What has become of them? When I try to take a look at their catalog website I keep getting message that they aren't secure and my computer won't connect.
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I was just there .... no problems.
Okay.
Thanks.
I buy from them occasionally - they seem to be there when I look for them.
Walthers is a joke.. Case in point
Bachmann "Empire Builder" train set
Northern 4-8-4 - Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Walthers Part # 160-24009, p. 31 Walthers 2016 N&Z Scale Reference
N scale, $329.00, currently in stock at Walthers
June 2016 sale price is $221.98 (price as of 6/5/16 a $42.00 increase from 2012)
December 2014 sale price was $209.98
March 2014 sale price was $194.98
November 2013 sale price was $189.98
November 2012 sale price was $179.98
The current inflation rate dictates that this set should cost in approximately $ 187.98 (an increase of $ 8.00 in 4 years) Basically Walther's inflation rate is roughly 6 times higher than the Consumer price index for durable goods.
To be more accurate, you should reference Bachmann's published MSRP pricing of this train set through the same timeframe. Unfortunately, sometimes that even changes after Bachmann's annual catalog has been published.
I believe you will find that Walthers' pricing increases are consistent with Bachmann's...the company sourcing the item from and dealing with their long-established China manufacturer. Further, I believe that you would find Walthers' increases through the same 4-year time period consistent with those of other Bachmann distributors of the same Bachmann product(s)...Great Planes, Horizon, Heartland, Stevens, etc., etc., etc..
The cost/price pressures that have caused this in China have been discussed ad nauseum in this forum and in other hobby publications/forums.
I don't think it's fair or reasonable to single out a distributor like Walthers for Bachmann's problems.
And, 'street pricing' has tried to mitigate this rapid rise as best it can, I'm sure.....to the further squeeze on the retailer.
FWIW.
KD
Tom:
I purchase from Walthers a lot. I have their site bookmarked but this time I went to google and typed in Wm. Walthers and then Walthers. In both cases I got https://www.walthers.com/.
It may be your search engine??????
Joe
iTS NOT ACTUALLY WALTHER'S FAULT ...
Wages in China rose from 14% in 2000 to 50% in 2012. The Chinese are raising the price of manufacturing and all the big companies are under pressure, though. Since 2001, hourly manufacturing wages in China have risen by an average of 12% a year. The yuan has risen to an all-time high against a trade-weighted basket of currencies. Also the purchasing power of your dollar has declined in recent years. The national debt is more than $18 trillion. Foreign holders of this debt are always uneasy that the Federal Reserve will allow the dollar's value to decline so U.S. debt repayments will be worth less in their own currency. The Fed's quantitative easing program monetized the debt, artificially strengthening the dollar to keep interest rates low. Now that the program has ended, investors are concerned the dollar could weaken. So basically the entire recession or mini depression that we were experiencing back in 2008 has been prolonged by the Federal Reserve's monetary policies.
So Yes everything is getting more expensive !!!!
However, Im still not going to bring myself to pay $70-$80 for one HO scale passenger car......
