How are you influenced to make a purchase?

Most all of my purchases are impulsive. If the item attracts me and has a feel and look of quality and seems like it might fit into the layout someday, usually, I buy it. Of course, the price has to be reasonable. I'm no fool. I don't care if I can envision the prospective new acquisition fitting in somewhere at the time I make the purchase because I like to have a whole inventory - a palette - of choices at my finger tips when i do decide to affect the layout with re-do's or further-do's of Moon Township.

FrankM.

P.S. Three groups of items that require no ruminating whatsoever and get speedily acquired are:

+groundcovers by Dennis Brennen.

+groundcovers; foliage; figures from Scenic Express.

+ Figures, horses, & farm wagons/carts from Baker's Railroad Shop.

These photos evidence how lame-brained impulsive I can be. See that stagecoach? I just had to have it. Was it going to fit into my 40's - 60's -ish layout? Heck no. I didn't care. Bought it and figured I'd find a use someday, somehow. Then, it hit me - put all my oddball stuff into a local parade (!) Lordknowz all sort of unique sights get lined-up in parades celebrating whatever. Mine celebrates life in the li'l community possessed of that Main Street the parade has been navigating for years (nobody seems to be moving.)

Call me nutty, it's OK. I'm havin' a good ol' time of it all. My wife calls me "creative," at least.

Most of the time it's based on needs or wants of items that fit into my layout era due to limited space and budget. Sometimes it's impulsive or random, or a good price for an item.

Matt

Over the last month, Ive had a few post deleted for no apparent reason also. I think it is another accident related to the testing of software options by our hosts.  I couldn't use the multi-quote on replies off of page one of this thread either. Each time I M.Q-ed on Pg#1 then continued to P#2, the P#1MQ vanished.

The scary thing is when you talk back to them...

The last few purchases have been diesels... just what I told myself I would not buy....

Popi,

Your cartoon got deleted because of the political nature of the cartoon, much like your repost likely will.

Why can't we leave the politics at the station and just talk about trains?

Jim

I have moved into the less is more stage.  I used to buy what was visually appealing, interesting, just had to have, etc.  Now the focus is on a single road name and the appropriate surrounding areas, scale vs. traditional, not having a bunch of stuff on the shelf that will not see the light of day.  Essentially that has reduced my purchases to items that will add to the overall scenic appeal of the layout.  Sorry manufacturers but I think I have enough.  (except for that 44 ton loco being issued soon)

My most likely criteria:

1. Is it scale?
2. Will it operate on O36 track? (I understand that #1 and #2 conflict on many locos and some cars)
3. Is it L&N or was it acquired by L&N?
4. Is it Lionel Legacy? (TMCC will do as a 2nd choice)

The current exception to the above is a MTH F-M C-Liner that I ordered. The C-Liner is my favorite diesel. When it arrives it will be on display and run around Christmas tree is December.

That is the way it works. You cannot do multi-quotes over multiple pages.

As for the train wreck cartoon, it was too political and that's why it was deleted...TWICE. Don't post it again.

On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 is I can do without. 10 being I have to have it NOW! I say it is because of the road and I relate to it.

10 PRR & B&O 7 to 8 ATSF, SP, PRSL, RDG. 6 on down it has to fit my idea of a consist on a train or IT is butt ugly and I love Butt ugly and or I can get it for a song. BTW 0 to -1 is PC and BNSF. they killed two of my faverite roads and should be taken out of the history books.