The Dorset Wanderer Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Used to be six or seven here- only one now and Nothings priced so won't use. I hate being sized up for what you can afford. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted October 15, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 15, 2012 Well if you drive to Ross for Totally Trains you'll be disappointed as they closed some time ago and moved to Monmouth then sold all their stock to someone down south. Anotherone gone then! Back to the internet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 It seems that you expect even the smallest supplier to invest time and money in a website, etc. Some of these cottage industry businesses are run as part time operations by people with a full time job. The fact that they provide some worthwhile products that require a bit of effort by the purchaser such as writing and posting a letter to get hold of them, is a small price to pay. Heh! come on, stop picking a fight It was a direct response to the post quoted. But while we are now on the subject, a simple shopping web site can be picked off the shelf or even engineered through ebay shops with very limited time and effort. If we are saying with one sentence that the internet is helping the small supplier then they really do need to make the small amount of effort to capitalise on what the internet can bring to them. Of course there will be small suppliers who have no interest whatsoever in going "big", do it very much as a hobby and not really interested in making a profit. But most I have spoken to would at least like to make something worthwhile out of it. We cannot blame the internet for the loss of these businesses they are probably not worth saving. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted October 15, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 15, 2012 Actually I would recommend Ebay if wanted to trial failing that just use your own website with paypal payment (like my keyfob repair one). Didn't take me too long to set up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Model Railway retailer Websites are a mixed bag. The ones that advertise mail order but cannot take card transactions and expect one to wait up to 14 days are peeing in the wind! I was directed to one from here only last week......Lots of interesting goodies, but when I went to the page to make a purchase, the page wasnt available. I found a telephone number and it wasn't recognised! I need to know the bloke is on planet earth before writing letters.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sidelines Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 If my aged aunt (87) has her own computer and buys things from Amazon, any 'retailer' worth his salt could advertise his wares on eBay. As already stated by numerous other parties, you can take payments by PayPal. Cheques were going to be phased out until the the Government lost the plot. I think I am correct in stating that most of the Supermarkets and large retailers no longer accept cheques. As I said before - life moves on - so adapt. Regards Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Even some of the old fashioned model shops can manage it and I have quite a long list of bookmarked regular suppliers ... but there are still those where a stick and clay tablet is required. The thing I find strangest is that it seems (OK warning a generalisation here) to be more prevalent among 7mm suppliers - just the ones where parting with large sums is most common. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Many moons ago we had two good model shops in Wigan, sadly the last one closed over 5 years ago. Nearest now are the two in Warrington (was three but one closed couple of years ago). Railway Jcn & Penketh Models, both good shops with a good range of S/Hand. These two seem to do OK, and stock many of the small bits n bobs. Then there's Hattons in Liverpool - (thank god) - fantastic shop. This shop is absolutley first class for both visiting and mail oder. They dont have the bits n bobs, but virtually everything they sell is on view in the shop in many purpose built and illuminated display cabinets. Locos, coaches, wagons - the lot. Efficient and friendly staff as well. For mail order S/H I also find Elaines Trains excellent service http://www.elaines-trains.co.uk/index.php There is today no way a small model shop could stock the multitude of costly RTR locos / stock availiable these days. And there is no way that those who do stock the full range (Hattons) will stock second-hand & the bits n bobs. Thats the way of the world in 2012. Adapt to the market to survive. Brit15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Bus Driver Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I'm ok as I'm half an hour from Gaugemaster (if that) plus the deputy manager in Modelzone in Brighton is a mate of mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I will not go near ebay or amazon but I have used some of the cottage industry supliers that do not have a web presence by using snail mail, it just a bit longer. But there has not been a decent model shop in Newbury since Platform 4, was sold and moved to nerw premises Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I will not go near ebay or amazon but I have used some of the cottage industry supliers that do not have a web presence by using snail mail, it just a bit longer. But there has not been a decent model shop in Newbury since Platform 4, was sold and moved to nerw premises I've never had any trouble buying off "Amazon". Goods invariably arrive within a few days excellently packed, postage is free and usually the price is 30% off. No connection with the firm, just intrigued why you wouldn't "go near" them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted October 15, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 15, 2012 My only issues with Ebay are with buyers, there are some right planks out there. They do not read the adverts. Sellers, peterspares and kitlady have supplied me with parts Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 I've never had any trouble buying off "Amazon". Goods invariably arrive within a few days excellently packed, postage is free and usually the price is 30% off. No connection with the firm, just intrigued why you wouldn't "go near" them. I believe that they are like The Works and are reprints. In a shop if I dont like I dont buy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
highpeak Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 An alternative to the website might be an arrangement such as the way the Scalefour society hosts small suppliers on their site. One of the best examples is Mike Clark's Masokits page. His catalog is available including the table of weights so you can figure postage out. For overseas customers like me it does require a UK bank account, but it is pretty easy to do business with Masokits. I am not sure how much of this the Scalefour society could deal with (they currently host four small suppliers), but a clearing house approach like this would help smaller suppliers whose interest is in creating things rather than building and maintaining a website. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Welly Posted October 16, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 16, 2012 But there has not been a decent model shop in Newbury since Platform 4, was sold and moved to new premises That's more than 20 years ago! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJones Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 How big a space would be required to stock even 50% of the RTR models, kits, materials etc to cover the range of stuff that is actually modelled and available? It would be vast, and the majority of things would sell very slowly indeed. Sadly as a business I don't think model shops like that are viable. The capital cost of buying the initial stock would be crippling! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 I've said it before, but we are so lucky in Cardiff, with respect to model shops; We have the superb Lord & Butler, plus Lendons in Llanishen, plus Ian Allen, who have quite a large stock of models in addition to their books & DVDs, We also have Modelzone, and a couple of hobby craft shops in the newer outlet centres... Sadly though, Antics has now closed sad because they took over "Bud Morgan" - who were my fave haunt as a lad, and were the model railway shop to visit in the Welsh capital We also have a small model shop in Caerphilly, just up the road, and I nearly forgot the Games Workshop in the town centre (always good for paints etc) I do buy from ebay and sometimes there are bargains to be had but care must be taken to read the item descriptions fully and communicate with sellers if you're unsure about anything, if in doubt and the seller doesn't reply to your question - don't bid plus, don't be tempted to get "swept along" if the bids start going mad EDIT: There are also 2 model shops in nearby Porthcawl.... ... and you can go for fish & chips by the sea afterwards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Re my above post It's odd that the shops seem to be doing well in the area, when the local show is apparently losing punters....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flymo748 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 An alternative to the website might be an arrangement such as the way the Scalefour society hosts small suppliers on their site. One of the best examples is Mike Clark's Masokits page. His catalog is available including the table of weights so you can figure postage out. For overseas customers like me it does require a UK bank account, but it is pretty easy to do business with Masokits. I am not sure how much of this the Scalefour society could deal with (they currently host four small suppliers), but a clearing house approach like this would help smaller suppliers whose interest is in creating things rather than building and maintaining a website. The answer to the question is "some". The Scalefour Society is very happy to help out its members that are traders and provide exactly the sort of specialist parts, services and kits that the finescale railway modeller depends on. The four that we currently host are: - Ian Rathbone - Dave Bradwell - Masokits - London Road Models To see them, click on "Stores and Traders" on http://www.scalefour.org/index.html and have a browse. You'll also find the Society's "Public E-shop" where we are happy to sell items that benefit the finescale modeller as a whole. Of course, many of our members already have their own websites. I personally spend far too much time looking at http://www.highlevelkits.co.uk/ for the safety of my wallet :-) Cheers Paul Willis Scalefour Society Deputy Chairman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy C Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 There is today no way a small model shop could stock the multitude of costly RTR locos / stock availiable these days. And there is no way that those who do stock the full range (Hattons) will stock second-hand & the bits n bobs. Thats the way of the world in 2012. Adapt to the market to survive. A rather sweeping statement Apollo. I think you will find most of the smaller shops do have the "full range", the problem is they do not have the capital or the space to be able to order the bulk that the big boys order, so therefore they sell out sooner. Even Hattons cannot keep the full range, I wanted one of the new Hornby Southern Van B's just after they came out, by the time I got to Tim he had sold out - a day later went onto Hattons site and they had none in stock either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 I'm ok as I'm half an hour from Gaugemaster (if that) plus the deputy manager in Modelzone in Brighton is a mate of mine. and a very freindly bunch they are, as i found out whilst working there the other week and using their carpark!!! (i did make a purchase afterwards) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium QWILPEN Posted October 16, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 16, 2012 good news only last year I posted of a new model shop opening in cheshire http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/40060-d-a-models-ellesmere-port/ steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
talisman56 Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 No model shop in the town where I live, but a few in the area: Richard's in Yatton, Model Railways Direct in Portishead, Model Masters in Weston and Modelmania in Bristol in increasing order of distance away. Try to visit each of them once in a while, but with the price of fuel as it is, not as often as I would like - usually when passing or in conjunction with shopping trips with SWMBO... Usually I save my readies and buy from trade stands at exhibitions. Model Masters in the Galleries in Broadmead are absolutely useless for 'N' gauge, last time I went into there all I could find were a few bits of setrack pointwork and a couple of kits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Are we not all to blame for the demise of the local Model Shop? I bet most of us purchase a lot of our more expensive items from on-line from the big suppliers because it is cheaper and the they provide a very efficient service. How many of us still buy all our groceries from a corner shop rather go to the Supermarket; this is allegedly called progress? XF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren01 Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 HI Down here in Devon we have two shops,Small world in Barnstaple and Osborns models Bideford. If you don't mind a little bit of a trip thiers Dartmoore models at Okhampton station, that sells a lot of bits and bobs. But some times they don't have what i need , So i have to use the web to get orders,some are very good at doing this and some not,IE not being able to get a reply from them. So not to bad down here in Devon. Darren Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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