Re: Another Horizon/Athearn Stupidhead move.

I'm sure this is a valid business decision by many store owners out there. They'll look at who all they do business with, and determine where it is they can shift business to Horizon. Pricing most likely will be the key concern.

I would expect the store owner to shift business to Horizon just so they can continue to get Athearn. The guy who'll be hurting will be the other distributors who will lose business to Horizon.

Kennedy

Exactly! This is in fact what happens quite often. I have to make the call whether another account is justified and will generate required sales. Let's face it, the retailer fights for your dollar and the distributor fights for mine. Best prices and service usually wins out.

Dave

Rath,

You keep inferring that the store owners have a choice in the matter. Hasn't it sunk in yet that THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE if they wish to carry Athearn?

Horizon will be the only distributor. Period.

They didn't ask for the change, nor do many of them welcome it. It's just reality.

Mike Tennent "IronPenguin"

Zealot usually infers support for a cause. Most of the heat seems to be coming from the anti-Athearn, anti-Horizon crowd.

Mike Tennent "IronPenguin"

No, most of the heat is from the Anti-Horizon crowd.

They are the pro-Athearn crowd who are upset that thanks to Horizon they will not be able to get their precious "Blue Box" treasures.

The only thing I am saying is that some B&M stores, mostly ones who are already Horizon dealers and wholare not discounters/deep discounters, are happy with the deal. It is their thought that all the sales from elsewhere will now come to them, since Athearn sales are thought of as a constant volume uneffected by the Horizon deal.

Thus they think their sales will go up, or, if prices go up, they will make more money if sales will remain constant.

I think that either of these two thoughts is not going to happen; Athearn sales are not constant and are going to fall.

As Dave Henk said, and I agreed to, we will find out what really happens in 6-12 months.

Could you point me to a credible post that says that Athearn products won't be available anymore because of the deal?

There have been posts that train show dealers will have a difficult time getting them, if they can. There have been posts that this will eliminate a cheap source of Athearn for hobbyists. Both those are true.

Athearn will be available at shows from B&M based dealers, but I doubt if they'll be as widespread as before. Which is a shame, because I'll guarantee you that more people are introduced to the hobby at train shows (and see the blue boxes as an affordable entry) than ever walk into a hobby shop.

And BTW, the blue boxes are just one of the Athearn line. They've been putting out some good new stuff, and the Challenger is highly anticipated.

Mike Tennent

It is the guys complaining about cheap sources I was referring to.

Folks... Go to the Walthers' website. Click on 'manufacturers' then 'Athearn'. Enter 300 in the box and click. Start scrolling down the page and look at the delivery dates. Note that Walthers is getting a shipment from Athearn on March 4. So it seems the Athearn line will still be available through Walthers. Bill