In case anyone is not yet aware - the new Hornby 2006 Catalogue was released this week. The GBP7.50 price tag is a 25% increase on that charged last year, although I have to say it is a little larger than the 2005 issue.
John.
On 13/01/2006 19:21, John Turner said,
£7.50!!!!!!!!!! Flippin' 'eck. Is it personally delivered by Simon Kohler or something?I must admit that I've never understood the logic of charging someone to see what they can buy from you. It seems particularly prevalent in the model world. In manufacturing, you can't stop people shoving catalogues at you - they want you to buy their goodies.
I'll pop back on here later on with my flame-proof suit :-)
In message , Paul Boyd writes
Maplins charge for their catalogues. Screwfix don't.
Rapid Electronics don't charge for their huge catalogue either (in fact I had to give them a ring to tell them I had enough copies after the 3rd was delivered with my third order).
If anyone is unaware of this company their service and prices are excellant, free delivery (usually 48hr) on orders over £25 and the best of all really good prices. i.e. 1.5mm flat Leds at about 11p each plus vat.
No connection other than as a very satisfied customer.
Back to the subject matter though, I will not buy a catalogue regardless of who and what it's for unless there is a very good reason, such as if includes some additional benifits that cannot be purchased elsewhere.
£7.50 is a disgrace for a product catalogue, regardless of how glossy and well photographed it may be. You can buy a decent book for little more.Eddie
someone to
catalogues
These days I totally agree with you, in the age of the internet, ISTM that these catalogues (of the Hornby or Backmann type) are nothing more than 'collectors' fodder with price tags to match!
"Edward Bray" wrote
Hornby have already given a profits warning to the Stcok Exchange. Now to my way of thinking you don't redress a situation like that by increasing prices (it usually results in a fall in sales), unless of course you think the buying public are a set of mugs!
Not so sure about that. I don't seem able to buy any of the books I want these days much under £15.
John.
Hi John,
I have bought many books lately from both ebay and Amazon at considerably less than £7.50 including postage.
Some were secondhand I grant you but not all i.e.
I accept that many books are over this sum, but there are bargains to be had, and a catalogue at 7 1/2 squid ain't one.
Eddie.
"Edward Bray" wrote
£7.50 is a disgrace for a product catalogue, regardless of how glossy and well photographed it may be. You can buy a decent book for little more.Eddie
Yep, Go to Excel, buy a traders ticket to the International Toy fair at the end of the month and get. Oooohhhh, Hornby, Bachmann, Gaugemaster and Peco all for free in a complimentary carrier bag. ! (Sometimes even a free product like a intermodal container in sponsor colours which was of no use whatsoever unless you painted it.... Come on, lets have a Jinty each!)
No wonder we always used to see so many folk wondering around with "Student" on their badges !
Slightly tongue in cheek, but It were much more fun at Olympia !
Andy Sollis CVMRD
"Edward Bray" wrote
Certainly agree on the latter point!
I do tend to buy specialist books, which might explain why I find it difficult to get them cheaply.
John.
Perhaps Hornby could put some money off vouchers in the catalogue to ease the pain?
Squires don't - they ask me if I want a catalogue, every time I buy off them at a show!
Cheers, Mick
I agree, this is a silly price for what is likely to be no more than an advertisement, with very basic information that could be and probably is on some traders' web sites.
At least some of the HO manufacturers such as Roco and Faller include a lot of technical information in their expensive catalogues - not just DDC ready or not, but length over buffers, dimensions of structures, coupling options, lighting, era and wiring and geometry diagrams etc, as appropriate. This can be a very useful guide to "what will fit / look right" questions and avoids having to measure things in a shop before deciding to buy, assuming that the item is in stock.
Mike B
Hmmm, well, I stopped getting catalogues of any kind ages ago, if I could possibly avoid them (pity Squires isn't online). I find the internet is more useful with a good website (of which there aren't enough) that lists products more user-friendly. It also has the added advantage (at least in theory) that it can be kept up-to-date more frequently than a yearly catalogue. Oh, and by keeping an eye on suitable shop sites (eHattons), you get to know when a product actually comes out, rather than relying on the catalogue's prediction. This does of course require sites that are more honest about what they have in stock rather than simply listing everything regardless (SMC, plus others)...
Ian J.
When did they do that? I can't see the details on their website, nor on the stock exchange site. Their interim results were published in early November, and profits were static on a slight decline of sales (ie increased margins, which is unusual in this sector).
The share price has declined over the last 12 months, which is against the market trend, so one could say that now is a good time to buy Hornby shares.
Indeed they didn't bat an eye lid when I removed three catalogues from the counter (legit reason for wanting three), just a smile from the girl behind the counter!
charged last
What a bloody stupid thing to come out with, try thinking before pressing 'Send'!...
"John Ruddy" wrote
I think it was on BBC New 24 Business Report, a couple or so months back. Must be true because our rep referred to it on his last visit as justification for an impending round of price increases.
John.
Care to explain why it's bloody stupid?
Quite a few suppliers have done that - i.e. get the cost of the catalogue back with your first order from the catalogue. I remember Exactoscale doing it with their catalogue.
It's quite a good way of controlling the supply of catalogues. Genuine customers will not lose out after their first order.
Jim.
I thought the price increases were due to increases from the manufacturing plant? The chinese revalued the Yuan late last year too.
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