local shops closing

[robgt]

I bought a 600nsp from HK, i saved £175 on the cheapest uk stockists price.

We live in the internet ages now so the small shops need to start competing or they will fold.

But UK shops can't compete legally with Honkers prices as they have to pay import duty and VAT, both of which are dodged by grey importing...

I much prefer the personal service, face to face contact and support and backup gained from UK shops and I'm happy (always have been) to pay the extra to make sure that avenue stays open to me

Cheers,
Rob

[Disc]

We lost our best local a while ago it changed hands and they went in to the wrong side of modeling trying to take on the other shop locally which had the market sown up locally... cost them dearly.

I now use another shop 20 mins down the road the club members get 10% off which is handy but they don't stock a lot I need.. I go for the general bits like glow plugs/remote glows/glue etc etc

But for heli spares around here forget it or decent servo's etc if you want it mail order it

Fuel... Guy at the field shop won't stock optifuel...

I don't mind paying a bit more if its what I want and its worth it....

The only win I've ever had was a nitro car engine OS one 179 pounds UK price...
99 dollars from Tower Hobbies in the USA. Best saving I ever made and the only one really but I'll probably order an SG 90 from cyberheli's as the UK price is stupido

[t-rex pedro]

What a nightmare.....which ones are they Ade?

Mr.Models and The Model Workshop are the ones that closed down Eddie.

We still have Channel 4, Lesro and Blink in the Dorset area.

Mr.Models is a bit of a loss to the area as it was always handy for the odd bits that you could collect on the way to the field. His stock levels really dwindled last year though so it was a case of ringing up first. I for one would use a local store rather than mail order as I enjoy 'talking helis' in the shop which is why I make the trip to Hobby Hangar. I also think a store which supports local clubs would be fantastic.

[Mikee]

Mr.Models and The Model Workshop are the ones that closed down Eddie.

We still have Channel 4, Lesro and Blink in the Dorset area.

Mr.Models is a bit of a loss to the area as it was always handy for the odd bits that you could collect on the way to the field. His stock levels really dwindled last year though so it was a case of ringing up first. I for one would use a local store rather than mail order as I enjoy 'talking helis' in the shop which is why I make the trip to Hobby Hangar. I also think a store which supports local clubs would be fantastic.

I was told that Lesro models were closed or closing... their site is still up though... Local shops are handy though for that saturday 4:30pm **** up with a lost bolt/nut or whatever.. I just miss Mr Models as somewhere to go for a banter... Sad but a sign of the times nowdays

Mikee

[acwman]

Lesro is still open. Been there the other day. Doesn't look of any signs of closing.. his stock level is pretty much as usual.

[Kwickkwack]

But UK shops can't compete legally with Honkers prices as they have to pay import duty and VAT, both of which are dodged by grey importing...

I much prefer the personal service, face to face contact and support and backup gained from UK shops and I'm happy (always have been) to pay the extra to make sure that avenue stays open to me

Cheers,
Rob

Absolutely spot on Rob.

The important word there being "legal"

[sacko]

I only go to Elite Models (closest model shop) on a Thursday, as the heli club is in the same town. The problem is, its a 40 mile round trip so most of my spares come from Revolution Models online.

I have bought a few bits a pieces from HK like; batteries and chargers but that is about it.

[Taffage]

I only go to Elite Models (closest model shop) on a Thursday, as the heli club is in the same town. The problem is, its a 40 mile round trip so most of my spares come from Revolution Models online.

I have bought a few bits a pieces from HK like; batteries and chargers but that is about it.

If you give Rod a bell at Elite's, he will post the parts out m8.

I used to get most of my parts from HK, china etc etc but with the current exchange rate and the increased likelyhood of getting stung for import duty and parcelforces crazy additional handling charge I just don't think it is worth it anymore!

I now use Elite Models for everything.

[trillian]

Yeah, it's always a downer to see that happening. Unfortunately I have not had a LHS here in SE London and the one I have been to a few times in Camden doesn't stock much heli stuff.

But many years ago when I lived somewhere else we had a good local store and I used to go there all the time. Sometimes even when I didn't need anything, and I learned alot from the owner and a few regulars. I'd love to have a similar situation now but with London rent being the way it is they are few and far between.

[Disc]

When I was talking to my loacl I was told that the rent for the shop was £20000 p.a!!!!
They just cannot compete against the e-tailers who run the setup from their garden shed for peanuts.
Shame really as I quite liked meeting the people face to face.

But companies like JR won't deal to just online shops you must have a shop front for them to even deal with you!

[sacko]

If you give Rod a bell at Elite's, he will post the parts out m8.

I now use Elite Models for everything.

Elite are by far the best modelshop I have dealt with. He usually has all the stock I need on the shelf, also when some of my equipment needs sending off to the manufacturer for repair, he lends me the parts so I dont go without flying

You cant buy that sort of service in Hong Kong unfortuantely.

[xygax]

We have two in bristol and one just iutside i dont mind supporting them and often do but Rip off britan does make you shop arround.Real Raptors BLS251 £ 119.95RC Sausage dog (HK) £ 79.50 and £6 postThats a 30% saving so there either has to be a better UK pricing structure or the trade will go elsewhere. This is common on Futaba equioment and it probably has a lot to do with the exclusive deals set up between Futaba and the UK distributors.Steve

[Kwickkwack]

We have two in bristol and one just iutside i dont mind supporting them and often do but Rip off britan does make you shop arround.Real Raptors BLS251 £ 119.95RC Sausage dog (HK) £ 79.50 and £6 postThats a 30% saving so there either has to be a better UK pricing structure or the trade will go elsewhere. This is common on Futaba equioment and it probably has a lot to do with the exclusive deals set up between Futaba and the UK distributors.Steve

The "rip off" is that the genuine importers are paying duty, you are not. If HM customs were to intercept the parcel and find it was a purchased product and not a gift as these guys are sending them as, then I am sure the gap between £119.95 and £79.50 would shrink considerably.

[xygax]

Accepted i understand that Vat / duty is an issue but HK is a former british colony and for some reason seems dosent seem to attract a lot of attention from the vat man. Every time i have baught stuff from the states its got clobbered but no so with HK...So saving £40 leaves it free to purchase more fuel locally...Steve

[graz]

Machasm hit the nail on the head for me, I used to run my own little shop, not a model one, but for sure the rent and rates and running costs on your own shop are unreal.
And on top of that you have to invest money on stock and when it gets old or newer models come out you have to then sell your stock off at a loss.
Most joe public presumes when say you sell something at 300.00 quid, they think greedy shop is making 300 quid out of me, they never think that the dealer's markup is normally a small % of that.
With the age of the internet, we all look online to who has the best price and go with that. Indeed if you order from HK and if its a expensive kit, you will get hit with customs and royalmail admin charges, on small items of low cost they will get through from my own experience.
We all moan the local shops should lower prices then to compete, but it dont work like that, you have to cover running costs and turn a profit.
I am sure the model shops left, they work long hours and offer great face to face service and support, but the only way they an stay in buisness and that is things like rent and rates and tax's need to be much lower. Sadly as many know here I am sure, this is never going happen and just look around at the high street and all the closed down shops. A big buisness like tesco's etc can run a store in a area with high rent and rates and run at a loss as they shift so much volume they can run stores in areas at a loss just to have a presence there.
The small guy in a buisness in any field just cant compete. It is such a shame, they really ought to let a small business pay rent and rates based on the size of what they do and what they offer the local area, and you would see more model shops around.
Sadly you will def see more and more model shops close down along with many other small local stores.
You have to shift a lot of model kits and parts just to break even let alone pay wages.
And def with the currrent government, they really dont give a crap about small shops, and even with Brown kicked out next year, which looks odds on, cant see any new govenment of any flavour having the foresight to enable small niche stores to pay much less and rent and rates and tax's so they can keep us all having a real store to go to and the friendly faces and great service a lot of stores always gave.
So spare a thought next time you do go in a local model shop, I am sure a lot of those guys work very long hours , prob make less than most going into there shops, and when you get home and making your latest model , these guys are still at work filling in the miles of paperwork and filling out vat forms and tax forms etc.
Sorry to go on , but anyone who runs there own buisness or has done, knows what I mean ;-)

When I was talking to my loacl I was told that the rent for the shop was £20000 p.a!!!!
They just cannot compete against the e-tailers who run the setup from their garden shed for peanuts.
Shame really as I quite liked meeting the people face to face.