Success of custom runs

The two or four pack still requires different numbers/names on each car  which makes it 2 or 4 custom runs instead of just one. Assuming no tooling changes to an existing car, maybe custom runs are the future.

Anyone know if there is a 'typical' number of each engine in these custom runs?

I would think cars would have a different requirement than locomotives because of the price of the run being much higher with locos. I have seen numbers in the past and they were not as high as I would have guessed. Again talking no changes being made to an existing product other than paint scheme.

I just read a post from Mr Muffin about Lionel upping the engine requirement from 25 to 40.  That's an investment of at least $20,000 on the hopes that you could sell all of them. I wonder if anyone has explored the idea of putting up the money and partnering with a dealer to split the profits of a run.

Don't know about cars. Interesting subject to be sure.

@GVDobler posted:

I just read a post from Mr Muffin about Lionel upping the engine requirement from 25 to 40.  That's an investment of at least $20,000 on the hopes that you could sell all of them. I wonder if anyone has explored the idea of putting up the money and partnering with a dealer to split the profits of a run.

Don't know about cars. Interesting subject to be sure.

Upping the min from 25-40 could kill a lot of business. 25-30 would have been a reasonable bump.

@TrainBub posted:

Upping the min from 25-40 could kill a lot of business. 25-30 would have been a reasonable bump.

All the dealer customs are BTO anyway.  If they don't make the minimum in preorders, it doesn't get made.

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

All the dealer customs are BTO anyway.  If they don't make the minimum in preorders, it doesn't get made.

Rusty

That’s my point.