The UK importer are ripping off retailers, and modellers with high margins.
On many kits they charge retailers above Japan or Hong Kong retail; and
that's before inland revenue wants to add their VAT on top. The retailer
ussually have to write off any faulty or damaged kits, sometimes upsetting
loyal customers in the process.
I feel Tamiya has hand in this as well, they know what is going on and can
easily step in and sort it out if they cared. They have signed the importer
up as sole distributor so they can easily get away with running like this.
Then everyone wonders why you see many local model shops close down, they
just have no chance.
If more UK modellers imported their kits, from
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or
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maybe Tamiya and UK distributor would have to
reconsider serving UK modellers like this.
Regards,
Paul
I should point out that the high costs of Tamiya kits is due to the
importers and not the model shops. The discount model company I work for
tried to see about stocking Tamiya but the prices charged by the importers
would have prevented us offering any discount on Tamiya kits without making
a loss.
Andy