Modelspot no more

[Bernie Jones]

When did that Happen, 41 years then gone, what a shame one of the best around, went looking for a price and found out they had gone bust. Thankfully seems Gordon is going to try and support the Multiplex Radio side and can be found at

http://www.multiplex-rc.co.uk/

 

To many cheap imports, a real shame, Hope Justin and the crew are OK

 

Bernie

[Austin]

Happened quiet a while ago and a sign of the times I am afraid.

[thermaldoctor]

A real shame but as Austin says a sad sign of the current trading climate for many UK businesses.

[RGPuk]

Very sad.  Modelspot always looked after me famously.

 

It all seemed so positive when the foam, electric and general convenience out-of-the-box widgetry attracted many to try the hobby.  The trouble is that so many of this new breed are a quick fix and zero loyalty generation to whom only price is king and move on anyway when they get bored and want a new consumer baubles.  The number that progress and really get involved is sadly so small by comparison.

 

The hardiest of dealers who try to brave it out, get doubly stuffed by those that have to rape the margins simply to try and stay afloat.

 

All very worrying.

 

Ro.

[Adam Richardson]

Happened quiet a while ago and a sign of the times I am afraid.

Last Saturday.

[Austin]

Last Saturday.

 

Perhaps I mixed them up with different shop then.

[SmarTmartY]

Very sad.  Modelspot always looked after me famously.

 

It all seemed so positive when the foam, electric and general convenience out-of-the-box widgetry attracted many to try the hobby.  The trouble is that so many of this new breed are a quick fix and zero loyalty generation to whom only price is king and move on anyway when they get bored and want a new consumer baubles.  The number that progress and really get involved is sadly so small by comparison.

 

The hardiest of dealers who try to brave it out, get doubly stuffed by those that have to rape the margins simply to try and stay afloat.

 

All very worrying.

 

Ro.

Firstly, I agree that it's very sad Ro. It was always on my agenda for me to call in (with money to burn), the next time Val dragged me to her sisters in Hinckley.

 

Quick fix, Zero loyalty, new breed,,,,, well I guess that would be me then. After my poor experiences in most of bricks and mortar model shops I've been to in the last four years, price has to be a determining factor if all I'm getting is a product, and my budget doesn't yet allow me to move in higher circles where the customer support seems to be. Ro you know me on a personal level so I guess you've figured out by now that I prefer the instant gratification I get from the actual act of flying, rather than the workshop side of things, which I accept is part of the whole process, but beyond my capabilities at this time. I know I can't afford to keep paying someone to build any posher kit I might own, and I'll have to learn eventually, but in the meantime I still want to fly (and fix when required), learning as much as I can, while keeping within my budget. I'd like to think I'm in this hobby for the long haul now (4 years so far) and I've spent more than I'm willing to admit to the Mrs to date, but I just love flying. I'm no loyal fan to the likes of HK, but they are a contributor to my aspirations to move beyond small foamy park flyers without needing a second mortgage, at least until I have enough confidence to make another serious investment. Contrary to popular (by some) opinion, buying cheap doesn't always mean buying carp, and paying top $$ doesn't always guarantee success. Then again I think my definition of cheap is at least a good few hundred less than yours mate 

 

I may be a cheap skate to some, and I've read enough posts having digs at the likes of me who use the cheaper outlets, and this is the first time (and hopefully the last) I've taken the bait. I'll admit to having no real concept of the length of time, or cost to design, produce and sell a new model, but since I've been corrupted to flying slopes I've been shocked at how much even a lump of foam can cost, even years after it was first released. How can new blood get into this hobby / sport, if the genuine gear, bought from real model shops is often out of reach of many wallets?  Too many middle men leaching off their pound of flesh before the shops get their hands on a product imho, and also maybe some who would like to keep this hobby for the elite alone?

 

I'll be off then.

[Rooster-X]

Well the Government could do more to provide a level playing ground so that UK retail can compete with other parts of the world, maybe start enforcing some of the taxes that are being evaded, or even better get rid of them (not going to happen I'm afraid).

[Austin]

(not going to happen I'm afraid).

 

As you say, its never going to happen. Probably because most of the people running the government have an interest for taxes to stay as they are.

 

Its very hard to be able to afford a "high street shop". lighting, heating, rates, rent, mortgage, staff and so on. Its the webshop/internet that's having such an affect on shops and they will continue to disappear. I used to have two or three local hobby shops and all I ever bought in them was glue and other small bits because in general they didn't have anything in the specialised market that I was into. If they have to compete with general modelling product that's available on the internet, delivered to your door cheaper, there is no way to survive.

 

The far east is giving us cheaper products, that's what we want right? But do we know at what cost, probably not. This article is quiet scary in parts.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285676/How-China-enslaving-world-Beijings-ruthless-leaders-subjugate-armies-foreign-workers-opium-plunder-resources-globe--theyve-got-Britain-sights.html

[Bear]

I wish all the staff at Modelspot the very best in their future projects, especially Justin who helped me out a lot in a couple of seasons of Club 2000. It must of been very hard working for modelspot and seeing all the rip offs of MPX models being sold.

 

Roger

[Phil.Taylor]

so where am I gonna get my MPX 2.5mm clevises from now?

 

very sorry to hear this news - they will be missed

 

Phil.

[Austin]

Slough Models have them I think.

[swarrans]

And Modelmaniacs have 2.5mm clevises - watch out for the £4.50 postage I got stung for though (what was that point aboutcompetitiveness again?)

[EssexBOF]

Yes a sign of the times, take Primark in the High Street as to how it is all going. Read throw away clothes at a cheap price for ARTF foam models and their ilk.

I buy from mail order much as other's do now as the local shop to me, of those left, just does not have what I want when I go there, so why waste fuel driving somewhere that does not stock what you want. Saying i will get it in for you is no good, plus anyone can run a business not holding stock. Shades of just in time delivery brought on by the Japanese in the 70's- 80's, at the end of the day somebody must hold the stock which usually is the guy at the bottom of the pile who can least afford it.

I was always sad when Radio Active closed in the mid 90's in Chelmsford as you could get virtually anything from there on visiting it. A warm welcome as well made it worth while. Galaxy was much the same, but that was a 40 mile drive, so did not go there often unless combining it with a visit to something else nearby.

Also mail order from retailers is not that cheap, as they with good reason try to sell at their normal retail price. Over the years although retail price maintenace is supposed to be no more, the model trade in general have tried to perpetuate it even to this day. Jim Davis in the 70's tried to break this but failed due to the power of the wholesalers over here.

One exception to the general demise. which is surprising considering what there main product is, Balsa Cabin in Maldon who cannot cut enough wood to keep up with demand, which seems to be sailing into the wind in the face of the present trends in aeromodelling

[Ian F3F]

Hi SmartyMarty

 

A good, well reasoned, and well put, defence of your personal choice(s) it also contains hope for the future, that you won't feel that way once you CAN actually afford to think long term

 

Trouble is, these little, local shops will all be gone by then

 

It's a similar decision process to people who refuse to buy the products of child or slave labour though, they can't really afford increased prices, but do it as a point of principle, making a long-term based decision

 

Trouble is, in the meantime, the "stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap" wholesalers WILL have decimated their opposition in the market and the people working for them WILL be exploited

 

There are signs that workers in the PRC and Vietnam ARE waking up and demanding better working conditions and better wages but the likes of HobbSting etc WILL have factored that in and WILL have taken the money and run, long before the problems they don't have at present, catch up with them

 

Not a pretty prospect - is it?

 

But that's global sourcing for you! - a SHORT TERM FIX

 

Regards

 

Pete

BARCS1702

Pete

I couldn't agree more that individuals that get a quote from a Uk distributor and then go direct to the manufacturer to try and better the price are simply trying to drive out the distribbutors to save a couple of quid.

 

Simple really vote with your feet

 

 

 

Ian

[Phil.Taylor]

Yes a sign of the times, take Primark in the High Street as to how it is all going. Read throw away clothes at a cheap price for ARTF foam models and their ilk.

 

Hey! - I was shopping in Primark Oxford St last night - bought a couple of quite decent shirts, havent thrown them away yet.

Didnt see any foamy flying toys in there. 

 

and - is this thread about the demise of shops, being ousted by online trade? - Primark dont sell online !

 

Phil.

[Pete Burgess]

Sadly the subject of Local Model Shops (LMS) and discount outlets be they UK based or foreign is not new. The pricing structure for stuff in the UK makes you wonder, when I last bought a new Tx/Rx set Als Models were selling it at a price that my LMS, Mick Charles Models (MCM), could not buy it in at let alone sell it to me at! (I don't know if that is still the case.)

As far as models are concerned MCM, who do carry a large stock, don't have the sorts of models that I now fly. No decent gliders and no 30 to 50cc power aerobatic models. I have to buy these types of models from specialist UK importers. That may be seen as OK but it still does not support my LMS.

 

In some ways this is not dissimilar to the High Street vs the Out of Town Shopping Centre vs Online Shopping debate.

[Woodstock]

As far as models are concerned MCM, who do carry a large stock, don't have the sorts of models that I now fly. No decent gliders and no 30 to 50cc power aerobatic models. I have to buy these types of models from specialist UK importers. That may be seen as OK but it still does not support my LMS.

Isn't this a big part of the problem: that fact that there is so much choice now in this hobby: literally hundreds of niche areas of interest have developed, each with their highly specialised models and kit.  It would be literally impossible for any one shop to stock everything for everyone now (even if they have extended their market reach to way beyond the local population through mail order sales).  As we develop more specialised interests, we have to root out the few specialist suppliers in the world that cater for them.  20 - 25 years ago, I suspect the hobby was more homogeneous  and it was easier for a LHS to carry most things that people needed?

[Shedofdread]

20 - 25 years ago, people BUILT things so everyone needed glue, wood clevises etc.

 

I blame foamies...

[isoaritfirst]

RCRCM are announcing a new RETAIL price list in March and Telling their distributors to stick with it.. 

o Discounting...

 

Supermarkets are starting to sell just British meat.

 

It maybe that although these solutions will mean higher costs for consumers, that a sustainable business model in the end will equal better products and better value. 

 

Or maybe that these actions have just as many problems as they have solutions..

Too big a question that perhaps only time knows the answer to.

 

Q. Why shouldn't the fit survive?

A. perhaps because they destroy the weak before they can flourish.

 

Society should perhaps nurture and grow future business not stomp on it at every chance. If it doesn't is it really a society? or a bull-pit.