Lionel moving...

Citation, please.

I hope that, 'we the customers' remember to be patient with the transition period and end product - with whatever may move there.

I think that it's Great! And I hope they really do!

Henry J

I received this in an email today......

I believe the Lionel Railroader Club and call center have been moved to North Carolina.  That's about it.  No big deal.

Unbeknownst to me, the Lionel Nascar Diecast company is based in Concord North Carolina:

http://investing.businessweek....?privcapId=130368453

Lionel NASCAR Collectables LLC engages in the design, promotion, marketing, and distribution of licensed die-cast race cars. Its products include die-cast, novelty, race-win/autographs, Daytona 500, and die-cast haulers. The company, through joint venture, makes and sells replica die-cast race cars through various channels, including corporate, national accounts, trackside, online, a network of specialty dealers, and the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA). Lionel NASCAR Collectables LLC is based in Concord, North Carolina.

What this has to do with anything - who knows. Perhaps the original poster saw some reference to Lionel and North Carolina and drew an assumption?

I heard that Lionel also moved their shipping center to Concord NC and they no longer use the logistics place in PA.

It's really just a move to consolidate certain aspects of the overall operation--including the Nascar interests--to increase operating efficiency.  Keep in mind that Lionel has been a fairly spread-out operation in recent years, with offices and/or personnel in New York, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, and more recently, North Carolina.  Makes good business sense to do a bit of consolidation.

As long as the Lionel Railroader club includes complete and well thought-out articles about O gauge and S gauge layout construction and operations. plus worthwhile LRRC exclusive offers, the move will benifit everyone.

Andrew

All Lionel cartons have labels on them as of a few months ago that indicate they were shipped from Concord at the above address to the dealer.  This definitly means Lionel will ship LRRC offers from Concord and its a Lionel owned facility.  More control over packing etc.  So far I have seen the soft China boxes recovered with USA sourced cardboard which does not crush in transit.  It would make sense to me to have all marketing and product development consolidated.  If I were given the choice of living in that area of NC vs Detroit it would be a no brainer. 

Definitely a no-brainer!  In my case it would be even more of a no-brainer since my sister and brother-in-law live just a short distance south of Concord.

Oh gosh yes!  Detroit vs. NC?   I remember 25 years ago when I was living in Pittsburgh and we were informed our company was transferring the whole division to central NC: it felt like I was some kid getting out of reform school and going to live in DisneyWorld.

And in reply to your earlier post, Allan, it is a big deal any time more of the industry moves closer to me: now instead of calling I can just drive over and knock on the door! :-)   Concord is a really nice area, and there is a super train/transportation museum about 20 minutes North in Spencer. 

For quite some time the current Lionel building at 26750 23 Mile Rd in MI has been for sale.

I live a half hour south of Concord and Charlotte, and am a long time admirer of the late and great K-Line, which we know was absorbed by Lionel, that was also based here in NC. Now if MTH would make a similar move, we could be known for something other than besides barbeque.

Amazing how ignorant most are about the greater Detroit area and what the region has to offer.  Lionel on 23 Mile Rd is nowhere near Detroit proper.

You can keep NC, I'll take the Detroit area and Michigan anytime.

I'm an Ohio State grad--two degrees and a term on the faculty.  "I Don't Give a D*** For The Whole State Of Michigan!"

Just kidding, Wolverines!

Should we line up on either side of the Toledo strip? 

"Amazing how ignorant most are about the greater Detroit area and what the region has to offer."

It seems Lionel is equally ignorant of what Michigan has to offer in relation to NC which may not be so amazing should you leave the snow belt and sip a sweet tea while enjoying a Fall like winter while the snowbirds are iced over. What still strikes me as goofy is when we have freezing conditions are anticipated here, the grocery stores are packed as if we were about to be run over with a hurricane. Every year like clockwork, if we have a freeze, everything stops and is mostly shut down. My kids loved it. The Southern equivalent of a "snow day".

"Amazing how ignorant most are about the greater Detroit area and what the region has to offer."

It seems Lionel is equally ignorant of what Michigan has to offer<<<<

Maybe not that ignorant.. Doesn't take much brainpower to find folks to package and ship but Lionel has wisely set up production in Michigan starting with those new made in USA boxcars.  

Joe

I bet the move has to do with a decrease in costs since taxes would probably be less.  Even though PA is not too bad for taxes, but our corporate income tax is higher than it should be.  One day the NE will figure it out.

My kids live in NYC,  9.5% sales tax! 

I moved to NC 8 years ago after 20 years working in the DC area. Initally I wondered if living here was for me after living in the DC area. I was able to get a good job and a nice home and found a great group of train friends. I'm now retired and can honesty say I wouldn't move back to DC or Pittsburgh (where I grew up) for any amount of money. The only problem is that my Pittsburgh sports teams are up there, which means road trips to see some games. And York is a 5 1/2 hour drive one way.

ncdave - the Steelers and the Pirates and the Penguins and even the Pitt games are on TV . . . and the drinks and hot dogs at home cost less, too!!!!!

North Carolina is a "right to work state" which means NO union labor for Lionel. Taxes here in NC are high. Sometimes the state makes Northen companies sweet deals to relocate here.

I ordered a 6-37125 module from Lionel and it was shipped from Concord, NC.

Lee,

Thats true. I watch them all. We even have a Steelers fan club here, so watching every Steelers game at the club is akin to being there. They even import Iron City! The funny thing is most of the club members are locals. They have adopted the Steelers as their team.  But there is nothing like being at a game and waving my Terrible Towel. 

Allan when you said you were an OHIO STATE Grad you lost all creditability in this discussion

Yeah...Life Member of the OSU Alumni Association, as well, and a personal friend of the late Wayne Woodrow Hayes.  Shameful, huh!

Now if that football program today could just stay out of trouble!

You know, we all live somewhere. Most like where they live. I do not have to belittle some other state. If all the crew at OGR feel the same as Mr Allan Miller about Michigan my 23 years a subscriber may be over...Jim

I happen to like the Buckeyes, Toledo Rockets, Michigan and Michigan State football.

I pay $13,000+ yearly real estate estate taxes for an 1800 sq ft 50 year old split level in NY. Plus state income and local sales taxes. NC taxes would be a dream.

Despite your residency, you appear to have precious little understanding of the long-standing mostly friendly rivalry between the great states of Michigan and Ohio when it comes to college athletics and academic institutions.  I trust that most here--and especially those from these two states--have a more reasoned appreciation for the fun-poking that goes on between us.

And if I selected my reading material based on which school the editor of a publication graduated from years ago, I would begin to harbor some serious doubts of my own.

Oh...and by the way...I'm a retiree of the higher education system of the great Commonwealth of Virginia, and also a very proud member of the VT Hokie family.

Doesn't matter where you live, what team you root for, or what school attempted to educate you, as long as you like trains you are OK in the OGR book..and mine too!

Ed Boyle

By the way, just to stay on the topic, it makes good sense to put the Railroader Club in Concord, NC with similar admin functions. It is a better deal for Railroader Club members and will help Lionel do a better job of managing the Railroader club.

That is a win win.

Ed Boyle

Inscription Reads:

Michigan troops made heir headquarters here during the bloodless Toledo "war" in 1835.

Intense rivalry between the settlers of the two states fanned a controversy near flame. Original U. S. surveys had put in Monroe County the mouth of the Maumee River around which Toledo was taking form. When Ohio started the Miami Canal it obtained from Congress a new survey which showed these lands in Ohio.

Months of disturbance ensued. Ohio partisans were seized on the contested frontier and tried in the Monroe County Court House. Militia of both states rushed to the border but never fought.

The "war" ended with Michigan accepting the Upper Peninsula in exchange for the Toledo strip of Monroe County and with the admission of Michigan to statehood in 1837.

Mr Miller, I was born and raised in Toledo Ohio, I know all about the Oh/Mi war. I didn't think I would ever be the kind of person to say this but I found your remark about Michigan quite insulting and find it hard to believe a staff member of OGR would make such a statement on an open forum. As for Lionel and NC there is nothing left here but an office building anyway.

Not all!  You obviously aren't familiar with the quote I made in that earlier post which is part of a song/chant played by the band (and spectators) at EVERY Ohio State-Michigan game and others.  The Yellow (actually maize) & Blue folks have their own retort.  All in good fun (mostly).

But back to the topic...

Consolidating some activities--even a number of activities--in North Carolina makes good business sense, and Lionel IS a business.  There are tax advantages, labor advantages, and a number of other very real advantages that make NC a particularly attractive location.  And if the current owners of Lionel LLC should ever decide to divest of their Lionel interests, a consolidated operation would certainly be a more salable commodity than a widely scattered one.  Again, it's a business and it must be viewed from the perspective of a business person.

And Charlie 714, little bitty Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. whomped Michigan in football [at Michigan] and the folks in the horseless carriage state will never live down the embarassment. And last week, Concord native Dale Earnhart, Jr. wins the Michigan 400 NASCAR race----but at least in a car produced by Detroit's Government Motors.

Last fall, I was in Boone, N.C., driving up from Hickory to go to a restaurant,

"Boone Tavern?". There is one with a similar name at Berea, Ky., where they train gourmet chefs at Berea College (which I don't think even has sports teams).  (The one in Ky. is a much better restaurant) Boone is small, but those mountain boys give schools like the University of Kentucky their reputations, so I'd guess they could

and did give some big states a run for their money.  It wasn't a wasted trip...I found

a gourmet ice cream shop in Blowing Rock, and found it had another store in Gettysburg, across from the battlefield, so...it can be, and was,  visited during York.

(what I would like to find is some new and different restaurants in the York area, vs.

the same old chains as in this area)  During another side trip over to Spencer, if I'd known, I might have taken a look at Concord.

You can see the facility on Google Maps of Performance Drive.  Its a very modern combo office and fulfillment center.  Honestly Lionel could not make a better move to a place like this.  They need to be close to shipping.  Back when the vendor shipped from PA it was a chore to get replacement product for LRRC shipments.  Now its just a reach away.  Please the stuff packed by the Concord office is always well-packed in USA cardboard.  The new IC PW Dummy that came is a prime example.  Plus 2hrs north of me...I am all for it.  From this location they can manage mfg in any USA location...plus overseas.

Does anyone know if Lionel has any other facilities in PA?  If not they should quit charging the 6% tax on their on line and LRRC sales.