Oh dear, I just dont know which response or arguement to go for here ! Of
course I'm not qualified to disagree, I'm sure that is your opinion. I have
a different one though, based on support of the free market, shifting more
units, quality of service and the benefits to the end customer - me.
Cheers,
Simon
One does have to thank Peco Publications for providing archive copies of
"Railway Modeller" on CD-Rom every year since 2002 and, at what to me, is an
acceptable price.
It saves an enormous amount of shelf space. Model Rail provided a similar
service for 2004 at an extortionate price but have not made 2005 available
citing lack of support and "copyright issues".
Quite 21st century for Peco!
Dave W.
On 05/01/2007 20:54, Bruce said,
I have a similar problem (but not quite as remote as you!) when websites
or government agencies tell me that Cardiff is only 13 miles away from
Weston-super-Mare. A colleague, who was unemployed at the time,
actually had a local job centre unwilling to understand why commuting to
Cardiff was a problem because their computer said it's 13 miles away.
They didn't offer a helicopter or boat...
"simon" wrote
At the end of the day Simon, Hornby (or any other range for that matter) is
only a valid product for as long as retailers are prepared to carry the
range in stock, and that only happens if it results in profit for the
stockist.
We've already told Hornby to stuff Scalextric because it only produces
worthwhile business for two or three months each year, and because the
market is over-supplied and consequently there is no profit to be made.
Sure the customer can get some fantastic deals on Scalextric from eBay and
elsewhere at other times of the year, but the net result is that it becomes
increasingly difficult to find the product on retailers shelves. If the
public can't find their add-ons and spares then pretty soon they will not
want to buy the sets from the big multiples and the range could potentially
die.
It's now possible to buy Hornby trains in Hull from a camera shop, as well
as Marks & Spencers, Toys R Us and other similar 'fringe stockists' who
simply cream the profit on the popular items and make it less attractive for
the professional retailer to carry an extensive range.
Tell me who loses in the latter situation?
John.
The closure of our local post office contributed greatly to the closure of
the nearby model shop although there were other factors. The arrival of a
branch of one the big hobby chainstores in the centre of town was one. The
city council endlessly digging up the road outside the shop was another.
(kim)
Thing about these fringe stockists is they get customers that you wont.
Kid+parents go into M&S see the set as theyre passing and think thats a nice
idea. Gets them started, so child happy gets playing then wants more, also
wants info, nothing in the fringe shops so they come to you. You look after
them, theyre with you for life.
Went in to ToyRUs for a bike when his lordship was 4, they had complete
range 50 bikes, varying prices. No idea what was good, bad or indifferent
and no one to tell us. Went to local toy shop, they had one that was
suitable. Could trust them, so knew it was a good one. Not been back to
ToysRUs. Got next bike from local toy shop.
Cheers,
Simon
Problem with that is, people go to a traditional dealer to ask their advice
on what to buy, then go and purchase it from the bucket shop down the road
which is 10% cheaper, then go back to the traditional dealer to complain the
item they bought from the bucket shop doesn't work properly!
(kim)
I would have thought that was obvious? Consumers take advantage of a
traditional dealer's knowledge and experience by picking his brains for
advice then deprive him of the income from a sale by placing their order
with a clueless but slightly cheaper adversary down the road.
(kim)
"simon" wrote
On the face of it I agree, but in principle it's not that simple. Sure a
proportion of the sets sold in M&S will hit a totally different market, but
they are sold an 'exclusive' set which has notional collectors' appeal and
which they can sell at way below what we have to pay for similar items.
I know a number of my regular customers have bought these sets and
consequently the money they have to spend in my shop is in some cases
significantly reduced.
One customer told me he had intended to buy some Hornby Gresley coaches from
me, but the deal on the M&S trainset (which includes identical Gresley
coaches) was so good that he'd bought the set just to get the coaches, had
then sold the (exclusive) loco and got the coaches for well less than
half-price.
Note I'll repeat M&S were SELLING these sets for less than we could BUY the
nearest equivalent.
John.
"John Turner" wrote
Note I'll repeat M&S were SELLING these sets for less than we could BUY the
nearest equivalent.
John.
John,
The Argos and "What's in at Asda" catalogues were our best friends - we
knew what NOT to buy for the shop window as we knew we would not sell them
at the higher price. I concur, they too were sold less that what we paid AB
Gee for them...
Andy
"Andy Sollis CVMRD" wrote
Yes, we use the same potential 'market research', but at the end of the day
Hornby are producing a totally unlevel playing field simply to get boxes on
fringe retailers' shelves, but the real joke is that as 'service dealers' we
are expected to sort any problems which occur with these items.
John.
I accept you will lose a few sales but its the bringing in of people that
otherwise may not have joined the hobby. This increases the customer base
and you will get some of those people into your shop. Gives you the chance
of more than balancing out the occasional loss.
Suspect the M&S deal was a special, most trainsets are not that good in
terms of quality or price. M&S were working really hard to get people in the
door.
Simon
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