C&L Displays only at shows.

[industrial]

Seen on the Scalefour Society site that Peter has decided to only to have displays of the goods that is in the C&L and Exactoscale ranges at shows due to the time it takes to get ready for a show and with his back problem as well.

 

You will be able to order at the shows and also to collect pre ordered goods but not be able to buy form the stand.

 

Nothing yet on his web site so will be best to check before you go to a show where he will be to see if this has applied yet.

[Horsetan]

A variation on "Look, but can't touch?"

 

I can see why they're experimenting with this method, though. On the other hand, if more traders adopt this approach, you'll be forced to.. *gasp*.....spend more time watching the layouts!!

[pete55]

Might as well save the stand rent and not do shows any more then........just take out a large advert in the showguide with your website address!

[Orinoco]

I suspect that some of the big shows would lose a lot of punters if traders stopped selling their wares at shows, adopting a display-only approach.

 

I freely admit to going to some shows just because of the good selection of suppliers. The EMGS and Scalefour exhibitions and Railex spring to mind for starters.

[Gt.Shefford]

For what its worth when i go to a show I usually make out a list of things I need to buy in advance, so I don't have any problem with placing an order online (I would usually look at the C&L website when making the list to check pack sizes etc) and collecting it at a show.

 

Jonathan

[Penrhos1920]

Whilst I understand C&Ls reasons, I can't help thinking that if this really would work that other traders would be doing this already.

 

Although I do plan my buying before I go to a show I do find that up to 50% of my spending is on impulse buying, and I often go looking for something and not knowing who I will be able to buy it from.

[t-b-g]

One of the best things about going to shows is being able to see the products that some of the more specialised traders have on offer.

 

If I was an exhibition manager I wouldn't invite them on a mobile advert/display basis but would try to replace them with somebody who is willing and able to actually supply their products.

 

Perhaps if C & L sought out a willing partner in another trade stand they could afford to offer good trade terms as they wouldn't have all the considerable overheads of attending shows.

 

They would get the weekends off, we could still buy the products and everybody wins!

[David Bigcheeseplant]

I can understand lugging boxes of stuff to shows having done the Wild Swan stand at Ally Pally there is quite a bit of effort involved, If the goods are ordered from C&L at a show then they are sent post free within the next few days, if an order is made before the show the goods can be colloected on the day of the show.

 

David

[hayfield]

I think that this is for the less common items within the ranges and for some of the Exactoscale turnouts and crossings kits which have to be made up to order. Over the weekend C&L were at the Alley Pally show. Will attach a photo later showing a ver full stand

 

They had their usual stock (C&L + Carrs) plus not only the Exactoscale turnout components but lots of Exactoscale parts all nicely on show in compartments to pick up, look at and buy. 

 

However so as not to dissapoint they offer a service where you can place an order and pick it up from the show, which is what I did.

[Geoff Endacott]

They are coming to Trainwest and are still classified as a sales stand. Any change is news to me.

 

Geoff Endacott

[hayfield]

Peter talking to a customer

 

 

Looks prety full to me !! Exactoscale (non track) parts in the foreground

[jjnewitt]

One of the best things about going to shows is being able to see the products that some of the more specialised traders have on offer.

 

If I was an exhibition manager I wouldn't invite them on a mobile advert/display basis but would try to replace them with somebody who is willing and able to actually supply their products.

 

Perhaps if C & L sought out a willing partner in another trade stand they could afford to offer good trade terms as they wouldn't have all the considerable overheads of attending shows.

 

They would get the weekends off, we could still buy the products and everybody wins!

But you'll still be able to see all the products that C&L have on offer at the shows and they are perfectly willing to suply their products, you'll just have to wait a few days for them to arrive in the post. I don't really see the difference except perhaps postage charges if indeed they are going to charge you postage for items ordered at an exhibition.

 

I don't have any problems with C&L doing this. I'm never in that much of a rush that I have to walk away with something there and then anyway. In fact it should in someways be benificial as you should be able to actually see everything all through the weekend rather than go along on the Sunday afternoon and find out the items you're interested in have sold out.

 

Justin

[R A Watson]

The only bits which will be subject to this system are the track components, everything else will be avaiable on the day.

 

If you think about it the range is so large that carrying a stock to the shows will entail moving a large quantity of items in expectation of selling just a small proportion of the total on offer. This arrangement is a good way of presenting the range without the embarrassment of having to say to an enquirer "sorry I can't show you one of those, that chap has just bought the last one".

 

If anyone is worried about the level of service they provide this example may set your mind at rest. On Sunday afternoon my "man at the Ally Pally" rang me to say he had not obtained the goods I was looking for so I went online and placed the order, at 10.00 am on Monday an email was sent advising that the goods had been dispatched and they arrived before lunch on Tuesday, now that's what I call service.

 

Wally

[hayfield]

 From Peters update blog from Monday on the problems he has with his back

 

This experience has tended to confirm to me that taking lots of stock to shows is no longer an option and some action needs to be taken, as outlined in the middle section of the long 'Send you to sleep' Blog Update posted on the 7th March! I think it is fair to say that the course outlined is now inevitable to one degree or another.

 

Some options have been outlined on an earlier entry (7th). However given a change in the Royal Mail's acceptance of parcels I guess lengths of track will be available. I guess Peter will have to strike a balance.

[OOgaugeJaf]

One of the best things about going to shows is being able to see the products that some of the more specialised traders have on offer.

 

If I was an exhibition manager I wouldn't invite them on a mobile advert/display basis but would try to replace them with somebody who is willing and able to actually supply their products.

 

Perhaps if C & L sought out a willing partner in another trade stand they could afford to offer good trade terms as they wouldn't have all the considerable overheads of attending shows.

 

They would get the weekends off, we could still buy the products and everybody wins!

 

I hope they do. There is nobody at shows lately selling an alternative to crappy Peco and the likes of the RMweb has really raised the profile of C&L and SMP. I would have thought there is an all time high, interest in these products. My planned new layout is going to be either C&L or SMP.

[Jol Wilkinson]

I hope they do. There is nobody at shows lately selling an alternative to crappy Peco and the likes of the RMweb has really raised the profile of C&L and SMP. I would have thought there is an all time high, interest in these products. My planned new layout is going to be either C&L or SMP.

 

Whilst I've seen regularly seen C&L (and Exactoscale) at the shows I go to, I don't think I've ever seen Marcway/SMP at an exhibition. Yet they have a sufficiently high profile to be regularly mentioned on RMweb.

 

Whilst I think that their are some C&L products that they should take to a show - such as the Carrs products where you can probably wander off and buy something similar elsewhere - using a show to demo your products and take orders for prompt despatch might be a sensible approach for such a large range of specialist products.

 

Of course it'll take some time for customers to get used to it and the "I want it now" brigade will never find it satisfactory.

 

Jol

[OOgaugeJaf]

For myself I would happy with the see it and receive it later approach. It's the see it in the flesh to make sure it is what I need and want. Those new to kit track like myself need to see in the flesh. I think it has been mentioned before on here about the websites having product photos would be a massive help.

 

The only other issues are with the Royal mails new rip off postage costs

[Kenton]

I just wish I had the same faith in the postal service to be able to deliver as I have in C&L to dispatch.

 

I am a terrible browser impulse buyer and purchase many items not pre-listed before the show from the display made by the trader. But I sympathise with the predicament. Sometimes order and collect is fine but I can't guarantee attendance.

[hayfield]

I just wish I had the same faith in the postal service to be able to deliver as I have in C&L to dispatch.

 

I am a terrible browser impulse buyer and purchase many items not pre-listed before the show from the display made by the trader. But I sympathise with the predicament. Sometimes order and collect is fine but I can't guarantee attendance.

 

 

More often than not I recieve my C&L orders the next day, both Peter and the Royal Mail seem to do their jobs equally well, however others may not have such a good delivery in their area.

 

Peter is not out every weekend and tends to go to the larger shows and ones local to him, so most folk will have to buy mail order from him. On the other hand in the cold light of day I cannot (but I could be wrong) see Peter leaving his best sellers/impulse buys behind. On the other hand the range he has has expanded greatly, and I guess there are many things that either sell very few or none at all at the show. I guess there must be a ballancing act between what he can now physically take to shows and keep the punters happy. I doubt if he will finally make up his mind for a bit owing to other things going on (stock taking, postal price increases) 

[t-b-g]

Whilst I've seen regularly seen C&L (and Exactoscale) at the shows I go to, I don't think I've ever seen Marcway/SMP at an exhibition. Yet they have a sufficiently high profile to be regularly mentioned on RMweb.

 

Whilst I think that their are some C&L products that they should take to a show - such as the Carrs products where you can probably wander off and buy something similar elsewhere - using a show to demo your products and take orders for prompt despatch might be a sensible approach for such a large range of specialist products.

 

Of course it'll take some time for customers to get used to it and the "I want it now" brigade will never find it satisfactory.

 

Jol

 

I saw a Marcway stand at the Doncaster show a few weeks ago, on the Saturday. It was the first time I had seen them. I sent somebody to see them on the Sunday and they had vanished! No idea why or what happened.

 

I still think that if C & L could save the costs of taking their own stand to shows and use the savings to set up a good trade rate with another trader, everybody wins. Unless I am missing something daft (which I often do!)

 

Tony

[Jol Wilkinson]

I saw a Marcway stand at the Doncaster show a few weeks ago, on the Saturday. It was the first time I had seen them. I sent somebody to see them on the Sunday and they had vanished! No idea why or what happened.

 

I still think that if C & L could save the costs of taking their own stand to shows and use the savings to set up a good trade rate with another trader, everybody wins. Unless I am missing something daft (which I often do!)

 

Tony

Tony,

 

Would another trader be able/willing to do it justice? I think that the difficulty would be adding C&L's wide range of products and stock onto another traders and it remaining manageable. You would effectively have to duplicate what Peter already does with the stand space, staff, transport, etc.

 

Years ago we had model shops with some mail order. Then discount mail order became the thing and now it's the internet. We get used to change, even if we don't always like it and especially to begin with.

 

However, given Peter's health problem and the fact that track components aren't an urgent purchase, we'll have to go along with his new approach. After all, it’ll be little different to ordering by mail or over the internet but you’ll be able to discuss your purchase at first hand, inspect samples, etc. I would have no problem placing an order at a show and receiving it a few days later. You’ll still be able to pre-order for collection too.

 

Jol

[OOgaugeJaf]

One of my friends trailed to Doncaster just to see Marcways and he had gone home on the first night!

[t-b-g]

Tony,

 

Would another trader be able/willing to do it justice? I think that the difficulty would be adding C&L's wide range of products and stock onto another traders and it remaining manageable. You would effectively have to duplicate what Peter already does with the stand space, staff, transport, etc.

 

Years ago we had model shops with some mail order. Then discount mail order became the thing and now it's the internet. We get used to change, even if we don't always like it and especially to begin with.

 

However, given Peter's health problem and the fact that track components aren't an urgent purchase, we'll have to go along with his new approach. After all, it’ll be little different to ordering by mail or over the internet but you’ll be able to discuss your purchase at first hand, inspect samples, etc. I would have no problem placing an order at a show and receiving it a few days later. You’ll still be able to pre-order for collection too.

 

Jol

 

It is not particularly a problem for me as I have only rarely purchased items direct from C & L. I have tended to purchase my track building materials from Wizard Models or via the EMGS. Luckily I have no plans for any more layouts, so I won't be needing track bits for a while.

 

However I note that Wizard models are no longer stocking Exactoscale products due to changes in the trade terms (as per their website), presumably following the take over of Exactoscale by C & L. It is not for me to delve into the innermost workings of the model railway trade but that just seems a little odd that an existing outlet for some of the product range has been taken out of the system in that way.

 

Tony

[Jol Wilkinson]

It is not particularly a problem for me as I have only rarely purchased items direct from C & L. I have tended to purchase my track building materials from Wizard Models or via the EMGS. Luckily I have no plans for any more layouts, so I won't be needing track bits for a while.

 

However I note that Wizard models are no longer stocking Exactoscale products due to changes in the trade terms (as per their website), presumably following the take over of Exactoscale by C & L. It is not for me to delve into the innermost workings of the model railway trade but that just seems a little odd that an existing outlet for some of the product range has been taken out of the system in that way.

 

Tony

 

Tony,

 

I don't think C&L supplied any "resellers", so the Exactoscale/Wizard relationship may be outside their preferred operating strategy. Did Wizard stock the whole Exactoscale range and would they want to do the same for C&L/Exactoscale?

 

When C&L took over Exactoscale there was a huge sigh of relief from many members of this forum but here we are now complaining about a change to their selling process, enforced by a health issue.

 

What this thread does show is the fragility of the specialist suppliers business. Most of it is in the hands of individuals who don't make much money and do it as a hobby/part time business.  We probably have the best supply of kits and products available in the world, especially given the huge choice of prototype items from early days of railways and the relatively small size of the market.

 

We should reflect on that when we comment on the "trade". There are those whose attitude is defined by how the RTR manufacturers and big retailers operate and is is not a realistic comparison.

 

Jol

[hayfield]

From what I saw on the Wizard stand was a limited range of Exactoscale products, and Exactoscale went only to a few shows.

 

I dont think an existing retailer could do much more than hold a token range of products, as the C&L stand is now quite large. Again from memory I think Brian Lewis only supplied Carrs products to the trade, but I could be wrong. And towards the end Brian had staff that took his stand to shows

 

And lets face it if it were not for Peter Exactoscale products may not be available now.