RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted September 17, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 17, 2017 Hattons do have a shop though, I can see a distinction between a business with retail premise and those without, but in the case of Hattons they can fairly claim to be a shop. Therefore I don't really see that they're different in any way from Rails and Kernow. No. No difference at all, really. Public domain images sourced via search engine: I do not own copyright 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted September 17, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 17, 2017 There is either a retail shop you can visit or there isn't. If you can go to the shop then whether it is in an industrial unit or a ye olde world high street shop is immaterial. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
40F Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Taking it to the extreme all shops are in fact box shifters as they all shift boxes in form or another, it is just that some shift more than others Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 There is either a retail shop you can visit or there isn't. If you can go to the shop then whether it is in an industrial unit or a ye olde world high street shop is immaterial. The truth, though, is that it is far from immaterial to some folk; judging by comments posted on other threads. There seems to be some kind of hankering for the model shop of 50 years ago, where an elderly gent would stand behind a counter surrounded by drawers and shelves full of ancient boxes containing all manner of kits, bits and pieces. Although he insisted he knew where everything was, if one asked for a Jamieson chimney for a certain locomotive, he would spend the next 45 minutes trying to find it and unearthing all manner of discontinued items which could be purchasd because 'they may come in useful for my next project'. However, times have changed, and however much anyone wishes to preserve that form of retail outlet, the majority of buyers would seem to want to browse an online 'catalogue' of items for sale (complete with four or five pictures of each item from various angles) before choosing what they fancy; and getting it at a decent discount compared to the price charged on the manufacturer's site. If the majority did not want this, then box shifters would be in liquidation by now. Pile it high and sell it cheap is not new, especially if you are a supporter of the original Tesco philosophy. However, my original point was to illustrate the disparity between Amazon (seen as quality at bargain prices) and box shifters (seen by some as the model railway pariahs); when in actual fact both have led to the demise of specialist high street retailers. Amazon have recently bought up Whole Foods, and are said to be eyeing up Ocado; which means the box shifters are coming to a grocery delivery service near you. Who will mourn the passing of the traditional olde-worlde supermarket when that happens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Do hattons just have a shop because outfits like Bachmann insist on it ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Do hattons just have a shop because outfits like Bachmann insist on it ?Yes and no. Back in my working days the arguments over the advantages versus the cost of having retail premises when the vast majority of your business was "trade" would go on continually. If you take into account a multitude of regulations and the perspective of certain customers, the probable conclusion is that a retail outlet might not actually generate a profit but is a cheap method of advertising and a massive generator of good will. You could probably do what Boris did before Brexit and write an article that said either option was superior to the other. However Hattons do seem to know what they are doing, so have set up an example of a business plan that works pretty well. Ironically rather better than some of their suppliers, so I can understand why they want a share of the action. Bernard 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted September 17, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 17, 2017 A good business model is one that works, and different models suit different businesses. There are so many variables in running a business, we see stories that because manufacturer X can't do something or needs to charge £££'s that this must be true for all other manufacturers when the reality is that whilst the statements may be true for manufacturer X it may mean nothing at all for other manufacturers. Hattons clearly know what they're doing, as do the other box shifters. As I say, the reason they do well is because they have a great range of products, generally good prices and good service. There is nothing mysterious, devious or unethical about why Hattons and other box shifters have thrived. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 I have visited Hatton's numerous times and I would say the retail shop is as busy, if not moreso, than any other I have visited. A comfortable shopping environment and normally a short queue to pay so they are as much of a 'local model shop' as any other in addition to being a large mail/online order operation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian J. Posted September 17, 2017 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 17, 2017 (edited) I have visited Barton's numerous times and I would say the retail shop is as busy, if not moreso, than any other I have visited. A comfortable shopping environment and normally a short queue to pay so they are as much of a 'local model shop' as any other in addition to being a large mail/online order operation. Barton's? Edited September 17, 2017 by Ian J. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Barton's? Fat fingers and autocorrect! Now amended. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 I have visited Hatton's numerous times and I would say the retail shop is as busy, if not moreso, than any other I have visited. A comfortable shopping environment and normally a short queue to pay so they are as much of a 'local model shop' as any other in addition to being a large mail/online order operation. Where did you park, Andy? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Old store, around the corner. But not Penny Lane as I didn't need the barbers. New store, in the car park or just outside the gates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDolfelin Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Thanks Andy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Collier Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Veering slightly off topic here 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted September 18, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 18, 2017 (edited) Veering slightly off topic here LOL but when the boss is involved what can you do? . Edited September 18, 2017 by Colin_McLeod Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Veering slightly off topic here Sorry, that is probably my fault. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Sorry, that is probably my fault. Rule 1 of the internet - never apologise 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DIW Posted September 18, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 18, 2017 Old store, around the corner. But not Penny Lane as I didn't need the barbers. New store, in the car park or just outside the gates. I think that comment has gone over most people's heads! Perhaps it needs a photograph....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted September 19, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 19, 2017 Rule 1 of the internet - never apologise In the immortal words of Homer Simpson, I never apologise, I'm sorry but that's just the way I am. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) Back to Facebook, how about this for a tale where Facebook has been a lifeline. Saturday yours truly, together with what seemed like most of the West Midlands and Meirionnydd (at least those not gridlocking Barmouth) went up to Penrhyn Point at Fairbourne to watch the Barmouth Bridge laser and firework event. Where I promptly lost my car key. Those of you who drive Saabs know their legendary levels of security which meant I was pretty much Donald Ducked without it. Big issue. Although I did manage eventually to find my spare key so it didn't literally become the Swedish State Barge (the nickname the 9-5 Estate goes by) as the tide came in, the fact that there was a key out there was a problem. Next morning a sweep of the dunes and parking area turned up nothing. Imagine my surprise then when later on Sunday a message popped up on the Fairbourne Railway Facebook feed asking if anyone had lost a car key at the Point. Figuring that the chances of more than one car key having been lost in the same place were probably astronomical, I messaged back with a description of the distinctive key ring and, to cut a long story short, have been re-united with the key which astonishingly still works.Without Facebook, I would not have realised someone had rescued it and not been able to reclaim it. Facebook has also been instrumental in finding lost pets and other lost property locally. So it does have some benefits. PS I made a donation to the Fairbourne Railway's replacement rail fundraising campaign by way of a thank-you. Edited October 17, 2017 by wombatofludham 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jol Wilkinson Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 An excellent example of one of the benefits of social media. For me however, Facebook still remains something I would like to live without. Having seen the recent performance of their representative on BBC News at the launch of an Internet anti bullying campaign, my views are even stronger. I wonder if their "management" meetings are like those on the BBC's W1A series? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurenceb Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 Without comment:-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41802282 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 They are watching and they are listening. <Twilight zone music fades out> Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 From that article "Last week Facebook's vice-president of ads, Rob Goldman, said on Twitter that the technology giant did not and had never carried out the practice."Notice he's not saying "we simply can't do it" - the inference being they clearly can - just choose not too cos they're so responsible .... I might be a dinosaur but do not have an I-phone or like and will NEVER give house room to any of those active devices that appear to make inane people's lives so wonderful in the adverts ......... "ALEXA - do I need a shiit ?" "ALEXA - do I need to breathe today ?" etc etc 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 I wonder if their "management" meetings are like those on the BBC's W1A series? Now there's one load of crap on tv I cannot stand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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