Would a 20-25% increase in the cost new trains stop you from buying?

it already has.  I basically am happy with what I have and a few special items I would love to have are completely out of my price range.  

nothing I can do about it.  

mikeg

All the current blustering and posturing regarding tariffs is just that. Someone will have to eventually blink and there will be some sort of compromise. There is TOO much at stake to do otherwise.

Lionel just did this in S scale. They had a new Legacy Berkshire in the 2018 catalog but cancelled it after the orders were in. Apparently the supplier could/would not deliver at the negotiated price. It was recataloged in 2019 Book 2 at a 20% price increase. I ordered one and have not seen any indication that others are also not ordering at the higher price.

Tinplate Art posted:

All the current blustering and posturing regarding tariffs is just that. Someone will have to eventually blink and there will be some sort of compromise. There is TOO much at stake to do otherwise.

I believe that's what they said just before World War I.

AmFlyer posted:

Lionel just did this in S scale. They had a new Legacy Berkshire in the 2018 catalog but cancelled it after the orders were in. Apparently the supplier could/would not deliver at the negotiated price. It was recataloged in 2019 Book 2 at a 20% price increase. I ordered one and have not seen any indication that others are also not ordering at the higher price.

I've always felt the Flyer Legacy Berk, based on the CAD drawings Dave supplied, would be about an $800 locomotive.  It appears to be so much more than just a modified FlyerChief Berk.  So the price increase from $499 to $599 is negligible and the model should still be a good value.

Rusty

I will continue to buy what steam engines I like unless there is a major hike that I don't think I can afford. Every time a new catalog comes out I weigh what the cost is and if I can manage it. In prior years I've cut out a lot because of what I could afford. If this does keep up, it will definitely leave me considering if I need to buy more than what I thought. This new catalog I ordered more than I usually do, but I'm also making quite a bit more than I was last year. Hopefully the nonsense will end and things can get to reasonable.

If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

The current price is why I haven't moved past any postwar era trains or accessories, so yes definitely

scott.smith posted:

What if you per-ordered at one price and you discovered that your pre-order was now more expensive?

 Scott Smith

Can they do that?

George

Most likely would not order any locomotives above $800, don't need anymore at todays crazy prices anyways.

Like mikeg said, it already has.  My last major purchase was the GGD Silver Meteor.  There's certainly nothing I need and little I want these days.  I do have one more item coming in, a Southern Gondola from Smokey Mountain Model Works that's already paid for and waiting for it to ship.

If GGD offers an Atlantic Coast Line 6-car set I may have to rethink it but I'm done buying more just to say I have it.

Not really a factor for me.

As a postwar / conventional guy my train dollars go into buying PW trains (online and at shows) and maintaining my layout. I buy virtually nothing from the catalogs these days. The exception is an occasional purchase of a Lion Chief Plus (now 2.0) item. If it’s something I really want I’ll get it. But I’m pretty selective now and that’s mostly driven by area of interest, not price.

I haven't been able to afford "new" in years, and still prefer conventional.

That said, those who still buy the latest tech will always buy, regardless of the price.

Not a major factor for me, but I can easily understand how it would alter the plans of others. 

This trade war stuff, as mentioned by Professor Chaos above, could end very, very badly.  Not assigning any blame, as there's enough to go around, but hopefully the coolest, most rational, sensible heads will prevail short of the worst possible outcomes.

It is what it is. I will have to watch what I purchase. I believe this thing will work out. I won't lose any sleep over it. Plenty of trains on the secondary market. I have one preorder. I won't let my dealer get stuck with it, unless I have a major disaster.

Absolutely - I buy cause I can afford it but 10% to 25% more, not interested regardless of reason. That's not just for trains but for most other luxuries. I can do without if I have too

Living in Canada, I already pay 35% more than most of you because of the exchange rate, plus taxes and brokerage fees.  Would another 20-25% on top of that have an impact on my purchases?  Yup, you bet.

HO has been getting more of my attention lately because Rapido Trains Inc. is a Canadian company and produces absolutely awesome products for that market.

Gary

We have what we need and more. Our $$$ have shifted from Lionel to MTH and Third Rail due to QC issues. The volume 1 catalog was a dream for N & W/NS devotees like us.

We ordered none and are ordering none from Volume II.

The last 6-9 months have seen us take delivery of and order significant Third Rail products. If Scott’s prices increase 20-30%, we will reduce what we buy.

The world is a complicated place today. We hope that trains can continue to be a major interest. The entire situation is creating a great deal of caution on our part which will result in far less spending overall, not just trains.

That kind of feeling and action can bring things to a halt extremely fast and tend to feed on themselves.

My only concern is that if they get so expensive that they drive more buyers down into "Used" (or just second-owner) territory where I now live, it will drive the prices of TMCC/PS2/PS1(!) locos back up, eliminating some of those tasty bargains. That's not a bad thing for me, really, as I don't buy anything much anymore (I'm full).

I avoid the new stuff mostly because I'm full (see above) and the level of "features" just puts me off. That's not what it's about, in my RR world. The prices are more than they are worth, to me. Have been for a while. For you? Not for me to say. The Lionel problem level seems excessive, too, though I know we don't hear much about things that don't break.   

I've only ever preordered freight cars. So an increase wouldn't bother me at all.

I like scale sized locomotives but the are cost prohibitive to me new. I just wait till a newer version is released and buy the old one (TMCC/PS2 3V) MIB for 50-60% the original cost. I'd never have to worry about 10-25% on top of a $1500 locomotive, because I'd never order one as I can't pay that much for one toy.

As a side note 3 rail trains are toys and non essential. If prices go up buy less or none if you can't afford them. Trains are not necessary to live. You can't eat them or live in them .

I'd like to see a 20-25% increase in QUALITY.

would not pay any prices on new lionel ,strickly post war only

I won't buy a ten dollar cup of coffee.

I won't buy over-priced trains of uncertain quality with a one-year warranty.

Both are peeing money away.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

I have more than I will be able to use but that doesn't curtail the desire for some of the new stuff being produced but prices have already surpassed my spending limits, pretty much halting most purchases of new items.  Menards and some accessory items have been the exception. So additional increases would definitely prevent future purshases.

I have to agree with D500.  There hasn't been very much issued in the last couple of years that I am interested in.  I probably spend half my train-related budget on the OGR "For Sale" Forum.  The members, for the most part, have priced their offerings very reasonably and the quality has always been outstanding.  I would expect these offerings to increase in price somewhat, and I would have to evaluate these purchases on a item by item basis.

I am just personally glad I do not have to purchase any new production O gauge. 

Craignor posted:

I'd like to see a 20-25% increase in QUALITY.

Bingo

I buy very little for my small layout, and I'm not a collector … so, yes, I would continue to buy.

Having said that, I'm still banking on Atlas producing the three engines that I have on order. A 25% price increase in those engines would be a bit hard to swallow, especially in a hobby that where I already question the amount of money I spend on this stuff.

Yes it would, just as it would keep me from buying any other non-essential item which would be impacted by the tariffs.

-Greg

Mr. Trump said that the Chinese will pay the tariffs, not the American people, so I'n not concerned at all.

Get a good laugh now, before this post meets its inevitable demise.

Mallard4468 posted:

Mr. Trump said that the Chinese will pay the tariffs, not the American people, so I'n not concerned at all.

 

That is not at all how tariffs work . 

I don't buy now. I think the price is ridiculous. At $450 for a engine. $75 - $90 + for freight cars. I'll stick with the secondary market. 

I just bought the TMCC B&O Freight set unused For $300 + $25 shipping. There trying to sell it still on line for about $600. I'm happy with my secondary Market items

So No I wouldn't buy.

I don't have brand loyalties...I revelled in different, from most popular, protoypes and choice.  Without that lately, (for several years), there is little to buy, except ,occasionally 3rd Rail and Menards (new choices!)...couldn't care less about "keeping up with Joneses", or latest  "bells and whistles", (how appropriate).  I want what l want, not what the Joneses want, so... price increase is irrelevant...l only have to spend little...even if not my drurthers..

The secondary market is one to consider in the present circumstances.

Jon1443 posted:

The current price is why I haven't moved past any postwar era trains or accessories, so yes definitely

Current price?  If you haven't purchased anything new in 50 years, it can't just be the current price!

Brendan

Probably not with caveats. The primary caveat being how bad do I think I want it. Independent of any trade-war related issues, model train prices have been growing over the years and I still buy trains, I'm just more selective about what I choose and choose less things. There have always been trains that I could never justify the cost of and occassionally there are special items that I will pay a premium for.

Due to changes in my personal life my train budget has gotten smaller. However, even without that I like scale steam locomotives and the prices have driven me out of the new market. I believe 3rd Rail orders for the H10 were approximately $1,450 (not totally sure on that number). That alone is out my price range and if they added an additional 20%? That's another $290. I can afford about a $1K for a steam locomotive if I save up for it. Fortunately, I have almost all of what I need. I still need a Niagara someday.... 

Well, the exchange rate will help offset the tariffs in view of the devaluation of Chinese currency. ( Scott Mann posted about this earlier, expecting the devaluation of Chinese currency which subsequently happened)    We'll see if they jack up their prices in their currency, which will probably happen for new products and new agreements.  Scott seems to think that the burden of the tariffs would be shared and at the 10% rate should be not too much of a hinderance to the O gauge markets.  At 25% it would be a whole new ball game.  Like has been stated already, I would be concerned about quality as much as prices.  Who would be willing to spend more for poorer quality trains?

Bob Delbridge posted:

Like mikeg said, it already has.  My last major purchase was the GGD Silver Meteor.  There's certainly nothing I need and little I want these days.  I do have one more item coming in, a Southern Gondola from Smokey Mountain Model Works that's already paid for and waiting for it to ship.

If GGD offers an Atlantic Coast Line 6-car set I may have to rethink it but I'm done buying more just to say I have it.

bob;

the only thing that would tug on my credit card would be a prr e2c  which is one of the Westinghouse electrics. 

fortunately Scott at ggd decided on e2b electric from ge.  even if he converted, the $2000.00 is prohibitive.  if I could find 2 MTh a unit Baldwin freight motors, for a price I could really afford, I might be tempted to kit bash them.  whether I will or not it's like daydreaming.

mikeg