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OK, we have been given a limited amount of information that we have been
authorized to share. Now I am a fan first and Ambassador second so I am going
to give you all the nuts and bolts first. After that I am going to break down
each statement as I see it. Finally I am going to present an initial plan for
how we, the fans can influance the fate of 9v trains.
First, what we have been authorized to release.
- LEGO is still finalizing the plan for what they call the LEGO Hobby Train which will be based on the current 9v system.
- LEGO will continue to sell the current 9v system including the train motor, metal tracks and the speed regulator through LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO Brand Retail only, from mid 2006.
- In early 2007 the decision will be made – based on sales performance of the 9v system during the fall of 2006 – if LEGO will continue the 9v System with metal rails after 2007.
- LEGO will release more information about the “LEGO Hobby Train” project in August 2006 at the latest.
OK, so that is what we now know. Now here are my comments.
- I think the 9v line could be in serious jeopardy if we don’t do something before 2007. It is up to us the fans to save the line, we can’t just hope LEGO will save it themselves.
- One clear clue... In early 2007 the decision will be made – based on sales performance of the 9v system during the fall of 2006 So I think our first plan should be to try and make sure fall 2006 numbers are good. Don’t make a run on 9V train stuff now, if at all possible hold off until we have more information. I am trying to find out if we are hurting ourselves by buying now and not waiting until the fall.
- We cannot wait until August to find out what the plan for “LEGO Hobby Train” is. By that point it may be to late.
Now what do we do?
- Don’t go off screaming about how LEGO mislead you in some way. For all we know, at the time previous announcements were made they were giving us the information they felt was correct. It may be that some other factor has changed. It is important that we keep our heads straight and present a solid case for the continuance of the 9v Train system.
- We need to act now. If we wait for more information in order to form a plan and make a case it may be to late.
- I am seriously considering setting up a web site with the sole purpose of making sure the 9v Train system is saved. I really don’t have the time for this now but as I have said, waiting is not going to help at this point. What I need is help developing a plan and presenting that plan. I will volunteer to be the web master for the proposed site which will include discussion boards, story writing capabilities, polls, calendars, links, etc. I may need help with moderators and admins. I will also need help defraying the cost of the site and other expenses related to the cause. For this I will probably set up a Paypal account to support the site and ask for donations.
So are folks willing to help? If I set up a site will folks be willing to add
content that will help make our case?
I will use my Ambassadorship to try and get as much information as I can from
LEGO internally in terms of what it would take for us to make sure the 9v line
continues well into the future. For now we need to take matters into our own
hands as much as possible. There are several other Ambassadors willing to help
with this as well. If we can combine the efforts of the Ambassadors with the
focused effort of the community I hope we can make a difference.
Let me know if you would like to help in this effort. If support is strong
enough I will set up a site dedicated to the cause as quickly as I possibly can.
-Eric Kingsley
LEGO Ambassador
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In lugnet.announce, Eric Kingsley wrote:
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OK, we have been given a limited amount of information that we have been
authorized to share.
|
Eric-
1. Thanks for all your efforts.
2. Count SCLTC in whenever/wherever/however
3. What does “from 2006” mean when you wrote “LEGO will continue to sell the
current 9v system including the train motor, metal tracks and the speed
regulator through LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO Brand Retail only, from mid 2006.“?
Does it mean that come a few months from now, the ONLY planned source of 9V
trains will officiallly be S@H and Brand Retail?
-Ted
SCLTC
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--SNIP--
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Does it mean that come a few months from now, the ONLY planned source
of 9V trains will officiallly be S@H and Brand Retail?
-Ted
SCLTC
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I believe this has been stated elsewhere by Jake.
Tim
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In lugnet.announce, Eric Kingsley wrote:
| |
OK, we have been given a limited amount of information that we have been
authorized to share. Now I am a fan first and Ambassador second so I am
going to give you all the nuts and bolts first. After that I am going to
break down each statement as I see it. Finally I am going to present an
initial plan for how we, the fans can influance the fate of 9v trains.
|
Eric,
First and foremost -- thank you. This gathering and reporting of information is
exactly the sort of thing I that I imagined the Lego Ambassador program would be
useful for. This is also the first time that any ambassador has done something
that makes me feel the program is useful. Again, thank you.
| |
First, what we have been authorized to release.
- LEGO is still finalizing the plan for what they call the LEGO Hobby Train which will be based on the current 9v system.
|
Some guesses: the “hobby train” will be parts sold separate from the motor,
track and other components. This way, the hobby train concept will survive what
i think is the inevitable demise of the 9V line within TLG .
| |
- LEGO will continue to sell the current 9v system including the train motor, metal tracks and the speed regulator through LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO Brand Retail only, from mid 2006.
- In early 2007 the decision will be made – based on sales performance of the 9v system during the fall of 2006 – if LEGO will continue the 9v System with metal rails after 2007.
- LEGO will release more information about the “LEGO Hobby Train” project in August 2006 at the latest.
|
More guesses - the 9V line will not be self-supporting in the face of a new
system that the overwheming majority of customers will want (the new IR train).
Kinda like offering the old gray packs that slowly sold out, Lego will slowly
sell out the remainders of the 9V line.
| |
OK, so that is what we now know. Now here are my comments.
- I think the 9v line could be in serious jeopardy if we don’t do something before 2007. It is up to us the fans to save the line, we can’t just hope LEGO will save it themselves.
- One clear clue... In early 2007 the decision will be made – based on sales performance of the 9v system during the fall of 2006 So I think our first plan should be to try and make sure fall 2006 numbers are good. Don’t make a run on 9V train stuff now, if at all possible hold off until we have more information. I am trying to find out if we are hurting ourselves by buying now and not waiting until the fall.
- We cannot wait until August to find out what the plan for “LEGO Hobby Train” is. By that point it may be to late.
|
It’s not our job to make this work for Lego - if they have decided it won’t --
even if we buy masses of stuff, it won’t fly. If you want to buy parts while
they are available, do so -- but please don’t do so in the hopes that it will
make a difference (my opinion)
Personally, I think the writing is on the wall. The “hobby train” will not be
based on the 9V line as we know it, though it may be compatible with it (as the
IR system uses compatible parts too -- but the motor, track, speed regulators
are history, IMO)
An effort at appeasement will be made by Lego (much like the gray parts packs)
that will distribute the remaining stock of 9V stuff to whoever wants to buy it
through S@H.
Well, at the least, the 9V line had a pretty good run. Fun while it lasted.
Again,thanks to Eric for stepping up and actually being an ambassador that
provided results (even if they were not the results I was personally hoping
for).
--
Thomas Main
thomasmain@charter.net
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In lugnet.announce, Eric Kingsley wrote:
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- In early 2007 the decision will be made – based on sales performance of the 9v system during the fall of 2006 – if LEGO will continue the 9v System with metal rails after 2007.
|
So, is LEGO going to actually have any 9v product available during this time to
accurately guage the performance of said product? Or will it be just the
remains of what they currently have, which most people already have.
It seems to me that it would be unfair to base the future of the 9v line on the
current high speed train (the only full train set currently available), which
IMO is one of the worst train sets ever made.
Also, do they plan on supporting the line at all? I keep hearing about this
so-called lack of interest from retailers and consumers for the train line, but
everytime we do a show, or every time I am at work (at a local toy store) the
only comments I get are along the lines of “I didn’t know LEGO made trains” and
then they buy some...
It seems to me that it is a lack of effort on the part of LEGO, not a lack of
interest. The store that I work for originally started out as a LEGO Train
retailer at the weekend train shows. The only thing keeping them from doing
greater business is that it is next to impossible to get product out of LEGO.
There have not been any full train sets available to them for months now.
Troy
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Eric,
First off - THANK YOU for the news. (Good to see actual Lego discussion is
going on in lugnet.trains.)
My initial thought - on reading this news and the other thread about club
participation - was "How did we get HERE?"
It seemed like there was so much goodwill built up starting way back with
the LEGO Train Summit, the My Own Train series, trains at Target, the
meteoric rise of the LEGO train clubs ("free publicity for LEGO"), realistic
9V engines, JM's Sante Fe cars, the various fests - and now - a questionable
future for the 9V train line.
Based on the responses from the clubs in the other thread - the 9V line
seems to be the backbone of the modern LEGO club. (but I may be wrong as I
don't directly participate in a club.)
If the future of 9V trains depends on Fall 2006 sales, it begs the
question - what is LEGO Hobby Train? New product for late summer/holiday
season?
Has the AFOL input group (signal?) had any input on the Hobby line? Or just
the new IR line?
Bryan
"Eric Kingsley" <kingsley@nelug.org> wrote in message
news:IwyqC4.23u5@lugnet.com...
> [First, what we have been authorized to release.]
>
> + LEGO is still finalizing the plan for what they call the [LEGO Hobby
> Train]
> which will be based on the current 9v system.
> + LEGO will continue to sell the current 9v system including the train
> motor,
> metal tracks and the speed regulator through LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO
> Brand
> Retail only, from mid 2006.
> + In early 2007 the decision will be made - based on sales performance of
> the 9v
> system during the fall of 2006 - if LEGO will continue the 9v System with
> metal rails after 2007.
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In lugnet.trains, Troy Cefaratti wrote:
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In lugnet.announce, Eric Kingsley wrote:
| |
- In early 2007 the decision will be made – based on sales performance of the 9v system during the fall of 2006 – if LEGO will continue the 9v System with metal rails after 2007.
|
So, is LEGO going to actually have any 9v product available during this time
to accurately guage the performance of said product? Or will it be just the
remains of what they currently have, which most people already have.
It seems to me that it would be unfair to base the future of the 9v line on
the current high speed train (the only full train set currently available),
which IMO is one of the worst train sets ever made.
Also, do they plan on supporting the line at all? I keep hearing about this
so-called lack of interest from retailers and consumers for the train line,
but everytime we do a show, or every time I am at work (at a local toy store)
the only comments I get are along the lines of “I didn’t know LEGO made
trains” and then they buy some...
It seems to me that it is a lack of effort on the part of LEGO, not a lack of
interest. The store that I work for originally started out as a LEGO Train
retailer at the weekend train shows. The only thing keeping them from doing
greater business is that it is next to impossible to get product out of LEGO.
There have not been any full train sets available to them for months now.
|
This may depend on your interpretation of hobby train I guess.
I think the purchaser of sets will want the all plastic train and track.
I can’t recall the last train “set” I bought. But I have bought a lot of track,
points, motors, track connectors and wheelsets. After all, the hobby is
designing and building trains isn’t it? Not building Lego train sets.
So perhaps the hobby train supplies will include the aforementioned elements and
not 9v sets. I don’t see lack of 9v sets equivalent to lack of support of the 9v
train hobby.
JB
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In lugnet.trains, John Barnes wrote:
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This may depend on your interpretation of hobby train I guess.
I think the purchaser of sets will want the all plastic train and track.
I can’t recall the last train “set” I bought. But I have bought a lot of
track, points, motors, track connectors and wheelsets. After all, the hobby
is designing and building trains isn’t it? Not building Lego train sets.
So perhaps the hobby train supplies will include the aforementioned elements
and not 9v sets. I don’t see lack of 9v sets equivalent to lack of support of
the 9v train hobby.
JB
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This is perhaps the case for those of us that already have the essentials to
make a LEGO train (track, controler, motor) but it certainly is not what is
required to bring NEW people into the hobby. People at the shows and at the
store all want something that includes everything they need to get started.
Once you get them started, then they will move on to purchase more of the
accessories.
Take this example: A couple weekends ago Cap Toys did a local train show.
There was no club layout at this show, but they had a running train at the sales
table. An older gentleman purchased a high speed train set and some extra
track based on liking what he saw. The follwing Tuesday he called the store and
ordered another box of straight track to be shipped to him so he could fisnish
his “layout”. And the following weekend he drove to the store (probably an hour
drive for him) and bough another car fro his train and a level crossing set. He
left with plans to come back and purchase a Super Chief train.
LEGO finally got the 9v train line to a point where there was a wide enough
product range, there was great club support, and hobby retailers were starting
to take notice. At the Columbus Great Train Expo there were actually TWO
retailers selling LEGO trains. It seems foolish to me that they would abandon
the line at such a point in time where evertying seems to be on the upswing.
But that appears to be exactly what they are doing.
Troy
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In lugnet.trains, Troy Cefaratti wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, John Barnes wrote:
| |
This may depend on your interpretation of hobby train I guess.
I think the purchaser of sets will want the all plastic train and track.
I can’t recall the last train “set” I bought. But I have bought a lot of
track, points, motors, track connectors and wheelsets. After all, the hobby
is designing and building trains isn’t it? Not building Lego train sets.
So perhaps the hobby train supplies will include the aforementioned elements
and not 9v sets. I don’t see lack of 9v sets equivalent to lack of support
of the 9v train hobby.
JB
|
This is perhaps the case for those of us that already have the essentials to
make a LEGO train (track, controler, motor) but it certainly is not what is
required to bring NEW people into the hobby. People at the shows and at the
store all want something that includes everything they need to get started.
Once you get them started, then they will move on to purchase more of the
accessories.
Take this example: A couple weekends ago Cap Toys did a local train show.
There was no club layout at this show, but they had a running train at the
sales table. An older gentleman purchased a high speed train set and some
extra track based on liking what he saw. The follwing Tuesday he called the
store and ordered another box of straight track to be shipped to him so he
could fisnish his “layout”. And the following weekend he drove to the store
(probably an hour drive for him) and bough another car fro his train and a
level crossing set. He left with plans to come back and purchase a Super
Chief train.
LEGO finally got the 9v train line to a point where there was a wide enough
product range, there was great club support, and hobby retailers were
starting to take notice. At the Columbus Great Train Expo there were
actually TWO retailers selling LEGO trains. It seems foolish to me that they
would abandon the line at such a point in time where evertying seems to be on
the upswing. But that appears to be exactly what they are doing.
Troy
|
I can’t disagree with anything you say Troy. With that said I think we have a
decent chance of convincing LEGO to maintain the line if we can all come
together and make our case. One thing I think that has been lost in the last
couple of years is the excitement about LEGO trains on the internet. I remember
hearing stories like yours and others every couple of weeks just a few years
ago. Now those stories are so commonplace we have stopped telling them.
We need to show the excitement we all experiance at our shows on the internet
again. We need to tell our stories. We need to point out that doing train
shows doesn’t just generate interest in LEGO trains but the LEGO brand in
general. People see all these fantastic models and it energizes them to buy
LEGO for their kids, grandkids, friends kids, and maybe even themselves and it
isn’t just trains it is LEGO period.
We all basically have traveling Mini-lands that constantly pop up and energize
and excite folks. That in turn gets them to buy LEGO. We need to find a way to
document and quantify that. The first way to do that is for us to tell our
stories again, show exciting layouts with eyes poping out all over.
I feel like I have recieved enough responses privately to go ahead and set up a
web site. Of course NELUG has a train show this weekend (how ironic is that) so
it may not be until early next week before it is ready. Once it is I would love
to see everyone’s excitement for our hobby show again on the internet like it
did just a few years back.
Think positive and be excited. Doom and gloom won’t get us anywhere at this
point. There will be enough time for that in 2007 if LEGO does indeed cancel
the line.
-Eric Kingsley
LEGO Ambassador
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In lugnet.trains, Eric Kingsley wrote:
(some interesting ideas)
That’s all well and good, and I think a website might be useful but it’s not the
way to prove the line is viable. That requires driving demand. But how?
What are the chances of LEGO enabling all the clubs to sell stuff at shows and
see if the supposed demand we think is there actually is? Not every club would
want to do it, of course but I expect some would. To enable it LEGO would have
to do it “on consignment” so the club wouldn’t get stuck with excess inventory
if it didn’t work, and have to sell to the club for less than retail so there is
some motivation, and would have to do it without a lot of red tape. Fast
turnaround, whatever product is wanted in whatever quantity (within reason) and
no “you have to sell curved track with straight, you have to sell this crappy
set with that good one” like small the retailers used to get hosed with.
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On Thu, 30 Mar 2006, Eric Kingsley wrote:
> [First, what we have been authorized to release.]
> + LEGO will continue to sell the current 9v system including the train motor,
> metal tracks and the speed regulator through LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO Brand
> Retail only, from mid 2006.
Ouch. First TLG, after offering a train set
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/65537
to train/hobby shops, wouldn't actually supply the product, and now is
cutting the smaller stores that have been faithfully carrying trains out
of the loop. A stride forward for vertical integration, perhaps, but not
the sort of thing that's going to give small toy stores warm fuzzies for
TLG.
--
TWS Garrison
http://www.morfydd.net/twsg/
Remove capital letters in address for direct reply.
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In lugnet.trains, Larry Pieniazek wrote:
| |
In lugnet.trains, Eric Kingsley wrote:
(some interesting ideas)
That’s all well and good, and I think a website might be useful but it’s not
the way to prove the line is viable. That requires driving demand. But how?
What are the chances of LEGO enabling all the clubs to sell stuff at shows
and see if the supposed demand we think is there actually is? Not every club
would want to do it, of course but I expect some would. To enable it LEGO
would have to do it “on consignment” so the club wouldn’t get stuck with
excess inventory if it didn’t work, and have to sell to the club for less
than retail so there is some motivation, and would have to do it without a
lot of red tape. Fast turnaround, whatever product is wanted in whatever
quantity (within reason) and no “you have to sell curved track with straight,
you have to sell this crappy set with that good one” like small the retailers
used to get hosed with.
|
You’re getting close to what I’ve thought for a long time, Larry.
Eric, you have some interesting ideas, for sure, and plenty of passion for our
hobby.
Here’s some simplistic opinions that I can share - it’s evident to me that
LEGO’s looking for an out, and they probably should. They’ve kept a fairly
tight exclusivity agreement in force through S@H for a long time, limited
availability, and haven’t tried to grow their 9v train business by lowering
margins and developing a seperate line of exclusive sets for distributors. I’ll
bet that there are plenty of professional entities willing to take over the 9v
train line, and I’m sure they can market it much better that LEGO has. A hobby
train distributor needs to make an offer to buy the rights to the line, and then
market them alongside existing successful products, including through retail
hobby outlets. Train show presence will increase awareness in cooperation with
LTCs, tapping into our existing passionate base of hobbyists. LEGO should be
seeking out those distribution entities before losing more money.
LEGO: Let it go and it will grow. Want to talk more?
Hobby train distributors: Use your experience to distribute and expand the
product line. We’ll buy it, help you market it, develop prototypes and demo
displays, and show you how to increase sales on an annual basis.
Ed
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In lugnet.announce, Eric Kingsley wrote:
| |
First, what we have been authorized to release.
- LEGO is still finalizing the plan for what they call the LEGO Hobby Train which will be based on the current 9v system.
- LEGO will continue to sell the current 9v system including the train motor, metal tracks and the speed regulator through LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO Brand Retail only, from mid 2006.
- In early 2007 the decision will be made – based on sales performance of the 9v system during the fall of 2006 – if LEGO will continue the 9v System with metal rails after 2007.
- LEGO will release more information about the “LEGO Hobby Train” project in August 2006 at the latest.
|
Thank you, Eric, for jumping into this and taking charge.
I feel I have to be missing something, but, Lego is announcing plans for the
hobby train (based on 9V) in August 06 & then deciding whether to continue 9V or
not in early 07? They are giving the hobby train 4 months?
Jonathan
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In lugnet.trains, Jonathan Lopes wrote:
> I feel I have to be missing something, but, Lego is announcing plans for the
> hobby train (based on 9V) in August 06 & then deciding whether to continue 9V
> or not in early 07? They are giving the hobby train 4 months?
Everything I have read indicates that the "hobby train" IS Lego Train Factory.
Lego is focusing in-house train set development on their "play train" line.
"Hobby train" set development is being left to us, the fans, using Lego Train
Factory. Exactly how track 9v motors & track are sold within Lego Train Factory
system is unknown at this time. However, this is not the first time LSAH has
clearanced train motors to reduce overlapping SKUs:
http://news.lugnet.com/trains/?n=25643
Product cycle times are short in the toy industry. The 4-6 month evaluation time
doesn't sound that unreasonable. It looks like Lego Train Factory will be
available through 2007, regardless if it is decided to shift Train Factory
resources to a different Factory after 2007.
Spencer
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> Also, do they plan on supporting the line at all? I keep hearing about this
> so-called lack of interest from retailers and consumers for the train line, but
> everytime we do a show, or every time I am at work (at a local toy store) the
> only comments I get are along the lines of "I didn't know LEGO made trains" and
> then they buy some...
The "lack of interest" is comming mainly from the big box stores like
Toys-R-Us, Wal-Mart, Target etc.
The problems for those stores are:
1.Compared to other toy trains (such as blue track thomas the tank engine
or any of the various wooden train sets or others), LEGO trains are expensive.
2.Compared to most other lego sets, lego trains are expensive
and 3.Unlike pretty much every other toy train which are either battery
operated or unpowered, LEGO trains require plugging into the wall (which
limits the market to kids old enough to play with toys that plug into the
wall and parents willing to buy their kids toys that plug into the wall)
Consumers interested in LEGO (talking the general consumer, not the people
who go to train shows or the line) are more likely to buy something else
(because of the high cost of LEGO trains and also because they require
being plugged into the wall which could be a safety risk for younger kids)
Consumers interested in trains will buy a competing train set
(because of the high cost of LEGO trains and also because they require
being plugged into the wall which could be a safety risk for younger kids)
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In lugnet.trains, Jonathan Wilson wrote:
> Consumers interested in LEGO (talking the general consumer, not the people
> who go to train shows or the line) are more likely to buy something else
> (because of the high cost of LEGO trains and also because they require
> being plugged into the wall which could be a safety risk for younger kids)
> Consumers interested in trains will buy a competing train set
> (because of the high cost of LEGO trains and also because they require
> being plugged into the wall which could be a safety risk for younger kids)
Jonathan-
One sad fact is that some parents don't buy LEGO trains (and LEGO in general)
because they don't want to assemble it and know/believe their child doesn't have
the skill or patience to put it together. (It surprises me how many kids buy
LEGO sets to obtain the assembled model but view the assembly process as a big
negative.)
-Ted
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In lugnet.trains, Bryan Kinkel wrote:
> My initial thought - on reading this news and the other thread about club
> participation - was "How did we get HERE?"
>
> It seemed like there was so much goodwill built up starting way back with
> the LEGO Train Summit, the My Own Train series, trains at Target, the
> meteoric rise of the LEGO train clubs ("free publicity for LEGO"), realistic
> 9V engines, JM's Sante Fe cars, the various fests - and now - a questionable
> future for the 9V train line.
I suspect, despite AFOLs protests to the contrary, the true measurable sales
impact of AFOLs, train shows and the like, is very small in comparison to
mainstream marketing, sales and distribution.
Everything else was the dedication and aspirations of Jake, a train fan at
heart.
Calum
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In lugnet.announce, Eric Kingsley wrote:
| |
OK, we have been given a limited amount of information that we have been
authorized to share. Now I am a fan first and Ambassador second so I am
going to give you all the nuts and bolts first. After that I am going to
break down each statement as I see it. Finally I am going to present an
initial plan for how we, the fans can influance the fate of 9v trains.
First, what we have been authorized to release.
- LEGO is still finalizing the plan for what they call the LEGO Hobby Train which will be based on the current 9v system.
- LEGO will continue to sell the current 9v system including the train motor, metal tracks and the speed regulator through LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO Brand Retail only, from mid 2006.
- In early 2007 the decision will be made – based on sales performance of the 9v system during the fall of 2006 – if LEGO will continue the 9v System with metal rails after 2007.
- LEGO will release more information about the “LEGO Hobby Train” project in August 2006 at the latest.
|
SNIP
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-Eric Kingsley
LEGO Ambassador
|
I’d be a lot less worried if I knew Jake was still working for TLG. It may be
my imagination but it seems like every SAH-exclusive/LEGO-Direct 9V
train-related product that was produced in the last 5-6 years has had Jake’s
fingerprints on it. I don’t think we can underestimate his contribution to
making every one of those products a reality. I wouldn’t be surprised if he
lobbied for each one of them. Does anyone know if the remaining Community
Relations folks (Steve and Jan?) have any passion for trains? I seem to recall
getting the feeling that Brad Justus was personally into trains as well, but I
may be mistaken.
The impression I’ve had from Jake’s previous comments is that the future of the
Hobby Train rests on the success of LEGO Factory. This is a bit scary since I
haven’t seen much buzz and excitement around LEGO Factory so far. Hopefully if
they make the palettes more flexible that will change. Lugnet’s been a little
weird lately so maybe there is a buzz somewhere and I’m just not seeing it.
Does anyone reading this have any excitment with LEGO Factory to point me to or
report?
Regardless, I don’t think we should forget that anything’s possible in the
future. Over the last several years we kept hearing assurances that Mindstorms
wasn’t dead from TLG, but once they revealed NXT they confessed that it was
really only worked on seriously for a year or so. Some form of metal-rail train
product could come back in a few years if TLG gets the urge again. I wouldn’t
rule it out.
Or, of course, maybe things with LEGO Train Factory will take off like
gangbusters and next year TLG will be singing it’s praises in their annual
report.
You never know...
-Paul D.
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In lugnet.trains, Jonathan Wilson wrote:
> 3.Unlike pretty much every other toy train which are either battery
> operated or unpowered, LEGO trains require plugging into the wall (which
> limits the market to kids old enough to play with toys that plug into the
> wall and parents willing to buy their kids toys that plug into the wall)
>
> Consumers interested in LEGO (talking the general consumer, not the people
> who go to train shows or the line) are more likely to buy something else
> (because of the high cost of LEGO trains and also because they require
> being plugged into the wall which could be a safety risk for younger kids)
> Consumers interested in trains will buy a competing train set
> (because of the high cost of LEGO trains and also because they require
> being plugged into the wall which could be a safety risk for younger kids)
Interesting that "plugging in" is veiwed as a negative. Most of the people I
know (myself included) would never buy a battery powered anything if a plug in
version was available. That is the reason I never bought a Mindstorms kit. When
I had saved up for one I found that all the new kits couldn't be plugged in.
That translates as completely useless and undesirable to me. I guess I better
stock up on metal track in the fall when they are gauging sales just in case
they get rid of them.
-Mike Petrucelli
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In lugnet.trains, Calum Tsang wrote:
> I suspect, despite AFOLs protests to the contrary, the true measurable sales
> impact of AFOLs, train shows and the like, is very small in comparison to
> mainstream marketing, sales and distribution.
I tend to agree. I get a lot of the "I didn't know Lego made trains" at train
shows and give them the standard spiel, "Yes, long time, mostly mail order,
etc." We've done shows with a train set or two available for sale (MSRP) and
IIRC have sold a grand total of one. Most (not all) of the shows we do just
don't have that many attendees either, not enough to convince me that the sum
total of public LTC showings generate a significant market for Lego trains.
Steve [GMLTC, but IMO only]
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In lugnet.trains, Paul S. D’Urbano wrote:
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I seem to
recall getting the feeling that Brad Justus was personally into trains as
well, but I may be mistaken.
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You are correct, Brad was a train fan.
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The impression I’ve had from Jake’s previous comments is that the future of
the Hobby Train rests on the success of LEGO Factory. This is a bit scary
since I haven’t seen much buzz and excitement around LEGO Factory so far.
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Same here. They seem to have missed several of their dates and, without the
Jake conduit of information, as far as I know we don’t have any updated
information.
Steve, who really misses Jake
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Eric Kingsley wrote:
> Finally I am going to present an initial plan for
> how we, the fans can influance the fate of 9v trains.
Are you sure that you or any fan can influence the decisions already
made by LEGO?
Another view on this whole "See what the fall sales bring and Lego will
decide further" story is:
Lego moves the sale of metal rails and stuff to S@H, because they can't
sell dead and buried end-of-lifetime-products to the retailers (they
don't want to carry the financial risk of sales).
All this "Buy loads of stuff from S@H at the end of the year, and we
will see if we can continue" is just a load of bull to sell off the
remaining stock fast and without the need to discount. The "decision on
the fate of the system early 2007" is the carrot they wave in your face
- but you'll never reach it. They might decide wether and how to do a
sale of the remaining stock, but nothing more.
There is no place for two train systems within Lego. The birth of the
plastic track is the death of the metal rail. All they do is to minimize
the (their!) costs for this switch, and avoiding discounts on
dead-as-a-parrot[1] product lines is a good way to accomplish that.
Always keep in mind that LEGO's customers are not called Joe, Jack and
Jane. They are called Walmart and TRU. And they've shown time and again
ion the last years what they think of the needs and wants of Joe, Jack
and Jane...
Yours, Christian
[1] As of Monthy Python fame.
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In lugnet.trains, Thomas Garrison wrote:
> On Thu, 30 Mar 2006, Eric Kingsley wrote:
>
> > [First, what we have been authorized to release.]
>
> > + LEGO will continue to sell the current 9v system including the train motor,
> > metal tracks and the speed regulator through LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO Brand
> > Retail only, from mid 2006.
>
> Ouch. First TLG, after offering a train set
> http://guide.lugnet.com/set/65537
> to train/hobby shops, wouldn't actually supply the product, and now is
> cutting the smaller stores that have been faithfully carrying trains out
> of the loop. A stride forward for vertical integration, perhaps, but not
> the sort of thing that's going to give small toy stores warm fuzzies for
> TLG.
Actually buying that product is what finally got me into lego trains. "Steam"
train for under $100.00 is what it took for me to take the plunge.
Damn it :)
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Or, of course, maybe things with LEGO Train Factory will take off like
gangbusters and next year TLG will be singing it’s praises in their annual
report.
You never know...
-Paul D.
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Hrrmpph. If its like their other factories, it will be useless and overpriced.
But if they allow fan designed sets by contest(like the micro stuff) and make
the price point decent($40.00 for an engine, $25.00 for a large bit of rolling
stock, $15 for a small one) then sure as heck will I support that with my
wallet.
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