Hroth Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Just got the "pre-orders" facility email from Hornby. Right at the bottom the "Hornby Santa Express Train Set". http://www.Hornby.com/Hornby-santa-express-train-set-concession-exclusive.html What were they thinking of? I suppose, in years to come, it might be a collectors item... The only thing worse they could have done is to have provided it with radius 1 curves so it could be a dining table centrepiece! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMartin90125 Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 It's a toy but priced as a model, just like Thomas stuff. At the price of seventy quid, I suspect the target market won't be interested in paying that much for it. It doesn't even have a little Santa to go with it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Wouldn't you put reindeer in a cattle wagon? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted October 11, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 11, 2014 I would have thought £45 was the limit for this. That's probably why you don't see Hornby in Smyths or Toys r us. The train set market is diminishing but they are pricing themselves out of what's left! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adams442T Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 This is the same sort of 'Marketing Mess' that got them into trouble with their tatty Olympic Cr&p. They really don't seem to have a handle on supplying their core market, and avoiding wasting time and effort on this sort of trash. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted October 12, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2014 So who gets the licensing fees for this? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 So who gets the licensing fees for this? Santa? I don't think this is intended for the serious railway modeler, or maybe even the compulsive collector, out there... I can see someones parent(s) getting this as a gift for their little wonder or to add some excitement to the festivities.. Or perhaps bought as an item to add some pizzazz to an otherwise boring office party.. Have you ever operated a train-set under the influence? - it can be mind numbing-ly hilarious... Perhaps one should not under-estimate the imagination and power and cash reserves of the of the spontaneous purchaser? I agree they could have used a little more imagination, a little model of Santa and a lump of coal would not go amiss. How many 'well-intention-ed-utterly-alien-to-your-constitution' love-tokens and presents have you received? Be very afraid - someone might give you one!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-e Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 I can see what they are trying to do selling the basic track and the track mat then hope that spurs them on to buy the addon packs etc.. Especially with the wording on the box and on the site "Additional track packs can be obtained to make the layout larger and even more exciting, and there is even a Hornby MidiMat included so you can see how Santa’s Special train set can grow and grow into a truly exciting model railway." how can you resist... It should probably be encouraged and hope that this years Christmas set buyer is next years DCC set buyer then on and on until someone pops up on RMweb in 12 years time and says "I remember when I got a Hornby Santa Set for Christmas" The problem is you can get this one below for under £20 featuring sound,lights movement (still no Santa though??) which as an un-educated impulse purchase gives alot more for your money compared to the Hornby one. So the price is the main issue if the price for the Hornby one were pitched under £40 you may target the Grandparents buying soley on the basis that it's Hornby I had Hornby when I was a kid but then again you can get a bottom-mid range Android Tablet for £70 which is probably what the Grandchild is really asking Santa for... Example only other tat is available for similar price. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted October 12, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2014 Concession and website only. Model shop owners everywhere must be breathing sighs of relief that they won't be pressured into stocking (sorry) this overpriced tat. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 No. Just no. The Americans have been doing this kind of tat for years, it's a pity Hornby thought they needed to copy it. steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold papagolfjuliet Posted October 12, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2014 It's worth pointing out that they did a Christmas set about ten years ago and that it sold very well. I have one; with a different engine to the one in the set it runs around the base of the tree every year. http://www.mremag.com/sites/10/images/article_images_month/2013-05/hornbycrimbospecial.jpg Tat it may be, but it's perfectly harmless tat, and there are far tackier and far more expensive Xmas decorations out there. Look for example at all that model village stuff which appears in garden centres at this time of year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheatley Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 I wonder which Christmas it will be in stock for ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dickerson Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 So who gets the licensing fees for this? Satan. It's misspelled. Bachmann should respond with a Satan Actual Seasonal Shopper Express using their Chiltern Railways Class 168 packed to the roof with model commuters, NIMBYs, screaming babies, Bicester-Village-bound Chinese tourists, students back home to their folks, more screaming babies, drunks (hello!), why-are-you-on-this-train-today surveyors, feral kids, creepily-unferal Midwich Cuckoo kids, cyclists, big blokes with attack dogs, political interns who look 50 but who are actually 23, and hen parties. All with multiple bags. It's the most wonderful time of the year. (Other train operating companies are available.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaneofFife Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 cattle wagon? stick a packet of 100 cheap passenger figures in the box for the buyer to fit in the truck and voila! its no longer a bitbof santa express tat.its an authentic model of the 9.23 from Croydon to Victoria. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublecee Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Granted, its not for everyone, but there is still a market for it. It can be viewed as either a novelty indulgence or a gateway product. I agree, the pricing is steep for what it is, but this will fly off the shelves at Hamleys etc. I dont think it warrants such negativity. Such elitism is one of the things that can make the hobby appear so stand-offish. It certainly doesn't detract from Hornby's other output, and lets face it... they certainly have found their MoJo again these last few months... the reviews pages of this months Hornby Magazine can atest to that. Its a novelty product aimed squarely at a niche market, but with one eye on the small percentage that may just find this one purchase being a gateway to jump back into the hobby, or his kids to show some much needed interest. And despite my reservations regarding the price, its still their cheapest set by a tenner, with plenty of options to expand should the owner want to take things further. Will I have one going round the base of my Tree this year? I didnt plan to, but I think I will now... if only to irk the haters! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold papagolfjuliet Posted October 12, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2014 ISTR our very own AndyY saying that he had suggested this set to Hornby. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 ISTR our very own AndyY saying that he had suggested this set to Hornby. Although I wouldn't stake any total claim on it being 'my idea' in a conversation with Roger Canham I did proffer the suggestion of quick wins that went outside their 'core market' and that there was potential for the old-fashioned toy train market and after all every flam'n garden centre stocked some battery-powered 'tat' in the run up to Christmas and wouldn't it be better that it's something with a Hornby label on it? Of course it's not for 'serious' modellers but one of those running round the base of the Christmas tree in the run-up to Christmas might get a few people buying toy trains again. I didn't have anything to do with the price though. Anyway, it's a meat van of course. I suppose I'd better go and buy one now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddys-blues Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Meat Van ???? Reindeer Steaks, mmm scrummy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold papagolfjuliet Posted October 12, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 12, 2014 Price wise, Hornby may well have taken note of the fact that whereas their basic starter set with the Caley pug, a four wheel coach, and an open wagon has an an RRP of £49.99, Argos are selling it as an 'Internet exclusive' for £63.99. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4622549.htm Under those circumstances Hornby might as well ramp up the price themselves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfsboy Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 I really cant see what the problem is .It looks fun and a lot of kids will love it .It has the mat to expand the parents wallet and childs imagination and will be a great present .It also had a controller .I can remember I went a Christmas party and the child had been given a Hornby train set ,quite a large one .It was all set up but no controller .The kid just didnt understand that and was a total sod the whole time .I was well out of model trains then having just got married so had no controller to go home and get .At least the kids who get this will be able to play with it .As to the Santa Express shown in another post its utter crap and while Hornby may well be the spawn of Satan to many misguided people and over priced its not crap and it could be the kick off for many kids who probably already have an ipad as most kids seem to have . Happy Christmas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blue Streak Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Seriously ?70 quid ????If I convert that to Australian $ that's um .... quite a lot for a bit of Xmas frivolity.All the sensible Grandads and Dads would surely add the extra few quid and buy the young-uns a nice Flying Scotsman or Mallard Set. At least it wouldn't look daft set up in July !!!!Bah Humbug ! Edited to include wink !!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Seriously ? 70 quid ???? If I convert that to Australian $ that's um .... quite a lot for a bit of Xmas frivolity. All the sensible Grandads and Dads would surely add the extra few quid and buy the young-uns a nice Flying Scotsman or Mallard Set. At least it wouldn't look daft set up in July !!!! Bah Humbug ! Edited to include wink !!! $130 as of 10:27 AEDST. Or the same price (roughly) as the Caledonian Belle set with the 264 Class 0-4-0ST, better known as Smokey Joe in BR lined black, and an open and a 4w coach https://hobbyco.com.au/Hornby-sets/oo-caledonian-belle-b4-0 The Scotsman and Mallard sets are $295 and $315 respectively https://hobbyco.com.au/Hornby-sets/oo-flying-scotsman-trainset https://hobbyco.com.au/Hornby-sets/oo-flight-mallard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butler Henderson Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Price wise, Hornby may well have taken note of the fact that whereas their basic starter set with the Caley pug, a four wheel coach, and an open wagon has an an RRP of £49.99, Argos are selling it as an 'Internet exclusive' for £63.99. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4622549.htm Under those circumstances Hornby might as well ramp up the price themselves. £49.99 in the catalogue and at http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2755188.htm. The internet exclusive one has "free delivery" which for the cheaper one is, l presume, an additional £3.95 - someone cannot add up! On the other hand if the exclusive one comes with express delivery, nor clear that it does, at £19.99 (!) then it does make a bit of sense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blue Streak Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 $130 as of 10:27 AEDST. Or the same price (roughly) as the Caledonian Belle set with the 264 Class 0-4-0ST, better known as Smokey Joe in BR lined black, and an open and a 4w coach https://hobbyco.com.au/Hornby-sets/oo-caledonian-belle-b4-0 The Scotsman and Mallard sets are $295 and $315 respectively https://hobbyco.com.au/Hornby-sets/oo-flying-scotsman-trainset https://hobbyco.com.au/Hornby-sets/oo-flight-mallard Yes, I see, but if you want to give the kids a proper upbringing an LNER set would obviously be the right choice !! more winks required. BTW Saw Your status for Today too and couldn't agree more, cracker of a day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
69843 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Yes, I see, but if you want to give the kids a proper upbringing an LNER set would obviously be the right choice !! more winks required. BTW Saw Your status for Today too and couldn't agree more, cracker of a day. Well, $130 is also how much I picked up an Empire of India for in the post christmas sales last year, to become Bittern in 2009-10 condition in BR Green with second tender. I can tell you which I'd rather for the price. Going back on topic, I think that, while it will certainly sell, it might be seen as a novelty compared to the similar sets of the same price. Though I'm sure one will appear around an RMweb members tree at Christmas. Maybe whoever is on Santa Andy's nice list gets one of these, and whoever was naughty gets a pile of dust-the lump of coal being considered too useful to modellers. In regards to the status, you knock one out and the other takes it's place. Brilliant driving! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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