RE: [CBQ] Silver Streak Zephyr

["Charlie Vlk" <cvlk@comcast.net>]

Brian-

No, the marketplace (consumers) have decided that Kato USA HO products don’t sell.   They have done similar  items in HO that sell well in N and observed from the sales figures that their market is not in HO.  They continue to make HO items but sales are a fraction of what they are in N on a item to item basis.

Not every company should be in every market.   Kato, for example, IMHO, should not be in the freight car market because they do not have a production profile / mentality to support numerous releases of many roadnames with a range of roadnumbers.   Their production model is an item release once every few years with perhaps 2 roadnumbers for 6 roadnames.   It is their “way” and their company.   If they had more frequent production they would have gotten around to your pre-72 ATSF SD45s…..it wasn’t because the Kato USA researchers/staff were unaware of the attractiveness of that (and the other 100 that those units could be painted) scheme.

It would be interesting if they decided to tool up the Silver Streak Zephyr as a set (like Fox Valley did with the Hiawatha) and see what the market response would be.   I fear that more people would find reasons not to buy it then would step up to the plate to support it.

Charlie Vlk

 

From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CBQ@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Brian Ehni
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 9:27 AM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Silver Streak Zephyr

 

 

So, based on the HO scale product mix Kato produced and sold, they've decided that HO doesn't sell. There's a self-fulfilling issue for you.

 

I believe Kato has been ill-served by some of their own choices. For example, why no pre-72 ATSF SD45s? 

 

Thanks!
-- 

Brian P. Ehni

 

From: Charlie Vlk <cvlk@comcast.net>
Reply-To: <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, August 7, 2012 9:03 AM
To: <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [CBQ] Silver Streak Zephyr

 

 

Brian-

Having worked for Kato and seen the situation from all sides during my Model Railroad career (manufacturer, wholesale distributor, retail shop, and consumer) I can tell you it isn’t a lack of caring that drives their product mix.

Kato’s HO sales in North America have been a small fraction of what they sell in N for the last twenty years…..especially after the “Kaizaned” RS2 and SD40-2 mechanism redesign  disasters.   I would say that even Model Power outsells Kato, at least at the shops I am familiar with.   The market response to the HO SD80MAC, Business Car, Bilevel Commuter Coaches, F40PH, and SD40/SD38 has not encouraged them to step up their HO production.   N Scalers have voted with their money and won the race.

Charlie Vlk

 

Kato apparently no longer cares about HO, judging by their recent releases.

 

Brian P. Ehni

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