Why so expensive?

[Atomsk]

I'm looking for Kato's #10-565 4-car starter set for the M250 EMU COFC train.

 

Kato's list price, on their website is 12000 yen, but, while several retailers have them in stock, the prices can reach near 70000 yen.

 

The few US sellers that list them have them for around $300.

 

Why such a huge markup for these models?

[railsquid]

Presumably out of production, hence price-gouging.

[katoftw]

Last release was about 3 years ago.  Hence the price gouging.

[cteno4]

These have been very high for a while now unfortunately.

 

Jeff

[Guest keio6000]

it's not "gouging" to charge market price for a non-essential item.

 

M250 sets are available for reasonable price at yahoo japan auctions.

[Atomsk]

M250 sets are available for reasonable price at yahoo japan auctions.

The "zoketsu" sets maybe, but I have yet to see the basic set for a price I'd call reasonable.

[Kabutoni]

Basic 8-car set at ¥18,000: http://page23.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/o152230390

Complete 16-car consist at ¥29,800: http://page3.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c559281626

 

Pretty reasonable for a much wanted set and a little under the original pricing. MicroAce sets of the same order of desirability can go for much more, as these have lower production numbers than Kato.

[Melandir]

Set is out of production and seems that Sagawa is not going to renew the license to Kato anytime soon for a new run of the train, this can explain why the prices are going up.

[Kamome]

It took me a couple of years to find the 8 car add-on set for the M250 as this wasn't re-run on the last release despite both 4 car sets coming out again. Even the Kato shop didn't have one at the time.

 

Does this train prototypically always run in a 16 car consist?

 

I picked up a 2nd hand set in the UK which I paid slightly over the odds for but now I'm glad I did with the info on this thread.

[inobu]

I was wondering what you were saying until I looked on Amazon. They have a set for $822.00 with free shipping. LOL.

 

This is my favorite set but $822 that a little steep.

 

 

Does this train prototypically always run in a 16 car consist?

 

Yes, I think it runs a 16 car formation which is a standard run from Tokyo to Osaka.  

 

This is what caught my attention. A freight train passing a passenger train.    lol

 

Kinda like seeing a mule run pass a carriage

 

 

Anyway I hope you find one. Keep looking,

 

Inobu

 

Oh and I posted a process to install DCC in the units

Edited August 19, 2016 by inobu