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There have been topics raised about the subject of model companies selling DCC decoder with the loco.
We have seen Hornby and Bachmann release locos with low-end decoders, presumably to keep the price down.
We're also worried that if more locos are supplied with DCC On Board, the decoder may not be up to our standards and then we'll have to remove the supplied decoder and add our one. We'll then end up with an unwanted decoder and perhaps have a damaged loco.
So here is my idea:
We have seen Hornby and Bachmann release locos with low-end decoders, presumably to keep the price down.
We're also worried that if more locos are supplied with DCC On Board, the decoder may not be up to our standards and then we'll have to remove the supplied decoder and add our one. We'll then end up with an unwanted decoder and perhaps have a damaged loco.
So here is my idea:
You may ask, what if they make too many of one or the other:As these locos are made on a production line, supply locos with and without decoders pre-installed. A simple sticker on the loco and another on the box is all that is needed to differentiate them.
What about the quality of the decoders:Well this can be solved by a couple of guys in the service department or by an outside company like Jadlamracing until the marketing and sales departments can sort out orders and refine production numbers.
Coming back to over production:This is where it gets interesting. I say - install the top of the line decoders. Say, Lenz Gold. A Lenz Gold is about £23 retail (£13 in the US). Their normal wholesale price for large orders must be about £8 to £10, perhaps less. A large company like Hornby or Bachmann could order thousands of these and drive the price right down. This would add less that £10 to the price of the loco. I'd pay that for an installed Lenz Gold!
Does this sound logical...?This is one fear of manufacturers. If there were too many DCC On Board locos made, someone like Jadlam could buy it wholesale from the manufacturer, remove the decoder from the loco, sell the loco for it's DCC Ready price, and then sell the decoder for a good decoder price - say £15 to £20. This margin could pay for their work and give them some motivation for doing it.