Marklin Germany officially has notified on March 6, 2009 that many items from the regular line pending from 2008 and many of the 2009 new items, are canceled so they will not- be made.
Please reed (in German only but understandable) the official letter HERE
This includes products from Marklin, Trix, Minitrix, 4MFOR and LGB.
This is funny; they just got LGB and already canceling what have not done yet.
Any way, as we said before, this is just an announcement of the problems that we will face ahead.
The World best collection of products for your Hobby in Model Trains, Marklin Trix Dealers as well as all other European Manufacturers; Static plastic & wooden models, Radio control Airplanes, RC Helicopters, RC Boats, RC Cars, RC Trucks, RC Motorcycles & accessories, spare parts and much more from Traxxas, Kyosho, Tamiya and many others at wholesale prices. Visit us at http://www.micromacromundo.com
Friday, March 6, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
In honor of the truth
We have received notice from Brenda at Marklin Inc. that the decision to discontinue some Starter Sets from the 2009 program was not a Walther's issue but a Marklin GmbH.
Here is copy e-mail we received from Brenda (blue text) answering our concerns about these starter sets being available in Germany:
Dear William,
The factory discontinued the starter sets. We got an email from the factory and we worked with Walther's to get the announcement out to the dealers here.
Perhaps the factory’s sales department hasn’t notified the dealers in Germany yet? That would be strange because Jeff said he saw it mentioned in a German newspaper article.
Anyway, Walther's would never discontinue something on their own. Even if there is an order for one item they will order it if the factory has it.
Hope this clarifies the situation.
Best regards,
Brenda
Here is copy e-mail we received from Brenda (blue text) answering our concerns about these starter sets being available in Germany:
Dear William,
The factory discontinued the starter sets. We got an email from the factory and we worked with Walther's to get the announcement out to the dealers here.
Perhaps the factory’s sales department hasn’t notified the dealers in Germany yet? That would be strange because Jeff said he saw it mentioned in a German newspaper article.
Anyway, Walther's would never discontinue something on their own. Even if there is an order for one item they will order it if the factory has it.
Hope this clarifies the situation.
Best regards,
Brenda
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Marklin cancelling items from 2009 new items program
Marklin announced cancellation of production of some 2009 new items.
It is not clear if the cancellations announced by Walther's refer only to Starter Sets with 110 volts transformers used to be sold in USA only or if the announced products will be completely removed from the new items 2009 program.
If they are removed from Walther's only, then this mean the poor response Dealers had ordering anything trough Walther's and we can guess, that the rest of the program also has not good response from North American Dealers and pre-orders to Walther's are weak.
If these items have been removed from the program at Factory, then this means trouble on the horizon. Today a few Starter sets tomorrow who knows.
The items canceled now are all Starter sets, HO and 1 gauge plus all the starter sets by Minitrix.
Only one starter set by Minitrix was left that uses batteries instead of transformer.
ITEMS REMOVED ARE:
29011
29019
29150
29181
29477
29482
29757
55038
55039
T11127
T11128
T11487
In the troubles Marklin GmbH faces due the bankruptcy procedure, rumors from reliable sources say that Mr. Putta (the Trustee named to handle the bankruptcy) is negotiating with ALL the shipping Companies in Germany to avoid those Companies to seize merchandise sent by Marklin to their Customers in an effort to get paid for the debt that Marklin has with ALL the shippers in Germany.
This is grave. Shipments are being delayed when they are more needed. Marklin has to find a solution to this matter fast or recovery may be in jeopardy.
But this situation also has proven how weak is the stock at Walther's, as many of the most common parts and accessories are not in stock or not in enough quantities.
Rolling stock is imported in very low quantities, so if we [Dealers in USA] need 10 cars, maybe we can get 1 or 2 and all others go to back orders that take for ever.
Marklin will not disappear that's a fact. Someone will take care of the Company. Several entities have advanced interest in the Company including (rumor) Veissmann, the manufacturer of signals, catenary and electronic accessories including digital components and that is a strong industrial power as they also produce other products not related to Hobbies that allow them having the resources needed to take care of the Company.
But what is certain, is the immense list of products that have been discontinued at Marklin GmbH.
Just take a tour at http://www.maerklin.de/produkte/frontend/index.php and type a number 3 only on the search window (this will display all items starting by 3 that are of course all the locomotives) you may also type a 4 for cars.
Check it out, how many red lights are in the results and how many green. Less than 3% is green and those 2009 new items appear with yellow light. It is clear that reduction is profound and that very few items will be left on the regular program or will be reissued under new numbers maybe with new decoders or something like it.
Check number 7 and you will see that half the products for catenary are not available. Why? Maybe because Manufacturer of it (same who makes it for Viessmann) has not been paid, who knows why.
We hope this will be over soon and that we will be able to return to normality as the panic this has caused, made many Customers to place nervous orders of material they maybe do not need, or at least, not in the quantity they have ordered lately.
We will do our best to keep pace with the orders we receive and our stock is well balanced, but as everything in life, it might get a point where there is no more of a particular item. We can not guarantee supply for ever if we can not get shipments from Germany and by now, they are delayed. We ask for patience. This will resolve good.
It is not clear if the cancellations announced by Walther's refer only to Starter Sets with 110 volts transformers used to be sold in USA only or if the announced products will be completely removed from the new items 2009 program.
If they are removed from Walther's only, then this mean the poor response Dealers had ordering anything trough Walther's and we can guess, that the rest of the program also has not good response from North American Dealers and pre-orders to Walther's are weak.
If these items have been removed from the program at Factory, then this means trouble on the horizon. Today a few Starter sets tomorrow who knows.
The items canceled now are all Starter sets, HO and 1 gauge plus all the starter sets by Minitrix.
Only one starter set by Minitrix was left that uses batteries instead of transformer.
ITEMS REMOVED ARE:
29011
29019
29150
29181
29477
29482
29757
55038
55039
T11127
T11128
T11487
In the troubles Marklin GmbH faces due the bankruptcy procedure, rumors from reliable sources say that Mr. Putta (the Trustee named to handle the bankruptcy) is negotiating with ALL the shipping Companies in Germany to avoid those Companies to seize merchandise sent by Marklin to their Customers in an effort to get paid for the debt that Marklin has with ALL the shippers in Germany.
This is grave. Shipments are being delayed when they are more needed. Marklin has to find a solution to this matter fast or recovery may be in jeopardy.
But this situation also has proven how weak is the stock at Walther's, as many of the most common parts and accessories are not in stock or not in enough quantities.
Rolling stock is imported in very low quantities, so if we [Dealers in USA] need 10 cars, maybe we can get 1 or 2 and all others go to back orders that take for ever.
Marklin will not disappear that's a fact. Someone will take care of the Company. Several entities have advanced interest in the Company including (rumor) Veissmann, the manufacturer of signals, catenary and electronic accessories including digital components and that is a strong industrial power as they also produce other products not related to Hobbies that allow them having the resources needed to take care of the Company.
But what is certain, is the immense list of products that have been discontinued at Marklin GmbH.
Just take a tour at http://www.maerklin.de/produkte/frontend/index.php and type a number 3 only on the search window (this will display all items starting by 3 that are of course all the locomotives) you may also type a 4 for cars.
Check it out, how many red lights are in the results and how many green. Less than 3% is green and those 2009 new items appear with yellow light. It is clear that reduction is profound and that very few items will be left on the regular program or will be reissued under new numbers maybe with new decoders or something like it.
Check number 7 and you will see that half the products for catenary are not available. Why? Maybe because Manufacturer of it (same who makes it for Viessmann) has not been paid, who knows why.
We hope this will be over soon and that we will be able to return to normality as the panic this has caused, made many Customers to place nervous orders of material they maybe do not need, or at least, not in the quantity they have ordered lately.
We will do our best to keep pace with the orders we receive and our stock is well balanced, but as everything in life, it might get a point where there is no more of a particular item. We can not guarantee supply for ever if we can not get shipments from Germany and by now, they are delayed. We ask for patience. This will resolve good.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Brawa, Faller, Vollmer, Preiser and 4MFOR new items 2009 published
We have published the new Items 2009 for Brawa, Faller, Vollmer, Preiser and 4MFOR.
From the page of new items, you can navigate to the specific page you look for.
Orders are being taken to assure not only availability and faster shipments but lower price.
We invite you to browse our pages for the latest news on new items.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Walthers lowers prices to Dealers for Marklin, Trix, 4MFOR new items 2009
After we posted our complain for high prices from Walther's to USA Dealers, we have just received the following letter from them:
"February 13Th, 2009
Dear Marklin Dealer:
Given recent dealer feedback on our 2009 Marklin new item pricing and the volatility in exchange rates, Walther's and Märklin GmbH would like to announce that we have reviewed our pricing and have lowered them to close the gap with pricing in Germany.
Attached are updated order forms for each of the new item product groups. Over the course of the next couple of days we will be working to update our system with this new pricing.
Please be sure to get all of your new item orders to Walther's by February 28th., 2009 to earn your early order discount. [added by us: (3% is the discount, same in Germany so this is not any extra advantage)]
We value your business and hope this new pricing addresses some of the issues you have brought to our attention.
Sincerely,
Kevin Copsey
VP of Sales
Walthers"
Well, this is the proof that what we said was correct [Walther's prices are well over 35% to 40% higher than Factories to Dealers in rest of World] and that we had the reason about Walther's returning to their policy of high markups to Dealers, however, the new prices are still not good.
I will recognize that Kevin Copsey is very concerned about all this and that he is trying to do his best, he listens to us but the policies at Walther's is what is wrong. One person can do nothing there.
Walther's has reduced about 10% to 12% the old published Dealer purchase price for new items 2009 but this is still too high compared with the prices in Europe to Dealers there. Starter sets are not included on this reduction and juust a few bucks were discounted, not even worth to mention it.
However, they have announced the prices for LGB and here AGAIN we have the 30 to 36% gap.
Why they don't lower all the rest of regular products in the same percentage, why only new items 2009 from Marklin, Trix and 4MFOR?
We can not trust Walther's and I ask for a campaign to avoid buying ANYTHING from them as all is overpriced.
They tried to sell us at that high price. If it wasn't because we complained and spoke with them, we will still have the original price. This is not right. Why we need to complain to get better price? why they must have these high margin?
Even when I'm on risk to be singled out and even removed from my dealership at Marklin, I will keep fighting against Distributors greedy that only makes our products a lot more expensive and harder to sell.
This year of uncertainty and heavy recession, we can not tolerate this unfair practices that deepens our concerns and possibilities to stay alive in business.
It is not fair either that one person must fight as I do to get a small piece of bread.
Food is for all and must be at the same price and in the same quantity. I agree with scales of prices based in volume of purchases, but the base price must be the same for all.
What Micro Macro Mundo has done since 1994 in benefit of the collectors is well known. Always trying to get the best price and conditions not only for Customers but for our Competitor Dealers that take benefit or our work without any danger or risk on their part.
But this will also end. I'm sick of be getting things for others. From now on, or you join the fight for Factory Direct Sales or you are OUT of my fight, now I'll be fighting for my self only.
This discount will benefit all Dealers, not to us as we do not buy new items at Walther's, so enjoy now and at least have the decency to recognize what we do for you [Dealers]
"February 13Th, 2009
Dear Marklin Dealer:
Given recent dealer feedback on our 2009 Marklin new item pricing and the volatility in exchange rates, Walther's and Märklin GmbH would like to announce that we have reviewed our pricing and have lowered them to close the gap with pricing in Germany.
Attached are updated order forms for each of the new item product groups. Over the course of the next couple of days we will be working to update our system with this new pricing.
Please be sure to get all of your new item orders to Walther's by February 28th., 2009 to earn your early order discount. [added by us: (3% is the discount, same in Germany so this is not any extra advantage)]
We value your business and hope this new pricing addresses some of the issues you have brought to our attention.
Sincerely,
Kevin Copsey
VP of Sales
Walthers"
Well, this is the proof that what we said was correct [Walther's prices are well over 35% to 40% higher than Factories to Dealers in rest of World] and that we had the reason about Walther's returning to their policy of high markups to Dealers, however, the new prices are still not good.
I will recognize that Kevin Copsey is very concerned about all this and that he is trying to do his best, he listens to us but the policies at Walther's is what is wrong. One person can do nothing there.
Walther's has reduced about 10% to 12% the old published Dealer purchase price for new items 2009 but this is still too high compared with the prices in Europe to Dealers there. Starter sets are not included on this reduction and juust a few bucks were discounted, not even worth to mention it.
However, they have announced the prices for LGB and here AGAIN we have the 30 to 36% gap.
Why they don't lower all the rest of regular products in the same percentage, why only new items 2009 from Marklin, Trix and 4MFOR?
We can not trust Walther's and I ask for a campaign to avoid buying ANYTHING from them as all is overpriced.
They tried to sell us at that high price. If it wasn't because we complained and spoke with them, we will still have the original price. This is not right. Why we need to complain to get better price? why they must have these high margin?
Even when I'm on risk to be singled out and even removed from my dealership at Marklin, I will keep fighting against Distributors greedy that only makes our products a lot more expensive and harder to sell.
This year of uncertainty and heavy recession, we can not tolerate this unfair practices that deepens our concerns and possibilities to stay alive in business.
It is not fair either that one person must fight as I do to get a small piece of bread.
Food is for all and must be at the same price and in the same quantity. I agree with scales of prices based in volume of purchases, but the base price must be the same for all.
What Micro Macro Mundo has done since 1994 in benefit of the collectors is well known. Always trying to get the best price and conditions not only for Customers but for our Competitor Dealers that take benefit or our work without any danger or risk on their part.
But this will also end. I'm sick of be getting things for others. From now on, or you join the fight for Factory Direct Sales or you are OUT of my fight, now I'll be fighting for my self only.
This discount will benefit all Dealers, not to us as we do not buy new items at Walther's, so enjoy now and at least have the decency to recognize what we do for you [Dealers]
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Prices for new items 2009 posted
Prices for Marklin, Trix, Minitrix and 4MFOR new items 2009 have been posted.
We have listed the "Retail Price" set by Walther's and our price as "Our Special Sale Price" that is what we will charge you for pre-orders placed NOW until end of February 2009.
The price will be in force if Euro fluctuates between 1.28 and 1.32 per US Dollar.
If Euro goes under 1.28 at release date, then we will recalculate the price at the rate at that time and price will be lowered in US Dollars accordingly. Same will be done in the other way if Euro goes over 1.32 per US Dollar.
We have listed prices for 4MFOR and those are our pre-order prices. We do not have any Retail Price set for those products, so the price you see is the price you will pay (exception made on exchange rates as above explained).
If you have any doubt, we will be happy to give you the price in Euros that is FIX. The price is Euros will not change if Marklin does not change prices.
On September 1st. Marklin has announced an increase on prices across the board, so all items will rise.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Marklin Bankruptcy
Sad news.
On February 3rd. 2009 Marklin GmbH, the owner of Trix, Marklin, 4MFOR and LGB, declared insolvency after a 50 million Euros loan was denied by the Banks in Germany to the Firm based on concerns about many changes too often in the High Management of the Company among others issues.
Based on this, the Company had no choice than file for what is the equivalent to chapter 11 in USA (Bankruptcy protection).
At just 2 days from the opening of the Nuremberg Toy Fair, this news were like a earthquake shaking the Industry, as many other manufacturers are also concerned on the future of the Industry if Marklin disappears.
Employees have been working without being paid for more than one Month, what also made the things worst as unions are pressuring the management (completely ineffective as we have said in many occasions) to take the measures needed to rescue the Firm from imminent total Bankruptcy.
As we said 3 years ago, repeated 2 years ago and also said past year on each Toy Fair, the Management of Marklin GmbH was inadequate, completely uneducated on Train Businesses and what was worst for us, completely ignorant of Global Markets as they are now.
We have the proof in our hands: The meltdown of the market in USA and the deep recession we are in has not been avoided by the rest of the Globe. It is clear that we started this thing in USA and now, is a Global problem.
So why Marklin did not see that they had to take care of their business in exports to other Countries and have a UNIVERSAL price, same conditions for everyone and avoid having "Distributors" that only make the product more expensive without any need and consequently, makes it more difficult for Dealers to sell it and results in lower sales that are the same than lower purchases to Marklin GmbH and end on this bankruptcy?
Because a President that knows about "perfumes" can not understand about Trains (first of all, perfumes are more focused to women than men when Trains are more focused to men than woman), and one export manager that have no idea where each Country is located, how many people live on each Country nor what is the potential of one of the biggest Markets in Earth, the United Sates of North America and Canada.
This individual is the artisan, along with Fred Gates, the ex-president of Marklin Inc. of this mess in USA and the naming of Walther's trains as their Distributor exclusive in USA for Marklin, Trix, 4Mfor and now LGB.
Well, this year, if Dealers are still forced to buy at Walther's, the markup for Dealers compared against what a German Dealer pays in Germany is an average of 40% higher that guess what, will be passed to our Customers.
Is this fair? Is this something that can solve the problems of Marklin or will deepen them as less purchases based on less sales will occur ?
This is what the management of Marklin has not seen and has never liked to ear from me. That they are wrong keeping Distributors in USA that we do not need and that make those huge margins. (Marklin Inc. was also a marker up on an average of 28%)
Same as those CEO's that have taken money from the bailout Government has given to them to only pay them self huge amount in the million of Dollars as bonuses and parties for the worst performance they never had. (see AIG, see Ford, see GM, see anyone you like, all are the same)
So where we go now? TO HELL
I will keep an eye on the latest news to be posted here, but this posting must stay for history:
Marklin GmbH will not survive if does not take measures logical with the actual market. some of them in my opinion are:
1.-Global Pricing
2.-Stop forcing German Dealers to have a Store in Store: they are Marklin Dealers and NOT furniture show rooms.
3.-Open Factory Direct Purchases for any Dealer that likes to buy direct at the same price than German Dealers.
4.- Close Marklin Inc. A waist of money for nothing. (sooner or later it will happen anyway)
5.- Remove all Distributors around the World if they can not sell at the same price Marklin GmbH does to Germans.
6.- Do not force Dealers and Customers to buy set of tons of cars not needed. Better make one car at the time than sets of 20 or that many "trains" with bunch of cars no body wants.
7.- Forget the "collectability" of any item. Since eBay exists, there is no More "collectibles" so why to produce hot items in short quantity. Make them available as many as Dealers order.
8.- Create new items, do not repeat same item again and again just with a new road number.
10.- Fire all those "consultants": that have proven as we predicted, not to have any idea of anything other than huge bills to Marklin.
11.- Fire Fred Gates as "consultant". We do not need a consultant that did what he did in USA.
12.- Met with your Dealers that are they who knows what people want and how to do it and what can be sold and what don't.
13.- Do not compete against the Dealers selling all your products on line or at your own Stores.
14.- Stop Dealers Sales on eBay. This is hard to control I know it, but can be done if you police a little bet more eBay.
15.- Stop the BS of One Time Run when you know you will make them again and again. See 37993 it was supposed to be only 37990, but them came 37991 and later on 37992. Well now we have 37993 and in the future we will see many more of these if you survive.
16.- CALL ME. yes I have been always the fighter against the Goliaths in the Industry, but at least I have proven that I was not wrong.
(Next two points suggested by Mr. Peter Paul and they seems god points for us, so we publish them.)
17.- Make the Märklin catalogs available on their website as pdf's. Costs them nothing extra, it's fabulous marketing, and most people will buy a paper catalog anyway when it's convenient. I know, they earn a few bucks from selling catalogs, but they lose out on a lot of excitement and collector interest. Much modeling is impulse purchases, but with increasing web ordering rather than local shops, digital information is essential.
18.- improve the Märklin website with USEFUL technical information. List the type of motors (Ac/Dc, shield/clock/anchor) in each loco model so you know what components you can use to upgrade heritage pieces onto a digital lay-out, what is compatible with what (and what not), etc.
Numbers say the truth. Marklin may have had more sales in 2008 but were based in forcing Dealers to buy many sets that are still on the shelves and that will revert in less purchases/orders for new items in 2009. Do you want to bet that orders this years will be less than half?
Do not criticize my English. It is not my mother language. Better tell me where it is wrong to correct it.
On February 3rd. 2009 Marklin GmbH, the owner of Trix, Marklin, 4MFOR and LGB, declared insolvency after a 50 million Euros loan was denied by the Banks in Germany to the Firm based on concerns about many changes too often in the High Management of the Company among others issues.
Based on this, the Company had no choice than file for what is the equivalent to chapter 11 in USA (Bankruptcy protection).
At just 2 days from the opening of the Nuremberg Toy Fair, this news were like a earthquake shaking the Industry, as many other manufacturers are also concerned on the future of the Industry if Marklin disappears.
Employees have been working without being paid for more than one Month, what also made the things worst as unions are pressuring the management (completely ineffective as we have said in many occasions) to take the measures needed to rescue the Firm from imminent total Bankruptcy.
As we said 3 years ago, repeated 2 years ago and also said past year on each Toy Fair, the Management of Marklin GmbH was inadequate, completely uneducated on Train Businesses and what was worst for us, completely ignorant of Global Markets as they are now.
We have the proof in our hands: The meltdown of the market in USA and the deep recession we are in has not been avoided by the rest of the Globe. It is clear that we started this thing in USA and now, is a Global problem.
So why Marklin did not see that they had to take care of their business in exports to other Countries and have a UNIVERSAL price, same conditions for everyone and avoid having "Distributors" that only make the product more expensive without any need and consequently, makes it more difficult for Dealers to sell it and results in lower sales that are the same than lower purchases to Marklin GmbH and end on this bankruptcy?
Because a President that knows about "perfumes" can not understand about Trains (first of all, perfumes are more focused to women than men when Trains are more focused to men than woman), and one export manager that have no idea where each Country is located, how many people live on each Country nor what is the potential of one of the biggest Markets in Earth, the United Sates of North America and Canada.
This individual is the artisan, along with Fred Gates, the ex-president of Marklin Inc. of this mess in USA and the naming of Walther's trains as their Distributor exclusive in USA for Marklin, Trix, 4Mfor and now LGB.
Well, this year, if Dealers are still forced to buy at Walther's, the markup for Dealers compared against what a German Dealer pays in Germany is an average of 40% higher that guess what, will be passed to our Customers.
Is this fair? Is this something that can solve the problems of Marklin or will deepen them as less purchases based on less sales will occur ?
This is what the management of Marklin has not seen and has never liked to ear from me. That they are wrong keeping Distributors in USA that we do not need and that make those huge margins. (Marklin Inc. was also a marker up on an average of 28%)
Same as those CEO's that have taken money from the bailout Government has given to them to only pay them self huge amount in the million of Dollars as bonuses and parties for the worst performance they never had. (see AIG, see Ford, see GM, see anyone you like, all are the same)
So where we go now? TO HELL
I will keep an eye on the latest news to be posted here, but this posting must stay for history:
Marklin GmbH will not survive if does not take measures logical with the actual market. some of them in my opinion are:
1.-Global Pricing
2.-Stop forcing German Dealers to have a Store in Store: they are Marklin Dealers and NOT furniture show rooms.
3.-Open Factory Direct Purchases for any Dealer that likes to buy direct at the same price than German Dealers.
4.- Close Marklin Inc. A waist of money for nothing. (sooner or later it will happen anyway)
5.- Remove all Distributors around the World if they can not sell at the same price Marklin GmbH does to Germans.
6.- Do not force Dealers and Customers to buy set of tons of cars not needed. Better make one car at the time than sets of 20 or that many "trains" with bunch of cars no body wants.
7.- Forget the "collectability" of any item. Since eBay exists, there is no More "collectibles" so why to produce hot items in short quantity. Make them available as many as Dealers order.
8.- Create new items, do not repeat same item again and again just with a new road number.
10.- Fire all those "consultants": that have proven as we predicted, not to have any idea of anything other than huge bills to Marklin.
11.- Fire Fred Gates as "consultant". We do not need a consultant that did what he did in USA.
12.- Met with your Dealers that are they who knows what people want and how to do it and what can be sold and what don't.
13.- Do not compete against the Dealers selling all your products on line or at your own Stores.
14.- Stop Dealers Sales on eBay. This is hard to control I know it, but can be done if you police a little bet more eBay.
15.- Stop the BS of One Time Run when you know you will make them again and again. See 37993 it was supposed to be only 37990, but them came 37991 and later on 37992. Well now we have 37993 and in the future we will see many more of these if you survive.
16.- CALL ME. yes I have been always the fighter against the Goliaths in the Industry, but at least I have proven that I was not wrong.
(Next two points suggested by Mr. Peter Paul and they seems god points for us, so we publish them.)
17.- Make the Märklin catalogs available on their website as pdf's. Costs them nothing extra, it's fabulous marketing, and most people will buy a paper catalog anyway when it's convenient. I know, they earn a few bucks from selling catalogs, but they lose out on a lot of excitement and collector interest. Much modeling is impulse purchases, but with increasing web ordering rather than local shops, digital information is essential.
18.- improve the Märklin website with USEFUL technical information. List the type of motors (Ac/Dc, shield/clock/anchor) in each loco model so you know what components you can use to upgrade heritage pieces onto a digital lay-out, what is compatible with what (and what not), etc.
Numbers say the truth. Marklin may have had more sales in 2008 but were based in forcing Dealers to buy many sets that are still on the shelves and that will revert in less purchases/orders for new items in 2009. Do you want to bet that orders this years will be less than half?
Do not criticize my English. It is not my mother language. Better tell me where it is wrong to correct it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)