One of my pet hates about model shops.

[Jack]

It seems that Model shops work on the premise that we are going to spend our money anyway so what difference does it make.

The two that I've used, one I've stopped going to, "sorry haven't got it, I'll put it on my Gaugemaster/Peco/Metcalfe order. It will be here next week".  I tried to support this particular shop but I can order stuff myself and get it quicker!

The other which is about forty mile round trip which just happens to be a five minute walk from my daughter's house. My daughter now refuses to go into this particular shop anymore because of the general rudeness and lack of helpfulness of the staff.   

Most of my buying now goes to Liverpool and Sheffield. Service is quick and if you have to speak to some one you get politeness.

Being self employed if I treated my customers badly I wouldn't have any customers!

if this seems like a rant.

[Kipper]

In the UK, the law has already been tested on what is "new". Some years back, a new Ford fell off a transporter and was repaired. It went to a dealer who sold it as new. The buyer found some papers relating to the accident and repair, and sued. The court decided that the car was new, as it had not been supplied to any customer, and many cars on the production line get damaged and need remedial work before sending to the dealer, this one just needed a bit more work. So, if the loco was removed from its box and tested, it would still be new as it would not have been supplied to a customer at that point.

[EtchedPixels]

I'm pretty sure some of the Dapol locos have been reworked by the time they appear. One of mine was "new" but had clearly had a soldering rework. Doesn't bother me providing its in new condition and the manufacturer is willing to put their name to that and their guarantee.

Alan

[dodger]

I personnally would not buy a locomotive that had not been tested to my requirenents in my presence as the quality of many models is somewhat suspect. I have never been refused a test and I wolud walk out of any model shop that did, never to return.

As an aside does this mean that any clothes that have been tried on or returned by someone else are second hand and should be sent to a charity shop!

[davidjhope]

One of my pet hates is about online shops hiding the postage prices. I've had to go as far as the online checkout before seeing the price. The other is having to register. I find myself getting frustrated to the point of just moving on.

[EtchedPixels]

One of my pet hates is about online shops hiding the postage prices. I've had to go as far as the online checkout before seeing the price. The other is having to register. I find myself getting frustrated to the point of just moving on.

I generally don't buy from ones that force me to register, or phone them instead, or failing that (joys of having my own mail server) make up a new account each time I use that shop so I don't have to bother remembering any of the details.

That works for the most part although I did have to have words with one computer shop whose mail system was too stupid to not send me multiple copies of their catalogue

[longbridge]

Although I am not a member of a model railway club I still have a lot of mates involved with the hobby, not one of them buy new locos or other rolling stock from Australian retailers, two reasons, the prices are way to high and in some shops you stand around like a stale bottle of Coke and when you eventually get served you get treated like an idiot.

There are thousands of dollars spent by my mates on trains every year but it all goes to Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Hereford Trains and Trainworld in the USA, it has got to the stage where many friends don't care if what is left of Aussie model shops shut their doors.

[longbridge]

I can add to this, last week I rang hobbyco in Sydney and asked if they could check on a certain graham farish product and was told that they do not open the boxes.

Bart

G'Day Bart, I wonder if these kind of clowns ever shop in Cash Converters, Antique Shops or anywhere else that sells second hand goods 

[Agrippa]

That's a fine layout Dave, were your Kestrel buildings bought in Australia?

Regards


Allan

AKA Agrippa