Another Model Shop lost

I don't use (and never have used) MSOE.

In which case you won't need any advice from me on how to subscribe to aioe.org :o)

(kim)

I'd like to think we'll see a few more secondhand websites or lists of bits from smaller shops - I dream of a model equivalent of Academic Book Exchange, but a few more "Buy It Nows" on eBay would be a start. I've been a great fan of Mainly Trains and Modelfair, and it's a shame there aren't that many others.

Mark.

The problem with that is that second-hand is never a predictable item. It arrives in ones without warning. By the time you have time to put it on a website the chances are it's gone.

"Ian Birchenough" wrote

That's where the specialist Yahoo email groups are of value. It's a very simple matter to advise of new stock arrivals, although with used items we do like to give shop customers the first opportunity to buy.

John.

Pmorgan, your post is something I never thought anyone would dare make, so thankyou for being so brave and describing exactly the 'local' model shop to those from miles away.

Lets start with the basics. You make a point of a detour to visit a model shop listed in a magazine advert as being close to your route, and what is the first thing you find? Closed all day Tuesday (insert any random day that will be the one you decide to visit) so staying in a hotel overnight you think 'Ah well I'll come back in the morning' but you read further - Closed all day Tuesday, Weds 1300-1630. What? Does this person actually want any customers? Or maybe (and this is the final thought) he is making so much profit he doesn't need to spend any more time in the shop.

If you are 'lucky' enough to find this type of 'local' model shop open, then as pmorgan says, you will walk in only to find some 'local' person leaning on the counter by the door, who has to move just so you can get in the shop. The whole time you are in there this person buys nothing but engages the shopkeeper in an inane discussion about the chances of someone releasing a model of DP2 (insert your own 'no-chance' loco here), and you browse around the shelves knowing that two pairs of eyes are following you around wondering when you are going to brandish your knife and demand the 10p in the till. You cant see the exact item you want, so you pluck up the courage to interrupt the conversation, only to be told that 'we dont have that' in such a manner that you wonder if you have missed the news that anyone asking for that item will be deported to a penal colony. In one shop I asked for the availablilty of some small item and was given a large cardboard box with about 300 packets in it, and told to look for myself.

Yes, support your local model shop, but dont expect me to.

Thank you. Very helpful.

Arrogant prat.

*plonk*

The point is that one can inspect second-hand items in a shop. Photos are just not good enough.

Or is the proprietor out at work doing a "proper job" to subsidize his hobby business, and leaving his wife or retired parent to hold the fort.

I've found this sort of shop as well.

Dave W.

My thanks also. Works just as well with Netscape, if you hate OE for some reason.

Dave W.

It could be that the bussiness is doing such a roaring trade via mail order that opening the shop counter comes second or third....

nothing

Funny that, with some clever tooling Bachmann could have quite easily produced both the Deltic's and a model of DP2 !...

and you browse around the shelves knowing that two pairs of eyes

But what you describe above is not your local model shop, as you say you were visiting the area, you didn't know which days they were open and you obviously had not formed any sort of 'customer relationship' with the owner / staff.

Many years ago there was a local, family run, model railway shop close to me. I used it often and built up a good customer relationship with the owner and 'staff' [1] and they would always try to obtain what I needed, they closed early on one day of the week and didn't open at all another day but I knew that, this model railway shop is now a major mail order manufacture / distributor in the model railway field (amongst others), it is no longer staffed by what I would call friendly people (although they are very knowledgeable about what they sell) and seem more interested in talking amongst themselves rather than chatting to the customers unless trying to sell something - in sort they are glorified box shifters and are not interested in anything other than what they stock / have in stock. I don't use them that much as my modelling has been taking a back seat to other things over the last few years but when I do go into the 'retail outlet' and the owners wife is present she always remembers me and asks how I am - I suspect that if I really wanted something they didn't stock and I asked the ^right person* they would still try and get the part or what ever in for me, the ecomomics of the order allowing.

Give me a 'local' shop any day, were I'm at least a face if not a name, to many mail order outlets are now just box shifters, the customers are nothing but account / customer numbers and personal service is unheard off and special orders might as well be in the next Galaxy.

[1] when I say staff I really mean Owner, his wife, Father-in-Law (?) and later the business partner.

nice one - thanks.

Best not kill file yourself, you won't be able to see your own messages...

You don't need a reason to hate OE.

I went to Northwich Market today. The model railway stall was all shut up and there was a sign saying 'This stall is now closed' with a phone number. Very sad - I have bought a few things there.

Vernon in Middlewich.

The message from "Vernon" contains these words:

So did I - but I had the impression that I was the only customer. I'm glad to know that there was at least one other...

Perhaps we didn't buy quite enough to keep them going.

Oh yes you do, otherwise you are nothing but a troll - think about it.

I've used OE and IE since Windoz 95.

And I'm perfectly happy with both. They work.

-- Cheers Roger T.

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