Lantz Hobby / Wholesale Trains....Forum sponsor closing

Closing Announcement

Last day is August 29th

Noon August 29th will be the last day to place an order on the website. Back Orders and Pre-Orders furnished to us on schedule from our vendors through the first week of September will continue to ship as arrived with all services to be discontinued as of Septmember 9th 2016.

After an exhaustive effort to offer the business for sale now for quite some time for merely the cost of it's assets (no real estate) and even though this business can be located anywhere we have been unable to find a buyer in this economy. NYS Regulated health care costs, mandatory minimum wage demands and a list of regulations that never seem to end have made it easy for us to make the decision to retire.

This news came to the OGR team the first week of June.  We didn't announce it since we were honoring our commitment to the Lantz's and the fact that they needed to determine when they were going to make the official announcement....

Thanks,

Alan

Interesting, just looked them up on Google Maps and it looks like they moved into much nicer quarters at some point.  Last time I visited they were in an old building on the SE corner of North Main and Franklin Street.

Or was the mail order always at the 3212 South Main address?

I am going to miss them. The website was very nice. Their extensive selection made shopping easy.

PLCProf posted:

Interesting, just looked them up on Google Maps and it looks like they moved into much nicer quarters at some point.  Last time I visited they were in an old building on the SE corner of North Main and Franklin Street.

Or was the mail order always at the 3212 South Main address?

It is sad they are closing. Having been to both locations I can't say the newer one was nicer but it was slightly more convenient being right off the xpressway. I found it odd that none the merchandise in the second location had prices marked on them and little of the items shown on their website could be found there. Maybe they did store a lot off site but it didn't help much if you were expecting to find a particular item.

Pete

That is a shame as I used them many times in the past. I wish them all the best.

I too, knew this was in the works and was asked not to say anything - so I didn't. Lantz's always treated me right. Their website seemed to confuse some, but it was quite simple: If an item said "in stock" it was in the store. "Available" meant it was available from the distributor network and could be in the store, sometimes in a couple days or a week. This was never any problem for me.

And for all the grumbles we have read here about shipping schedules and delays... remember this effects dealers too. They hear the complaints first hand as if it is their fault.

Before they moved to their current location, they were in a smaller space, but a very high traffic area with good visibility. Folks knew it was a train shop, but whether they went there was another story. Despite good visibility and local TV advertising, most of their business was mail order.

This is not doom and gloom, but it is a sign of the times folks. The hobby has gotten more diverse (and expensive) making it nearly impossible for anyone but the biggest of the dealers to stock everything. Dealers figure out very quickly what sells and what doesn't - and don't stock what doesn't move out the door. Most folks don't realize it, but product that sits unsold on dealers shelves for a few months, loses money for the dealer.

While I would have been happy to see a new owner, I can't say that I am surprised by the news. The train retail business is not an easy business to be in, and it's continually getting harder.

My LHS is in a big, upscale shopping area but not really very noticeable. He has been in the business a long time and carries a lot of RC stuff plus models, paints and kid's toys. It amazes me the inventory he carries including high priced Lionel and MTH. There is lots of  O, HO and N. I was looking at his scenic materials yesterday-Wow, trees and weeds are expensive.

Over the years I have ordered a number of items (engines, rolling stock, control units, etc.) and never a "glitch" in delivery or quality. So sorry to see this happen.

"...even though this business can be located anywhere we have been unable to find a buyer in this economy. NYS Regulated health care costs, mandatory minimum wage demands and a list of regulations that never seem to end have made it easy for us to make the decision to retire."

This portion of their announcement says a lot to me.  I think it's a very honest and forthright explanation.  I also tend to think it's the sort of small business closure rationale that people either don't want to hear, or deny its impact as simply political subterfuge.   

But since we, the people, have chosen this path, we must be accepting of its consequences.  

Caboose Hobbies.....Lantz/Wholesale..et al.......   Gonna miss all of you.  Glad you were here for us in better days.

I have purchased trains, atlas track, z stuff and never had a problem, very polite when I called to place an order.  Sorry to see this happen.  Enjoy retirement

Mike

Sad to hear.

When everyone else was sold out on new products, they always seemed to have the item and at a fair price.

S.

I will greatly miss dealing with them.  They always had good stock and prices.  A pleasant experience whenever I had to call, plus they were great on any follow ups to orders if anything was in question. 

Wishing you guys the best

Lantz faces the exact same problems every small biz is going through. Cost of all types heading for the sky.  I have a number of friends with small businesses in the same situation.

There was a post earlier about how people had problems with getting actual shipping costs and there were problems with people being charged restocking fees for items that were never in stock after cancelling orders.

Is it too huge of a risk to order from them?

Andrew

Who is going to purchase all of their remaining stock?

Andrew

falconservice posted:

There was a post earlier about how people had problems with getting actual shipping costs and there were problems with people being charged restocking fees for items that were never in stock after cancelling orders.

Is it too huge of a risk to order from them?

Andrew

They did that to me...once! I placed an order online while having one of their sales people on the phone at the same time being guaranteed that the item I ordered was in his hand. But it never arrived...it was back ordered.

So I was charged a restocking fee for an item they never had in stock...and for an item I know that the manufacturer (Aristo-Craft) didn't have in stock.

Maybe if they took better care of their mail order/ online customers someone may have bought the business? 

PLCProf posted:

Interesting, just looked them up on Google Maps and it looks like they moved into much nicer quarters at some point.  Last time I visited they were in an old building on the SE corner of North Main and Franklin Street.

Or was the mail order always at the 3212 South Main address?

Moved to new location in former moose lodge. Just off rte 17/86. easy  access .

there was an interesting article or regulation vs economic growth since 1950 in Forbes...rthe amount of federal regulation has grown 1,700% since 1950.

A lot of us don't want to go back and live in 1950.
Now that this thread has turned political, and also badmouths Lantz Hobby / Wholesale Trains, maybe the moderators will delete it.