Just received this email from Lionel. It reminds me of the old days when you could individually pick options on a new car.
The choices are limited but the discounts are pretty good.
It's a start.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Interesting.
This looks like a way to cash in what would otherwise be a garage sale. Not all of the engine options have matching cars, no cabooses, it just looks like random stuff that isn't selling.
I ran a couple options, all of which are nearly $500 to your door (without the step 5 accessories), for what is basically some O27 engines and freight cars (or passenger cars). And people will do the same thing I did, get to the cart and close the window.
More attractive diesel/freight car sets are $200 cheaper on the street.
Start these with a 2 and they might be a hit. For 5, someone should let them know April fools is 6 months away.
I think this is a great idea, wish they gave the option for AC transformer power under that section. Also, kind of expensive when it gets added up, I wish it was closer to the normal price of ready to run sets. And where are the cabooses!
The discount comes out to 35%. That is a very steep discount. And yet, I cannot find anything that I wanted to buy at that steep discount. How do Lionel dealers feel when they see that Lionel is undercutting their prices? How does Lionel feel when their cheap entry level equipment doesn't draw sales even at a 35% discount?
How many other products have 100 years' worth of old (but still working) merchandise available for sale at good prices? Lionel trains just keep on going. They are competing against their own used trains.
I put together a set and the price was, put plainly, stupid. But a good idea at the right price point.
Charles Ro shipping is only $10.00 under $500.00 So where is the deal? Support your local dealer if you still have one!
Interesting idea, but I'm not impressed. The two locos you get to choose from are both bottom-feeders. And $161 for three plastic freight cars is just ridiculous! By the time I was done, my set was $800 out the door. If someone gave that much to me, I know that I could bring something much better home from York! For example, the last time I went I saw a rock-solid postwar 2034 for $10, and plenty of decent freight cars for $5 each. To my way of thinking, that would be a better introduction to the hobby for much less money.
The premium sets that Lionel has been including in its past few catalogs feature nice Legacy locos and a reasonably prototypical consist. That's what I was expecting, and what I would rather have to choose from, even if it ended up costing twice as much. A great concept but a disappointing implementation.
@Boilermaker1 posted:This looks like a way to cash in what would otherwise be a garage sale. Not all of the engine options have matching cars, no cabooses, it just looks like random stuff that isn't selling.
I ran a couple options, all of which are nearly $500 to your door (without the step 5 accessories), for what is basically some O27 engines and freight cars (or passenger cars). And people will do the same thing I did, get to the cart and close the window.
More attractive diesel/freight car sets are $200 cheaper on the street.
Start these with a 2 and they might be a hit. For 5, someone should let them know April fools is 6 months away.
Bingo!…..someone at the big L got tasked with making inventory disappear,……🤣🤣🤣
Pat
