Ian Allan Manchester

[TheSignalEngineer]

From conversations about the Piccadilly block I understand that IA were offered just the ground floor for the same rent as the two floors they have at the moment.

 

I went in this morning and relieved them af half a dozen wagons I wanted and a load of plastic sheet, scenic stuff and oddments. Looked as if a lot of the stock had been hoovered up yesteday, watch out for a load on a well known auction site at the weekend.

[APOLLO]

Just got back from a visit to the Manchester shop. I agree with Stationmaster above, staff are doing their best to be pleasant under the sad circumstances. I got a baccy green 08 early emblem non wasp for £42.50 and 5 baccy blue suburbans different numbers for £14.97 each.

 

Stock is selling fast, there were several bods in buying quite alot. There are 2 cabinets with remaining locos in stock in. I got a new boxed 08, they have loco stock  in the back. About 2 dozen assorted Hornby / Bachmann locos (No J15 / J50), quite a few coaches & assorted wagons. There is a lot of scenic stuff and  quite a few buildings (Hornby / Baccy). Also quite alot of N gauge both on the shelves & locos in the cabinet.

 

Downstairs still lots of books, though the bottom shelf is empty. Several copies of the Wigan L&Y engine shed book, now one less !! Lots of DVD's, mostly modern, some Marsden Rail but no B&R videos at all.

 

If you intend visiting do so ASAP as I reckon all the good stuff will be gone by weekend. Everything is half ticket price, and some tickets already discounted so some very good bargains today.

 

Brit15

[Horsetan]

..... Everything is half ticket price...

 

 

Presumably a lot of it will be re-appearing on eBay at full ticket price in due course, then? 

[Huw Griffiths]

Stock is selling fast, there were several bods in buying quite a lot.

 

If you intend visiting do so ASAP as I reckon all the good stuff will be gone by weekend. Everything is half ticket price, and some tickets already discounted so some very good bargains today.

 

Brit15

  

Presumably a lot of it will be re-appearing on eBay at full ticket price in due course, then? 

… or rather more than full ticket price, if certain merchants get their way.

 

 

Huw.

[APOLLO]

And that's the sad thing these days I suppose. There were a couple in the model section buying quite alot, quite what I didn't notice. I just bought a few items which were on the "like to have but no way at full price" hence 5 blue baccy suburban coaches for £15 each - really all they are worth. The 08 was a real bargain though.

 

The books I bought are now laid up for my birthday & christmas, I shop early for Xmas !!

 

Another sad thing is that in future I will miss the occasional run to Hattons (old shop) and on to Liverpool, and now there's nowt in Manchester city centre to go for !!

 

Ah well - spent up now for this year !!

 

Brit15

[Tim Hall]

Tim,

 

IIRC the valuation of a commercial property in the Landlord's Balance Sheet is based on a multiple of the rent for occupied property whereas a vacant property is based on a figure provided by a valuer.

 

So the balance sheet of the Landlord could show a higher asset valuation if the property is vacant.

 

Walked past the shop yesterday, still vacant but seems to be now split into smaller properties.

 

Regards,

 

Dave

If that's the case, it's a bonkers situation. Still we've got L and B down the road and the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway shop in Blaenavon High St isn't bad either.

[darrel]

When I was in yesterday I bought some Bachmann fuel tanks, depot messroom full price would have cost me £140 and I got the lot for £70 it was like a swarm of locusts in there

[SHMD]

I went in today at 13:00ish and came out with two books for a total of £11.22p.

The place was very busy with many references, to its closure, by many customers.

 

I would say that at least half the stock has now gone.

 

 

Kev.

[brittannia]

Not many locos left, 11.30 this morning all half price between £62- £72 couple of King James, some  ex GWR 42s, 52s, and one 72, one LNER cl 16, some ex LMS class 1 tanks, 2  LNER Flying Scotsman, no modern image

Books seem have sold well, although fair amount of world war 1 and 2 books

[Jim Martin]

I'm in Manchester tomorrow morning. I've arranged to travel to Piccadilly, even though I'm going to an office near Victoria, so that I can have a quick look. I've got a couple of ship books on my want-list; and maybe some N gauge if the prices are agreeable (I've never bought models from Ian Allan before because they've been so expensive, but you never know...)

 

Jim

[woodenhead]

Seems I am destined to miss out, my train home from London arrived at 17:02 so the shop was closed when I passed.

[brittannia]

I'm in Manchester tomorrow morning. I've arranged to travel to Piccadilly, even though I'm going to an office near Victoria, so that I can have a quick look. I've got a couple of ship books on my want-list; and maybe some N gauge if the prices are agreeable (I've never bought models from Ian Allan before because they've been so expensive, but you never know...)

 

Jim

Everything at least half manufacturers price, still had some n gauge stock today at midday

[exet1095]

Very sorry to see the shop closing - Christine, who runs the railway models section, has always been jolly, helpful, charming and kind.

 

I bought an S15 today, "Red Panniers", and a few bits and pieces. Quite a few Bachmann Big Four wagons left, lots of Scenecraft buildings, and about 20% of the books they had a fortnight ago.

 

All the staff are facing redundancy in a few days time and my heart goes out to them.

[rue_d_etropal]

it is a shame, but when i first moved up here nearly 30 years ago, there was Bradford Models , the shop on Deans Gate, and every small town local had a model shop. In some ways it is even more surprising they have lasted this long as book shops have suffered more due to discounting online. In France where discounting is not allowed, as was the case in Britain, there are more real bookshops, and they are still doing OK. I used to have a look at books on French railways in IA, but frustratingly many were sealed, so you would not know what you were getting.

The way things are going makes it even more important to support exhibitions, often the only place to see new specialised books. In the past trade stands were seen as a way to fund cost of venue for exhibitions, now as they are the face of retail often, then they should be seen more as an asset . The old phrase ' Use it or lose it' is just as relevant. I have had mixed views on my 'trade display'. Some exhibition managers, have been very good and in effect not charged me and treated me as an exhibit , but others have just quoted price, and said that is it, and they get so man people through the doors. I have no objection to paying for space, but remember I might also have to pay for transport, but then I should expect loads of customers, with wallets bulging with money to spend. In fact I am aiming more for those who can then order online, but the worry is that this 'combined' method is not understood.

So again repeating that phrase ' Use it or lose it' , think about those who put their money where their mouths are, otherwise they will not be there when you want them, and the hobby will suffer. Online trading is OK, but most people still prefer to see what they are getting. We are lucky, compared to other interest groups, as we have so many exhibitions, in every corner of the country, so support them.

For Manchester, I don't think anything can be done to get another model shop in centre. The same happened with London, and no new shop has opened since the last shut. I wonder if maybe there is a potential for a book shop, but only one which is working with someone else. WH Smiths, having taken on the models, could , assuming they actually sold, stock more of the specialist(non UK published) books.

[APOLLO]

Had a last call in this lunchtime.  Plenty assorted books and videos left, not many models. Only 4 OO locos, 3 x Hornby GW eight coupled tanks and a railroad 4F. A few Bachmann coaches wagons and some blood & custard Hornby WR coaches. Just a bit of N gauge left. Quite alot of both Bachmann & Hornby buildings.  I just got some springside loco & tail lamps, a CovHop and a couple of books..

 

Still worth a visit if your local but perhaps not enough stock left for a long distance trip.

 

The locusts have been, devoured & gone !!

 

Brit15

[Huw Griffiths]

So again repeating that phrase ' Use it or lose it' , think about those who put their money where their mouths are, otherwise they will not be there when you want them, and the hobby will suffer. Online trading is OK, but most people still prefer to see what they are getting. We are lucky, compared to other interest groups, as we have so many exhibitions, in every corner of the country, so support them.

For Manchester, I don't think anything can be done to get another model shop in centre. The same happened with London, and no new shop has opened since the last shut. I wonder if maybe there is a potential for a book shop, but only one which is working with someone else. WH Smiths, having taken on the models, could , assuming they actually sold, stock more of the specialist(non UK published) books.

 

In my case, with some of these shops, it seems to be more like "use it and lose it".

 

I can't comment about Ian Allan in Manchester - because I've only been in the vicinity once when it was open (and yes - I did buy something there). When I've been near their other branches (when they've been open), I've bought stuff from them - and enjoyed the experience. I also did quite a lot of business with their former Cardiff branch - which left a noticeable void when it closed.

 

I personally don't like buying things online - I very much prefer to be able to inspect the merchandise before I hand over any "folding stuff" (yes - I do use real money - I've never had a credit card - and I don't want one). In fact, I've never bought any stuff online for any of my hobbies - and I've got no intention of starting.

 

What you've said about model and book shops in the centre of Manchester strikes me as fair comment. The last time I was in Manchester, it was a Sunday (so Ian Allan wasn't open). I was, however, able to have a quick look in the ModelZone section of WHS - "quick" being the operative term, as I wasn't exactly blown away by it - so it seemed typical of the MZ sections I've encountered at a number of WHS branches.

 

I'd imagine that, for WHS to ever start stocking any books that I'd find even remotely interesting, they'd first expect to be selling loads of them online. Well, I have bought a number of books in recent years - from "bricks and mortar" bookshops - at exhibitions - and sometimes direct from the publishers.

 

 

Had a last call in this lunchtime.  Plenty assorted books and videos left, not many models. Only 4 OO locos, 3 x Hornby GW eight coupled tanks and a railroad 4F. A few Bachmann coaches wagons and some blood & custard Hornby WR coaches. Just a bit of N gauge left. Quite alot of both Bachmann & Hornby buildings.  I just got some springside loco & tail lamps, a CovHop and a couple of books..

 

Still worth a visit if your local but perhaps not enough stock left for a long distance trip.

 

The locusts have been, devoured & gone !!

 

My last memory of IA's former Cardiff branch was much like this - a bit like the last days of Rome. In all honesty, I wish my last memory of the shop hadn't been like this - because I liked the people who worked there - and I liked the stuff they sold - I was really sorry to see them vanish.

 

The remaining stock is also an issue - if Cardiff's anything to go by, I strongly suspect that a lot of the interesting books might have disappeared very quickly after the "closing down" signs appeared in the window. I'm sure that a number of people will have got some cheap buys - but I'd much prefer to get a much better buy (if slightly more expensive) from a bookshop that's staying open.

 

I very much hope that IA's remaining shops continue to remain open for many years to come. I like doing business with them - I wish to continue doing business with them.

 

I'm sure that a number of the Manchester shop's "locusts" will reappear very shortly - most likely in the form of our "favourite" eBay merchants - hawking their hoarded loot for many times what they paid for it. I'm not sure if shouty, BLOCK CAPITAL, feedback will actually turn out to be an optional extra. Time will tell - but I'm in no rush to do business with these guys.

 

 

Huw.

[woodenhead]

Huw, as you seem to be the common thread in all these closures, can you please kindly keep away from book shops.

[Huw Griffiths]

Huw, as you seem to be the common thread in all these closures, can you please kindly keep away from book shops.

 

Yeah, right!

[Horsetan]

.....For Manchester, I don't think anything can be done to get another model shop in centre. The same happened with London, and no new shop has opened since the last shut...

Unfortunately, the ever higher rents and rates in city centres mean that the only businesses you'll now see are the usual big chain stores, tax-evading coffee shops, chain restaurants and fast food, and designer tat. Oh, and maybe the souvenir merchants. Even the banks are moving out. That's the future, and it's boring.

 

Specialist interests, usually of a gastronomic kind, have to adopt almost fly-by-night tactics by opening so-called "pop up" shops, then disappearing after a short while to reduce the heavy costs of leases, etc.

[Brian Kirby]

Unfortunately, the ever higher rents and rates in city centres mean that the only businesses you'll now see are the usual big chain stores, tax-evading coffee shops, chain restaurants and fast food, and designer tat. Oh, and maybe the souvenir merchants. Even the banks are moving out. That's the future, and it's boring.

 

Specialist interests, usually of a gastronomic kind, have to adopt almost fly-by-night tactics by opening so-called "pop up" shops, then disappearing after a short while to reduce the heavy costs of leases, etc.

You forgot to mention charity shops, do they get a special reduced rate? They don't have to buy any stock. What about a charity model railway shop?  BK

[Horsetan]

You forgot to mention charity shops, do they get a special reduced rate? They don't have to buy any stock. What about a charity model railway shop?

You think that sort of enterprise can get its stock for free?

[woodenhead]

But if Ian Allan supplied merchandise to such an endeavour and charged a management fee for each item sold who knows what could be achieved.

 

It works for Starbucks

[Horsetan]

But if Ian Allan supplied merchandise to such an endeavour and charged a management fee for each item sold who knows what could be achieved.

It works for Starbucks

You would have to charge it through a subsidiary in Luxembourg. Or Dublin. Or possibly even Panama.

[Huw Griffiths]

But if Ian Allan supplied merchandise to such an endeavour and charged a management fee for each item sold who knows what could be achieved.

 

It works for Starbucks

 

You would have to charge it through a subsidiary in Luxembourg. Or Dublin. Or possibly even Panama.

 

Other tax evasion scams accounting devices are available (unfortunately - especially since they don't seem to be available to the rest of us).

[Poggy1165]

This is a good example of how the theoretical capitalist model does not work in practice in the modern world.

 

In theory, empty shops should lead to a fall in rent levels. In reality, the owners prefer to maximise their capital balance sheets by keeping rents high, even if it means empty units. Because notional capital value is based on notional rental. I find it very sad, not least because all cities and towns end up with the same high profile shops, with no individuality. And in the case of small towns, with more charity shops than anything else.

 

There has to be a way of reforming the system to change this.