Trains4U

However far back down the chain one goes, and it would appear that we have now reached manufacturing stage in some of the posts above, someone somewhere is taking the pee with rises in the magnitude of 20-30%. 

 

Sorry, but there is no set of circumstances which demand immediate hikes of that order.

I kind of agree with you here, but it is a bit unfair to place the balme squarely on the retailer, which the OP suggests.

The end consumer does not have visibility of the retailer's cost prices, margins  and overheads

The retailer does not have visibility of the manufacturer's cost prices, margins or overheads

the manufacturer probably does not have visibility of their factory's cost prices, margins and overheads

The factories probably don't have visibility of their supplier's cost prices, margins and overheads etc....

Each party down the line has an impact on overall cost - and whilst the OP is clearly directed at Hatton's, it is a bit unreasonable to push the burden of blame onto them (or anyone else down the chain for that matter) when the commercial aspects are unknown.

And why shouldn't people discuss and compare the price of products from different suppliers, certain shops have got previous for hiking costs on old items that they have in stock and increase it when the manufacturer increases the RRP. We are told today by the UK Government that CPI is now 0% and RPI is 1%.The pound is strong and has been for some time so imports should be more competitive, this does not reflect in the pricing of model railway products, so are we being taken for a ride ????

Some on this site take it as a personal affront when others criticize pricing, as I've said before each to their own people are entitled to their own opinion. Please respect the views of others before launching at them.

I'm afraid this post is astonishingly unfair.

We tried, for many years to avoid increasing prices on existing stocks when RRPs changed. 

unfortunately, the rate of inflation on model railway stock has increased dramatically, and we, as retailers, have no control over the prices charged.

there are two things that must be understood here.

1.  Volume of sales is down - the manufacturers need to make or improve on previous year's profits - to do so on the back of declining unit sales is to improve their margin - as with previous posts, the manufacturers are catching up with themselves, moving from subsidising product, or operating on tiny margins, to moving towards more sustainable margins.

Unfortunately that has meant a squeeze on retailer margins from some quarters, or a large increase in price from others.

2.  How can you expect a business to survive if it cannot afford to replace what it sells - the margins, especially when competing, are slim.

Take a loco sold at £85 - RRP is £100, but it is sold at £85 as the market demands it - however it cost £70 to buy in. (I'm excluding VAT calculations for simplicity)

The RRP changes to £115

The sale price is immediately increased from £85 to £98

Why?  because to replace the item from the supplier would cost £81

In that instance, if the price were not increased, there would be approximately £3.30  (After VAT this time) from a sale of £85 with which to pay rent, rates, wages, utilities and invest in business growth.

The business would be better off selling a few packs of rail joiners.

The original argument was fair when we as retailers were facing 2-3% annual rises, but in these days of 10-25% it is just not possible to continue in that way and maintain a viable business.

I suspect Photoshop moved the rucksack!

Saying that, the catenery has survived 27 years,   even if it does go up and down like a...(Insert appropriate euphemism here)

Nice pics - a rake of 13 is pretty respectable for Tornado - I wonder if the limitation is down to platform length, rather than power.  I wonder how many more Mk1s it could pull if popularity required it.

I popped in to TrainMaster models when working in Georgia last year.

The shop was really good, though stock of locos seemed quite thin.

lots of "New Old Stock" and a good used selection, and one of the more interesting in-store layouts that i've seen.

Picked up an Athearn Genesis sound fitted N&S SD60MAC as a memento of my visit.

Plus, it's nicely placed for some 1:1 scale action - this is just across the road...

https://youtu.be/Gg3Rk2axovg

<snip>

I still despise the empty boxes and my suspicion of those who buy them (those that sell them are simply feeding the dubious market) and the apparently increasing number of "parts" sales. (almost always photographed on a wooden table or 60's 'plastic' patterned tablecloth) and probably consist of their latest scrap purchase dismantled, or fret leftovers.

<snip>

That's a little bit unfair.

When moving, we amassed about 40 empty boxes, the majority for for models that were stolen and a few that were destroyed or accidentally sold without the box (at a discount, when we couldn't originally find said box)

I could have skipped them, but as it is we've made a couple of hundred pounds, recouping some of the losses in the process.

Surely it is good business?  somebody clearly has a need/want for them so what is wrong if two or more people are prepared to bid them up? - though I do admit to being surprised at some of the prices realised (£21.50 for a Heljan 47 box anyone?)

I wonder how much the offer was for?

Divide the BIN price by 10, then we might be close to getting down to what its worth.

Ah, but at least that is box-shaped, and - wait for it - has flaps.

 

I came across a seller hawking a Hornby Q1 box sleeve recently for £3.50

You think that is surprising, not as surprised as I was, with this...  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=331008901805#ht_1794wt_1000

The answer doesn't have a Y in it........

I never knew fibreglass could get so rusty

They shoot horses don't they?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tri-ang-goods-wagon-/171098940012?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item27d64aa26c

<Facepalm>

I'm sure the cause of the lighting problems has already been mentioned in this thread, (But I'm not trawling 110 pages to find it)

The issue is with the lighting board.   There is no overload protection, so if a short circuit occurs, the integrated circuit on the board starts to overheat.

I experienced this on the layout in the shop - the loco derailed and the leading bogie crossed the rails, causing a short.  Bang go the lights.

This is a consistent and repeatable problem.

The LEDs themselves are not affected as they are protected by their resistors, but the Integrated circuit that controlls them, is ruined.

Putting a DCC chip in fixes the issue (Which is why no-one running DCC has a problem) so you should have no concerns buying the model if you are running digital.

But, the circuitry should be right in the first place.

I did write to Dapol about this, when Richard was experiencing his problems, suggesting what I believed the cause of the problem to be, but got no response.

I'm having similar silly problms with the lighting in their N gauge HSTs (Works fine on DCC but not on analogue)

The model might look fabulous (and it does) and may be the most accurate ever, but it can only be a great model if the whole package (Electrics and mechanicals included) inside and out, is of the same quality.

Chewed screws is a problem for all the main RTR manufacturers. It is surprisingly common and not terribly difficult to fix. Provided you have some spare screws.

I tend to drill out he screw head then lift off the bodyshell\part, then unscrew the shaft with pliers.

Draw the line round the left hand pane, and leave it from the right hand pane.

then everyone will be happy... (or not)

Personally, I'd leave it off. 

Is the glazing removable?  if it is, id be more tempted to pop them out and paint the edge of the glazing panel black, for that really fine appearance.

Very nice links there Simon.  For some obscure reason I always rather liked the look of the ends with the yellow patch and the black triangle - s'pose it was because it was the Southern carrying on doing things in its own way.

I always feel as though they are smiling at me.

Just been advised that these have landed (In my shop at least) - should be with your local stockist soon, if not already.

Being shipped today according to HJ. Should be here wednesday

The Ace kits scorpion is nice, but at the best part of £18 for the kit it is a bit much (you can get 3 airfix kits for the same money)

I even had a ew customers query the price when I had them on stock.

I'm trying out a few vehicles from S&S models (CVRW Fox, CVRT Spartan) and Britannia Miniatures (Scimitar and FV432)

I'll see how they look once "Done up"

The 2mm warflats are the WWII design, so only suitable up to the mid 80s

I'm going to see how I get along with the tension locks initially, but I will most likely go for three link in the end (Within the rake) and probably put a VBA or two or a Brake van on the end as a converter wagon.

 

I've also got a real one. Which I weathered using mud.

 

Can I come and play?

They are GRA Models Resin kits http://www.gramodels...uk/4mm_kits.php

- the Cromwell kit certainly looks very well detailed, I'll have to get a few of those.

I picked the warflat up from their stand at the Peterborough show, they were selling the warflat and the two 432s for £30

i'll be after a handful of Mk2 Ferrets next (£7.50 each - new and not listed on their website, but on sale at the show) though I may make up a few airfix (MB models) Saracens as well.

What I will be after is some decent Saxons and CVRTs

The 43s will be tied down (I need to make some chocs as well), I'm undecided as to whether to model chains or strops though.

Hi chap only 1 tiny observation the MK 2 432 with the exhaust on the side is not petrol fueled but diesel and so the two filler caps to the rear on the vehicles should be painted yellow, you may wan to consider adding call signs to the sides in black

apart from that i can smell them now having done 12 years in the REME fixing the blooming things

I'll make the change! thanks, I'd have never known that.

I do intend to get some call signs (As well as number plates and convoy markings).

I might give the genesis kit a try soon.

I'm intending to build up a decent MOD train, suitable for the 1980's and I've started with a GRA models warflat.

This is the WW2 design wagon which was phased out during the 1980s.

The wagon still has a way to go (Bogies need painting, metal wheels are required, plus transfers and weathering)

But the FV432s are almost done, they only need number plates and convoy markings to complete.

I've quite enjoyed painting them up

The L plates and rear warning plates were high-res JPGs printed on photo paper - I thought they'd be better overall than transfers (and cheaper)

Whilst they are a pretty good representation of a Mk2 FV432, the mouldings to suffer from distortion, bubbles and broken detail. The track links and headlight guards particularly. I might give the Cromwell models version a try next time.

I'm also after some 1970's pattern warflats - I hear the Genesis kit is a bit of a handful. are there any alternatives that you may be aware of? and does anyone make a Warwell?

I'll add more pics as I get on...

We have had confirmation from Heljan today that they have been shipped from the far east, and are expected in Denmark toward the end of October.

So they ought to hit the UK in the first half of November.

The lower body is definitely Executive Light grey (Which really is a mushroom colour more than a grey)

I had this argument with Bachmann when specifying the colours for my 150.

They were convinced it was Silver grey (ass with Regional Railways) and took some persuasion to change it.