I wonder who the core set of target customers is for this particular product. Given its cost, I would have thought that it would be serious train folks like the people on this Board. And, I think I speak for all of us in saying that we would gladly pay 50% more for any accessory if it was a quality- built item that would last without any problems for years to come. I would also think that for upper middle-class Dad's who are buying this for their kids at Christmas or for birthday's, they would gladly pay the extra price too.
So, why does Menard's continuously lean into cheap and unreliable designs and materials? I mean really, how hard is it to use metal gears instead of plastic gears, etc. Anybody, rich or poor, who buys one of these accessories and then sees it conk out within a year or so is likely to never buy an accessory from Menard's again. I certainly wouldn't. Don't they get that?
And, what do the kids think of Menard products, when they see this toy just stop working on their layout after a short time. I can tell you what they think, . . . they are really disappointed. Does Menards think that in 10 years, these kids will buy these types of products from Menards? No, they will just be saying, "I remember when my Dad bought me one of these for about $150 on my birthday, and it conked out a year or so later."
Or, perhaps I am wrong, and the target group of customers for this product are actually folks who are looking to buy something cool that day for their kids or layout, and don't really care about the fact that it will be inoperative in a year or so?
I wonder, does the fact that Menard's only makes limited runs of these accessories, and then heavily advertises them, indicate that they are selling these as impulse purchase items at a price point, and they know that they are not going to be able to sell them in any quantity two or three years down the road, when news gets out about their reliability? Make it cheap, sell it quick, and then get out? Is that the business strategy? I just don't know.
My hope is: Menards, please charge more, and built for quality and longevity.
Any thoughts on this?
Mannyrock
