AZL and Micro Why parts are so hard to find?

It's my impression that it's a bit of a pain for manufactures to have a parts inventory and keep it stocked.  From what I have seen this is the case in every scale and the obscurity of Z only makes it worse.  As far as AZL goes, they offer a good selection of parts through AZL Direct.

-Jason

Thanks Mark , I knew if I asked right questions on here I would be provided with Excellent answer and Place to look. Ben 

As has been said contact AZL or MTL directly for pars.

As for the individual dealers not having parts on hand, Try looking at it from their point of view.
They Can tie up their operating capital in parts that are not going to give them much profit and may take months or years to sell, Plus that many parts will take up a lot of room on shelves (Dozens of parts for each model)

Or stock their shelves with new models that will sell faster and give them a better profit margin.

Now factor in the fact that better than 3/4 of those in Z scale wouldn't even attempt to remove the shell muchless attempt to repair a broken loco. And of those willing to try it better than 1/2 wouldn't be able to tell whats wrong, Wont have the right tools to fix it or the skill level to do the repair their self.


The bottom line is it just doesn't make financial sense for most dealers to stock and sell replacement parts.

David

TJ Dreams , your probably right about most wouldn't attempt to even take shell off just sign of times we live in where every thing is Don't work Trash it instead of fix buy another . I still work on my Truck even if it's ten years old if I can do something to repair it with out going to Shop . I'm amazed at this Generation of Wimps. Now that I've made everyone Mad. You can make tools your self . I made several of my own tools to work on Marklin Steam Loco's. So yes you can work on them. Fortunately AZL and Micro give Diagram with all the engines. So you can see parts and work on them. Having gotten into Electronics much but Have Field Piece that will measure right down to as fare in electrical you want to go. From selling point of view I understand just make money forget everything else is the social world we live in . I'll do it lone wolf way . thanks

AMS you are so right , perhaps I was bit short , but I still think at least you should be able to pull shell off to lubricate it correctly. I'm sure AZL And Micro know how log they will run with out being lubricated. or can you replace bad traction tire. come on those type of things we should know or instructed to do . I have many tools and the biggest tools set I use most is Marklin Tool set . But it's limited to three to four items in the set even though it's supposedly for Z scale. Even Screw drivers in set are questionable. They need to up grade it to call it toll set for Z scale. If I get to point that it's frustrating I quit do something else after while urge to complete the job comes and back at it With some fresh ideas on how to fix it. Or you can research most on the net or U-Tube. I started doing thing back in the days when we had nether. And it is much more simpler now. Hope your listening- JHrailRoading -Markm-TJDreams-Dave. Your all right in some ways. but there are many who can do it them selves. Yes Many and we're gaining knowledge all the time

Funny you should mention this ... a majority of locomotives I have seen are pooled over with lubrication - which ends up accelerating the accumulation of dirt and gunk. I would estimate that >80% of my first-time customers are in this type of condition.

So, I think people ARE TRYING to repair things themselves, but don't know when enough is enough. Then they get stuck and cannot recover - lose parts, etc, etc ...

The smaller the amount, the better; and use the right lube.

Z hobo, Thanks for your advice , Yes we all like it to run smooth and you keep best supply of Marklin Parts on hand , I've bought lot from you . Glad you can stock - That is one of the reasons I'm repeat customer  . But Some get joy out of buying used ones and get it up and running close to new is lot of Satisfaction . Sometimes even spend more that if you bought it new from Dealer. Maybe that's always been difference in Conductor who was responsible for train to run on time and the Engineer who was responsible for train to run. Both had their jobs and enjoyments. Some Like to Do the Mountains  in the Lay out more than anything - some like to paint their trains different - some like to have most track than next guy  . Some like to do Sound , others like to do the new Code electronics set up. Some like to do all . Is any perfect at all No has to be researched,  learned, Knowledge gained .  It's the fun of all that draws us to spend our money on them. Not just the guy who can spend 50,000 have someone build it , yes he may enjoy it but nothing compared to guy that builds one himself. And we are the ones who keep you in business Also . Thanks again for good Service