ColinB Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 If appears from a EMAIL this morning RAILS is back as a Retailer, does that mean that they have realised selling exclusively to the Public is not as easy as they thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 Not sure that Hornby was ever selling "exclusively" to the public. There is a small shop near us that is a picture framing business, but one corner of the shop sells Hornby products - always has the latest releases - at good prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brew Man Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 I wonder what Hatton's will make of that thinking_face Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveM6 Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 Maybe it signals the end of Hornby’s tier system for retailers? Some of the marketing decisions in recent years have appeared a little spiteful towards other retailers and manufacturers but maybe the economic realities of those decisions have prompted the winds of change to blow through Margate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 Let's hope it is kept at a level playing field and the big box shifting operations don't get all the latest new stuff first at silly discounts off trade as they have in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 I suspect it is probably the shift in management team. The new lot are probably more interested in making a dent in last years loss rather than trying to appease RMWEB (which you will never achieve) which Simon was paranoid about (according to the TV program). So perhaps they are more focused on selling stuff. Like or not Rails and Hattons were really good at shifting their product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 I received that email too.I also see that my 'recent interest' Turbomotive is being 'distributed' by a lot more dealers than it would have been 12 months ago - common sense prevails!Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMac1707817969 Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 It benefited neither party, rattles have been put back in their prams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTSR_NSE Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 @ANDYMAC - the tier system definitely appeared to benefit very few (if anyone?) hopefully this news indicates its demise.Considering the hassle (& apologies to disappointed pre-order customers) that Hattons, Kernow etc. were required to contend with - I’m not certain how much Rails would regret removing themselves from that train-wreck early on? Only they will be privy to its financial cost.Certainly if Rails & Hornby have found a mutually agreeable & beneficial solution - that must be a positive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 6, 2023 Author Share Posted October 6, 2023 Perhaps when the tier system came out Rails found themselves in the same situation as Hattons, being bottom of the list for new models. They probably realised that is where most of the money is, so with no new models they weren't going to be making much on Hornby sales, so they did the logical thing and decided not to deal with Hornby. There is also the point that Rails trades on its reputation, it has done for years, so letting down customers because they don't get an allocation is also not good for business. All the time they have been a good Retailer for Bachmann and all the other makes especially Accurascale. Then there are their specials which also seem to sell at a premium. So overall losing Hornby probably did cause them some issues but not that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wairoalbany Posted October 7, 2023 Share Posted October 7, 2023 I see this as positive news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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