Ed and All --
One also has to add to the mix the loss of independent product lines that
have been brought under one roof to save them from extinction. Most of
those lines were then lost to the regular dealer, leaving him with very
little variety to work with. If you think about it, what you need as much
as stocked merchandise is selection. This takes not only a number of
sources, but long term commitment. It takes time to get a lot of variety
in your inventory because most things in S are "one time" products. (This
has actually started to be the case in other scales as well with limited
run, made out-of-the-USA products.) In S it also means that the shop owner
has to go to the manufacturer for almost all product as little is in general
distribution. For me (when I had my shop), that meant nearly 100 vendors
that had to be contacted, wooed, individually paid, and cataloged --- just
for scale S.
The new reality is the internet. EVERY "brick and mortar" hobby shop is
having a hard time staying afloat competing with a "no tax" internet.
Considering that S has had a long time relationship with direct sales and is
somewhat incestuous (producers and buyers are friends more often than not),
it is highly unlikely that scale S will be stocked by stores that don't
maufacture / import (or play with) a scale S product when they have to buck
the "system". I don't know how many times I heard, "I got it direct and
saved taxes / got a deal / because you can't get it wholesale" when, in
fact, I had it in stock. Admittedly, I would have to charge sales taxes (I
HATE them)...
What to do? I don't know. That's why I am no longer in the hobby
business. It would be a lot easier for the shop keeper if the stuff were
available through normal distribution channels. Only SHS has rolling stock
in distribution by a major distributor. While SHS stuff is superb, it does
not show the breadth of the scale S supply of rolling stock. Why does this
matter? When a fellow or gal goes to a shop and sees many lines of HO, O,
N, or even G, but only one line of S, what do you think they will see as
more viable? I realize that a lot of detail stuff, structures and S
specific materials are available in distribution, but they have to see
TRAINS first.
Anyone want to be a "clearing house" -- a central ordering point for all
scale S products (Ron? It would mean continuous updates of your site!)?
Would the manufacturers / importers support?
Have fun!
Bill Winans
Prescott Valley, AZ
P.S. FYI, I did get a discount on products made specifically for Scenery
Unlimited (Shinohara track, SU labeled kits).
> > The ma and pop manufacturers really hurt me. No discount worth anything
> > by the time I add postage back.
--snip--
> > So to the Mom and Pops out there, If my local hobby shop orders from you
> > can you offer them a decent profit and at cost postage?
--snip--
> > Ken
Folks.....
The above is a very accurate description of a problem that has existed
for 40 years or more.
Others, like "S"cenery Unlimited, would not offer any dealer discount. than
Kadee S . The ill will runs deep and long.
Most of the mom&pop manufacturers are selling direct to avoid the
distributor/wholesaler and retailer discounts. They will claim the
profit margin is simply not there to do otherwise. The local hobby
shop will claim that without being stocked in retail stores, S scale
will never take it's rightful place among the other, more popular,
scales. So what to do? That is the question -- still unanswered after
several decades.
Any new ideas out there?
Cheers...Ed L.
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