Does the Forum Influence Your Equipment Purchases?

Ditto...  

- Mike

Nothing beats actual hands on experience; I'm interested in factual commentary, either positive or negative. It's then up to me to decide if that particular product is right for me.

So far I have mostly purchased older items.  The forum helps me confirm if a particular item is a good choice with a good track record. And I know I am not the only one following a particular path, like conventional power.

Yes, although I generally do my own research about what models to buy and any extra parts I source for lighting/smoke/sound improvements or repairs. The hands-on experience of other Forum members and innovations/advice by the likes of Gunrunner John and Alex M. is particularly valuable, quite apart from the regular postings from Lionel staff.

Only when some Goofball like Passenger Train Collector puts together something like a Yellow War Bonnet!

Most definitely.  I've come to trust well written forum reviews, especially when they are corroborated as others chime in.  I've purchased a number of great locos from the Sell forum also, and at very reasonable prices!  Seeing folks post pictures of their acquisitions on their layouts is also very powerful.  A primary influence of train purchases for me are the prototypical train videos.

Rich 

This forum has not only influenced my buying decisions; it has been an invaluable resource of great repair, scenic and technical information. As a result the forum has saved me time and money building my layout. The forum is also loaded with useful user reviews and info on where to find odd hard to find items. Without forum sponsors, advertisers and subscribers there would be no OGR forum. This is why I encourage everyone to support OGR and subscribe to their magazine.

Yes, I have bought three items from posters, and, although late to the party, managed to glom two of the cars put out by the Northen Michigan Club (in a timely manner, as

I had recently made a vacation tour, chasing RR and mining history,  of the Upper Peninsula).  I continue to be warned away from the electronic stuff, which seems unable to achieve the durability still possessed by the very aged analog TV's I finally got rid of (for better pictures).  I hear about items, such as the forthcoming boxcab

electric, on here.  Just curious, unless, like the guy on Maui, I can figure out a use

for it as a mining loco.  I am generallly a contrarian, with a set theme, so the latest

and greatest effects only a yawn. But, if in the unlikely event that it IS new and different......

Yes, when there is a real bargain on the For Sale section of the Forum.

Yes, more so than any RR magazine available.

Thru this forum I was "convinced" to get DCS and TMCC, enabling my engines to run smoother/slower.  Thru feedback from forumites, I was able to snag 3 great Williams brass steam engines and install PS2 in them.  Testimonials about the quality of Ross switches and subsequently buying them has made my model railroading a pleasure, zero derailments due to switch issues ("pilot error" on my part is still the biggest issue).

Now if we can make it possible for us to be able to place our hands on the monitor and absorb things like making great scenery I'll be all set

only when there is a good buy on the 4-sale thread

I love and hate OGR...

I love it because there are so many great knowledgeable and friendly people who help each other and share the same passion for our hobby...

I hate it because it introduced me to the VL BB and I had to have them...

Brian:

This forum has absolutely no influence on my purchasing decision.  The only criteria that drives my purchasing decisions are:

• The motive power has to be Great Northern and Northern Pacific as they would have operated in 1953.
• The rolling stock has to be representative of what Great Northern and Northern Pacific would have hauled in 1953.

This has managed to keep me very focused on my purchasing decisions in both HO and O scale, and almost always ensures that I do not make impulse purchasing decisions. 

I would further add that I have NEVER paid any deposit to reserve any piece of motive power and equipment.  I have pre-ordered only from 3rd Rail, and only because they do not require a deposit.

Regards,

GNNPNUT

"Would you agree with me that the Forum does have an influence on your purchases? It will be interesting to learn what you have to say about this."

Not. Nor do I place much credence in most Internet "user reviews," either positive or negative. What influences my purchases is a manufacturers' current customer support practices (such as parts, warranty, & service availability).

"The Internet ain't what it used to be."  - Benjamin Franklin

PTC/Brian,

I can't buy much these days, however, I enjoy the product evaluations that some members post. (the ones not destroyed by the Moderator). There are days that the forum brings back memories of the way things used to be. I enjoy reading about the laughter and tears that toy train memories invoke.

Nothing I read on the forum regarding products influences my buying decisions.   Product quality and reliability, customer service, and parts availability do, however, greatly influence my buying decisions. 

Yes, definitely, although I am in to mostly PW Lionel. The issues with the newer locos with all the electronics has warned m away from them. Still feel burned by the death of a $1200 laptop a year old that wasn't worth repairing. That said, I value forum input more than magazine reviews. I have mad several nice purchases on the forum with two pending and I hope that continues. The advice from members for service and repair is very useful and valuable. Thank you all.

I agree, I sure do listen to the combined hundreds of years of experience from my trusted OGR friends.  Perfect example is a high-water K-Line RS-3.

Thanks,

Mario

Yes.....recently it has cost me!!!!

I will not call them out here......I have plans......but after someone posted a photo in the weekend photo thread of certain items.....I had to have them too.....and went on a spree  of finding and buying similar items.......I had not thought about them previously.......

On an occasion yes but for the most part no. I buy what I think will go with the direction I am modeling. I look for engines or rolling stock that have never been made before. My engine purchases are limited to such as South Buffalo switcher done by MTH and waiting for Lionel's versions, Freight cars are the scale ones from Lionel. Auto racks and Hy cubes so far............Paul

When this original thread started back in mid-January I thought to myself, "no". But then I bought my my first LionChief Plus Locomotive, due in great part to all the positive comments about LC+ that had been made on the forum, and then I bought some B&O passenger cars in the "For Sale" sub-forum.

I think there is something subliminal going on here...a reduction of "cognitive dissonance" is what I think the marketing experts call it. We're being subtlety influenced, whether we realize it or not.

Yes, You can learn a lot from reading this forum about the pros and cons of a product.

We can say just about anything we want about a product.

We needed a new transformer to power our 2015 Christmas layout under construction. Elizabeth asked me what "train related" gift I would like for my Birthday (she knows me well). It was a no-brainier, after reading all of the positive comments on the OGR Forum about Lionel's ZW-L, this was the perfect gift. It definitely lives up to it's reputation. Nicest transformer I have ever used in every respect.

My guess after reading all of the comments posted here is the vast majority of us are in one way or another influenced in our purchase decisions by what we see and read on the OGR Forum. And that is a very good thing as it supports our advertisers who help make this Forum happen.

For me, this forum is one of my most trusted resources when buying layout related items. The biggest influence that the forum has had on me is scenery related stuff.  Whether it be techniques or supplies, I have learned a lot on this forum.  Thanks for the help!

I also got forced into purchasing an MTH RS-3, and it wasn't even in my chosen road name. A valued forum member kept posting pictures and well...I just couldn't help it. I am really glad I have it though, it's become one of my favorite engines, runs great, sounds great and as it turned out even has a smoke unit that was not clear that it had from the product info and features listed on the box. Although it wasn't a typical 'smoke you out' MTH unit (only single element) it was another pleasant surprise after getting the engine.

This forum helped rope me into the Atlas CZ cars.

I also don't think I would have started buying the MTH 2-rail diesels without all the feedback on this site.

So... YES!

Yes, both ways.

Sometimes I have bought items after I have found of their existence in this forum, such as Menards buildings. Other times I have read about the experiences of others here, and have passed on an item under consideration.

Alex

PS. Good topic, Brian!

Brian,

   OK I got to admit in the case of the ZW-L, the guys here on the OGR have influenced me into wanting one, even though I already own 2 original 250 ZW's, 2, 275 ZW's a Z4K and 2 KW's for my different power stations.   You guys are definitely corrupting me into purchasing one of these beautiful ZW-L's and when I finally purchase one, I am telling my better half, it was all your fault.  You and Lee both with his Super Streets corrupting influence, you guys should be put on the Lionel & who ever makes Super Streets company pay rolls.  You guys are probably major stock holders in these companies anyway.  Heck Lee probably owns Super Streets out right.

PCRR/Dave

yes,,,sometimes I see an engine or car ,and go wow,,gotta have that,and off I go!!! 

Oh yeah most definitely my purchases  in all areas of train items have been influenced by this forum. Perhaps if not for this forum I might have also gotten bored and moved on to some other hobby, who knows. So I owe a big Thank you to everyone here for keeping me interested and happy.

The forum is information. It influences me both ways: to buy and not to buy.

It has to influence buying decisions by bringing attention to advertisers/sellers that we may be unfamiliar with and at the same time introducing us to new products from suppliers that we already know and deal with.

How did I miss this topic last January?  It certainly rings a bell with me.  YES!  I'm quite influenced by what other forum members write and I often adjust my purchases accordingly.  Now, I have definite ideas as to what types of trains that I buy, based on the name of the railroad, the era and my personal choice, but when Eric or Lee or others run a "road test" of a new item, I "eat that up" and factor in their findings. 

Sometimes, one of your ideas about how to operate, types of trains to run, ideas on scenery, etc. get my (comparatively slow) mind thinking and I have added a whole concept to my layout based on some new idea or other.  Also, if I read a negative report about a new product or a bad experience that someone has had with a supplier, these factors certainly enter into my buying decisions, too.

So, again, the answer is yes, I do like to read what all of you guys do say about products and services for our hobby.

Paul Fischer

yes! IF it wasn't for this forum, I would have NOT known about these!

Like they said on the other thread, IT goes with my Third Rail TOT!

Mainly in two respects: If I were to see something I liked, and information (either positive or negative) regarding an item.

Simon

The forum has influenced me as to the latest bargains on the internet and also the how to step by step instructions on repairs and revisions. Definitely makes the hobby more rewarding.

It's just another (but respected) data point that I use when making "buy" decisions.  Or, if I'm on the fence as to which version of a product to buy, I'll pose a question and see what the experienced members have to say about it.  But, I'd never buy just because some on the forum have gushed about a product.

Only insofar as I have bought two engines *from* forum members.  My priorities for purchases depend on roadname, size, manufacturer, and cost--other considerations are essentially irrelvant to me.

Forum members experience can be helpful either to buy or buy with "eyes wide open".  For example I might really like a car or engine but maybe car trucks are fragile and prone to breakage, or gear train is all plastic so maybe engine should not be run much lest gears break or comes off shaft. Same for accessories, belt breakage, motor burnout or vendor does not/will not carry replacement parts, making it a layout "shelf queen", and operated very sparingly.

I have to say NO it does not. I enjoy the forum, but when it comes down to me spending my money on trains, I kind of know what I want and how much I will spend.

 I will try to get some feed back on problems that members are having, But it really has no effect on what I buy.