Just had an email from Rails like most that they are no longer selling Hornby products, I wonder what the story is behind this one, who's next Hattons ?

NGM

the Hattons / Bachmann row seems to have gone very quiet...

but could this be another round of the same ?

perhaps retailers should stick to just that, and manufacturers the same.

I know you can buy the likes of Airfix direct from Hornby, so are they looking to increase their profits by selling direct ?

I think the topic heading may be a little speculative. As far as I can tell nobody has yet disclosed who "pulled the plug" on who or for what reason.

Roy

I had the email too.    All totally speculative but immediately brought to my mind the competing "Terrier" models as featured on the TV program with James May a while back.

Quote from: ntpntpntp on August 25, 2020, 05:52:50 PM
I had the email too.    All totally speculative but immediately brought to my mind the competing "Terrier" models as featured on the TV program with James May a while back.

Same here, although am I right in thinking the Sheffield Terrier is being made by Dapol rather than commissioned directly from the factory like Hattons did with their 66?

Still can't have helped relations, and nor could the 3rd class "Rocket" coach fiasco.

Skyline2uk

This appears to be all that Rails have to say:

https://railsofsheffield.com/news/articles/3528-important-statement

Same content as the email (as you would expect of course)

Rumour only but I've seen a couple of mentions about inadequate dealer margins. The cause being the  manufacturer wanting to sell direct to end users but also wanting to enjoy the comfort of a reseller network.
Cake and eat it time, so to speak.

Alec.

Don't know if anyone saw this video posted a few weeks ago


https://youtu.be/d_o0PB7p7dg

Seems to imply that Hornby have been cancelling preorders with their dealers only to then be able to supply direct.

So something in the wind or just smoke and mirrors, we will never know as no one will risk the litigation involved.

So all that's left is speculation and rumor, and we do love a good jucey rumor

Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on August 25, 2020, 10:08:52 PM
Don't know if anyone saw this video posted a few weeks ago


https://youtu.be/d_o0PB7p7dg

Seems to imply that Hornby have been cancelling preorders with their dealers only to then be able to supply direct.

So something in the wind or just smoke and mirrors, we will never know as no one will risk the litigation involved.

So all that's left is speculation and rumor, and we do love a good jucey rumor

Yes I saw that (watch most of Sams stuff).

Think that supply issue is with one particular limited edition? I have no idea, being on this forum I don't do 00!

Skyline2uk

Quote from: Skyline2uk on August 25, 2020, 10:32:17 PM

Think that supply issue is with one particular limited edition? I have no idea, being on this forum I don't do 00!

Skyline2uk

What about all that 1:148 Arnold stuff though ?



John P

@jpendle : Show me an NSE Brighten Belle and I might be interested 

Skyline2uk

Quote from: Roy L S on August 25, 2020, 05:47:43 PM
I think the topic heading may be a little speculative. As far as I can tell nobody has yet disclosed who "pulled the plug" on who or for what reason.

Roy

Sounds like you are suggesting a scenario where Rails dropped Hornby, you also a flat earth type as well ?

How unnecessary.

We have no idea what the motivation behind the disagreement is, who the aggressor is, or whether it's a mutual disagreement.

Quote from: N_GaugeModeller on August 26, 2020, 08:45:30 AM

Quote from: Roy L S on August 25, 2020, 05:47:43 PM
I think the topic heading may be a little speculative. As far as I can tell nobody has yet disclosed who "pulled the plug" on who or for what reason.

Roy

Sounds like you are suggesting a scenario where Rails dropped Hornby, you also a flat earth type as well ?

NGM

Firstly, look at the timeline to this thread, mine was the third posting probably two hours from the announcement. At that point (indeed as now) there had been no disclosure as to the nature of the dispute.

The heading was and still is speculative, we may never know exactly what caused it, to say it was definitely Hornby when no such explanation with credible provenance has reached the public domain is just plain wrong.

That does not make me a "Flat Earther" as you put it. On the other hand Fat Earthling, yep, got me there....

Roy