RMweb Gold westerhamstation Posted April 18, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2013 I've used this shop three times now and have been very impressed each time. Living in California I'm strictly a website shopper and MM's website is better than most. Hatton's is still the gold standard but for what I perceive to be a small shop MM's webiste is quite sophisticated and in some ways is better than Hattons. I've used the shop to exlucsively to buy N gauge locos in old issue, hard to find liveries which for some reason MM still had in new in stock long after they had sold out at the "big boys" and indeed even sold out at the manufacturer. I suppose there are plenty of other small shops that still have old stock like that but MM gets my business because of its presence online. I also like its loyalty points scheme - it's very simple to use and "does what it says on the box." They do very good email acknowlegements and post promptly. Prices listed online are competitive (sometimes VERY competitive) and overseas shipping charges are, too. I can't tell you how many times I've found a "bargain" at a shop only to discover at checkout it wants to charge me more than 10 quid for basic p+p. Whereupon I nix my order. Shops would do well to appreciate that p+p costs are a huge draw when they are low and a huge turnoff when they are not. MM definitely knows this! If I have any gripe it's that their N gauge inventory in-stock seems a bit thin. I can appreicate they would not want to tie cash up in inventory but when I am in the mood to buy something, I'm in the mood right then and don't want to have to wait for the shop to special order something from the manufacturer. I'm sure they'd get more custom from me if they had more stock readily available for sale. Apart from that the shop is superb and highly recommended. Matt I live very close to Modellers Mecca,walking distance if I wasn't quite so idle. It is a true model railway shop, very helpful and knowlegable staff, If they haven't got it in stock they will try to get it, and then ring you when it's in. I have no connection with them other than being a very happy customer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris.trebble Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Just purchased from Modellers Mecca for the first time (Bachmann TPO sorting van with nets). Good prices, excellent service (online), next day delivery. Very impressed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crantock Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 I popped in at the weekend for the first time in about 4 years. The shop has massively reduced in size and the shop portion is now quite small and thinly stocked. I assume that space is devoted to mail order and maybe stuff is available if you ask. Overall though, no longer a destination. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 What's happening at Modellers Mecca? A colleague was in there last week and tells me the site is up for auction later this month. Is this another shop under threat? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tim Hall Posted September 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2017 I've sent a message to a friend who lives about 400 yards from the shop, and has been a regular in there since it was Roy's place in the Arcade in the village, more or less opposite my mother's library in the 70s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold teaky Posted September 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2017 What's happening at Modellers Mecca? A colleague was in there last week and tells me the site is up for auction later this month. Is this another shop under threat? I understand it is moving to online sales only. The owner used to post on RMweb but I haven't seen anything for a while. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wollastonblue Posted September 7, 2017 Author Share Posted September 7, 2017 Just come up on my Facebook feed, that Modellers Mecca are closing the shop to focus on Online Retail: https://www.facebook.com/ModellersMecca/?hc_ref=ART2z0k1pSWP8DBZxRJDGejDeH97i85wf7-UCau6F3DtCc-4SvpEM5idqskS8wkd1Tc&fref=nf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clearwater Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Interesting. They'll need to work out a niche to be able to compete against the other large established on line players David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Just come up on my Facebook feed, that Modellers Mecca are closing the shop to focus on Online Retail: https://www.facebook.com/ModellersMecca/?hc_ref=ART2z0k1pSWP8DBZxRJDGejDeH97i85wf7-UCau6F3DtCc-4SvpEM5idqskS8wkd1Tc&fref=nf That's extremely sad news, its a bit out of the way for me but always called in when I was in the area and spent a fair few quid over the past couple of years. Hopefully they can continue online but as noted elsewhere, its an even tougher market than the High St in this sector. Best of luck to them, will hope to continue my custom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sp1 Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Very sad news, but I've been expecting this for about 18 months or so when alterations were made to the shop and all the employees disappeared, hardly any new items appeared (think the last 'new' loco I bought from there was the Bachman 64xx when it first came out, although I have purchased other locos from there since which were obviously old stock e.g. Bachman locos which had not been produced for 2-3 years). I haven't been for a few months due to work, but used to be in there every week (and I too, have been a customer on & off since it was Roy's in the arcade!). Having said that, best wishes to Lucy and I hope everything works out..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold teaky Posted September 7, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2017 I thought she was called Lisa? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Midland Mole Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 No, she is called Lucy. We have been getting a lot of people in the shop recently who have been asking about what is happening with Modellers Mecca. Alex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold teaky Posted September 9, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 9, 2017 Ah, perhaps as well that I haven't called in for a while and called her Lisa then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold westerhamstation Posted September 9, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 9, 2017 Called in yesterday for the last time, it is closing in a few weeks but will still trade online. all the best to Lucy for the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Aye.....this closure is really sad.......I was born in Wall Heath......the shop has been in Wall Heath for 47 years and went when it first opened as a 10 year old (work out how old I am then)...knew it when it was also in the then new precinct when Roy M had it...still see him on the SVR and about locally...... We are all guilty of shopping online for things.....it is a crying shame when outlets such as this close....makes me so sad.....it is also the 'walk-in' advice and chat / socialise that goes too..... Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covkid Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I shall certainly miss Modellers Mecca as a shop to browse, but I think I understand why the shop ceases to retail. It is very much down to mail order and box shifting. Lucy has offered competitive prices on locos and units particularly and at one point I had over half a dozen items on order. The Bachmann "Stanier crab" and coal tank have reduced this but there is still a 94xx and a "24/1" outstanding. My view has been - don't expect your modelshop to exist selling you a couple of tinlets of paint and a monthly magazine while you avail yourself of boxshifter prices for your goodies. Wish Lucy well in this next chapter of the business and will have to try and get over for a final time next week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Ordered some more Warley Stock Boxes fro Modellers Mecca on the 1st July, received an email on the 2nd saying they had been dispatched and have received nothing and they haven't responded to emails. No telephone number on website. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold teaky Posted July 10, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2018 Ordered some more Warley Stock Boxes fro Modellers Mecca on the 1st July, received an email on the 2nd saying they had been dispatched and have received nothing and they haven't responded to emails. No telephone number on website. It used to be sales@modellers-mecca.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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