Email from Trainworx

[peteski]

Interesting info from Pat at Trainworx.

N scale Allocation list

I have had a lot of questions about our N scale allocation list for "LIMITED AVAILABLE NOW" product announcements and I will answer those questions here.

Trainworx distributors and dealers are allocated a percentage of the run based on historical volumes and they are offered their allocation just prior to the announcement of the product.  Only distributors and dealers with a recent purchasing history with Trainworx are offered an allocation, and they have to say YES if they want the allocation or NO if they don't by a specified date.  If you are a dealer who buys your Trainworx items from a distributor then your history is with that distributor and you should understand their terms for these releases and deal with that distributor for Trainworx "LIMITED AVAILABLE NOW" items.

Trainworx also has an allocation for the Trainworx store on the web site and this allocation usually goes very fast.  Just because the product says sold out in the Tainworx store doesn't mean that it is sold out world wide.  There is a large network of reputable Trainworx dealers with these products and the Trainworx store allocation is a small fraction of what is available.

There are individuals on the allocation list for these "LIMITED AVAILABLE NOW" products and this is how you can be on the list. 
1. You have to have a purchase history with Trainworx.
2.  Email me and request to be on the list.
The individual allocation of a particular item is always 1, never more.  If you want more that 1 you will have to get any additional units from your preferred dealer.  There is no discount, we will not undersell our dealers.  You will be sent a PayPal Invoice and the announcement at about the same time, if you get one and not the other always email me right away to see why.  There is no obligation to buy your allocation, and it is easy to be removed from the list, ask or refuse your allocation and I will remove you.

Refused and unclaimed allocations will be redistributed and some will be added to the Trainworx store usually 4 or 5 days after the announcement.  The time and date won't be announced but it won't be a secret either, please feel free to email for details on the time and date.
I refer to email a lot because for the first 48 hours after an announcement it is too crazy to return calls and my other job keeps me away from the phone during the day, I can return emails at hours when it wouldn't be appropriate to call and the response will be quicker.
 
Trainworx Values
Modeler and collector focused.   Our focus is on you and we pride ourselves on great customer service.
Provide value in the items you purchase.  We want to bring you products that you will enjoy and give you more than expected so that you feel they are worth your investment.
Fair and honest.  Every one has equal opportunity to get these models.  We send our email news to everyone at the same time.  You can choose to sign up for the email news letter, reserve on time, sign up for an allocation, buy when something is first released or have your favorite dealer stock our product and get their orders in on time.  You can choose where you get your news, where to buy and when you want to buy.  This is fair, it's your choice.
 
Buyer beware:
Trainworx chooses distributors and dealers that share our values and some of these dealers do sell online or on ebay.  Trainworx dealers are easy to spot since they don't put items up for auction to the highest bidder and they don't inflate the price of the item or shipping.  Trainworx does not tolerate dealers mistreating or taking advantage of customers.  If you suspect that a Trainworx dealer is scalping please let me know and I will be quick to sever this relationship.  If it turns out this dealer buys from a distributor then the distributors allocation will be reduced for future runs.  If you see inflated pricing or auctions from an individual, (not a dealer), it is your choice if you want to buy or not.  Know that it is common for something to say Trainworx but is not, or maybe only part of a package deal is Trainworx.  Know what you are buying, and if you don't know ask.

We appreciate all of you and value the relationships that we've built.  It is truly our pleasure to bring you these models and we thank you for your continued support.

Happy New Year
 
At your service,
Pat Sanders
 http://www.train-worx.com

[sp org div]

Are we to take any of that seriously?
Im still trying to figure out what kind of business model he has
I preordered a crap load of trucks and trailers years ago that have yet to appear but then he throws out an unannounced truck/trailer instead… which apparently hasnt sat well with a number of callers

[mu26aeh]

Are we to take any of that seriously?
Im still trying to figure out what kind of business model he has
I preordered a crap load of trucks and trailers years ago that have yet to appear but then he throws out an unannounced truck/trailer instead… which apparently hasnt sat well with a number of callers

Yes, I was hoping it was a letter giving us a heads up on previous orders.

[CRR Chase]

i wonder why these wonky "preorder" type business models are so common? its unfortunate.

[carlso]

IMHO, they are common because the seller has a financial issue with their manufacturer and attempt, succeeding in some cases, to get the ultimate purchaser, the modeler, to do business the way they want us to. I refuse !

[mu26aeh]

It's simple.  Costs.   Materials, production, shipping, warehousing of said products.  Even companies that don't do pre order to production numbers are not producing hundreds of thousands of units.

[Scottl]

Seeing the manufacturing videos from some companies changed my view of this industry.  It is very much a cottage industry dependent on small scale production and lots of labor.  It bears no resemblance to mass production consumer goods.  I have a lot of sympathy for companies trying to deliver products to the customer while making a living doing so.  I'll buy what I need and hopefully they can stay in business.

I think it is like that restaurant in your community with fantastic food, it is worth the service eccentricities.

[learmoia]

It's a good 'side gig' to keep cash flowing.  Or build capital for future releases..


You have your standard pre-order offerings...

Then you have these limited edition or 'drops' (using the modern terms) that you can set a limited production without worrying about pre-orders... Pre-set allocations out to your distributors/dealers.. Produce the model, and pocket the cash to put towards the next models..

It kinda sucks for us modelers if we want the item... But if it keeps Trainworks going.. 

[kscessandriver]

Are we to take any of that seriously?
Im still trying to figure out what kind of business model he has
I preordered a crap load of trucks and trailers years ago that have yet to appear but then he throws out an unannounced truck/trailer instead… which apparently hasnt sat well with a number of callers

I agree, I probably have $1500 worth of outstanding truck orders from years ago. Not a word on them, but they can do unannounced runs of stuff?

[Point353]

Seems as though by the time I find out about a new Trainworx product that might be of interest to me, then they are all sold out.
Thus far, I have managed to survive without any $70 N scale models of a tractor-trailer:
https://www.train-worx.com/?product=51062-kenworth-k100-with-40-trailer

Since Micro-Trains already makes several styles of trailers, perhaps they ought to consider making matching tractors.
As with some of their other items, they could announce them in advance, take pre-orders and build to that quantity (possibly with some overage).
No need for a "historical volume allocation" or having to find a dealer that shares the manufacturer's "values".
 

[lock4244]

Pat's final product is top notch, makes some of the finest quality freight cars in n scale (looks and operating characteristics) imo. For a part time operation it's pretty impressive what he's brought out. Those VTTX container flats he did (based on the prototype that were rebuilt from Flexivan flats) get me right in the feels... so cool we can get those RTR in n scale. I guess the trailers are a bigger issue than his freight cars in terms of announcement to release date. I've been told there's some 'CN Piggyback' trailers in the pipeline which would be of great interest to me... but nothing announced so I guess I'll be waiting a while.

I do not think there's a perfect business model that exists, but his sure does turn out quality product.

[lock4244]

Seems as though by the time I find out about a new Trainworx product that might be of interest to me, then they are all sold out.
Thus far, I have managed to survive without any $70 N scale models of a tractor-trailer:
https://www.train-worx.com/?product=51062-kenworth-k100-with-40-trailer

Since Micro-Trains already makes several styles of trailers, perhaps they ought to consider making matching tractors.
As with some of their other items, they could announce them in advance, take pre-orders and build to that quantity (possibly with some overage).
No need for a "historical volume allocation" or having to find a dealer that shares the manufacturer's "values".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276265724732?hash=item4052b86b3c:g:RIAAAOSwasJllxEt&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8Mmm6bjMyYOQldJ3sN6jm%2FRCu7R%2BsnscGpJit4p0VpznDe9iOnTKP25B2UM5wKi05OA8%2FXCDyo6RmUgTVn6lEPx%2BPpjAbJOoLxdUp9FMXTyAR1h4XfMbXfzYw0Z9B%2B5wX6p%2FtGJHzFLP1g4rswRy6LiaJcq0yPLoX22u31%2F23rmfnO%2B%2B7Bu7dMVBYJYFij10jtmOsSTuzh14KVLMDBz7Gp6QXm9zaZZa864TQ8QIQYYAVkLFR0pd78hisI9YTERwD4BuZipnffbUp5x2V1s1xN9lKt34HqTtmJF%2FBBRNg0b6qqmvYklgyYKHttqVr6345w%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4K7mPqdYw

$70 seems like a bargain.

[peteski]

Minus all the eBay trackign code:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/276265724732

That seller does not share Pat's "values" and as Pat mentioned "If you see inflated pricing or auctions from an individual, (not a dealer), it is your choice if you want to buy or not.".

I know I've been told this will never happen, but if Pat could produce much larger quantities of those models, if the buyer demand was fulfilled this scalping problem wold be minimized.

[MK]

...and he would make more money.

[basementcalling]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276265724732?hash=item4052b86b3c:g:RIAAAOSwasJllxEt&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8Mmm6bjMyYOQldJ3sN6jm%2FRCu7R%2BsnscGpJit4p0VpznDe9iOnTKP25B2UM5wKi05OA8%2FXCDyo6RmUgTVn6lEPx%2BPpjAbJOoLxdUp9FMXTyAR1h4XfMbXfzYw0Z9B%2B5wX6p%2FtGJHzFLP1g4rswRy6LiaJcq0yPLoX22u31%2F23rmfnO%2B%2B7Bu7dMVBYJYFij10jtmOsSTuzh14KVLMDBz7Gp6QXm9zaZZa864TQ8QIQYYAVkLFR0pd78hisI9YTERwD4BuZipnffbUp5x2V1s1xN9lKt34HqTtmJF%2FBBRNg0b6qqmvYklgyYKHttqVr6345w%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4K7mPqdYw

$70 seems like a bargain.

Note that there were no bids.