Hopefully, just one dealer. Although, it’s true that the German economy has flatlined.

Not surprising that sales are slow. The economy around the world is slow, and luxuries are the first to go.

We are buying toys and these have high profit margins. Looking at a Marklin coach it is just plastic and if you want to open it it shows how poorly it is made as you just pull it apart to get into what is not a great interior.
Removing a wheel set also requires care as it is just plastic smaller than the axle so you bend it back to obtain a fit. IF made in China a coach will cost little to make and some parts will be used for different coaches.
I can buy a washing machine cheaper than a Marklin loco and if a go for an expensive coach set even a dishwashoer or TV set is cheaper.
Just bought a new laptop for my wife a less than half the cost of a CS3 PLus and the Laptop is a quality model.
The hobby does not attract many younger people and to keep going prices increase for those of us who are prepared to continue buying.
Marklin wont last forever but at least some of us can continue to enjoythe hobby for a few years yet.

I am more picky now with my Marklin purchases. I have to admit that prices have gone up. I have only a limited resource, so I have to buy fewer items.
I do not need the bells and whistles in a locomotive, with so much plastic detailing, that I am afraid to handle the new lok with my hands, I will break something. You are now talking about greater than US$300 for a lok. That is a lot. For new people starting up on this hobby, the Primex brand may do well.
It would be great if Marklin revives the Primex label, sell the same locomotives with less plastic detail and with just a simple decoder with 4 functions at half the price. Now that would open up a lot of wallets. I do not see how people run 4 or more locomotives with all the sounds operating on. It becomes unbearable to the ear after 5 minutes, especially the puff/puff of steamers.
This is my 2 cents worth of thought. I do have quite a few Primex passenger cars, and they run just as well at a much lower price.

I think you are right. I´ve never really experienced the problem with too much sound though, as I am a purely analogue runner. The only train I have that runs with sound, is the VT11.5, and there I have turned the sound off. -It´s really not very nice to listen to in the long run...
I watch tons of videos on YouTube, and the Chufff-Chuffs and Rrrrrrrrrrs from the locomotives is extremely annoying. (I like the whistles though)

About reviving the Primex brand to its original purpose; I dont see that happen, as it would compete with its own mother-brand. Better to have a dedicated Hobby-range as now, with a clear segmenting.
Personally I would of course welcome locos with simpler on-board electrinics, but alas I am from a dispappearing minority (analogue runners)

It's about route control, and timing, and the size of the layout. I run three at once within the same route. They follow each other. When the gaps start to close in, I adjust the speeds. The CS 3 has two speed knobs and a third pop-up one for any model on the layout. My MS 2 is the secondary controller as well. Larger layout's with more automation and using a software program for a laptop, tablet, desktop or phone run several at once.

I am disappointed with Märklin, bought an Austrian electric loco (trix model) and there are no spare parts available, this is News for me, if you want spares you have to send the whole loco back., all I wanted is an axle with rubber tyres, if this is the trend, Märklin will be no longer on my list of possible purchases

John

Everything cost nowadays and in every house hold there are expansive cost like to pay the bills.
We focus on what is most important to get and use.
What it depends is your wallet and yours payment.
Forget about Primex!
It will get worse for Märklin when other competitors offer customer with better quality and fun of the sounds/physical functions so why wouldn´t Märklin do the same way by survive in the business market?
If you want to buy an expensive locomotive then save your money every month before to buy, but you must plan by do it.