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Post by fulingyu on Apr 3, 2024 22:05:22 GMT -5
Thanks Frank. I WAS refering to the SD70's. I had a brain fart and totally forgot about the ES44AC's. AZL had no UP "heritage" ES44's and only regular ES44's back then. Your snippet of the dealer portal actually magnifies the difference in popularity of UP heritage. Since we peons have no access to the dealer portal, we didn't see or know how much your order quantities paint the larger picture. As I said we are watching AZL history repeat itself with the rerun of UP heritage SD70's.
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Post by zscalehobo on Apr 3, 2024 22:43:00 GMT -5
the AZL dealer that's located in prime DRGW territory (nscalesupply) did not receive any for the locals who buy in the store That's a sad case to be sure, but ... in that dealers email inbox on January 29 at 8:59AM PST (dealer email blast) was a warning from Rob K: "We are expecting interest in this run to be very strong. For that reason, we are encouraging dealers to place standing orders for these upcoming releases. While we can’t guarantee all orders, we will ensure dealers with standing orders receive first allotments."
It was tough to tell at that moment that this was going to be that crazy. But it was critical for dealers to heed Rob's email in this case. After speaking with Frank at ZScaleHobo, he said he has a list for the heritage locos where people can sign up to purchase one of the future releases among the number that has been pre-allocated to his store. Seems like a great idea for people who HAVE to have a certain release. Warning: my pre-order lists are nearly filled.
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Post by Hans Riddervold (AZL) on Apr 4, 2024 1:33:01 GMT -5
Most popular Hertitage units were UP SP and UP D&RGW. We did produce more UP SP back in 2016, than the rest. All the UP Heritage units sold out within a few weeks of their release. Not so with the NS Heritage units. Think the Southern, PRR and LV sold out quite fast, but not the rest. That is why NS was not part of the rerun we did this year. But we will probably add some NS Heritage units for the next run and more UP units as well. No timeline on the next run since we need to assess the sales of the current run first.
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Post by bapakbob on Apr 4, 2024 4:46:55 GMT -5
For every home run AZL hits, there are fly balls (resolved at the mother ship with bogo inventory clearances.)
Pity the dealers who have to strike at every AZL pitch and decide how hard, while almost clueless of future sales desirability....
Quote: "Adding my 2c as I am not feeling the love on this amazing, better than dealer cost offer (believe it) that AZL has bestowed onto everyone." End Quote.
Carrying unwanted inventory for twenty years....
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Post by zdave on Apr 4, 2024 6:59:05 GMT -5
Thanks Frank. I WAS refering to the SD70's. I had a brain fart and totally forgot about the ES44AC's. AZL had no UP "heritage" ES44's and only regular ES44's back then. Your snippet of the dealer portal actually magnifies the difference in popularity of UP heritage. Since we peons have no access to the dealer portal, we didn't see or know how much your order quantities paint the larger picture. As I said we are watching AZL history repeat itself with the rerun of UP heritage SD70's. There were plenty of indications the new Heritages were going to go fast, starting with the popularity of the last UP Heritage version. Also, Frank had posts on his FB site about the current release being very limited runs. I believe USZScale may have also indicated this. I recall seeing somewhere there was going to be less than 50 of each loco. The current D&RGW Heritage went very fast but I still had several days after release before I finally caved and ordered one. It wasn’t quite as bad as being a Swiftie camping out on Ticketmaster hoping to score prime tickets after the release clock clicked down to zero. Not that this senior citizen is a Swiftie.
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Post by mgatdog on Apr 4, 2024 9:09:20 GMT -5
How and were do you start on this subject? First hats off to AZL for another 2nd run beginning to sell out on UP heritage units . As for the DRG unit .My question lies on how many of you that are repeat buyers that have already have the first one ? I was almost one of you .I had 2 different chances of getting one of the reruns. So was it just first time buyers or same buyers of the first run cause of a few changes done .I bet if AZL doesn’t change anything on a third run . It probably would be a warehouse dust collector like the NS units. Or hopefully be new z scalers joining.would buy.
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Post by mgatdog on Apr 4, 2024 9:36:43 GMT -5
Another point to be made . Sales are Geographically made on some scales I think. You guys bring up NS heritage units in z scale not selling out fast or warehouse dust collectors. So it is ,I believe that eastern US z scalers are few and far apart. As west and mid west are more . Probably is why UP and BNSF does well. I’ve always been a fan of z but my friends are O and HO collectors . We were talking the other day about the new CSX heritage units coming this fall from Lionel and MTH. So l went pre ordering a few O scale CSX heritage units. At my surprise there was a rerun on the Monongahela ES 44Ace. It kinda tells me demand is there for it in O scale . But it collects dust on z warehouse shelves cause lack of east coast z hobbyist.
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Post by mgatdog on Apr 4, 2024 9:47:52 GMT -5
PS AZL it’s not my fault Monongahela heritage is collecting dust on your shelves. I own 4 of them. So don’t give up on east coast rr . We z scalers are few and far apart. I support all you do for us and appreciate it.
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Post by dazed on Apr 4, 2024 9:49:51 GMT -5
One thing about O-scale items, (G and HO also fall into this category somewhat) they get a lot of sales just for the display aspect of it. So it's not just model railroaders, could be retired railroad men/women just wanting to decorate their home office. And I bet, for example, UP probably buys hundreds as gifts/keepsakes for employees.
Sure you can do that with Z and N but the small size--while great for squeezing in more model railroad--isn't desirable for something to put on display. (generally speaking, yes there are exceptions)
That's why I don't get too bent out of shape if a model isn't something that directly fits my narrative. The Spirit of UP loco is a great example. Love it, and could have bought one in Z. But it's out of era and I can get a more-commonly-available version in a larger scale later. If it's just for display, I'd much rather have an HO or O version to put on the wall. (for the record, I'm not currently doing that because I don't have the room to spare for significant wall decor, but hope to soon.)
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Post by mgatdog on Apr 4, 2024 10:08:59 GMT -5
Doug I display and run my z collection. N scale and O are in different display cases.
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Post by oldgrog on Apr 4, 2024 10:38:24 GMT -5
Who makes the little cars; are they Z, and where can they be purchased, please ?
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Post by zdave on Apr 4, 2024 10:41:30 GMT -5
How and were do you start on this subject? First hats off to AZL for another 2nd run beginning to sell out on UP heritage units . As for the DRG unit .My question lies on how many of you that are repeat buyers that have already have the first one ? … I didn’t purchase the first run of the D&RGW. I did pickup the first run MoPac and Katy. I doubt I’ll purchase the second runs, other than the D&RGW. I have to save some of my Z dollars for the all the other locomotives coming up, the new run of ES44s, SD40s, RS3s, etc.
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Post by dazed on Apr 4, 2024 10:44:45 GMT -5
Doug I display and run my z collection. N scale and O are in different display cases. Nice display! Yeah, I display my Z and N stuff too, but I don't buy anything in either scale ONLY for display, which is what I was referencing.
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Post by zdave on Apr 4, 2024 10:50:17 GMT -5
Another point to be made . Sales are Geographically made on some scales I think. You guys bring up NS heritage units in z scale not selling out fast or warehouse dust collectors. So it is ,I believe that eastern US z scalers are few and far apart. As west and mid west are more . Probably is why UP and BNSF does well… Yes, that’s my impression, too. BNFS and UP, in general, look to have more followers in Z. For the heritage locomotives, UP did a bang up job on their schemes. They’re real eye-catchers. The NS heritage, in general, look kind of bland, in comparison, IMO. I haven’t usually purchased UP but couldn’t resist getting some of their heritage units.
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Post by mgatdog on Apr 4, 2024 11:45:05 GMT -5
Who makes the little cars; are they Z, and where can they be purchased, please ? Bought them off eBay or won the bid. Little expensive,try to win a few at a time to cut down on shipping cost. scroll through the Z scale items for bid . You’ll fine 3 different sellers.
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