I’ve learned a little about the retail side of the hobby since I took over the company store. I know many members support the MPHS with company store purchases. Here’s an update by manufacturer on what I see as a direction in making purchasing decisions.

Athearn and Walthers – Horizon Hobbies has turned our requests to be a dealer twice so any MP related items from them will have to be bought off web stores, eBay or your LHS.

Accurail – we get a 40% discount off the retail price and I try and pass a good discount to our members.

AMB – we get a 40% discount and I pass a discount to our members. They do a number of MP buildings and cabooses.

Exactrail – while they give a 40% discount after a few months they discount their models almost to the wholesale price the Missouri Pacific Historical Society has paid. Given their business model I’m no longer going to handle their new offerings as we can’t compete and end up with stock.

Intermountain- we get a 40% discount and I pass a discount to our members.

Kadee – they offer a 25% discount to us but must offer 40% to larger shops as I see their new models being sold on eBay for nearly the wholesale price I’ve paid for them. So I’m dropping Kadee from future purchases as we get stuck with stock.

Tangent – we get a 40% discount off retail and I pass a discount to our members.

Mask Island – Hubert gives us 25% off retail and we have exclusive sales on many of his decals.

There’s a few manufacturers that will import or manufacture MP ‘foobies’ meaning they bring out a model painted for MP that the railroad never owned. Since we are a Historical Society I won’t carry these models in the company store. Recent example of this is Bluford Shops’ transfer caboose stock number 34311.