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Author Topic: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?  (Read 5445 times)

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Kisatchie

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Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« on: July 15, 2014, 12:34:56 PM »
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I was looking at some Kato Illinois Central passenger cars on M B Klein's web page, and I decided to look at some Kato E8 locos to go with them. Well, I was surprised to find they cost only $59.99 each. Wow.


Hmm... Kiz just fell into
a time warp to the 1990s...

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mmagliaro

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2014, 12:46:46 PM »
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I think Kato has simply gotten very good at designing engines so they can produce good models at a lower cost.  Plus, their engines are so much better designed that they assemble more consistently and that means lower production costs and fewer failures and returns.   

They have also had some gaffs where they simply overproduce some models and have to blow them out.
(Remember the fire-sale $20 Mikado mechanisms... that I wish I had bought 50 of???  :facepalm: )

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peteski

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2014, 12:53:45 PM »
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Quote from: mmagliaro on July 15, 2014, 12:46:46 PM

They have also had some gaffs where they simply overproduce some models and have to blow them out.
(Remember the fire-sale $20 Mikado mechanisms... that I wish I had bought 50 of???  :facepalm: )

Or the RDC fire sale for less than the price of its replacement motor!

Kiz, are these a new run of models, or an older-release loco which is being discounted because is is not selling well?  IIRC, last year I bought few Kato CB&Q F3s for short money.
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Kisatchie

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2014, 12:59:47 PM »
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Quote from: peteski on July 15, 2014, 12:53:45 PM
Kiz, are these a new run of models, or an older-release loco which is being discounted because is is not selling well?

I think the locos were just released, to go with the new passenger cars. Besides, M B Klein has more than a dozen of each A units in stock. If they were old stock, they would be sold out by now :)


Hmm... such a great price,
and me with only 38 cents
to my name...

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"It works! It works!"

ryan_wilkerson

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2014, 01:10:03 PM »
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I think it's a combination of tooling that has been in use for a while (ie. paid off) and MBK is also a distributor so they can sell for less. It is nice to see those discounts on new units.
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peteski

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2014, 01:17:13 PM »
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Quote from: Kisatchie on July 15, 2014, 12:59:47 PM
I think the locos were just released, to go with the new passenger cars. Besides, M B Klein has more than a dozen of each A units in stock. If they were old stock, they would be sold out by now :)


The RDCs were only produced once and the deep discount didn't happen til many years later.   Even though they were produced many years earlier, the market was flooded with $29 RDC for a while (last year).  So somehow there was a glut of a very old stock. It also took a while to sell them all.
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keeper

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2014, 01:22:12 PM »
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They are even cheaper than the E8 which were released one or two month ago e.g. the CNW ones. They were $61,99 .

Thomas
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Nato

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2014, 01:34:18 PM »
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 :|      These locomotives might cost more if they were DCC or DCC Sound Equiped, as they are they are DCC Friendly /Ready newer mechnism then earlier runs. A Digaquax (trax) decoder is availabe that drops right in,latest version does not need to be sodered the tabs really keep it in place.                                            Nate Goodman (Nato).
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GimpLizard

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2014, 01:44:33 PM »
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Kiz, if it'll make you feel any better... you can send me $40.00 for each one you buy. That should help alleviate your guilt.  :D
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drgw0579

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #9 on: July 15, 2014, 01:53:14 PM »
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The reason N scale locomotives cost less than the same in HO is simple.

It's not that being less detailed cost that much less or the raw material cost is less, or labor. 

Takes up less space in the container. 

Bill Kepner
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ryan_wilkerson

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2014, 03:57:00 PM »
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When I look at the prices that HO and Z have to pay for locomotives, I'm thankful I'm in N scale!
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Kisatchie

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2014, 04:06:09 PM »
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Quote from: GimpLizard on July 15, 2014, 01:44:33 PM
Kiz, if it'll make you feel any better... you can send me $40.00 for each one you buy. That should help alleviate your guilt.  :D

Now there's an offer I can't accept...  :D


Hmm... unless Gimp Lizard
has relatives in the Mafia...

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

thomasjmdavis

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2014, 04:12:48 PM »
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If you all keep talking about this, someone at Kato may notice and correct the mistake....

Actually, I suspect the pricing is partly that they have discovered they sell a lot more locomotives that way, and for the price of some competitive locos, you can buy a Kato loco with cars.  And do they ever wear out?  I have a Kato made Con-Cor PA that I bought during the Carter administration- it has lasted longer than the ones made by Alco that ATSF sold to the D&H.

That said, if they happen to decide to blow out those modernized ATSF F3s for a price comparable to the RDC fire sale, put me down for 6 or 8.

Tom D.
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sundowner

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #13 on: July 15, 2014, 04:25:30 PM »
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Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?

They make there own stuff in there own factory in Japan. No Chinese factory or middle government man to get in the way.
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flight2000

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Re: Why Are Kato N Scale Locos Priced So Low?
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2014, 04:52:13 PM »
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Kleins isn't the only one doing it...and not just the E8's either.  C44-9W's, SD45's, C30-7's etc, etc, etc...wish they would come down on the SD70ACe and ES44's... :D

http://www.lombardhobby.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=Kato+f3

Cheers,
Brian

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