|
|
Post by ugeesta on Mar 5, 2024 21:06:42 GMT -5
Rob.
Would AZL be willing to share the number of units produced? The UP Patriot Loco was noted as 50 units for that model. If I recall correctly, the First Run UP Western Pacific was something like 12 units produced.
For our inquiring minds, can you share the numbers of produced units for the Heritage models?
I guess, what is the deciding factor on the quantity of a model run? What is the typical batch size?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Mar 5, 2024 22:16:47 GMT -5
I personally think this is a bad idea. The locomotives are selling out, and AZL made an appropriate, more general comment about limited quantities as they dropped to let you know....get it now, or risk missing out. What else do you really need?
They followed it up with specific numbers, and that's their business. But I think it isn't great for their customers. If you want to release the numbers after the sellout, that is at least somewhat better.
Announcing numbers is just giving a group of speculators ammo to make it even harder for true modelers/collectors/MODEL RAILROADERS that truly enjoy model trains and that really want to buy one of these locos.
If I had the funds to do it, I would buy a handful just to handover at retail cost to guys that missed out like our buddy Tiest. I think he may have found one and hopefully he didn't have to pay too much of a premium.
|
|
|
|
Post by barnegat on Mar 6, 2024 2:39:54 GMT -5
I agree with dazed, let's not give "a group of speculators ammo."
|
|
|
|
Post by ugeesta on Mar 6, 2024 8:36:42 GMT -5
I agree with future releases, don’t want to know about those. I’m more curious on the previous release and the decision behind standard releases. We all know the UP releases go fast typically and I would presume the major railroads are produced in higher quantities due to demand.
Production runs are a double edged sword. Produce too few and it can be considered and opportunity lost. Produce too much, unsold inventory is a financial killer.
Z Scale is a niche market and I know I’m doing y part to keeping AZL profitable. Just looking for a little more info about the product I’m dumping my hard earned money into.
|
|
|
|
Post by dazed on Mar 6, 2024 9:40:17 GMT -5
I agree with future releases, don’t want to know about those. I’m more curious on the previous release and the decision behind standard releases. We all know the UP releases go fast typically and I would presume the major railroads are produced in higher quantities due to demand. Production runs are a double edged sword. Produce too few and it can be considered and opportunity lost. Produce too much, unsold inventory is a financial killer. Z Scale is a niche market and I know I’m doing y part to keeping AZL profitable. Just looking for a little more info about the product I’m dumping my hard earned money into. Yeah, it is reasonable to want to know what goes into the process. I misunderstood that you were wanting the numbers produced for the upcoming UP Heritage models beforehand. Trust me, I would be first in line to know what goes into the decisionmaking, like roadnames and quantities. As you say, UP and BNSF typically sold out immediately with the ES44 and 70ACe releases. But I also know I wouldn't do anything underhanded with the information. And it's no secret about my disappointment with the ES44's not being produced in BNSF's Heritage-II scheme and that will end up being an EIGHT YEAR decision before it's all said and done. So would there have been anything that could have been done to pursuade AZL? Frankly it was such a "guaranteed, must-do" scheme in my mind that I simply didn't know I needed to campaign for it. But if I had, would it have affected the outcome? More recently there have been omissions of schemes, which spawned feedback from modelers, which then appears to have influenced the powers-that-be into adding them. (Oakway SD60s and GRR Ortners, and possibly a few others.) We won't know until they hit the shelves I guess. Maybe AZL can have a "Golden Spike Club" or something like that where they have periodic Zoom sessions to peel back the curtain. They have been surprisingly transparent of late, and I guess we would have to hope the information would make a positive mark to develop excitement for the scale and for the products. (versus, making it harder to get what we want.) |
|
|
|
Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Mar 6, 2024 23:42:33 GMT -5
What we order and what we get does not always add up. We do not usually go out with the numbers since not all will end up being available for sale.
The first run of Heritage units we made about 50 each (SP was 70). This time around the quantity was 60 each.
Based on past sales, the UP Heritage units went fast, while half of the NS Heritage units did not.
Will we rerun if demand is strong? Yes. When? Probably 2-3 years out
|
|
|
|
Post by ztrack on Mar 7, 2024 8:20:07 GMT -5
I would recommend contacting your dealer and letting them know your interest in these runs. Prior to this run, we encouraged dealers to place standing orders for these items, specifically the heritage locos. These allotments are accounted for first. What is remaining is released to the public. BTW, the Spirit of UP run has been distributed world wide, including Canada, Germany and South Africa. AZL has quite the following.  Rob |
|
mry89
New Member
Posts: 4
|
Post by mry89 on Mar 7, 2024 9:25:48 GMT -5
What we order and what we get does not always add up. We do not usually go out with the numbers since not all will end up being available for sale. The first run of Heritage units we made about 50 each (SP was 70). This time around the quantity was 60 each. Based on past sales, the UP Heritage units went fast, while half of the NS Heritage units did not. Will we rerun if demand is strong? Yes. When? Probably 2-3 years out Hans So when you say ,probably 2-3 years out for rerun’s . My question will CSX heritage paint scheme be added ? ( on the ES44Ace units ). Or will the CSX heritage units come sooner ? PS hopefully sooner I’m not getting younger. 🤣🤣🤣 |
|
mry89
New Member
Posts: 4
|
Post by mry89 on Mar 7, 2024 9:33:46 GMT -5
Oh any chance maybe weekly releases ? Instead of ever 2 weeks since you say you have so many locomotives coming in .( SD 40’s and the rerun heritages)
Rob you need another tester to help you out ? I’m just 3.5 hr drive away .
|
|
|
|
Post by sjl on Mar 7, 2024 20:44:06 GMT -5
Oh any chance maybe weekly releases ? Instead of ever 2 weeks since you say you have so many locomotives coming in .( SD 40’s and the rerun heritages) Rob you need another tester to help you out ? I’m just 3.5 hr drive away . I think the folks in Ohio might quit with weekly releases, as much as I’d love it. |
|
