Atlas March Announcements

[sizemore]

BABY ALIVES!

 ;D
The S.

[CBQ Fan]

but you might not be able to be able to buy the products of the steady price compeditor...because they no longer exist. An increasing price suggests that one is looking at their business model, and pricing so that they are not operating in the red or with no money for new tooling that we all bitch for.

I see what you are saying but compare say the street price of the upcoming Atlas U25B Classic model compared to the upcoming Kato Commuter set.  Rehashed reruns of a a decade old model compared to brand new engine and cars.  Everyone rips on Kato for their lack of offering but Atlas adding 10 bucks a month on each new release is off limits here......I understand prices increasing, gas, food etc are going up.  It is not sour grapes on my part as I buy what I want.  But at the current rate of increase an Atlas engine is going to cost $120 more a year from now than it does this month.  Nobody else has this kind of price increase.  I really did not want to get into this again but I don't understand the blinders some have on. ???

[John]

Everyone rips on Kato for their lack of offering but Atlas adding 10 bucks a month on each new release is off limits here....

That's an incorrect statement - while some may not agree with your opinions, you have never been censored that I know of

[bbussey]

... It is not sour grapes on my part as I buy what I want.  But at the current rate of increase an Atlas engine is going to cost $120 more a year from now than it does this month.  Nobody else has this kind of price increase.  I really did not want to get into this again but I don't understand the blinders some have on. ???

It sure sounds like sour grapes, especially when you falsely exaggerate the $10 monthly increase.

No one has blinders on here.  As stated up thread, the price increases are for a reason and not just some arbitrary decision.  If the prices get too high for the market, then the market will dictate that and Atlas will respond accordingly.  Until then, no purpose is served by you repeatedly beating this long dead horse.

[CBQ Fan]

It sure sounds like sour grapes, especially when you falsely exaggerate the $10 monthly increase.

No one has blinders on here.  As stated up thread, the price increases are for a reason and not just some arbitrary decision.  If the prices get too high for the market, then the market will dictate that and Atlas will respond accordingly.  Until then, no purpose is served by you repeatedly beating this long dead horse.

September loco announcement: $114
November loco announcement: $124
January loco announcement: $144

I do stand corrected it is not $10 per month more like $10 per announcement.  My concern is that there is an issue with Atlas that is going to cause them leave the market or be asked to leave the market by lack of sales.  Are you saying there is no limit to the price you would pay for an Atlas engine without major improvements to the product?  Why does Atlas need to raise their prices so more dramatically when the competition doesn't. 

[CBQ Fan]

That's an incorrect statement - while some may not agree with your opinions, you have never been censored that I know of

No I have not been censored here before on this topic.  I was referring to hostile responses to my opionions.  I did not mean to indicate anything regarding moderation.

[John]

No I have not been censored here before on this topic.  I was referring to hostile responses to my opionions.  I did not mean to indicate anything regarding moderation.

Thanks .. just wanted to clear that up .. we very rarely delete posts ..

[CBQ Fan]

Thanks .. just wanted to clear that up .. we very rarely delete posts ..

Sorry for the confusion, I am really not trying to start problems.

[Mark5]

September loco announcement: $114
November loco announcement: $124
January loco announcement: $144

The September loco is the FM trainmaster 1st offered over 10 years ago.
The November loco is an Alco RS-11 (enhanced tooling from the 1980s).
The January loco is the "state of the art " 8-40c/cw - a loco with more detail than older tooling.

I doubt if older tooling will be coming in at the same level as the 8-40C/CW ...

[wcfn100]

I doubt if older tooling will be coming in at the same level as the 8-40C/CW ...

I don't.

If Atlas can ever get a price on the U25Bs in the catalog that were supposed to be announced, we'll have an answer.

The last release of the U25B was in Feb 2008 at a price of $105.  The DASH 8-40C was priced at $110 that same month.  The newest DASH 8 run announced in January is $145.  I won't be a bit surprised if the U25B comes in at $140.

Jason

[wes_sutton]

According to a notice on the Wig Wag site Bluford Shops hoppers have just gone up 21% in one hit.

Personally I don't have a beef with that, a manufacturer charges what feel they have to. Their success or otherwise will be determined by the market.

Just seems that some are being very selective in their criticism.

[tom mann]

Do you guys go grocery shopping or do your wives do that for you while you're in the train room? ;D. Everything costs more these days, not just Atlas trains.

I would love to pay the same for everything as in '99 ... But with my current salary.

[Packer]

I would love to pay the same for everything as in '99 ... But with my current salary.

I wasn't checking prices then cause I was still in grade school Needless to say based on gas alone I would love it too

[bbussey]

September loco announcement: $114
November loco announcement: $124
January loco announcement: $144

I do stand corrected it is not $10 per month more like $10 per announcement.  My concern is that there is an issue with Atlas that is going to cause them leave the market or be asked to leave the market by lack of sales.  Are you saying there is no limit to the price you would pay for an Atlas engine without major improvements to the product?  Why does Atlas need to raise their prices so more dramatically when the competition doesn't. 

First off, what are the engines those announcements refer to and what is the price differential juxtaposed with their prior releases.  Every locomotive that Atlas makes isn't the same price point.  You can't go by what an RS3 would be priced as in April, followed by what an H-16-44 would be priced as in May.  And what about the number of variations being offered on a particular locomotive, and the number of deco schemes, from month to month?  You're not comparing apples to apples.

Second, the issue isn't what I personally would or wouldn't pay for a locomotive, it's what the market would bear in general.  If the sales decline due to the price point, then Atlas will adapt.  To insinuate that the largest N scale locomotive manufacturer would be forced to leave the market because they somehow would refuse to manage their marketing properly is ridiculous.

Third, it depends on the locomotive and what the appeal is.  If Bachmann ever tooled their Virginian EL-C in N scale and offered it decorated for New Haven, I'd gladly pay more for that model than I would an H-16-44. or one of the steamers.

Fourth, you imply that Atlas quality is somehow sub-standard since you state there are no "major improvements" to justify the price increases.  Name another manufacturer's motive power product line that is noticeably superior in quality.  Atlas maintains state-of-the-art quality in its releases - which of course requires regular tooling modifications that you seem unwilling to pay for.  They also offer body variations and paint schemes that no other manufacturer will do, which you also seem unwilling to pay for.

And finally, I think I pointed this out the last time you went down this road - why don't you ask Atlas directly instead of constantly and annoyingly bringing it up here, where no one can give you the answer you seek?

[wcfn100]

Second, the issue isn't what I personally would or wouldn't pay for a locomotive, it's what the market would bear in general.  If the sales decline due to the price point, then Atlas will adapt.

I wonder how many will have to give up the hobby before companies adapt?  Sucks to be those guys, huh?
 

Jason