i can't believe

[Ian Brown]

My local shop has just received a shipment of Micro Engineering turn outs and rail and accessories and he can't seem to sell them . All ON30 . I can't find them in other stores and he's complaining he can't sell them. I'm using Fast Tracks my self , but i have put them side by side and yes there is a difference but they also look convincingly good . Much better than Peco .

[Lynn Caron]

Hi Ian

Hmmm . . . interesting. Do you have any idea how many On30ers are in your area? In our local shop I have found that sometimes stuff seems to kinda hide out in obscure corners and may not be very noticable. I wonder if that may be the case or are all the narrow minded folk using FastTracks like you?
I have a FT fixture that I have yet to try for some straight TO I have in mind. Have you tried the Twist Ties from FT for making those beautiful sweeping curved TOs? I'm going to be needing some of those as well.

Lynn

[Ron Wm. Hurlbut]

Hi Ian,

This is the problem that all Local Hobby Shops face.

There are millions of products that he could stock, but he doesn't always know which ones will actually sell. Even with the more popular HO stock, he could be stuck with stuff because it is lettered for the wrong railway or it's the wrong era.

He took a leap of faith in stocking On30. Even though it is popular, it isn't hot in your neighbourhood.

It's all hit and miss and it's hard to compete with the on-line stores and ebay.

[Ian Brown]

No this stores specializes in S ,G , ON30, HON3 and O scale with little HO and N . He was located in Alberta and moved to middle of knowhere . So for me its good . Lots of narrow gauge and hes an ex BCR engineer with a logging back ground from BC. Strange store but very helpful.

[Ron Wm. Hurlbut]

Hi Ian,

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

He did okey with the Narrow Gauge stock in Alberta, but now that he's moved his operation to "the middle of nowhere" he's dealing with a whole new clientèle.

He might have been able to sell the ME stock where he came from, but now he's dealing with a different set of customers.

He might want to do a survey of his customers to find out what they are interested in and then cater to them.

[Ian Brown]

Survey he did and his conclusion after a business fire is to ( after 42 years in business) sell out and close up shop , so i'm forced once again to find a new retailer! He then will become a ON30 modeler only. Atleast though i get a narrow gauge friend out of this.