The following is discussion that took place this month on a Japanese discussion site and also on X about the state of Plarail. https://togetter.com/li/2479754
As evident for 2024 and looks like 2025 is starting off with slim pickings with the children's line still continuing but the focus now shifting towards Plarail Real Class.
One retailer said they stopped purchasing Plarail for their store and sold all of his in stock items for the year end event because sales have been poor for the last two years. He spoke to a wholesaler and heard they are not selling well nationwide. https://x.com/Shiokaze_Do/status/1866979810637123963
Others blame it on video games/smart phones, YouTube videos and declining birthrate and of course, Takara Tomy increasing prices. I think it is a perfect storm of weakened yen, declining birthrate and smartphone/video games and YouTube in general. Also, with small home sizes, as rooms are smaller, only those with good size rooms can take advantage of Plarail.
Hardcore Plarail fans are also dismayed of Takara Tomy putting their Plarail Railway and Shinkalion trains in the S series.
I was feeling positive about Plarail Real Class when I first posted this thread, but seeing how they are not dropping the prices as they did with the initial Plarail Real Class (from Y7000 to Y4500) on Amazon, and sticking with the Y6600 price point. That's tough. If they have kept it at Y4500, I would have kept collecting it but not at Y6600, as you are now getting closer to N Gauge pricing.
It's a bit surprising how Plarail has shifted from a wonderful 2023 for "S", along with ES and Plarail Real Class, to an anniversary year of 2024 that that was dismal with less "S" releases and more fictional trains and a 2025 that looks to further be dismal for "S" collectors.
And other companies started focusing on train sets for children that really took away from Takara Tomy's business and also the sucess of the diecast train releases.
It's truly a sad time but it looks like Plarail and its well known "S" series is slowly coming to an end.
As evident for 2024 and looks like 2025 is starting off with slim pickings with the children's line still continuing but the focus now shifting towards Plarail Real Class.
One retailer said they stopped purchasing Plarail for their store and sold all of his in stock items for the year end event because sales have been poor for the last two years. He spoke to a wholesaler and heard they are not selling well nationwide. https://x.com/Shiokaze_Do/status/1866979810637123963
Others blame it on video games/smart phones, YouTube videos and declining birthrate and of course, Takara Tomy increasing prices. I think it is a perfect storm of weakened yen, declining birthrate and smartphone/video games and YouTube in general. Also, with small home sizes, as rooms are smaller, only those with good size rooms can take advantage of Plarail.
Hardcore Plarail fans are also dismayed of Takara Tomy putting their Plarail Railway and Shinkalion trains in the S series.
I was feeling positive about Plarail Real Class when I first posted this thread, but seeing how they are not dropping the prices as they did with the initial Plarail Real Class (from Y7000 to Y4500) on Amazon, and sticking with the Y6600 price point. That's tough. If they have kept it at Y4500, I would have kept collecting it but not at Y6600, as you are now getting closer to N Gauge pricing.
It's a bit surprising how Plarail has shifted from a wonderful 2023 for "S", along with ES and Plarail Real Class, to an anniversary year of 2024 that that was dismal with less "S" releases and more fictional trains and a 2025 that looks to further be dismal for "S" collectors.
And other companies started focusing on train sets for children that really took away from Takara Tomy's business and also the sucess of the diecast train releases.
It's truly a sad time but it looks like Plarail and its well known "S" series is slowly coming to an end.
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Host of the J! Tetsudo Mokei (鉄道模型) Podcast
Main YT channel: http://kndydesu.com
Tetsudo Mokei & Tomica Podcasts are located here: http://tetsudomokei.com
Host of the J! Tetsudo Mokei (鉄道模型) Podcast
Main YT channel: http://kndydesu.com
Tetsudo Mokei & Tomica Podcasts are located here: http://tetsudomokei.com
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