Panic Buying MTH?

I bought a new Big Boy in Union Pacific. Got it from Train World in Brooklyn.

Opened it and Smoke unit failure....Sent it back to MTH to fix.

Come to find out a lot of them are like that........

I agree - panic buying of MTH is running rampant. Have you checked the prices people are asking on our favorite "bay' site ?

They are asking more for dummy engines than prices for Proto 1 engines commanded 6 months ago. 

Looks like I got in at a bad time to start my MTH collection! 

What are the typical prices of P1 engines vs P2 engines? 

I don't buy anything unless I am assured that repair parts will be readily available and inexpensive but I have purchased a couple of NOS K-Line engines for around $100.  At that price point you should be safe.

I only have one BNSF (let's not talk about tha right now) SD70ACe on order from the previous catalog. Nothing from this one, though I'm thinking about a string of Gunderson twin-stacks.

Yup, picked up a Railking E-3 and GS-4 that were on my "someday maybe" list... since there isn't going to be a "someday" now!

You may be looking for a new command system eventually, but I have to say MTH makes a sharp looking product and a retrofit need wouldn't scare me one bit. Im always watching for a good deal on one to convert to conventional for myself too.  Mechanical parts?  Same as a hunt for post war items; no biggie if you're patient.

  I just witnessed far too many of my brothers early dcs stuff die to want to pay for the features I don't want anyhow .(a few grand worth. basically all of it)

I've got my fingers crossed for you folks though 🤞

@AGHRMatt posted:

I only have one BNSF (let's not talk about tha right now) SD70ACe on order from the previous catalog. Nothing from this one, though I'm thinking about a string of Gunderson twin-stacks.

I only have one BNSF

You caved to the Evil one did you...hhhmmmm.

You run pumpkins on The AGHR tracks, do I need to come to So Cal...

I'd still buy MTH  currently Proto 2 or Proto 3, but the 2's have to be at least 3 volts boards as I  don't want those 5v time bombs. They have been very reliable and wouldn't worry about any long term issues.

@John Pignatelli JR. posted:

I only have one BNSF

You caved to the Evil one did you...hhhmmmm.

You run pumpkins on The AGHR tracks, do I need to come to So Cal...

It's actually a little worse than that. It's a stable-mate to the one I bought last October when I yielded to my addiction to SD70ACe diesels. Needless to say I was Impeached as Information Minister and unceremoniously thrown off the Isle of Denial. The boot print from the Deputy Information Minister is still on my uniform trousers.

I have a lifetime supply of locomotives, so there's no panic for me.  If I spotted something I liked, I'd get it, but I'm not really in the market for much right now.

Coincidentally, I bought 3 MTH locomotives this year before the announcement. These were the first new purchases in almost 20 years. 3rd rail will probably be my only source for locomotives in the future. I've ordered from Atlas before, but then they cancel the production.  I'm glad that I made my recent MTH purchases. I'll miss MTH. 

No panic here. I haven’t bought any MTH in years. Between the cancelled orders and/or extreme delays, I quite buying MTH.

Steve

HEY Frieght Train Jim ,

You are absolutely right about the sellers prices on the bay. 🤕

Been going on for quite awhile though not quite as bad as now , I guess.

Many times I've gone for new because the used were way too close in price. 😨

@Andrew-Porter posted:

What are thoughts on buying MTH products now, before they close down?

I admit I panicked, bought an MTH locomotive that I'd been tentatively planning to purchase—because I succumbed to the thought that they might not be available for very long. How large is the inventory on these things, anyway?

Have all I need, so no and  you guys have fun.

@TheGeeker posted:

Looks like I got in at a bad time to start my MTH collection! 

What are the typical prices of P1 engines vs P2 engines? 

IMO, all else being equal, a PS1 engine should sell for no more than about half of a comparable PS2 version, with a minimum difference of $250-300.

@Adriatic posted:

........but I have to say MTH makes a sharp looking product and a retrofit need wouldn't scare me one bit. ......Mechanical parts?  Same as a hunt for post war items; no biggie if you're patient.

 

I suspect lots of folks would say there's an enormous difference between finding parts for Postwar Lionel engines, which are relatively simple and the parts common, and finding them for all the different complicated foreign-made MTH engines with an almost infinite number of different parts, many of which are already unavailable.

I didn't panic buy per say, however... I was planning on buying a set of woodsided coaches when they physically arrived in the stores (I'm not a fan of pre-ordering). When the announcement came out that MTH was closing, I did place a preorder for the cars just in case others panic bought these cars and they sold out before I could make it to my LHS.  

MTH has not produced anything I wanted since the first issue of the 44 tonner.  I really hate to see it go because of decreased competition, not because I buy its products.