The Signal Box

[the fuzzler]

At the risk of this sounding like an advert....believe me, I'm just a satisfied customer...

 

I've decided to branch out in N gauge. I've got some bargains from Hattons and this place, The Signal Box. They seem to be consistantly very cheap on Farish N wagons and coaches. Locos are also very reasonable too, but not to the same degree.

 

now, what makes this strange is that they appear to be linked to Modelzone, which , to be frank, aren't the cheapest operators around.

 

So why so resonably priced on the website ? And are they one and the same ?

[Edwin_m]

They are owned by Modelzone. A couple of years ago my local MZ discounted a lot of harder-to-shift stuff, and I think they may have been taking advice from someone at SB.

 

There was a thread on here a week or so back about Modelzone matching Signal Box prices, but I dropped in to MZ yesterday and their N gauge prices were as eye-watering as usual. So if it happens at all it is probably only if you ask.

[the fuzzler]

They are owned by Modelzone. A couple of years ago my local MZ discounted a lot of harder-to-shift stuff, and I think they may have been taking advice from someone at SB.

 

There was a thread on here a week or so back about Modelzone matching Signal Box prices, but I dropped in to MZ yesterday and their N gauge prices were as eye-watering as usual. So if it happens at all it is probably only if you ask.

 

I just don't understand their setup - but hey, what's it go to do with me ?!

 

The adverts and website state that they're international model railway distributors, and have a huge range of N gauge stock (amongst many other things) on their website and in magazine adverts. Yet the shops seems to have a very limited range of N (if any......Manchester and Hull does, but Leeds does not, for example)and what is in there is charged at full whack.

 

I have got some bargains in Modelzone stores though, when they're clearing stock.

 

One niggle with the Signalboxes website, it isn't clear whether new items are actually in stock (there is a lot of stuff marked new for 2010, some is stocked, other not arrived yet)and their despatch confimrations are non-existent. Still, I've not had any problems to date, and can't complain at the prices they charge.

 

And the invoices included do mention modelzone, but from memory, credit card statement mentions the sgnal box. Odd !

[Ian J.]

The Signal Box used to be an independent shop up 'til a few years ago, but was then bought out by The Model Centre (TMC), which was then bought out by Modelzone. They still have an independent stock control system to the best of my knowledge, and despite my occasional attempts to convince them that a properly integrated website/stock system (like Hattons have) would be a positive investment for them they haven't gone down that route yet. As far as price matching between MZ and SB, SB are still effectively independent and individual shops can't be guaranteed to understand that offer.

[charliepetty]

The Signal Box used to be an independent shop up 'til a few years ago, but was then bought out by The Model Centre (TMC), which was then bought out by Modelzone. They still have an independent stock control system to the best of my knowledge, and despite my occasional attempts to convince them that a properly integrated website/stock system (like Hattons have) would be a positive investment for them they haven't gone down that route yet. As far as price matching between MZ and SB, SB are still effectively independent and individual shops can't be guaranteed to understand that offer.

 

Full list prices at MZ are in the agreement with the Major suppliers when you get ALL your stock on concession (At no charge) Thats why. Charlie P

[the fuzzler]

Sorry Charlie, can you run that past me again please ?!

[Taigatrommel]

As an international customer, aside from one occasion when I couldn't get my card to process on the website I've largely been happy. The only let down was a pack of streamline track which was posted with only its original box for protection, which then got bent in transit and I lost about a 1/3 of the usable length from the middle of each piece. Hattons by comparison put the track into a very stout cardboard tube before posting.

 

I'll also add that they're well worth checking out for continental model bargains- Roco scale length SIlberlinge for £19.99 for instance!

[Butler Henderson]

What charlie is explaining that Modelzone stock is free of charge to them and when sold they take their cut and pass the rest onto, say, Hornby.

[Lady_Ava_Hay]

What charlie is explaining that Modelzone stock is free of charge to them and when sold they take their cut and pass the rest onto, say, Hornby.

 

Any agreement which suggested that the manufacturer could or would control the eventual retail price would be illegal under Retail Price Maintenance laws.

 

I also doubt that any retailer would be treated differently to any other. Most manufacturers will offer bigger discounts for ordering extra stock over and above a standard allocation.

 

I do appreciate that there may be anomalies and that some dealers are allocated extra stock at the expense of other dealers orders but in general, each dealer trade agreement cannot be uncompetitive without breaking the law.

[Andy Y]

Clarification of the Signal Box's status and position has been sent to me as follows:

 

I am Modelzone’s Specialist Operations Manager, and would like to clear up the confusion and inaccuracies surrounding Modelzone/The Signalbox.Modelzone bought The Signalbox, Rochester, directly from its previous owner 4 years ago. The original TMC had already been bought by Modelzone, and Modelzone, not TMC purchased The Signalbox. The TMC name was purchased from Modelzone, and has since restarted, using its original name, as an independent company.

 

The Signalbox is run as a separate unit, with different product ranges, prices, website but is still owned by, and part of, Modelzone Group.

 

Due to the high volume of business, we cannot easily change to a stock linked website, although work has been on going to introduce a new site during 2011, but we will not rush this, as it could be detrimental to the business, and our customers.

 

Modelzone does not receive all its stock on Concession, as suggested in one of the threads, nearly all Modelzone stock is purchased, and all stock items at The Signalbox are purchased.

 

I hope this clears up any misconceptions, and inaccuracies.

 

Kind Regards

 

Vernon C Smith

Specialist Operations Manager

 

 

[Ian J.]

Well, that's me proven wrong. My apologies to MZ/TSB for getting the purchasing arrangement wrong.

[andyman7]

It makes perfect sense for Modelzone to run a retail high street chain charging full price and a 'box shifter' operation to deal with the mail order business. Those of us on here have plenty of experience in general and know where to go for our needs, but without Modelzone, there would be no high street presence in many locations let alone places such as Bluewater. The rents etc for these locations reflect their footfall and couldn't be sustained on box-shifter margins - if you've ever been to Rails/Hattons/Signalbox you'll know that they are all in out of the way locations where rents are low, and would conversely be unlikely to survive as retail only businesses. There is room for both types of business.