As a portion of my post fire hobby activity, I decided to compare what is available in several gauges from a variety of perspectives. I went to four major suppliers to survey costs, features etc. What I found was that more often than not, an item was listed as "out of stock"
Of course this was not a scientific study...and it may be a random coincidence. However, in thinking about rebuilding, I seem to be book ended by low inventories and build to order uncertainties in terms of following a focused plan for specific items. Am I deluded in this suspicion or is this now par for the course? Or, is this some sort of temporary phase if it is common?
Another oddity I found that in terms of Lionel was that NASCAR or items devoted to children were in stock whereas more realistic stuff was not available.
