BlackFivesMatter Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Is there a reason why some model shops, or online traders do not display prices? I appreciate that wielding a pricing gun when stock comes in is a bore, but I would have thought that looking up prices from suppliers and deducting the shops percentage for many enquiries (often with no sale) is more of a bore. It also opens up the trader to claims if discrimination. In any case if they have a rate for club members or regulars, it's easy for them to deduct that at point of sale. I'd appreciate your thoughts please. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Sheer Laziness? I really hate it when items are not priced up, I don't like asking and it's embarrassing if I can't afford it. 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 2 hours ago, BlackFivesMatter said: Is there a reason why some model shops, or online traders do not display prices? I appreciate that wielding a pricing gun when stock comes in is a bore, but I would have thought that looking up prices from suppliers and deducting the shops percentage for many enquiries (often with no sale) is more of a bore. It also opens up the trader to claims if discrimination. In any case if they have a rate for club members or regulars, it's easy for them to deduct that at point of sale. I'd appreciate your thoughts please. Any examples? I've never seen an item in a retailer un priced whether in a physical shop or online. You're not mistaking stock that is now "out of stock" as being available to buy by any chance. Many leave the pages in situ in case they get more stock, Hattons and Rails for example. The only time I've seen unpriced items is in antiques dealers who want to haggle and will take offers. Jason 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted November 18, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2021 My (recently closed) local model shop didn't used to display prices, hence I didn't shop there. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-DIMB Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 3 hours ago, spamcan61 said: My (recently closed) local model shop didn't used to display prices, hence I didn't shop there. Wasn't in Bournemouth was it perchance? If so then i remember that shop. Everything had to be checked using some ancient computer from the early 80s. I cant say i have been into any shop recently where this was the case. Maybe the odd item that got forgotten or the like but not anyone that never puts any price on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium njee20 Posted November 18, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2021 One of the retailers at TINGS didn't have anything priced, think it was Osborn's. I asked about a couple of things, but the prices weren't particularly compelling, and I couldn't be bothered to ask about everything I'd have considered, so I walked on. I saw, and read of a number of people doing the same. Stupid. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackFivesMatter Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 I didn't want to name names of stores. I have seen this in actual model shops and on line businesses, not antiques dealers. I appreciate some places may list descriptions and photos and once listed put the prices on soon after. There is one online trader who does not do this (not RTR) and lists "not for sale", then the loco vanishes. Perhaps it's an indication of what he might have. I can only think lazy, or a non-listing shop under new management who has not yet had a chance to be responsible. The only other alternative. I don't think money laundering in the model railway sector is a thing. ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackFivesMatter Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 12 hours ago, spamcan61 said: My (recently closed) local model shop didn't used to display prices, hence I didn't shop there. If this is the place I think, then they were reported to trading standards, HSE and for hate incidents. Their lack of clear pricing may have been the least of their issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TheQ Posted November 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 19, 2021 The lack of pricing labels I think started in the 1980 when we had 26% inflation and the stores were forever going round changing price labels. Some stores then realised that some will then buy even if they think it's expensive, due the the embarrassment of putting it back. So they never went back to putting prices on. As for me buying, online or in a shop no shown price at the start, I don't buy.. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted November 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 19, 2021 9 hours ago, G-DIMB said: Wasn't in Bournemouth was it perchance? If so then i remember that shop. Everything had to be checked using some ancient computer from the early 80s. Possibly ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted November 20, 2021 Share Posted November 20, 2021 Theres 3 shops i regularly visit. 2 of which have prices on everything, both new and used. One of them, the smaller of the 3 has prices on most things. Preowned stuff seems to be unpriced and you have to ask Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DK123GWR Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 On a related note, there is a model shop within a toy shop near me. All of its items are priced, but with tiny handwritten (probably in pencil) stickers, and they are kept on a shelving unit behind the desk. I am young with good eyesight, and I found attempting to read the prices futile. I asked if I could get closer because the labels and was told that I should just ask them. I found looking past the person stood behind the desk trying to look at the prices uncomfortable, but if I have to ask about every single item that I'm even thinking of buying I'm not going to bother hanging around. I can't work out what on earth they hope to gain from this policy. Older people (who are more likely to have sub-optimal eyesight) and autistic people (who may be less comfortable engaging with the worker) are both likely to be over-represented in the pool of potential customers, yet are both more likely to be put off by this policy. Perhaps they just didn't like the look of the teenager in slightly scruffy clothing carrying a rucksack - but I can't change my age more than anyone else and I'm not likely to be cycling the 10 miles or so to their shop in a suit and tie while carrying a briefcase (and even if matters were different, why should I have to change myself or my behaviour in order to avoid ageist or classist prejudice). Either way, I've never bought from them and I won't in future. I can find more facilitating suppliers than them, both bricks-and-mortar and online. I assume that they likewise believe they can find more willing customers than me. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsmodels Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 (edited) a brand new model shop opened near me and being an online customer before i was asked along for a sneak peek before the official opening, nice new shop, good stocks and a welcome at the door. i was give a leaflet on entering saying how the pricing app worked as there were no price labels on anything, i then pointed out that i do not own a mobile phone so how does that work to be told we could ask for prices! i doubt they will want to keep constantly look for prices for my visit? when i shop and i see something i can instantly decide if it is worth it within seconds if it is priced up. i think i will probably just go on their online shop as the prices are there and i don't have to travel, i did buy some things there but one of them did not like the scanner so they price could not be established very quickly. progress? i have also been to the notorious bournmouth shop once! and only once but has known the owner for years before, never again. Edited November 22, 2021 by sandsmodels 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
exet1095 Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 It is quite simple. There is a legal requirement to show prices. See: https://www.gov.uk/product-labelling-the-law If not, then it is a matter for Trading Standards. Paul 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
admiles Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 (edited) On 22/11/2021 at 11:06, exet1095 said: It is quite simple. There is a legal requirement to show prices. See: https://www.gov.uk/product-labelling-the-law If not, then it is a matter for Trading Standards. Paul Or just shop elsewhere.... Can't say shops without prices bother me in the slightest. I'll just ask. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff! Edited December 28, 2022 by admiles 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Quite simple - No price - no sale (to me) Just walk on by. Brit15 2 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgeconna Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 On 18/11/2021 at 18:14, DCB said: Sheer Laziness? I really hate it when items are not priced up, I don't like asking and it's embarrassing if I can't afford it. Well not really, I hated doing it. The issue being if you had 30 kits of a certain model on the shelves priced up at a £10.00 and then the Manufacturing company upped their prices for 20p then all the old stock would have to be repriced up. This was a regular thing. A right pain in the hole, Especially when you are in the shop yourself. Best thing is a cabinet with stuff on show and a price against the item itself, not easy with smaller items though. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widnes Model Centre Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 4 hours ago, exet1095 said: It is quite simple. There is a legal requirement to show prices. See: https://www.gov.uk/product-labelling-the-law If not, then it is a matter for Trading Standards. Paul Thanks Paul for pointing this out. Some of the products we sell are almost smaller than our pricing labels. We have to be careful that we don’t cover the safety information with the price. Tedious but necessary. Label is placed underneath the product. One company that supplies us with paints, glues etc have to replace all of the information on those items with the English version. Every single bottle has to be relabelled. Imagine you worked there and a forty foot container of paints arrived. Think l would book the day off! If we didn’t price all our products, l would shop elsewhere. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovenor Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Georgeconna said: Well not really, I hated doing it. The issue being if you had 30 kits of a certain model on the shelves priced up at a £10.00 and then the Manufacturing company upped their prices for 20p then all the old stock would have to be repriced up. This was a regular thing. But you labelled them for the markup you wanted so why do you need to relabel? Only new stock needs the new prices. 3 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DK123GWR Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 13 minutes ago, Grovenor said: But you labelled them for the markup you wanted so why do you need to relabel? Only new stock needs the new prices. Think about cashflow - you need to be able to buy the new stock at the new prices, and depending upon the size of the price rise that may not be possible. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 On 18/11/2021 at 22:02, G-DIMB said: Wasn't in Bournemouth was it perchance? If so then i remember that shop. Everything had to be checked using some ancient computer from the early 80s. I cant say i have been into any shop recently where this was the case. Maybe the odd item that got forgotten or the like but not anyone that never puts any price on it. I stopped shopping at the Bournemouth Model Centre for precisely this reason. The owner would size up a customer and pretend to look it up and basically pluck a random amount based on what he thought you would pay. If someone else was behind the counter you would often get a different and much lower price for the same item. He regularly sold items over RRP as well. David 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted November 23, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 23, 2021 I believe that during the 1980s I visited a well-known shop in London and couldn't find prices on the stock -- it had to be checked with the catalog. One of the larger train shops near us has price scanners rather than tags. So does a large hardware/auto chain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evertonian Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 Just to clarify, I would like to point out there is absolutely no connection between the (now closed) shop mentioned in Bournemouth and Model Railway Solutions, currently the only model rail shop in the area, and where pricing is in place throughout on new and the extensive second hand items. Chris Knight 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackFivesMatter Posted November 23, 2021 Author Share Posted November 23, 2021 Agree that model railway solutions is a wonderful store. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 How much is that Deltic in the window? The one with the wobbly wheel How much is that Deltic in the window? I do hope that Deltics for sale I must take a trip to a shop in Liverpool And leave my poor sweetheart alone If he has a Deltic, he won't be lonesome And the Deltic will have a good home Brit15 1 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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