RMweb Premium MJI Posted May 25, 2014 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 25, 2014 All this time working at Bodmin, and I find out CCT are there ..................AND a former colleague lives up the road!!! All those tea stops I have missed!!! I thought they were in Cambridge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poggy1165 Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 I suspect the suppliers in question are not great exercised over whether I buy from them or not. They are not Sainsburys or Tesco. That's the point. I'm not saying it's ideal, but rather that it's the way it is, and not likely to change unless and until supplying obscure model railway bits and pieces in small quantities becomes massively profitable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 As to web sites a really basic one with a few pictures a downloadable catalogue and contact details would be a few minutes per moth to maintain (basically upload a catalogue). But this does not get to the (usually old) f***folk who do not care about the internet (including those who are blissfully unaware of this topic) no website and no email simply don't care. They do not see it as a business just a few pints of beer or the extra model/parts for their hobby - and is why they prefer cash (no accounting and probably no tax (they assume). Put up a website and the taxman knows about it and starts to fine you for not registering and asking for accounting records. All of a sudden it is simply too much effort. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 (if you want to know about 7mm stuff, joining is simple and worthwhile) Not everyone finds membership of any particular society (regardless of its speciality) worthwhile, or a local model club for that matter. Many are happy to plough their own lonely furrow with the support of RMWeb but "Does anyone know where I can get xyz" threads don't always get very many responses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 ...The only thing I’d say to any supplier is, don't advertise methods of contact you don't want to use.... Elsewhere, at Coopercraft.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Parker Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Not everyone finds membership of any particular society (regardless of its speciality) worthwhile, or a local model club for that matter. Many are happy to plough their own lonely furrow with the support of RMWeb but "Does anyone know where I can get xyz" threads don't always get very many responses. Which would suggest that you would find membership of the appropriate society useful as it would keep you up to date with the new products from obscure manufacturers. It's no different from any other sort of research - there are people who think posting a query on-line is all they need to do and others who will go to the library and look up the answers. I suspect some of the people who see these requests are thinking, "Don't see why I should bother answering" and and am certain that the obsure manufacturers who might be able to say, "I do it" aren't reading the thread at all. To use a GOG as an example, for 24 quid, you get an excellent and information-packed magazine 4 times a year, specialist shows with a concentration of obscure trade unrivalled anywhere and the support of the organisation itself. I've always found that once you move beyond basic OO modelling, you can work without membership of a scale society but it is like working with one hand tied behind your back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Which would suggest that you would find membership of the appropriate society useful as it would keep you up to date with the new products from obscure manufacturers. Not suggesting that I wouldn't find any aspect of membership worthwhile but the cost v benefit ratio for my needs does not justify it for me at this time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted May 25, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 25, 2014 I thought they were in Cambridge Do keep up at the back, there! I'm not even a customer but knew John had moved to the SW quite a few months ago. Fast business this modelling! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cctransuk Posted May 25, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 25, 2014 I never came across that marketing strategy before!! Basically you are saying that customers can have the hassle rather than you. (Writing a cheque, writiing an letter (remember them?), addressing an envelope,. buying a stamp (extra expense above on line ordering), going to the post office, waiting for the letter to reach you). You have publically declared: "it wouldn't be a disaster for me if I didn't receive orders for transfers" . That could become a self fulling prophecy. Colin, Did you read my post? I don't have, or want , a marketing strategy! I have NEVER placed an advertisement, nor will I. My web-site exists in order to avoid constant e-mail enquiries as to what transfers I can supply. I was prevailed upon to supply transfers when I extolled the virtues of the Alps MD1000 printer in a letter to MRJ - the publication of which coincided with the withdrawal of the said printer from the UK market. You have quoted the relevant section of my post - ""it wouldn't be a disaster for me if I didn't receive orders for transfers"; it wasn't an idle comment. I would have much more free time for modelling but, for the time-being, I am happy to supply fellow-modellers with my transfers, provided that it is done on my terms. I make no bones about, or apologise for this. Modellers who find my terms excessively archaic or prescriptive are welcome to find more accommodating suppliers. I know, however, that many modellers appreciate the availability of my transfers and are prepared to accept the terms under which they are supplied. Regards, John Isherwood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cctransuk Posted May 25, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 25, 2014 I thought they were in Cambridge They? CCT is me, my PC, and an Alps printer the size of a toaster, here in our hall. We, (my wife and I), were in Cambridge for forty years whilst I was working. Now that we are retired, we've moved to Cornwall. CCT could now be Cornish Custom Transfers - but then I'd have to alter all my packing and instructions! (..and confuse those modellers who accept my archaic communication preferences). Regards, John Isherwood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted May 25, 2014 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 25, 2014 They? CCT is me, my PC, and an Alps printer the size of a toaster, here in our hall. We, (my wife and I), were in Cambridge for forty years whilst I was working. Now that we are retired, we've moved to Cornwall. CCT could now be Cornish Custom Transfers - but then I'd have to alter all my packing and instructions! (..and confuse those modellers who accept my archaic communication preferences). Regards, John Isherwood. One day I will find a way of extracting TOPS transfers from you. My inkjet ones are a bit poo but better than anything else I could manage, I produced a load of MSV (tipples) and HTV (21T hoppers) based on my spotting info. I managed to get teh numbers of a whole rake of tipplers complete with pool number. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzler Fan Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 + All those Fred Dibnah's out there! For all their xenophobias, the business they miss. - and will forever be a one man business. No succession arrangements- when they are gone, the business is gone. + Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Not everyone finds membership of any particular society (regardless of its speciality) worthwhile, or a local model club for that matter..... Which would suggest that you would find membership of the appropriate society useful as it would keep you up to date with the new products from obscure manufacturers..... Not suggesting that I wouldn't find any aspect of membership worthwhile but the cost v benefit ratio for my needs does not justify it for me at this time. Would you want to be a member of any club that would have you as a member? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted May 25, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 25, 2014 Would you want to be a member of any club that would have you as a member? Marxist theory. Groucho, that is, not Karl. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Parker Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Not suggesting that I wouldn't find any aspect of membership worthwhile but the cost v benefit ratio for my needs does not justify it for me at this time. Which is fine. You are no different from most modellers in that the £24 could be spent on something more appealing sch as a wagon kit. Truth is, for many the cost/benefit aspect will never get appealing enough to see them join a scale society. BUT, you can't then expect RMweb or the web generally to make up the beneficial parts for free. The specialist trade assume that anyone serious enough to buy the more obscure items will also be a member of the appropriate society so concentrate their very limited marketing efforts in that direction. Mopping up sale outside requires a lot more effort for less results. As many are firm supporters of the society, they are probably a bit snobby about non-members. Looking at how much cash changes hands at a GOG event, you can't argue they have a point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Looking at how much cash changes hands at a GOG event, you can't argue they have a point. I wonder how much of that money changing hands is due to the higher per unit costs due to the smaller marketplace which they have created themselves giving perhaps an air of 'exclusivity' ? Quite clever really... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 others who will go to the library and look up the answers.Some do not have access to a books and mortar library. Don't forget that in the generational era of technology, the internet is accessible to nearly everyone and has become a library and I think a far more accessible and informative one than the bricks and mortar one ever was. To use a GOG as an example, for 24 quid, you get an excellent and information-packed magazine 4 times a year, specialist shows with a concentration of obscure trade unrivalled anywhere and the support of the organisation itself. I've always found that once you move beyond basic OO modelling, you can work without membership of a scale society but it is like working with one hand tied behind your back.I am a member of GOG and will agree on only one point - the magazine but I do not only model in O and if I joined every one of the societies N, EM, P4, O, On20, OO9 .... alternatively I would be able to afford a nice big O loco. Not every one focuses there modelling on one gauge and not every modelling society or club is seen as inviting or (like libraries) accessible. Once again here the internet has taken over with RMWeb being only a few clicks away - always on and with a wide membership which can be reached on just about any topic - even ones that one might not be interested in. At least with RMWeb, unlike the club, one can ignore the individuals or topics that you want to not listen to. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Cram Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Which is fine. You are no different from most modellers in that the £24 could be spent on something more appealing sch as a wagon kit. Truth is, for many the cost/benefit aspect will never get appealing enough to see them join a scale society. BUT, you can't then expect RMweb or the web generally to make up the beneficial parts for free. The specialist trade assume that anyone serious enough to buy the more obscure items will also be a member of the appropriate society so concentrate their very limited marketing efforts in that direction. Mopping up sale outside requires a lot more effort for less results. As many are firm supporters of the society, they are probably a bit snobby about non-members. Looking at how much cash changes hands at a GOG event, you can't argue they have a point. It is this attitude that puts people off joining societies, the "I'm better than you" attitude that does no one any good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 As to web sites a really basic one with a few pictures a downloadable catalogue and contact details would be a few minutes per moth to maintain (basically upload a catalogue). But you are missing the point. It is not a case of how easy or how difficult. Some people want to set up a web site while other people do not. Simples. Bernard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Parker Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 It is this attitude that puts people off joining societies, the "I'm better than you" attitude that does no one any good. Not sure how. If you have a limited marketing budget, you concentrate it on the largest collection of potential customers. In this case a scale society. This isn't being elitist, just practical. However, if it is elitist then the societies will fold and many will say, "good riddance". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Parker Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Some do not have access to a books and mortar library. Don't forget that in the generational era of technology, the internet is accessible to nearly everyone and has become a library and I think a far more accessible and informative one than the bricks and mortar one ever was. In the late 90s I worked at a research establishment. We used to recieve several emails a month along the line, "I am a student who has to write a dissertation on X. Send me everything you have on X." They didn't normally get a reply. Those who did a bit of legwork and asked specific questions generally did better. Same with a forum. It's easy to bang in a question, "Please tell me everything about the LMS". People do have access to books and lots of other information but a small number prefer to let others do their legwork. The thing the web does is allow people interested in a common subject to come together to share information. That info is likely to include details of suitable suppliers. If cottage industry manufacturers don't want a website then hanging around in a suitable forum group is probably a better use of their time than learning HTML. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 It is this attitude that puts people off joining societies, the "I'm better than you" attitude that does no one any good. ...or, "I'm considerably richer than you." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Phil, I have to agree with you completely on being specific in the question being asked. Also on using the internet search engines. However I believe that libraries are outdated and redundant in the present day technology. It is time they moved on. As for learning HTML (and all the other confusion of languages) I would not be even suggesting it to some of these suppliers. They would make a mess of it no doubt. (not that they could not learn it but it would be a waste of their time). There are plenty of sites now around that enable even the dumbest of people to set up a page - that's how Facecrook and other Blogit sites have succeeded. We are not talking of serious web sites with catalogues but a simple descriptions and photos with contact details. Those who go to the trouble of "send an sae for a A4 list" could even just post a copy of the list online? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 ...However I believe that libraries are outdated and redundant in the present day technology. It is time they moved on. .... Hang on a minute, isn't this the same technology that you don't want your computer infected by? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Cram Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Not sure how. If you have a limited marketing budget, you concentrate it on the largest collection of potential customers. In this case a scale society. This isn't being elitist, just practical. However, if it is elitist then the societies will fold and many will say, "good riddance". It was more your suggestion that as you knew who the suppliers were because you were a member of the guild you would not be sharing it with people who were not members and asked for the information on here. It was this that smacked of elitism. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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