Modelzone in admin - maybe some bargains
Discussion
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jun/27/mod...
Hopefully they can be saved, they always have a good deal on and I get all my paints and equipment from there a lot better than the local hobbycraft.
Hopefully they can be saved, they always have a good deal on and I get all my paints and equipment from there a lot better than the local hobbycraft.
Couldn't get that link to work so here's another.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-23...
It seems like Amerang are going with them, do they still import Hasegawa and Fujimi? if so that will be an issue. But its yet another product that most people can get what they want over the internet. I would have thought the only reason real modellers went into those shops was for tools & paints. The last time I wandered in it was full of Top Gear rubbish and cheap Chinese radio controlled cars. Most of the proper kits were almost hidden at the back.
Opening far too many shops was also never going to help, especially when they expanded buying all the old Beatties branches, who of course went bust mainly due to over expansion.
As ever it will be the staff that will suffer, the ones at the top will probably be back with another name but basically the same company within a year.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-23...
It seems like Amerang are going with them, do they still import Hasegawa and Fujimi? if so that will be an issue. But its yet another product that most people can get what they want over the internet. I would have thought the only reason real modellers went into those shops was for tools & paints. The last time I wandered in it was full of Top Gear rubbish and cheap Chinese radio controlled cars. Most of the proper kits were almost hidden at the back.
Opening far too many shops was also never going to help, especially when they expanded buying all the old Beatties branches, who of course went bust mainly due to over expansion.
As ever it will be the staff that will suffer, the ones at the top will probably be back with another name but basically the same company within a year.
Frankly I won't miss them much 
Bargain buys aside how can you expect to sell to enthusiasts by staffing model shops with know-nothing doolally idiots
"Excuse me, I wonder if this paint/glue/knife/landscaping item will be able to...?"
I have never had a satisfactory answer to ANY modelling question asked at Modelzone, they pay chimps to stand around near the radio control helicopters. If they'd paid modellers to do the same they may still be a healthy business.
Mind you , that didn't work so well for Beatties did it? The main man modeller in the Bull Ring centre was a fabulous modeller. TM genius.
Where is Beatties now?
b
Bargain buys aside how can you expect to sell to enthusiasts by staffing model shops with know-nothing doolally idiots
"Excuse me, I wonder if this paint/glue/knife/landscaping item will be able to...?"
I have never had a satisfactory answer to ANY modelling question asked at Modelzone, they pay chimps to stand around near the radio control helicopters. If they'd paid modellers to do the same they may still be a healthy business.
Mind you , that didn't work so well for Beatties did it? The main man modeller in the Bull Ring centre was a fabulous modeller. TM genius.
Where is Beatties now?
b
Most of MZ's stock will have been on consession so it's still owned by the manufacturer until it's sold. Beatties went in the mid nineties, IIRC there were some dodgy dealing that went on that also took out RiKo, who were he distributor of Tamiya kits at the time.
TBH if Amerang go the Hasegawa will hopefully find a new distributor that won't mark the kits up so high.
TBH if Amerang go the Hasegawa will hopefully find a new distributor that won't mark the kits up so high.
I'll miss them. Ive only bought one model since I was a kid, donkeys years ago.
Just picked up a few toys last weekend, hoping to have some fun with RC models again, and our modelzone store is the only place locally that actually sells RC models.
Im probably not well suited to modelling.
I was too lazy to put the decals on my tank.
I also broke the tank after Id finished herding chickens round the garden
My helicopter flew away (indoor micro, flown outdoors at night).
And my GF has had enough of me flying the other heli around her in the lounge.
RIP modelzone. Their website is now offline.
Just picked up a few toys last weekend, hoping to have some fun with RC models again, and our modelzone store is the only place locally that actually sells RC models.
Im probably not well suited to modelling.
I was too lazy to put the decals on my tank.
I also broke the tank after Id finished herding chickens round the garden
My helicopter flew away (indoor micro, flown outdoors at night).
And my GF has had enough of me flying the other heli around her in the lounge.
RIP modelzone. Their website is now offline.
perdu said:
Frankly I won't miss them much
Bargain buys aside how can you expect to sell to enthusiasts by staffing model shops with know-nothing doolally idiots
"Excuse me, I wonder if this paint/glue/knife/landscaping item will be able to...?"
I have never had a satisfactory answer to ANY modelling question asked at Modelzone, they pay chimps to stand around near the radio control helicopters. If they'd paid modellers to do the same they may still be a healthy business.
Mind you , that didn't work so well for Beatties did it? The main man modeller in the Bull Ring centre was a fabulous modeller. TM genius.
Where is Beatties now?
b
I found it very store orientated Basingstoke is very much full of knowledgable staff who have always managed to assist me in my questions and also there stock is full of everything I need. Bargain buys aside how can you expect to sell to enthusiasts by staffing model shops with know-nothing doolally idiots
"Excuse me, I wonder if this paint/glue/knife/landscaping item will be able to...?"
I have never had a satisfactory answer to ANY modelling question asked at Modelzone, they pay chimps to stand around near the radio control helicopters. If they'd paid modellers to do the same they may still be a healthy business.
Mind you , that didn't work so well for Beatties did it? The main man modeller in the Bull Ring centre was a fabulous modeller. TM genius.
Where is Beatties now?
b
I popped into the Southampton store and it appeared to be aimed at the toy market although they did have specialist airbrush paints from one of the main manufacturers (i forget who now) that surprised me! But I just didn't like being in the store it felt nasty. I also popped into another modelzone I forget where but that was a mix between Southampton and Basingstoke.
So really is dependant on store I'd say. Hopefully they can continue trading and get sorted out quite soon, especially now they're selling ebbro.
It had been rumoured for months - they were due to repay a large amount of loaned capital on the 1st July which they couldn't manage and never looked likely to so it was always likely to end this way. Too much borrowed money and too much expansion.
Amerang is profitable and is still trading so the stuff they import won't be affected at present.
Amerang is profitable and is still trading so the stuff they import won't be affected at present.
The store I'n disussing is/was Birmingham city centre shop
I asked a few simple questions about paints and fillers and thinners at the check out, when coming back to the hobby after umpteen years. Acrylics, enamels, white spirits and IPA?
Utter feppwitts couldnt help, nor suggest anywhere I could get the info
They seemed happier walking around the shop away from a potential customers, some seemed on the verge of running if aproached
Bloody shame if my experience wasn't general,for all you others who are well served by your local store
I asked a few simple questions about paints and fillers and thinners at the check out, when coming back to the hobby after umpteen years. Acrylics, enamels, white spirits and IPA?
Utter feppwitts couldnt help, nor suggest anywhere I could get the info
They seemed happier walking around the shop away from a potential customers, some seemed on the verge of running if aproached
Bloody shame if my experience wasn't general,
for all you others who are well served by your local storeI see exactly the same thing in the Brum store too.
They are normally playing with the helis and RC cars (and driving them badly might I add considering they have soo much practice) and shouting to each other.
To be fair last week when I went it was quite well stocked, more than normal.
They are normally playing with the helis and RC cars (and driving them badly might I add considering they have soo much practice) and shouting to each other.
To be fair last week when I went it was quite well stocked, more than normal.
Eric Mc said:
dr_gn said:
Terrible news - now where am I going to get cheap sale item kits I don't really want?
Kind of agree.I was a bit worried about some of their deep discount policies and how they might affect other model shops.
Based purely on that they can sod off AFAIC (not that I hold grudges you understand).
dr_gn said:
I had me eye on a diecast 1:43 Ferrari 156/85 (Mattel - kind of OK model I wanted for inexplicable sentimental reasons). Along with loads of other undesirable 1:43 diecasts, it was reduced from something crazy like £35 to £15 IIRC. "Mine" also had a badly cracked box, so I offered the manager a tenner, and he refused.
Based purely on that they can sod off AFAIC (not that I hold grudges you understand).
I'm still asking myself why I bought the 1/72 Academy C-97.Based purely on that they can sod off AFAIC (not that I hold grudges you understand).
dr_gn said:
crazy about cars said:
Mobsta said:
Where the hell is the "like" button when you really need it?
I will miss them though. Im enjoying my 3 channel micro copter so much, Im sure I'll one day get into the real thing (not the doll aforementioned, but a proper 4-channel heli, or both)
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