The Trains are out at Menards

The Warren Ohio store today had an area ready but very few things on the shelf. Christmas trees and decorations out aleeady though.  I had hoped to buy a Starbucks truck there.

The Waukesha WI store also had most of the train shelves filled, though there were some holes for train sets, HO buildings and other merchandise. The other toy shelves were fully stocked. 

Ironically, I was there to pick up two special orders for train stock.

And, yes, all the Christmas decor is out as well.

Hey Scott, Menards online only had buy something for 19.99 and get a free Starbucks truck. Don't know if the sake is still on it was to expire soon...........Paul

Post photos or images here on the forum, please.

paul 2 posted:

Hey Scott, Menards online only had buy something for 19.99 and get a free Starbucks truck. Don't know if the sake is still on it was to expire soon...........Paul

The sales run weekly, Sunday through Saturday. No guessing needed. That goes for the online train specials, too. 

Jim R. posted:

paul 2 posted:

Hey Scott, Menards online only had buy something for 19.99 and get a free Starbucks truck. Don't know if the sake is still on it was to expire soon...........Paul

The sales run weekly, Sunday through Saturday. No guessing needed. That goes for the online train specials, too. 

Right! Unfortunately their site has an old credit card stored and one which I got rid of.  Their site will not allow me to put new info in, reverts to the cancelled card.  I reached out to Menards but their reply was useless.

paul 2 posted:

Hey Scott, Menards online only had buy something for 19.99 and get a free Starbucks truck. Don't know if the sake is still on it was to expire soon...........Paul

on thru 10.13.18

Tried to order last night didn't since trucks didn't show up automatically like they did in the past.

I ordered the Morton & MKT box cars however you have to also order the starbucks trucks separately and when you checkout you get credit for them before your payment.

A bit different and confussing and misleading way to receive a free item.

VistaDomeScott posted:

 Unfortunately their site has an old credit card stored and one which I got rid of.  Their site will not allow me to put new info in, reverts to the cancelled card.  I reached out to Menards but their reply was useless.

You’re right if you’re just trying to do it with the app, but the website isn’t a problem for me.

After reading your response, I went to the Menards app and realized it still had an older credit card stored there in addition to my current card. I clicked around but could find no way to delete the outdated card.

So I went directly to Menards’ website using my Safari browser, clicked on “View account info,” then “payment methods” and then “delete” under the old card. I also had the option of adding a card on this account page.

Did you follow the same steps and still run into trouble?

Looking like Christmas at the Menards in Naperville, Il. The new American Materials is a my list.

Franktrain

I saw only one, it was labeled track side bldg. ? 

I got an advance copy of CTT’s special issue “Christmas and Electric Trains” and saw the Menards ad on the back page with two new offerings among the structures in the ad. The trackside building is nice, but it’s the other new building that caught my attention. But it’s not my place to offer any hints. So, like everyone else, I’ll have to wait for Mark’s hints to find out when it’s close to the release date.

The shelves were filling up at my local Menards when I picked up my new boxcar and free truck, but I didn't pay any attention to the empty spaces. I'll have to go back and hunt for clues.

We are heading to the Warren, Ohio store in a bit for some other stuff, I will certainly check (The train aisle) and report back!! I could be in trouble if the stuff is out!!

Jeff

Still waiting for Meanrd's to open a store near me in western PA.

The Menard's in Warren, Ohio DOES have there train stuff out!! A lot of buildings, not much rolling stock yet. Managed to come home empty handed, would like to have bought some more buildings, but I am just about out of real estate. 

I found something very interesting at my local Menards. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll let everyone have fun guessing what the new products will be.

Got my American Materials tower, paid for it with rebate checks, with some left over, Glendale Heights Illinois.

Man I wish I lived by a Menards! But my wife is happy we don't! LOL I know I can still order on line, but its not the same as seeing it all out on the shelf's!

If like a building at Menards, buy it and then temporarily out a less likeable older building that you already have. Move all the buildings around every year.

Andrew

I went to a Menards earlier this week and they had stuff out and were setting more stuff out.  This year they've got one level of shelving dedicated to the buildings and they were all plugged in, lite up, operating (if applicable), etc.  I thought it was a nice touch.

Steve

Well I guess I need to go to Casey's for a cup of coffee and then to Menards to see if they have put anything new out yet.  I have been stopping every other day since they put out last year's products.  It has become part of my fall ritual to check Menards for new products.  My closest store is less than 10 minutes away and I go by it often so it's not a big deal, but fun.

Art

I have a store 2 miles from the house and I go there all the time. I stop into the train aisle every time just to loo. It's like the gun section at  Fleet Farm, just have to go look.

One thing for sure; you get a great deal on Menards products (and they are nice) but I have a question;  How is it that Menards can sell a metal trucks, box car or rolling stock piece for $19.95 while the other importers price theirs at $50-$90 retail ?  Am I missing something here?

Yes, Menards is a muilti-billion dollar company that makes its money in the home improvement sector, not the model train sector. The products they make are not their bread and butter but a tiny segment of their business.

I went into our local Menards (west side on Madison, WI) and all they had out was 2 short shelves, most last years carry over.  I was disappointed.  I will check later.

Dennis LaGrua posted:

One thing for sure; you get a great deal on Menards products (and they are nice) but I have a question;  How is it that Menards can sell a metal trucks, box car or rolling stock piece for $19.95 while the other importers price theirs at $50-$90 retail ?  Am I missing something here?

Yes you are. Look up "loss leader".

Here's what "my" store (Fox Lake, IL) looked like two days ago. Many starter sets, O and HO buildings, a lot of diecast, and relatively few freight cars. More to come, I'm sure.

Slugger posted:

Dennis LaGrua posted:

One thing for sure; you get a great deal on Menards products (and they are nice) but I have a question;  How is it that Menards can sell a metal trucks, box car or rolling stock piece for $19.95 while the other importers price theirs at $50-$90 retail ?  Am I missing something here?

Yes you are. Look up "loss leader".

Loss leader for what? The term usually means that a store draws people in with low prices on a particular item so that they spend money on more profitable merchandise. 

Anyone who seriously thinks a home improvement chain as large as Menards has to depend on a handful of hobbyists spending $20 to draw in customers to a store doing millions of dollars in sales per location annually needs a lesson in demographics, metrics, data analysis and logic. Plus, most of Menards train sales are online, with a home delivery option for people nowhere near a Menards store. Tell me, how do you attain the goals of a loss leader when you are channeling sales in this manner?

John Menard, the company founder, has been a TCA member for years and has been known as an avid toy train enthusiast forever. He is the brains behind almost all the train products we’re seeing, though with a product development team helping makes ideas a reality.

As to how Menards sells boxcars or other rolling stock for $19.99, the answer is by using mostly existing tooling that has already been cost amortized in China and keeping to realistic profit margins (which Menards still has to do to satisfy its stakeholders). Like Matt said, Menards doesn’t depend on trains as its source of revenue, so a small profit margin works to everyone’s satisfaction.

Well  said Jim, Well said....

Great post Jim! 

Menards isn’t relying on the sale of trains to cover all of its overhead and to support the team of employees like the big train importers.  I’m sure this also keeps the costs down.

Regardless of the profit margin, we should all be grateful that we have access to these reasonably priced new items on a regular basis.

I cringe every time I see a negative post complaining about one thing or another as this could all disappear.

Chris

I have not been over to Menards yet to see if trains are on the shelves. Suppose because York is next week. The last number of buildings they have made have been very interesting, ones that have never been done before. Actually I should say all of buildings made so far have been interesting. It has been stated here how can they make everything so reasonably priced. Car wise there is a lot of tooling in the Orient that is just sitting around not being used. That keeps cost down by not having to design new tooling. And on items like the bridges and the auto transports they built a part of them out of wood. They sell on the internet all year but at Christmas stores stock certain items and if you are lucky enough to have a store near you you can get it shipped free to the store. Plus there is never a cancellation of anything being made and how many manufacturers offer freebies periodically. Plus they back their products and if there is a problem they take care of it, great customer service. Also because as mentioned before they are a not just a train manufacturer so again no high overhead. My opinion they are building a very good niche in the hobby and I think their share of it is getting bigger and making it so families can get into the hobby at reasonable prices. But I still have to say, which I have not said in a while..............Menards, Mark, the production team and Bob (dad) how about a brewery. Even though I am building my own you make one and I will place it on my layout................................Paul

Menards is privately owned, no stake(share)holders.

CSXJOE posted:

Menards is privately owned, no stake(share)holders.

A stakeholder is not strictly a shareholder. 

A stakeholder is any one invested in the company or associated with a company who stands to gain from a company’s success. Yes, Menards has many stakeholders. 

By the way, you can be a shareholder in a privately held company. 

Paul 2 you make some very good points. Those of us gray beards can afford to pay $500 or more for an engine. Young people raising family don't have that kind of $$. But with reasonable prices they can get in the game and hopefully it grows from there. 

On second thought a Menards in my area may not be such a good idea! 🙄 💰

mike g. posted:

Man I wish I lived by a Menards! But my wife is happy we don't! LOL I know I can still order on line, but its not the same as seeing it all out on the shelf's!

Seeing all those buildings, I agree Mike.  I'd go crazy. Roo.

Urghh... Why isn't there a Menards in upstate NY!?!?  I'll gladly give up one of the half dozen home depots or lowe's that are within 20 miles of each other. 

This is a fun time of the year when I can get excited about making some excuse to go to Menards to check out the train items.  I feel lucky to have a Menards in town and a major Menards warehouse just west of town.  I think that might make my Menards receive items faster, but I don't know that for a fact.  I used to go to Home Depot for most things and Menards for just certain things.  Now that order is reversed.  One of the biggest differences is the lumber, Menards has a complete lumber yard.  Home Depot I think has better tools, but also higher prices on everything.

But only Menards has trains.

Art

Add me to the list of those wishing Menards was in our area.

One of my kids went to grad school in Indiana and he used to pick up some rolling stock for me at one of the nearby stores. Unfortunately, he has graduated so no more Menards connection for me!