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Model Rail standalones as a freebie


durham light infantry
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50 minutes ago, Bonafide said:

I believe people are concerned less with the monetary value than they are with the general principle of being charged more which is perceived as sharp practice. 

 

 

Surely, as in the OP's case, it's the price of something dropping after it's been bought? not 'charging more'.

 

Heck if I started not buying things in case the price dropped at some point in the indefinite future I wouldn't be buying much! <rolls eyes>

 

edit: I bought a reference book about 3 weeks ago for 20 odd quid, now I seen it's in the sale for 14 quid, shall I boycott the publisher ?

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43 minutes ago, Bonafide said:

I believe people are concerned less with the monetary value than they are with the general principle of being charged more which is perceived as sharp practice. 

 

 

But sharp practice by whom? MR certainly doesn't seek to irritate its fragile customer base any more than any other publication - they are all in the same leaky boat right now, and it's none of their making. I am not above cutting off my nose to spite my face, but in this case a supermarket - the main financial beneficiary of the pandemic, by all accounts - has caused a customer to turn his back on a legit publication. That makes no sense on any level, and Chris Leigh's kind offer should be applauded. 

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41 minutes ago, Bonafide said:

I believe people are concerned less with the monetary value than they are with the general principle of being charged more which is perceived as sharp practice. 

 

 

 

It's not more. You are getting two magazines for the price of the bookazine.

 

The bookazine is £5.99 so you are virtually getting a free issue of Model Rail.

 

https://www.hattons.co.uk/585082/model_rail_magazine_modelrailhowtobuildvol8_how_to_build_a_model_railway_volume_8_from_model_rail_magazine/stockdetail.aspx

 

Are they meant to stop offers because one person already has that magazine?

 

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How have I turned into the villain here? It's not about the money, and the unkind comments are not welcome or helpfull.

 

Perhaps the bag could be prominently stickered "Contains product previously sold seperately". Supermarkets do this with their own special offers and display this information on the shelf edge.

 

As for availability. We don't have a local newsagent stocking specialist magazines. As for WH Smiths, last time I went to the Durham shop a member of staff was refusing admittance to those who wanted to purchase magazines only. Not an essential purchase was the phrase used.

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6 minutes ago, durham light infantry said:

How have I turned into the villain here?

 

You did make it sound as though someone else was the villain in the OP Mike. Hopefully subsequent posts, perspectives and practicalities show that it isn't the case.

 

I know you've been in retail Mike, didn't you ever discount a product someone else had bought at a higher price or give a deal to someone buying several items?

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14 hours ago, durham light infantry said:

 

1/3rd of the way into a busy weekly shop it goes into the trolley, along with my wife's weekly reads and the radio times and weekend papers.

It was a loyalty buy, not any more.


Yeah in fairness it’s not that obvious with the clutter that’s on front of most Mags 

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14 minutes ago, durham light infantry said:

 

As for availability. We don't have a local newsagent stocking specialist magazines. As for WH Smiths, last time I went to the Durham shop a member of staff was refusing admittance to those who wanted to purchase magazines only. Not an essential purchase was the phrase used.

That seems to be an odd statement for any sort of shop to make.

 

AIUI in Australia and I'm sure I've heard the same thing about UK shops, that if they are allowed to be open, then they can sell virtually every product within it.

 

What else do they plan on doing with it? I guess they should return them to the publisher, if they didn't intend selling them. Which would be devastating to the whole publishing industry.

 

 

As for you other comments about 'freebies', they did start off by suggesting that by including older (and unwanted) stock, was causing the price to go up.

 

As this web site is owned by another magazine publisher (Warners Group Publications), besides Model Rail, it shouldn't be a surprise that such comments, are going to attract defensive statements by senior representatives.

 

Fact is, this Coronavirus is devastating to the whole world and weird and strange things are happening all the time. At least vaccines are now becoming available and injections have started around the world.

So hopefully things will start turning around, much sooner than later. In the meantime, we all have to be patient.

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4 hours ago, Bonafide said:

I believe people are concerned less with the monetary value than they are with the general principle of being charged more which is perceived as sharp practice. 

 

 

 

Maybe, but AFAIA they are not being charged more for the bundled pack but significantly less that the total individual price of both - a bargain offer. In fact it seems to be just £1.20 over the price of one, so not even the two or three quid Ian suggested. And there is the option of not taking the offer and going without which means you won't get charged anything.

 

 

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14 minutes ago, soony said:

there were many months when publication was impossible

 

All the mainstream model railway mags have continued publishing on time every month with editorial teams working remotely changing the established ways of working. MRJ had a bit of a delay when their printers were in lockdown but got back on the horse as soon as they could. Distribution had some delays and of course some retail outlets were closed for some of the time.

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2 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

All the mainstream model railway mags have continued publishing on time every month with editorial teams working remotely changing the established ways of working. MRJ had a bit of a delay when their printers were in lockdown but got back on the horse as soon as they could. Distribution had some delays and of course some retail outlets were closed for some of the time.


Actually  we’ve kind of taken that for granted and shouldn’t forget the effort that people have made to keep to monthly schedules . Cant be easy producing new material when you can’t get out to photograph layouts etc . I’ve found lots of reading matter when going out for the essential shop so thanks to all concerned for this . 

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26 minutes ago, soony said:

I would guess its all COVID related

Absolutely nothing to do with Covid, the OP is complaining because a Model Rail bookazine they bought some time ago is now available at a lower price as part of a 'bundle'. 

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Hang on a minute.

You rush in and buy the latest loco from Hornby/Bachmann or whoever, at £170, when first released. The retailers are not allowed to discount within the first few weeks. You are happy, because you know they are produced in a batch size (though you don't know the actual quantity to be fair) and you've managed to get hold of one, because you wanted it.

Weeks later, out of the initial 'blocked' period, some retailers give a promotional 25% off. Do you complain at that? Fair retail practice. You could have waited, and risked missing the loco.

 

But you want a magazine. Normal retail is £5, each month. And a bookazine is available, separately, at £6. Last month you bought the bookazine, you are happy, you wanted it.

A couple of months later, the monthly mag, a newer issue is available, still at £5. In the supermarket it is on sale, at (wait for it) an offer price of - £6. BUT you get a free bookazine with it. Is the offer a bargain? 

 

I suggest YES, but only if you wanted the mag AND bookazine. 

If you wanted the mag only, & the bookazine was of no interest - NO; go elsewhere and pay £5 as normal for just the mag..

If you wanted only the bookazine, YES, you get it £1 cheaper than the cover price. Throw the mag away!

 

Hold on - what is the difference between buying a new loco (reduced by 25% 3months later) or finding the bookazine reduced/in a bundle later?

 

Apart from the overall cost of course, and I've also used "example" prices to keep it simple.

 

BTW  - One (of many examples) item I regularly buy in Tesco is normally priced at £4. Every so often it is reduced to £2.50. Do I complain at that - NO. (In fact I now bulk buy at the low price, and don't buy at the normal!)

 

 

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5 hours ago, durham light infantry said:

 

 

As for availability. We don't have a local newsagent stocking specialist magazines. As for WH Smiths, last time I went to the Durham shop a member of staff was refusing admittance to those who wanted to purchase magazines only. Not an essential purchase was the phrase used.

 

I recall a spokesman for HM Gov clearly stating that this was not the case.

If a shop is eligible to remain open it can sell whatever it stocks.

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6 hours ago, durham light infantry said:

As for WH Smiths, last time I went to the Durham shop a member of staff was refusing admittance to those who wanted to purchase magazines only. Not an essential purchase was the phrase used.

 

What a bizarre attitude from the staff, on a number of levels ! What exactly do WH Smith sell that is considered essential, what criteria are staff given (or more likely dreamt up themselves) on 'essential' purchases, and why, especially now, would any business turn away customers ? I have had no problem, at either WHS or supermarkets, buying anything they happened to have on sale. 

 

Actually, on second thoughts, was this soon after a former Government adviser had driven to Durham, and later tested his eyesight, leading to local sensitivity ? 

 

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I believe early on in Lockdown 1 it was decreed that newspapers were an essential item - hence WHS could open.

Also at the beginning of the year(ish) I was reading the official gov.uk regs for shops (for another reason). I'm sure I read - taking my local Tesco as an example) - that a multifunction shop that sold essentials could open and sell its normal range. But, if there were divisions within the shop, and they could be closed off, then those depts could (note -not mandatory) be kept closed. Our Tesco has a mezzanine floor selling clothes etc so that could probably be kept closed (but isn't). Maybe there are some essentials up there? Essentials isn't just clothes, but think about DIY (B&Q), car maintenance (Halfords), newspapers (WHS etc. I think my ex-neighbour is pushing it with a small tiny shop which they think is essential, but in reality only could claim a few small packets of nails and a bit of kitchen cleaning spray as essential!

 

Stewart

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2 hours ago, stewartingram said:

I suggest YES, but only if you wanted the mag AND bookazine. 

If you wanted the mag only, & the bookazine was of no interest - NO; go elsewhere and pay £5 as normal for just the mag..

If you wanted only the bookazine, YES, you get it £1 cheaper than the cover price. Throw the mag away!

 

Or the OP signs up with County Durham Libraries and reads Model Rail online at no extra charge, and no bookazine being forced upon him.

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2 hours ago, stewartingram said:

Hang on a minute.

You rush in and buy the latest loco from Hornby/Bachmann or whoever, at £170, when first released. The retailers are not allowed to discount within the first few weeks. You are happy, because you know they are produced in a batch size (though you don't know the actual quantity to be fair) and you've managed to get hold of one, because you wanted it.

Weeks later, out of the initial 'blocked' period, some retailers give a promotional 25% off. Do you complain at that? Fair retail practice. You could have waited, and risked missing the loco.

 

But you want a magazine. Normal retail is £5, each month. And a bookazine is available, separately, at £6. Last month you bought the bookazine, you are happy, you wanted it.

A couple of months later, the monthly mag, a newer issue is available, still at £5. In the supermarket it is on sale, at (wait for it) an offer price of - £6. BUT you get a free bookazine with it. Is the offer a bargain? 

 

I suggest YES, but only if you wanted the mag AND bookazine. 

If you wanted the mag only, & the bookazine was of no interest - NO; go elsewhere and pay £5 as normal for just the mag..

If you wanted only the bookazine, YES, you get it £1 cheaper than the cover price. Throw the mag away!

 

Hold on - what is the difference between buying a new loco (reduced by 25% 3months later) or finding the bookazine reduced/in a bundle later?

 

Apart from the overall cost of course, and I've also used "example" prices to keep it simple.

 

BTW  - One (of many examples) item I regularly buy in Tesco is normally priced at £4. Every so often it is reduced to £2.50. Do I complain at that - NO. (In fact I now bulk buy at the low price, and don't buy at the normal!)

 

 


Not quite Stewart . In my case Modern Railways was the Mag I was interested in and it came bundled with a Mag on loco liveries I think 1948-52 . I had seen it around before but hadn’t bought it . But the cost of the bundle was more than the cost of Modern Railways . Yes I know it’s only £1 or £2  but I’ll bet there are a lot of people get to the checkout not realising that .  And I think that’s the point raised . It seems maybe “sharp practice” However as explained on here it seems that it’s a supermarket  initiative . As I was only looking for a Mag to read and wasn’t particularly bothered  I elected to go for an Airliner Mag instead . So actually their promotion had the opposite effect on me . But I’m still not sure if anyone lost out . Tesco still got my money just not on the magazine I originally intended to buy !  I wouldn’t object if Modern Railways had been available to buy singly as well as the pack but that wasnt an option . The thing is it’s bundled to suggest you are getting something for nothing and you aren’t . 

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1 hour ago, caradoc said:

 

What a bizarre attitude from the staff, on a number of levels ! What exactly do WH Smith sell that is considered essential, what criteria are staff given (or more likely dreamt up themselves) on 'essential' purchases, and why, especially now, would any business turn away customers ? I have had no problem, at either WHS or supermarkets, buying anything they happened to have on sale. 

 

Actually, on second thoughts, was this soon after a former Government adviser had driven to Durham, and later tested his eyesight, leading to local sensitivity ? 

 

Many WH Smith’s have Post Offices in them which makes them essential . However in this case it looks like someone was being over zealous. But with complicated restrictions which vary over the 4 nations who can blame him for getting it wrong .  In Wales , for instance , even if open shops can only sell essentials . 

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This kind of thing is nothing new, though my experience was with books.

In the 1970s I worked near Waterloo, and even though there was still Retail Price Maintenance on books Smiths at Waterloo station was always selling comparatively recent Ian Allan titles at reduced prices - whereas other retailers were not allowed to reduce the price. I assume that Ian Allan must have done a specific deal with Smiths. I must admit that I often took advantage of it, as my bookshelves show.

Jonathan

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  • 3 months later...
On 20/02/2021 at 19:35, Steamport Southport said:

Usually it's the retailers repackaging them. Usually just old stocks they can't get rid of. Surely better than sending them for recycling?

 

 

I've found those Key and Kelsey bookazines packaged with regular magazines before today.

 

Something like Steam Railway or Steam Days, and an issue of BR Diesel Depots! 

 

 

 

Jason

 

Really? 

 

I must have missed that :(

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