Lionel LionScale Rolling Stock up for Pre-Order at Nassau Hobby Center!

Thanks Gromet, you beat me to it!

Sales have been great on this new lower priced line!

Don't Forget, besides having the best prices you DON'T have to buy the whole sets, we are breaking them up also!

Charlie, Gromet... I'd be interested to hear a dealer ask someone from Lionel as to the logic behind the pricing of these new scale products. Given the $55 list (average mail order discount $38) for the plastic truck starter set cars and anywhere from $65-$85 for the same kind of cars only with die cast trucks, I just don't understand.

I understand list price is not always the consumer cost, but the list price does determine the discount because the wholesale discount usually works off a percentage of the list. I know Lionel has made changes in their wholesale pricing structure, as well as introducing MAP pricing.

Lionel (and others like MTH) have always maintained that US mainland production will necessitate much higher list prices, which I can understand. The other typical traditional types of US made rolling stock are around $85 list. These new Weaver based LionScale cars are more complex in assembly and production than most traditional cars. And there is no recent tooling purchase cost. Plus whatever costs there are for the die cast trucks and any alterations that may have been made to the trucks or tooling to accommodate the scale 2-rail couplers and trucks.

The only explanation I could offer as a stab in the dark, is that these cars are priced at an introductory cost as this is a new product line, and that prices will be going up next year.

I know I am not the only one wondering why a traditional box car with die cast trucks and sheet metal floor lists for $85 (plastic trucks and frame for $55 made overseas) and these new LionScale cars are $55 made in the USA????

Brian, I think Lionel saw an opertunitity here to introduce a line that customers have been asking for. You can't really compare prices on different lines as the savings are being passed over to you, the consumer. They are making less on this line to better compete and if they sell well, will be greatly expanded. I think it's great that they are doing this bold move. 

Are these packaged as sets or singles per a Lionel box?

Lionel resurrecting the old Weaver molds that they bought. They look nice, that said I still miss the Weaver product line.

Both Michael from what I hear. 

When will they be releasing the LionScale freight cars?

Mike Reagan said at the Legacy Users Group meeting at York it would be January.

Neal Jeter