Recessionary times and MRR spending

Out of curiousity I was wondering if members were intending to cut back, or had already cut back on their model railways spending in view of the difficult economic conditions.

In my own case I've put some things on hold and will be engaging in "smarter" spending - ie working out what I really need and then buying at the best possible price. When the times were good it was just too easy to splash money around.

Gary, I would direct you and everyone else to click on 'Community' above and then click on Polls. There you find that most say no, but it is close. We have many polls that drift off the Home Page. So it is good to check them out from time to time. You get Z points for voting as well. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

I bet, most of us have enough stuff to work on for at least ten years without spending any serious money. Time is here to build. It's -anyway- more fun than to worry about the economy.

Lajos:cheer:

I'm sorry, but 2009 appears to be a year to be careful about too much spending. Cut down on the credit card. Cut down on borrowed living. It may take 3-5 years to get back to "normal". I wish it could be different, if wishing could make it so.

I don't like the bankruptcy of Marklin. I hope the company can be reorganized & continue to make Zscale product.

Socalz44 wrote:

Gary, I would direct you and everyone else to click on 'Community' above and then click on Polls. There you find that most say no, but it is close. We have many polls that drift off the Home Page. So it is good to check them out from time to time. You get Z points for voting as well. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Hey Jim, I just remembered that I'd voted in that poll already Maybe I've got that condition that afflicts older people, but I don't remember what it's called

Gary, That makes two of us. Three, if you count Loren! Cheers, Jim CCRR;)

Count?

Three six nine, the monkey drank wine........is that remembering?
Loren

I got layed off 2 weeks ago. The 30th guy out of 30 to get it. So I should be cutting back my spending. However I have noticed I have ordered a few small items to finish projects I wanted to get too. The MTL SD 40 will be a must have and also the AZL tank cars will be must haves also. I got the BN covered hoppers but any more hoppers are going to have to wait. I hope they won't disappear in the mean time. On the other hand, I have had time to put grafiti on a bunch of cars, finish the TTX spine car and 89' flats, decal a bunch of MTL containers (thanks John), finish a test track board, and repair some buildings that needed some work. I've been eyeing up the 2 Zmod/Zbend conversion modules that have been on hold since November. Happy Z'ing...

Alinda and I each spend $100/month....we can still spend that but not more, and when we get jobs in a year it won't change much. Not to mention that bicycles, model airplanes etc compete for that "allowance."

I watched a TRAIN program on the History channel all about Lionel. It seems they started way back when, and have weathered many ups and downs, Greedy lawyers, depression, and wars. During WWII, when most commodities went to the war effort, they made card stock trains. Marklin probably did the same, amidst all the destruction, if only limited. I would not count them out yet. A Pheonix may yet appear.
Fred

I agree Fred, something will still come out of the Marklin deal. I have not spent much on anything this year, yet. The SD-40's are what I am looking forward to along with the GP30's from AZL. If I had the cash though I would love the PRR E7's and the Brodway Ltd set. I thought I would but, it is not looking that way so I'll have a little stash for the new injection offerings from MTL and AZL. I have a stash of track that I can build another table but, won't start on it until later this year. Trying to work within what I already have and not having to get too much. Canceled my credit cards last year and use my pay as a budget on what to spend. Hoping that the other manufacturers weather this storm and still bring the unbelievable products they bring us now.

There might come something out of it, but face it, Z isn't the moneymaker for Maerklin. If the resurrect then some cuts are going to be made. That's what I'm "scared" of. For me Maerklin is the only large source of Z trains. For those into US railroading it won't be as bad. But for us modelling european it will be a hard time.

I'm just starting back into MMR after a 50 year pause and of course I choose the Marklin line. My only concern about that, if any, is being able to buy spare parts in the future. Being disabled my budget is small but my vision exceeds my budget. I am in need of at least 10 or more electric switches left and right and other sizes of track. If anyone has any used Marklin track that they would like to unload please send me an email and let me know. If I can afford it, and my better half agrees, I will buy it and pay shipping costs. Thanks.

TerryH

Well guy's, what i'm doing in these economic hard times, is to sell off un-wanted and un-used rolling stock from my collection to finace the purchase of new items i'm interested in. I did this same ting several years ago when i decided to make the switch from all Marklin gear to newer north american style gear. At that time, i estimated the value of my entire Z collectin, and was astonished at how much i had amasses in the years. I then began to sell off all the items i did'nt run, and had lost interest in. With all the new found cash sitting in a pay-pal account, i had plenty to start buying new MTL and AZL equipment, and begin building my new layout.

Flash forward to now, present day. I found myself in the same position again over Christmas this year. I looked over my collection of equipment, and was once again astonished at what i had ammassed. I had been steadily buying new stuff from time to time since the last sell-off, and my collection had grown a lot. So many cars and locos, a few i didn't know i had, others i had forgotten about, some bought as close out deals that i never really wanted, and some i never really liked when i bought them. So on auction they go. And now once again i have money stitting in a pay-pal account to spend on new Z scale i want.

I kind of like the refreashing affect this is having on my rolling stock and locos. I sold of three MTL GP35's and my AZL GP7, so i could buy more SD70's. Got rid of my collection on UW coal hoppers so i could expand my Husky stack fleet. I plan to unload most of my trasition era gear, and replace it with more modern equipment like Hi-cubes, husky's and bethgons. Seams i bought a lot of transition era stuff when i first switched to north american prototypes, but have now found i like the modern stuff much more.

So if you have a bunch of unused and unwanted gear, you might think about selling it, and building yourself up a pay-pal nest egg for coming new releases in 2009.

Tony B...
Wasatch Z ClubB)

PS: There are of course many items in my collection that i will never sell, most notibly my first Z loco purchased in 1980. A Marklin german electic loco......

As for me I am going broke. The Government can force an employer to take a worker back after they were called up in the Reserves, but they don't seem to want to play by the same rules. First on list to go downrange but last to get rehired.
At least when I get to the point of being a Hobo, I will get all the railroading I want. Just not Z scale.

zthek wrote:

I bet, most of us have enough stuff to work on for at least ten years without spending any serious money. Time is here to build. It's -anyway- more fun than to worry about the economy.

Lajos:cheer:

True. I think I will play around with scratch building.

Kelly I am sorry to hear that, I hope things improve for you.

Kelley- Sounds like you already got RAILROADED.
Fred

Its ok I still got a card or too up my sleeve. I talked to some Mary Kay people at a job fair and I got my eyes on that pink Mercedes. If I can weather a building I can demonstrate makeup.

Just remember - ladies like to look pretty and not weathered!!

Kelly, all I can afford to do is scratch build if I want something on the platform. I understand how difficult things can be, having been on disability since 1983. Funny thing, things always seem to work out in the end. Keep on Zing

TerryH