Lionel Listens!

Charlie

 

I 100% agree with the track idea.  Kudos!

 

It sure is refreshing to hear this.  While not all good ideas are viable and easy to implement, it is a great start to at least have them listen.

good to hear. the future looks bright

That track idea is pretty cool! and Battletrain? I'd be up for that if they made it customizable (Gatling guns and cannons and stuff on an armored looking locomotive body).

 

Awesome to hear that they listen to someone...

I agree that transition from one management team to another takes time. It is only fair to give the new guys a chance to implement their ideas. That's why we should not expect colossal new products that require new tooling in the first 2014 catalog.

 

The other important part of your message is the communication factor with the dealers (you in this case). You are in the front lines and have a good feel of what the customer wants. Nice to see that so many from Lionel availed themselves of this opportunity to sit down and talk about the future of our hobby with you and your staff.

 

Thank you for giving us some insight as to what happened with this meeting.

I like the idea for expanding the Thomas line a lot.  My grand kids would love that type of stuff - I'd make sure they had all of it, too!

One thing I would like to see from Lionel is for them to offer their excellent Standard O flat cars (both sizes) in two-packs, without loads.  Model railroaders love to put their own loads on these cars, so they would be easy sellers, and if the packaging is done right, they wouldn't take up any more shelf space than most other scale cars.

 

I know that I would buy them!

 

Andy

Since I and others bring this up at the LUG meeting and Jon Z tells us to tell the production folks...

 

• Legacy Operating Cars and Accessories.  Make use of that ACC button on the remote.

When there are numerous "snarky" comments that could be made, I will simply say, YEAH!!

Glad to see Lionel leadership taking an active interest in working with their consumers.  One more suggestion to help everyone:

An active order counter with target needed for production on item description in the product search. 

It could update real time to communicate the minimum orders needed to produce any new higher end models and show how many orders are in the system.

Lionel will know the real interest before making it to avoid blowouts and inventory that won't sell.

Consumers will realize why something won't get made unless more orders come in.

Obviously, for pre-orders or early commitments to be successful, some form of accurate technical artwork will need to be used instead if the current paint-shop illustrations we've been seeing. Not to mention an accurate list of features that doesn't change at the last minute. Otherwise a suspicious consumer will continue to wait-and-see before committing big bucks.

Just my 2 cents.

Seems that Lionel is interested in moving products, making a visit to a LHS is a good start.

 

Brent

Charlie,

A nice start but Lionel needs to listen to the end customer, IndyCar didn't and has disappeared.  Multiple engine number Big Boys are great but one of their employees posted here long ago about how they would NEVER do multiple rolling stock numbers because we didn't know how expensive it was. Lionel lost a lot of sales due to that shortsighted bad business move, who wants 10 of the exact same box car? But now they can?

 

Their product locator might cost something but how many stores have old unsold merchandise? We don't call all over the country anymore, not worth it.

 

You can't turn over and churn dust into cash for new stock as a store, a 4 year old new loco without warrany at list price? Please tell that store owner and Lionel the world calls that a "no sale."

I have an history of Lionel on VHS.  In it Joshua Cowen said that after watching the train go around a loop for a while the kids would get bored and go set fire to the curtains.  I like the idea of adding operating accessories to Thomas.  Just an oval can only hold a kid for so long. 

 

(I never played with matches again after hearing him say that!)

Nathan

Honestly, $10 worth of track wouldn't get me in to a LHS to buy a set, not when I can get it for near $100 off list online.

You asked for it, so, here goes.

Why does Lionel continue with the windows mounted on the outside of the 18" passenger cars? In other words, why can't they make them right?

Wish that I had been there!

Honestly, $10 worth of track wouldn't get me in to a LHS to buy a set, not when I can get it for near $100 off list online.

 

No, I think your missing what I am saying. You would buy the set first from a online retailer or big box store and we would give you two free pcs. of track when you went to the local store. Look at it from a "newbie" customer, not a die hard collector.

Glad to hear the visit went well.  I am very pleased to hear about the lionmaster + control option.

 

As to suggestions for the website..I personally would like to see a description and if possible a picture of something when I search on a 6-product number.  I may not have been persistent enough but in the past when I have done a search for an item not in the current catalog I get no information and have to resort to secondary sites such as the forum or ebay.  I like both of these sites but personally I would prefer to get the information I am looking from the source when possible.  Unfortunately there is likely little payback to Lionel for adding such a feature that would likely take a long time to build...but hey you asked!

I would like all on-line catalog pictures the correct aspect and resolution for the LCS App so I can use them as the pictures for my roster.

hello guys and gals..........

 

2 pieces of free track, what good is that ?  Offer a free "oval" 40 by 60 of track then you're talking.

 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678

Tiffany

 

 

To make sure I understand you, you're saying that all RTR sets would come with a voucher that you can only redeem at the LHS, regardless of where you bought the set?

I would love to know what the best way all of us can give them suggestions.  I've seen a lot of good ideas posted on here throughout the years that I think could really help out the hobby.  Not the picky, build this and don't build that, but some better marketing strategies.  Do you think the best of getting their attention with these ideas is through Facebook?

I will expand on this a little.  Make them as rugged as MTH.

 

 

To make sure I understand you, you're saying that all RTR sets would come with a voucher that you can only redeem at the LHS, regardless of where you bought the set?

 

 

Correct!

Okay, I can get behind that, and I would make use of it too.

 

As far as it being straights or curves, it'd depend on how much track they already have.  For me with 4 RTR sets now, either would work.  For someone that has only one set, straights make better sense.  But being O36 is the only curves that get you a 90deg bend with two, I'd say you should be able to get the 3 O48 curves for a 90deg, if that is the size curves your RTR set came with (2 of mine did).

straights, curves, 036, 048, none of this matters. maybe they buy ten more pieces of track with the first two being free. Maybe they buy some accessories or switches.

 

The whole point of it is it get them into the store which creates a sales opportunity for the LHS while showing the customer how much room there is for them to grow their interest in the hobby.

Of course we are talking about straights guys! What good is giving two pcs. of straight?

The whole point of it is it get them into the store which creates a sales opportunity for the LHS while showing the customer how much room there is for them to grow their interest in the hobby.

 

 

BINGO!

Probably wouldn't work giving them two curves either

 

Not enough coffee today Charlie?

OK, I would have an option:  2 free regular straight or curve tracks, OR so much off a switch or uncoupling track!

To address the issue of multiple car numbers, leave the numbers off the car and supply a decal sheet or dry transfers with various random numbers for the operator to apply. 

 

K-Line did this years ago with the inter model flats.

follow the KISS principle

Just a thought, Maybe go back to old school.

If they could get production or pre production samples in the

stores, It might get a potential buyer more excited seeing the piece

than just a picture in a catalog.

(For me it's hard to consider spending $800 to $1000 dollars based

on a picture.)

Isn't that what the traveling sales guy's used to do ?

maybe a type of diorama or layout showing to latest add on's

and accessories ?

I know things have changed but some old idea's are still the good ones...

 

 

Another Idea I have is with the Polar Express (One of Lionel's biggest success's) and that is a cross promotion with Warner Bros. in their next re-release of the DVD. Place coupon's for discounts on the DVD in the sets and also a discount on the train set in the DVD. Win-Win for both companies!

 

Also the Polar Express could use a Talking Station. That would be a big seller. People want more 'action" items to add on to the set.

The talking station is a great idea!

How about a 2nd production run on the Bay Window and Extended Vision cabooses that were offered back in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Many great railroad names were represented.

 

Regards,

Swafford