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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, 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.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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