ColinB Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Has Rails had a falling out with Hornby? I have just had a mail to say that they are cancelling all Hornby preorders. What is going on? I would have thought Rails is a Supplier, you wouldn't want to upset, they must shift loads of locos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMac1707817969 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Yes just lost all my orders for the MK3 TSOs. Wonder who will be picking up the slack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pd91223 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 See the announcement on the RoS website! Looks like a big rift perhaps similar to the one between Hattons & Bachmann. Either they've been selling too cheaply or, more likely, it's down to their arrangements to create their own products with Hornby's competitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 So I suppose I have to move my preorders to Hattons, trouble is I will now go to the end of the list. So I wonder what is going on? Surely as businesses, they need each other. I order virtually all my new locos off Rails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pd91223 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 I'm not sure the relationship between RoS & Hornby has been that good since Hornby rushed out their new Terrier after RoS announced theirs in collaboration with Dapol!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamDavid Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 I have just had a mail from Rails saying that they are cancelling pre-orders on Hornby products.Anyone got any ideas about what they are fighting about now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Karma to Hornby.The problem is these box shifters want all the profit.Getting huge discounts from major manufacturers whilst driving down prices from smaller suppliers.Then they get a cob on because the same manufacturers beat them to the post with a similar product.Greed has a way of getting its own back. I didnt like the RoS owners attitude (or Hattons for that matter) when he was on the Hornby TV mini-series. A bit too much spoiled brat to me.Only my personal opinion of course as I have had good service from both firms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 It's not the end of the world - just go and order somewhere else. I've had the email, I've read various forum topics with everyone trying to guess what the problem is - we will probably never know - I won't have a sleepless night over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 Yes it is funny that, some of the stuff they are supposed to release they never do (eg) R3632 Merchant Navy to name one, but then they can rush through jobs like the NHS class 66. I suppose though a class 66 is a lot easier to make than a Merchant Navy class, their one doesn't even have lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 R3632 is not due until the end of the year/early next. I doubt they will be selling 3500 M/N Class? The Hornby Class 66 is half the price of competitors - with lights! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 The Hornby class 66, well anyway the one I have, does not have lights (I spent ages fitting them) and I gather from posts on this site nor does the NHS one. As for RoS, I am old enough to remember when he first started and how hard he worked to make a succesful business, so if he appears arrogant then he has probably earnt the right. R3632 was due end of 2019 according to my 2019 catalogue, I have had it on order since mid 2019 and in this year's catalogue there isn't even a date, so where are you getting your data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremiahBunyan Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Yes it is funny that, some of the stuff they are supposed to release they never do (eg) R3632 Merchant Navy to name one, but then they can rush through jobs like the NHS class 66. I suppose though a class 66 is a lot easier to make than a Merchant Navy class, their one doesn't even have lights. There's enough of information online stating the reason why that particular model was delayed And acceptable reasons too. They also openly stated how they managed to get the NHS Class 66 done fast. So it's not really a mystery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremiahBunyan Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 The Hornby class 66, well anyway the one I have, does not have lights (I spent ages fitting them) and I gather from posts on this site nor does the NHS one. As for RoS, I am old enough to remember when he first started and how hard he worked to make a succesful business, so if he appears arrogant then he has probably earnt the right. R3632 was due end of 2019 according to my 2019 catalogue, I have had it on order since mid 2019 and in this year's catalogue there isn't even a date, so where are you getting your data. Once again, there's a lot of sources online where you can get an ETA on Hornby products. Not just the catalogue. I don't think how hard you work gives you any chance to act any different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremiahBunyan Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 It is a pity to hear about Hornby & RoS falling out. However it's not the end of the world. There's a lot of other smaller model shops and retailers to order and pre-order from. I personally moved all my pre-orders to RoS 4 years ago as I found their prices to be the best. However in the last few months their customer service and attitude has gone down drastically (based on personal experience). I was slowly starting to move pre-orders elsewhere since. I'll still use RoS, but just not for all orders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 R3632 was due end of 2019 according to my 2019 catalogue, I have had it on order since mid 2019 and in this year's catalogue there isn't even a date, so where are you getting your data. Off of this site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 Well R3632 is not even listed in their shop anymore, so assume that is now a 2021 release. I suppose then there was the Rocket wagons, RoS decided to make a product that was not available, then Hornby thought that was a good idea and decided to make them. I must admit every time I have had to talk RoS customer service they always seemed ok, when I needed to send something back they were very good sending me a prepaid label. The trouble with dealing with smaller shops is that if there is an issue with your loco, that was probably the only one they had, so they are not going to be very keen to send you a replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ace2507 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 expected release date for R3632 is 13th December Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STG Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 I don't know if this helps this case, but I managed to get a statement from a supplier about what happened between Hattons and Bachmann.Not my words, quoting a model shop.The company which owns Bachmann has a policy of not selling to a supplier which is considered to be a businness opponent (rival). Since Hattons started producing their own models, it went against the main company's TOCs, and hence Bachmann could not sell to hattons.Rails circumnavigated this by producing their models with Dapol. This probably has nothing to do with Rails and Hornby, though they did seem to have a bit of a fall out over the terriers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 There must be a problem with the Hornby site - before I answered ColinB's question as to where did I get my information from, I went into the shop and checked R3632 and it gave me the information - now that page is not available! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 I found it on the Hattons website when I moved my order and yes, I had previously checked the Hornby site and it came up with a page error. Probably someone is updating the website. Collets have the original date of April to May 2020, so obviously it is not that well known. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Had left the computer alone for several hours, after having spent an entire day WFH-ing - small screen was driving my old eyes a little crazy. Just logged on again, and found this fiasco .... Pity.What's happening to their existing Hornby stock - Sale time? Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 RMWeb and the model railway community is pretty lively as a whole through this announcement. Quite unfortunate. Rails are an excellent outlet for the online modeller.They have their own reasons, we don't need to know and probably never will. Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ73 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 Don't worry folks - there is always WD Models from Chesterfield - "For all your Modelling Needs & More" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Perhaps some here will start using the smaller shops again, but I don't hold out much hope as getting things cheap seems to be the way of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted August 26, 2020 Author Share Posted August 26, 2020 People are always saying about using the smaller shops, in my local model shop there was a Bachmann diesel it was £60.00 dearer than what I could get it for on the web. I could accept £10.00 difference for the convenience but £60.00. There are some smaller progressive model shops where they match prices and generally I buy from these when I can, that is exactly how RoS started, I remember buying stuff from him in the 80s/90s where it was him and I suspect his mother running it.Smaller shops are great if they run a decent service, I have been in some where running a business is secondary to their hobby and talking to their mates while you wait for 10 minutes to get served. As I said previously if the article is only slightly more expensive in your local model shop then that is ok but if we are talking multiplies of £10 then that is a different story. A couple of firms I buy from are preservation railways where not only are their prices competative but you know the money is going to a good cause. There is a preserved railway in Kent where their prices are always maximum recomended retail whereas there is one in Howarth and Grosmont where their prices are very reasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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