[Fritz]

I seem to remember LGB doing all sorts of tricks to try to stop Ebay and gray market importing,


Please give a few examples of LGB´s tricks. Fact or fiction? Never heard of this before. In the past LGB, or the European customers seemed to have subsidised the US prices for their material. It was much cheaper in the US than in Europe in most cases.

On the other side, the German Bachman and Aristo importers refuse to do warranty repairs for their products, which were imported directly.
That´s why Bachman / Aristi is much dearer in the shops in Germany than in the US. Or maybe they simply think, the local cows are fatter.

Have Fun

FRitz / Juergen

 

[Fritz]

the two that come to mind are the Ebay items being removed, and issues at customs, with shipments being monitored and held back.


Do you have any evidence, that LGB was involved in the Ebay decisions? Ebay trade terms and decisions are sometimes very difficult to understand.

What happened at the customs? Any licence or copyright issues? Please give details if you accuse a firm of doing tricks.

Have Fun

Fritz / Juergen

 

[Fritz]

Ji,

Well you accused LGB of having used tricks. Don´t know if you want to the offend the Ex-German firm of the Richters or LGBoA. So far you spread rumors but give no evidence.

Regarding the new distribution firm, time will tell, what they´ll have to offer at which price in due time. Märklin LGB mentioned, they will introduce some material for the NA market at the next toy fair in Nünberg.

Have Fun

Fritz / Juergen

 

[Fritz]

it seems to me the cousins were able to put the nails in their own coffins without needing my help.


Hi,

I think it was people like me, which helped to shovel their grave. I simply did not buy their products anymore.
Mainly because they had nothing to offer anymore which suited my taste.

Today we simply design and have our own stuff made. http://www.walliwinsen.de/gartenbahn/
http://www.zoffi.net/MOBAZI/LGB/laserbausaetze/index.htm

I am sure, US customers will be happy, to have a local source for the LGB material again. Over here a few large scale shops had to give up during the long LGB production break.
I doubt, that quality large scale models will become cheaper in the near future. Compared to other scales it is a small market, so it takes much longer to get paid back the higher investments for molds. The mass production market probably will dry out sooner or later.


Have Fun

Fritz / Juergen

 

[Fritz]

As for the cost of the molds and production, I would think they must be going down with CAD/CAM no?


Hi,

just received Luran S samples out of a mold for a new large scale product to be introduced at the next Toy Fair in Nürnberg. To make quality (steel) molds is still rather expensive. Softer material molds are cheaper, but do not last very long. The masters are meanwhile very often developed with the aid of CAD or Rapid Prototyping, which can cut the costs slightly.

Over here the RhB fans are quite happy with the new releases. The postal container waggon just hit the shops before Christmas. Some people still mention issues with quality control od the new mangagement, but I suppose, this will be settled sooner or later.
With the Swiss narrow gauge stuff it is not too complicated. Not very much competion or other makers around. Kiss offer some fine models as well and at least they are in the same scale of 1 : 22,5, representing European Metre gauge. .

The US large scale market seems to be dominated. by 1/29th and 1 / 20,3 models plus some 1 : 32. So the future will tell, if Märklin LGB will get a foot on the ground again in those scales. At the moment they do not even offer track for the 1/29th or 1 /20th fraction of the market. A F3 loco looks kind of funny on overseized Swiss prototype metre gauge track.

Have Fun

Fritz / Juergen