AZL Direct Exclusives

Doug,

Thank you for your comments. However, you make some strong statements that I must respond to in kind.

First of all, "MOST model railroaders". Whenever you make an absolute statement and emphasize it, You had better be prepared to back it up. How do you know that "MOST model railroaders" feel this way? Have you spoken with "MOST model railroaders"? Have you done statistical studies to prove your point? Or are you stating your own preconceived notions? How do you know this to be true? I could understand if you said that "some" or even "many" model railroaders feel this way. But you said "MOST" of them felt this way and you even emphasized it to reinforce your statement even though you gave no proof for making this absolute statement.

Next, "Whether that makes sense to you or not" has a hard edge to it. It's almost accusatory. This forum is for a free sharing of ideas, preferences, helpful hints, experiences, and anything else to do with AZL and Z scale. We all share whether we agree or not on our ideas. Was it necessary for you to take such a stringent stand against me? I hope that you weren't trying to start a flame war here. I don't start flame wars, but I don't run from them either.

"the FACT is that Amtrak sets sold better". Again, you make an absolute statement with no basis for it. How do you know this to be a fact? And not just a "fact", but a "FACT" that you emphasize. Did you check all of AZL sales receipts over the years to verify this? Are you privy to the secrets of Z scale? Yes, I'm being a little facetious but you have made absolute statements with no proof.

"the FACT is that Amtrak sets sold better, and thus aren't in an overstock condition, and thus won't be on fire sale probably ever." Perhaps you missed it when Rob stated that the bombardier sets were their first injection molded product of AZL and they did not size the order correctly and that they still had product in stock. In other words, they overproduced on the bombardier sets and THAT is why only the bombardier sets are heavily discounted. The later surfliner or non-bombardier sets were not overproduced and thus they aren't discounted like the overproduced bombardier sets.

The reason only the bombardier sets are heavily discounted has NOTHING to do with the Amtrak name or even Amtrak selling better. Just overproduced bombardier sets and trying to move them.

Yes, I agree with you that the Amtrak name will attract modelers. Many modelers indeed. Iconic railroads will always be attractive to fans and modelers alike. Some things will always have name recognition and thereby have more awareness.

But that isn't what MY statement was about. Please take another look at it.



This statement could be broken down as follows:

      1)  Saying that Amtrak has wider appeal than regional sets
      2)  But these Amtrak sets ARE regional sets
      3)  How can Amtrak have wider appeal than itself?

Do you see the distinction here? I'm not saying Amtrak isn't popular nor is it unpopular. Nor am I saying that modelers can only get regional sets. I have a lot of non-regional stuff myself because I like it. Run what you enjoy and enjoy what you run. I was merely responding to a statement earlier that Amtrak has wider appeal than regional sets. This is generally true. But not necessarily true when the Amtrak sets themselves are regional Amtrak sets.

Anyway, it's good to hear that you're having fun in Z scale now.

Don