Obi-Jiff Kenobi Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Good choices; I've got my eye on a Valiant too, as well as having a strong interest in US Navy aircraft. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJM Dave Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 more to the point, how much??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted July 22, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 22, 2013 more to the point, how much??? 20% off all kits. i paid £36.79 for the E2C. The Airfix Valiant is about £40 so getting 20% off is worthwhile. Humbrol paints were 50% off so stocked up with a few but matt black had already gone!! Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Deltic Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Model Zone charge high prices for trains, on line retailers offer discounts. Pubs charge high prices for beer, supermarkets offer discounts. Model Zone in trouble, on line retailers thriving. Pubs in trouble, supermarkets thriving. The common factor is obvious - RRP v discounts. And farmers and food suppliers supplying the supermarkets are being squeezed out of existence and decimated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted July 22, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 22, 2013 HI I do like the Nine Elms wagon in that set,are there any more of them around to be had?. Darren Not in Reading I can assure you - I had the last one (for my 'funny' train of PO wagons). But I didn't have all the Humbrol matt black. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium petethemole Posted July 23, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 23, 2013 Darren, they had the SECR related PO set in Soton last week. I was in again yesterday but forgot to check; there were still some PO sets in the Bachmann pile though so it may be worth giving them a ring. Stocks are steadily going down apart from the Hornby and Scalextric, which is just sitting there. I had a flash of "why didn't I think of that before" and picked up a rake of Bachmann ex-LNER 12t vans in BR bauxite, which only need the markings changed and bauxite roofs (for some) to go back to LNER condition. Still plenty of matt black enamel, both Humbrol and Revell. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfsup Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 There was a Mk 1 BCK and (I think) an SK both in blue/grey livery when I went in. At about £28 they would have been reduced to around £22. Basingstoke has very little Bachmann stock left too - Just a EWS MBA, Inter-City Mk1 NBA and a handful of wagons left in store as of late night. Very few Bachmann items in the steam and diesel cabinets too sadly. Unsurprisingly was the amount of Hornby stock left in store, mostly some of Hornby's lessor 'correct' models such as the infamous 'Northern Belle 47862' et all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
84A Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 There is quite a bit of Bachmann stock left at the Birmingham store, including one of those Basra 08's people were talking about earlier (£59.99) and a S&DJR Jinty (think that was around £80). Thing is though, the stuff isn't actually that cheap. In particular, as far as the Birmingham store is concerned, Ian Allan is just round the corner, and while not being a box-shifter as such, probably has prices on par with Modelzone at present. As pointed out on here previously, many of the 'offers' are actually dearer than they were a couple of months ago! I know if I was planning on spending £100+ on a model, i'd probably pay an extra tenner just for the piece of mind that if I did find a fault, I could guarantee the shop still being there in a couple of weeks time to return it! I also believe that not much Bachmann stock has actually sold at the Birmingham MZ. The display cabinets have the impression of being bare, however they appear to have just boxed certain items up and put them on display on different shelves with reduced stickers on. Loads of Hornby @ RRP if anyone wants that too... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
7APT7 Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Hi all Does anyone know when they will be closing... I'm in Birmingham next week and want to pop in to see what's left... if at all anything... Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren01 Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Darren, they had the SECR related PO set in Soton last week. I was in again yesterday but forgot to check; there were still some PO sets in the Bachmann pile though so it may be worth giving them a ring. Stocks are steadily going down apart from the Hornby and Scalextric, which is just sitting there. I had a flash of "why didn't I think of that before" and picked up a rake of Bachmann ex-LNER 12t vans in BR bauxite, which only need the markings changed and bauxite roofs (for some) to go back to LNER condition. Still plenty of matt black enamel, both Humbrol and Revell. Pete HI Thanks for the info, tried to order them over the phone , was told I would have to come in to the store to get them, bit of a long way for me , living in Devon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Andy W Posted July 24, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 24, 2013 Hi all Does anyone know when they will be closing... I'm in Birmingham next week and want to pop in to see what's left... if at all anything... Jamie Jamie, I doubt if anyone other than the administrators knows for sure, certainly the staff in the store I visited yesterday didn't. From other posts here it seems some have already closed, while stock is still arriving from the warehouse for others - though not railway-related stock by the look of it. Without inside knowledge, I'd think that there are two main factors in the administrator's thinking - the terms of the lease on individual stores (whether they can get out of the lease quickly and avoid further payments) and how well the store is doing in shifting stock (keep the ones that are doing well as long as possible). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 The Chester Store is still open. Still plenty of stock including Railway. (Also a plastic kit of a Big Boy Locomotive...20% off. (So not such a Big Boy? ) All plastic kits are 20% off. (This includes PECO, Ratio, and Wills kits and other items.) A good amount of Woodland Scenics stuff. 20% off. Gaugemaster scenics also 20% off. (e.g. Ballasted Foam Underlay...) Paints (Still plenty of Tamya, Revell and Humbrol ...including Matt Black. I left some for now! ) and Tools (not many tools left) at 50% off. There seems to be a bit more Bachmann.(Possibly on site stock?) I picked up a BR Crimson/Cream Thompson BK that I didn't see last time. (I didn't want the BR blue ones, or the BR maroon one!) I Also saw a couple of Ronuk tank wagons. Noted that the catalogues and books are now 30% off. There were a few "back numbers" of the Bachmann and GF Catalogues, as well as the 2013 issue, but no Hornby catalogues. Still some Hornby as well... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Hadyn Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 There is quite a bit of Bachmann stock left at the Birmingham store, including one of those Basra 08's people were talking about earlier (£59.99) and a S&DJR Jinty (think that was around £80). Thing is though, the stuff isn't actually that cheap. I also believe that not much Bachmann stock has actually sold at the Birmingham MZ. The display cabinets have the impression of being bare, however they appear to have just boxed certain items up and put them on display on different shelves with reduced stickers on. No Basras today, but 3 Red Star 08s and an SDJR Jinty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Downer Posted July 24, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 24, 2013 Guildford store has 'Last 5 days' plastered all over it. Next-to-no Bachmann, lots of Hornby. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven156 Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 My local store, The Glasgow Silverburn store was still going a couple of days ago. Stocked up and bought 2x Cans of Matt Varnish, 2xCans of Gloss Varnish and various glues and spent less than a tenner! But the biggest shame is that this very useful store that is 5 minutes walk from my house, gave me discounts when I showed my Corgi Collectors Club Card for buses, was open till 2100 Monday to Fridays for paint/glues/masking tape and other provisions and sold me a Hornby 60042 Hundred of Hoo with DCC sound for less than Hattons wont be there anymore. I wished the staff all the best for the future, while not maybe not knowing the difference between a class 37/4 and a 37/5 they were always very friendly, the store was barely open a year and was at the "wrong end" of the Silverburn Centre- which itself is suffering from empty units and dwindling consumer demand. Sad times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 25, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 25, 2013 Just been to the derby westfield branch, nothing much to report compared to other stores, 20% off Bachmann, peco etc, 50% off paints and sundries I stocked up on airbrush cleaner, thinners, brushes as well as peco platform edging as i need about 50ft of it! There was a "basra" and a "starlet" in the cabinet both around the £55 mark, also the ltd ed blue 2EPB at £79 and whatever that southern steamer they did recently at £79 too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
84A Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 No Basras today, but 3 Red Star 08s and an SDJR Jinty. There is a Basra in the cabinet (Birmingham MZ this is). I checked again today - its sort of on my way to work, plus it means I get to look at trains every other morning. Any excuse I suppose... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Talking to the staff at Romford yesterday, they say that the administrators will only consider offers for all the stores and any offers that "cherry pick" anything less will be rejected (as has been the case). I don't think there is a sound business model across the whole chain, so it is likely that all will be closed. Came away with a bagful of tools at 50% off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted July 25, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 25, 2013 Talking to the staff at Romford yesterday, they say that the administrators will only consider offers for all the stores and any offers that "cherry pick" anything less will be rejected (as has been the case). I don't think there is a sound business model across the whole chain, so it is likely that all will be closed. Came away with a bagful of tools at 50% off. Sad news then Eddie - it is plainly obvious that the retail Modelzone network cannot survive in its present form so the administrators seem to be following a very odd line of not, apparently, doing their best for the business (by not saving the viable parts of it). Mind you I suppose they'll still be getting their fees. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-BOAF Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Surely all that needs to happen from any propsective purchaser is to wait until the chain has reduced in size through closures, and then put in another offer. None of the flagship or large stores have yet closed. Presumably they are still generating income and therefore part of the profitable core of the business? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Not too surprised, I bought an rc car from them, a kit one with full spared back up produced by manufacturer except MZ can't get spares, head office won't let them and most spares are out of stock on website (this was a year ago) Not much better than a specialised version of Argos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted July 25, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2013 There is a Basra in the cabinet (Birmingham MZ this is). I checked again today - its sort of on my way to work, plus it means I get to look at trains every other morning. Any excuse I suppose... Today 14:30 Still has half reasonable selection of Bachmann products. Getting low on tools & general materials, plenty of paint though. All plastic kits, whatever subject/make still 20%, but metal car kits are 50% Strange pricing of some discounted items e.g. R/C generally 10% or 20%, however I picked up a useful battery charger (NiCd/NiMh) intended for R/C cars at 50% discount in that section! The three humanoid models are for sale. The one from the Terminator films is over £5K, the other two are around (IIRC) £3500. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertcwp Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 From a conversation in the New Oxford Street store yesterday, they are expecting to be the last or close to the last store to close as stock will be coming from other stores that close. There were several large boxes of newly-delivered stock in the shop. The railway stock seemed to be all Hornby. What happened to Jessops might be an indicator of what is to come. There the whole business shut but the name, branding etc, was purchased, possibly along with a few assets, and a new business started up. Such a route also leaves behind all the old expensive leases on unprofitable stores, as well as the debts and the costs of making staff redundant. Once the name etc are purchased, what the customer is used to can be revived before the customer goodwill and reputation is lost entirely. In the case of Jessops, there was a clear gap without them, and it is possible that an entrepreneur will see that the Modelzone brand still has a space it can occupy. Contrast that with, say, Comet, where there was no real space for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Budgie Posted July 26, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 26, 2013 Doesn't Modelzone have a batch of town-centre high-rent-and-rates properties? I wouldn't want to take those over; rather I would be looking for properties where the expenses were much lower. I don't understand the attraction of shopping-centre locations to the proprietors of such a chain of model shops, where you have to sell an enormous number of items just to maintain your presence. As a customer, I have no objection to driving out-of-town; indeed I do so every time I go to Kent Garden Railways at St. Mary Cray. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Yes, but not everyone has the option of driving out of town. And it's no harder for a car-owner to get to a town centre store than his non-car-owning next-door-neighbour(!). But we've been all round this one earlier in the thread.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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