Well! Bachmann's new pricing is NOT so great after discount

[C855B]

In this week's TOFC thread we were musing about the alarmingly high MSRPs on the newly announced Bachmann locos. Conclusion then was "don't worry, discounts will bring things in line."

Not so much, it appears.

N Scale Supply listed the SD45 and Berkshire today. Discounted price for the SD45 is $174.30, and the Berk is $230.30. The SD45 is over twice what the Kato is going for. Sound appears to be the main factor, as judging from the DDA40X, sound adds a $55-60 premium to the street price.

Bottom line for me? I don't do sound. Pain threshold exceeded. I'll suffer along quite nicely with the Katos.

[Chris333]

I've seen the Berks for $190 already. I wouldn't pay more than $40 for that SD45 though.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Any hope they retooled the shell? No there is no hope for the poor SD45.

[victor miranda]

I doubt I'll get to 190 for the berk.

victor

[Denver Road Doug]

Not so much, it appears.

Just give it a few weeks, maybe a month or two tops.

[bbussey]

I'll wait to see where MBK prices the items before fretting.

[reinhardtjh]

I've seen the Berks for $190 already. I wouldn't pay more than $40 for that SD45 though.

Who is showing $190 for the Berkshire?  Toy Train Heaven and N Scale Supply are both at $230.

[Chris333]

Posted on Trainboard:
http://www.tophobbytrains.com/search.aspx?find=Pre-Order&log=false&manufacturer=5

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Give it 10 months before Favorite Spot is blowing these out on the bay.

[jpec]

Give it 10 months before Favorite Spot is blowing these out on the bay.

Man, you're spot on with that, Daniel...he puts those Peter Witt trolleys on there several times a week...usually end up going for $40-$50...well below MBK's prices...

Jeff

[sizemore]

The Bachmann 2-6-6-2's w/DCC were ~$190 the 4-8-8-4 EM-1 w/ DCC was $200, and the Berk WITH SOUND is coming in at the $190 to $230 range. Not to bad if you ask me!

How much were LL Berks when new? $130-$170? Then add a sound decoder on top of that, $80? And I wont have to do any work? Seems right on the money if you ask me.

The TOFC and the SD45 are anomalies in the grand scheme. Like the last runs they'll probably linger on the shelf and the bean counters will notice.

The S.

[Albert in N]

My guess is that the big (almost HO scale) knuckle couplers caused the manufacturer's list price huge increase.  Or could it be related to the economy DCC and sound decoders?  Being on a budget, I will stick with Kato locomotives and passenger cars with Micro-Trains freight cars and coupler conversions.   If I ever want to add DCC and sound, at least I have a choice in quality decoders.

[victor miranda]

The Bachmann 2-6-6-2's w/DCC were ~$190 the 4-8-8-4 EM-1 w/ DCC was $200, and the Berk WITH SOUND is coming in at the $190 to $230 range. Not to bad if you ask me!

How much were LL Berks when new? $130-$170? Then add a sound decoder on top of that, $80? And I wont have to do any work? Seems right on the money if you ask me.

The TOFC and the SD45 are anomalies in the grand scheme. Like the last runs they'll probably linger on the shelf and the bean counters will notice.

The S.

I think you and I have a very different idea over the meaning of 'work' here.

To my surprise, I have a bunch of berks, am not sure how they snuck into my basement.
Maybe one day I'll change my mind about them as a class.

Both concepts will pretty much keep me from getting a b-mann berk.
eta: ok from Purchasing new at 190.
If one sneaks in.... I'll dissect it.

miranda

[mmagliaro]

$190 - $230,

LL Berks were high when new.  I didn't buy any of those either.  I found one for $40 at a train show.  Then
I changed out the tender trucks so it would have full pickup on both (which they eventually did on later runs)
and cut a groove for a traction tire so it could actually pull.  It's a fine engine now.  But I did $100+ of work on it,
so $40 was the right price to pay.

Whether this Bachmann is worth $190 will be answered when it comes out.  If it runs perfectly right out of the box,
then I would say "yes".    But "perfectly" is a powerful word.

At the very least,
I wish engine makers should take a tip from auto manufacturers and offer at least 2 versions: loaded and stripped.

Not to worry.... after the engine comes out, Bachmann will eventually make the frames, drivers, and other parts available for sale.  I give Bachmann high marks for this (and I don't give them high marks for very much).

[coosvalley]

,

  Then
I changed out the tender trucks so it would have full pickup on both (which they eventually did on later runs)
and cut a groove for a traction tire so it could actually pull.  It's a fine engine now.  But I did $100+ of work on it,
so $40 was the right price to pay.

That seems like a high cost for adding trucks and a traction tire???????

I wouldn't pay more than $40 for that SD45 though.

Has the dollar de-valued that much?..That still sounds like a lot of $ for a paperweight........Though, they do run great with the Readers Digest GP-35s...