96RAF Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 This seen on FB, seems genuine. https://www.hattons.co.uk/closure?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=closingdownannouncement&fbclid=IwAR2TzKfewo_FWueG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I've just had a quick look at my private emails and seen the same - very sad as this is effectively the source of my model railways enthusiasm - when at their original shop on Smithdown Road, a few miles from where I lived at the time.Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Sign of the times. Companies can go too big, fine during the good times, but bad times can come along and can wipe you out. Better to stay small and lean and ride the storm.It's very tough out there right now, every penny is being battled over by retailers big and small, the fittest will survive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB51 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 They are running a 35% off sale on their website. They are not insolvent but closing down in an orderly fashion. R- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moawkwrd Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Didn’t they just buy MB Klein in America?Doesn’t seem very well planned despite them saying it’ll be orderly. Rails of Sheffield will probably benefit most of all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Didn’t they just buy MB Klein in America?Doesn’t seem very well planned despite them saying it’ll be orderly. Rails of Sheffield will probably benefit most of all. Who are we to know who might be in a similar position?? It's tough out there for many businesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Sad to hear but seems a sign of the times. One of my other hobbies, cycling has seen some big names go down in recent months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRedCape Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 This is very sad to read, Hattons is basically where this hobby began for me. Their customer service is truly excellent. Makes you wonder who will be next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I did wonder how long they would last, the damage the tier system did to them was probably difficult to recover from. If like me you used get all your preorders from them and then you got all the mails saying that they couldn't meet the obligation because Hornby wouldn't supply them with enough models. Even now that they are beginning to get models from Hornby again that loss of confidence from the public is extremely difficult to recover from. Of course they had lost the Bachmann franchise earlier.Thanks Hornby for killing off them off. I wonder what happens to all those Genesis coaches that were pre ordered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRedCape Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I used to get everything from Hattons, their prices were always better than Hornbys, even with the old 10% CC discount. Now with Hornbys money back system, it works out better value to buy direct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I wonder what happens to all those Genesis coaches that were pre ordered. Perhaps you should read the email Colin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atom3624 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I still refuse to buy direct, since they started that tier system.One day, perhaps, but I'm getting older and more grumpy by the day!Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I didn't get the email but I have just scanned their site and yes they promise to fulfill existing orders but surely that depends on how long it will take them to close. Very sad news after they got dropped off the tier system I haven't bought that much from them except their own brands, class 66s and Genesis coaches, but still sad to see them go. I don't see how Hornby's point system is better than the 10% discount we got previously, I thought we proved earlier that it was not such a good deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMac1707817969 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Doubt it was Hornby's fault for killing them off. With just about every model shop struggling with big discounted sales much more likely to be the customers of lack of them. Seen many places with sales with discounts where items would have been snapped up even this time last year and nothing is shifting. Several shops selling MK4 and MK3 coaches for less than £25 and they still have plenty in stock. Doubt Hattons will be the last, just depends on how long this goes on for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRedCape Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 The 10% CC discount used to be just a few quid shy of what Hattons prices were, which I why I always bought from Hattons. Now with the 15% CC money back system, it works out better, and sadly have to admit that I haven’t bought from Hattons in a while. I’ve gotten close to £1.2k worth of “free” locos on the Rewards Points system.It does unfortunately feel like this probably had a part to play in Hattons demise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Colin, on the Hattons website, the FAQ has been updated to reflect today’s announcement. It goes into more detail regarding situation with various products and manufacturers as they know now and refers customers to alternative suppliers when appropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I know Rallymatt after someone picked me up for not reading an EMail I didn't receive, I went back to their website and read all the entries. I must admit the Genesis coaches aren't that important, not compared to someone losing their job. I was hoping they would make some of them in Caledonian colours but obviously that is never going to happen now.Perhaps they have been thinking about this for a while, they did offload their class 66 design to Accurscale, but who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I have just got the EMail at 20:33. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splatz Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I had quite a few items on pre order with them (most were on pre order for 6+months) but I guess I won’t see them being fulfilled now. I just checked other shops/manufacturers for the same things and some have pre orders for same items and were sold out, so I doubt I can get some of them. I am pretty annoyed by this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick-345930 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 re SP's concern, I understand if you send evidence of your preorder to another retailer, manufacturer, they will re allocate your Hatton's preorder either to an alternative retailer or the manufacturer will fill the orderApart from concern at the people who have lost their livelihood, I am also disappointed that easily accessible reference on model tooling and detailing will be lost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moawkwrd Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Apart from concern at the people who have lost their livelihood, I am also disappointed that easily accessible reference on model tooling and detailing will be lost All the more reason to support the wayback machine and internet archive in general https://web.archive.org/ or download the PDFs from Hattons whilst they're still there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 A lot of customers in their late 50's, age is catching up with them, not enough young blood coming through.There are far too many new models chasing too few customers, too many rival big box moving operations and competition from the manufacturers themselves, high prices of new models, a deep recession, overseas production delays, high business rates, high taxes, high utility and insurance costs, high staffing costs.Put it altogether and you have The perfect storm.Companies that have expanded in good times are fighting for survival, keeping lean and small is key in today's market place. Interestingly Tri-ang faced a worldwide toy market collapse in 1970. Unlike Tri-ang, Hattons is viable, but sensibly seem to be getting out whilst the going is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splatz Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I have now cancelled all my pre-orders at Hattons, and have created new pre-orders for same things at Rails of Sheffield and Hornby. That will cost me a little bit more than my Hattons original pre-order prices, and I won’t get that time back cancelling and reordering everything elsewhere. Feel sorry for employees impacted by this decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VESPA Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I predicted this to my wife 18 months back. Every visit and no customers. The problem now lies with prices and peoples pockets. Mine is no longer big enough to fork out such vast amounts. I bought 2 Bachmann Royal Mail special club offers and a Hornby Turbomotive last year. I am sure there are many like me who have pulled the pursed strings closed. Watch out now for others to fall by the wayside including the big makers leaving just a few smaller brands struggling to survive. £289 for a loco ????? that is in fantasy land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulleidboy Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Not "fantasy land" Vespa - it's life. Everything is now more expensive - I have just bought a Hornby loco for £320 - yes it is a lot compared with what I might have paid ten years ago, but it was a one off. If you want something, you save for it.I would think that the profit margins on many items produced today are very small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now