large scale Harry Potter set at Target today...the engine looked very nice through the packaging, but, I'd be very weary of buying any train set that runs on batteries, in fact I wouldn't recommend any starter sets to people who want a decent train set that will survive more than one Christmas season. But, maybe some sets have improved over the years - I haven't followed what's available anymore - can only speak from experience of sets that were of questionable quality years ago.
After thinking about this...while I think electric trains are a great nostalgic toy, all of them - even the expensive scale items - require tinkering and fixing, and I am not sure many people will bother when something goes wrong, and they'll end up in the trash. I shudder to think how many toys of all kinds get thrown out after just a little use.
DaveSlie posted:I think it makes more sense for Jim's Train Shop to reopen and forget about WalMart!
Now there you're talkin'!
david1 posted:Dan Padova posted:Don't know. Don't shop at Walmart, so don't care if they cary trains or not.
Why?
Dave
I cannot get into it here, because it involves a verboten topic.
We have no Menards anywhere in southeastern, Pa. that I know of. I believe it is some sort of large box store, not unlike Home Depot and Lowes.
So how did they get so involved in the "O" gauge market ?
Basic math: 4500 Wal-Mart stores in the US. Ten sets per store equals 45,000 sets if the distribution centers will break to less than pallet loads for individual stores. John in Lansing, ILL
Sadly kids and young adults just don't seem to have the interest in trains or pretty much any type of hobby style activity anymore. I know my kids have never had an interest in them. And i have interest in a lot of different hobbies such as trains, slot cars, r/c cars/trucks (gas and electric), sewing (i learned to sew due to my late wife having a bad stroke and I learned i enjoyed it), repairing all sorts of mechanical things like small engines and lawn mowers and so on.
They just want electronics and phones and video games. Now don't get me wrong, I love those things as well but most younger people just don't seem to care. 
With all that said, I sadly think that a Lionel display would be a dismal failure in a place like Walmart.
At True Value or Ace Hardware? That might work. Older gentleman tend to like to go to the hardware store for stuff you won't find at Walmart or Lowes or Home Depot and a Lionel display just might have enough draw to reel them in.
I just don't want to have Lionel suffer another failure. It must be tough being in an unavoidably dying business model. I wish to **** there was a way of rejuvenating the hobby or any hobby.
DaveSlie posted:I think it makes more sense for Jim's Train Shop to reopen and forget about WalMart!
Why didn't I listen to him? He said that I needed more trains. I just didn't listen....tuh….why?
