What Traders are still offering Mail Order? Services?

[Dickw]

4-Max

Ordered yesterday, delivered this morning. Thanks George

Dick

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Posted by Geoff Copping on 01/04/2020 11:27:05:

Had a word with Mike Woodhouse of Free Flight Supplies yesterday and he's still taking orders, I know he's not a shop but he's still trading. I shall be looking out of the window for delivery man.

Inwood Models at Huntingdon is still trading online, telephone sales and auction site with daily RM collections.

Hi Geoff,

I missed the bit about Mike at Free Flight supplies.In your post. It must have been subliminal as I ordered some Mylar and some of his ‘how to’ informative sheets. I must admit I need to be shown how to tissue over Mylar . I don’t know if any other traders that sell Mylar?

I mailed Mike At FF supplies and he replied the same day, sent me a pay pal request and all done and dusted. I know Mike has a proper Job as well and he posts once a week . I had missed the posting day, but not worried as I’m stocking up for some indoor modelling. Plan to do while on lock down .

Hope chat about foam below and why I was after Mylar isn’t against the rules . It’s just good info for all - I think .

I’ve been messing ( designing and building indoor models)about with balsa , Depron and Vector board . I’ve really fallen for Vector Board . Depron has finished manufacture in white , but grey is available in the UK and I’ve been messing with blue foam which is now grey foam and Depron which was white but is now grey. I got my hands on some very fine carbon rod . The Vector board is still available from UK & European stockists that had good stocks before Graupner closed . Graupner have ceased trading and they were suppliers of Vector Board - it’s more flexible than other foams . I have some info that another company is working on continuing to have Vector board manufactured . It’s not like other foams that have been available to modellers as it was manufactured and cut specific for Graupner . Blue foam is primarily insulation and so was Depron until AeroDepron appeared , Grey Depron is available in The UK. In a modelling mag . I recently read a modeller / users account of white and grey depron. He stated white was extruded - which it is correct and that grey was a block that was cut into sheets , like Vector board . That info is incorrect as grey Depron is manufactured exactly like white.

in the past few days there was a post on Facebook from a company saying they are manufacturing White Depron . If they are and it’s available in small quantities. It’s great news if it’s true. I’m saying small quantities meaning available in boxes of 40 sheets and not they’ll manufacture if a 40 ft container is ordered .

Sorry all excited about foam at the moment , very nerdy about it.

I got an order of off cuts from one eBay seller for £25 posted . If it was one piece in volume it would be £100s. eBay specialist sellers are worth supporting as some offer some very specialist gear that helps make the hobby more unique and Interesting

Steve .

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Posted by Airtek on 01/04/2020 12:42:47:

Great to see this thread but please also spare a thought for those that are not able to continue trading during this crisis and are seeing their businesses slowly disappearing. Things are going to be very different once this is over.

Hi Airtek - I might be wrong but are you Peter ( Caldercraft) as if so I think we’ve met . Apologies if I’m wrong? We used to deal with Caldrrcraft years ago.

I hear what your saying . Your totally correct to mention stores that won’t reopen. The future is very uncertain I had a chat with an accountant today and he also wondered what the retail or general business landscape will look like when restrictions are lifted in 2 months, 3 months or 6 months or more?

Some stores will close and probably not Re open . A very sad fact. My own view is while some companies have continued Mail Order closing the store customers that are  callers in person , many suppliers are now closing so how many stores will be running low on stocks and how can stores continue? Without supplies. While the initial reaction is is natural to keep on going, fight the good fight etc , I’m not sure how possible that will be to stay open. One UK supplier of kits we stock - can’t supply kits as he can’t get the plans copied. It’s not just the large companies closing , its smaller suppliers as well.

Then collections by the carriers are ‘as an when’ they can. No longer working to a dispatch times. Deliveries into our store are a little hit and miss . Initially despite having a collection every day by Parcel Force - They decided We would no longer want deliveries as they saw us as a shop that would be closed . Not still trading.

It been a difficult and worrying week. As a trade we are in it together . The hobby is already short on outlets Along with the decline of model shops has been a decline in numbers in flying clubs.
Clubs that once boasted 70 , 80 or more members can have 10 to 15 members .

Prior to this latest problem , brexit affected all retail , I’d even say model registration had a negative effect on sales and now this awful health crisis. We will lose some business’s and people. The virus has a potential to cause a huge number of deaths. It’s a terrible situation . The Government have been totally correct regard restrictions . If we are following the path Italy has then there’s much stiffer restrictions and closures coming. 

Good luck and keep safe. I can’t wait for the next 6 months to be over 

 

Steve

Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 02/04/2020 01:58:29

Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 02/04/2020 02:01:19

[Peter Miller]

Steve has just told me that his supply of Saito engines has now been delivered.

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Posted by leccyflyer on 31/03/2020 19:24:24:

Good to hear from you Steve - hope that everything is going well in the shop, at least on the mail order side and that you are all staying safe and well.

All the best

Bri

You too Bri. I often think of you. Happy days!

Yes - we are holding up. My chatter got the better of me . Left a couple of long posts last night. You know me I tend to get very enthusiastic about stuff. I’m an indoor flyer now a days . I really regret I didn’t get into it sooner. I missed those early days. Dad would have loved it. I remember Kev experimenting with indoor and I must admit it interested me but I did do anything about it. If any one out there has a new red Extra by Horizon if buy it . I had 4 of them. Really miss. having one.. I’ve had the letter that I’m high risk regard Covid 19 so I’m stuck at home while the team battle on Mail Order. I’m not sure how long UK stores can keep going mail order as most of the suppliers have closed ? Strange times we are in . So good to hear from you.
Stay safe , good luck

Steve

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Posted by Ron Gray on 01/04/2020 13:10:17:

Just been told that orders are not being shipped from EU warehouse to UK, they will only ship locally.

I don’t think it’s just HK that’s affected overseas . Deliveries would be very unpredictable for any company outside the uk . They won’t want to send deliveries out that they could lose. It would end up their loss not the recipient.

As a customer - if making orders use pay pal or credit card ( not debit) they are covered for losses. Delivers don’t arrive the retailer is able to be charged back. Do check own card conditions but I’ve found ive had to claim non delivery a couple of times and my credit card company returned my money..

Steve

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Apologies for the long posts, I think cabin fever got the better of me !
keep safe! Keep posting who’s open for mail order! Steve

[Guest]

Hi Airtek - I might be wrong but are you Peter ( Caldercraft) as if so I think we’ve met . Apologies if I’m wrong? We used to deal with Caldrrcraft years ago.

Hi Steve, yes it is me Peter, 40 years in the trade and thouht I’d seen it all but it would seem there is always more! Nice to touch base with you again, it’s been a long time.

I agree with all the points you have made. We’ve had Brexit, GDPR, making tax digital, strict regulations on model flying plus of course the big one of having to compete with companies that can sell tax free.

This situation has been hitting Airtex since February. We order our own brand things from China 4-5 times a year and we put an order in just before their New Year celebrations so we would be first in the que for when they got back, but we all know what happened then of course. Consequenttly we soon ran out of stock of our top selling items which as yet we still haven’t got. I was speaking to one of our Chinese suppliers yesterday and she said that most are back to work but they are suffering from comonent shortages. We have stuff out there some to be finished and some waiting in the DHL warehouse but of course we can’t sell them from there.

The lead up to us deciding to temporary close was manic to say the least. Essentially as everyone dropped out and went into isolation I was left on my own to deal with probably the busiest time we have ever had. The post collections stopped and then we had to make a 20 mile journey for carrier drop offs as their local drop off point closed. During this time being left on my own I was unable to take telephone enquiries and had to answer a lot of e-mails telling us we wern’t answering the phones. To cut a long story short I ended up collapsing, and that as they say had to be that. I am at the back end of chemo recovery and also a diabetic so in the at risk group and quite like the thought of staying alive. The unfortunate thing was that because I do the website while I was out of action I couldn’t get to close things down properly so when I saw here a post from a moderator (since removed) telling people that if a trader hasn’t informed customers of their trading status to assume they aren’t interested and go elsewhere I was, I would like to think understandably, a bit concerned about the way things were going.

I really hesitated before posting on this thread but thought it would be interesting to see if there was any glimer of empathy out there.

It’s a really difficult decision for any trader to make whether to carry on or not at the moment. It’s a case of dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t and it’s very interesting to note that virtually all posts have been from customers. To be honest if our situation was different we would continue, and I have an offer of help that may make that happen although by the way things are going everyone may have to stop soon.

Please everyone stay safe and above all be nice to each other. There is a back story to everything I have barely scratched the surface here!

Pete

[Gervaise Vernon Retail manager StarLoc]

Posted by Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 02/04/2020 08:33:41:

Posted by Ron Gray on 01/04/2020 13:10:17:

Just been told that orders are not being shipped from EU warehouse to UK, they will only ship locally.

I don’t think it’s just HK that’s affected overseas . Deliveries would be very unpredictable for any company outside the uk . They won’t want to send deliveries out that they could lose. It would end up their loss not the recipient.

Not a chance for delivery from us in Bulgaria!,

They have declared a state of emergency, so no post, curfew from 7pm to 5am, The rest of the time we can only only go out to do a food shop, go to certain types of job , or walk a dog a limited amount.

Email passwords are in the factory, shop passwords in the factory, We cant go in the factory, we are waiting for an official to take us.to the factory as it is in another district even though just down the road and police have road blocks.... They were supposed to appear to take us on Thursday last week.

The only contacts we have are forums, facebook or ebay massages

We have things stuck in the post all over the place we have posted and things to be delivered to us, even a saw for balsa strip I bought from the guy who used to own Flair , its stuck in a workshop in the UK to be collected and all van drivers are quarantined , everyone is the same everywhere.

Myself I am not working, other than emails etc, we are not allowed in the factories

Will ( the boss! ) loves not going into work!.... as he never goes out anyway!, apart from walking his 8 dogs, he has a lot of workshops in the garden so is making new models and testing them in his field at the back of the house, also working on new glues in the lab he has at home and building a new bottle filling machine!

We have just had our lockdown extended this morning , now lasting until the 13th of May.

[Michael Barclay]

Posted by Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 30/03/2020 10:32:20:

Posted by Michael Barclay on 30/03/2020 10:18:55:

Hobby King are open for busines from Holland. I usuall get stuff within 5 days.

Thanks Michael - I was kind of thinking what traders at home in the UK were still around but it’s valid that HK is open in Holland if that’s the case.

It’s my understanding there are major delays importing because flights that are not running.

Have you ordered since the lock down? I know many orders with Chinese Suppliers are months overdue because production in China has been affected. The virus originated in the ROC so they have been badly affected in some industrial areas.

We have supplies from China and Tony Ray Aeromodel co is only just returning to work having been off work since January .

it would be helpful if you could tell us if you have ordered in the last two weeks and did you get your orders ?

Steve

Hi Steve. I ordered an electric motor for my new build late on the 28th of March. It arrived at 9am this morning.

Hope this helps. Mike.

[Michael Barclay]

Posted by Ron Gray on 01/04/2020 12:50:38:

Further to the above posts about HK, I tried to order some small LiPos from the EU warehouse, always OK in the past but now they are saying that they are not shipping to UK. Not sure if this is just for LiPos?

That must only apply to the lipos as a motor I ordered from Hobby King 5 days ago arrived 9am this morning. Mike,

Edited By Michael Barclay on 02/04/2020 09:33:49

[Ron Gray]

I'm afraid not, I spoke to HK support yesterday and they said (and in writing too!) that the EU warehouse are only posting to local addresses only, not to the UK and that applies to everything! I tested this by ordering a non battery item and sure enough it wouldn't allow it through due to no postage options for the UK. This is the message you get:

Edited By Ron Gray on 02/04/2020 09:51:02

[Michael Barclay]

Posted by Ron Gray on 02/04/2020 09:45:28:

I'm afraid not, I spoke to HK support yesterday and they said (and in writing too!) that the EU warehouse are only posting to local addresses only, not to the UK and that applies to everything! I tested this by ordering a non battery item and sure enough it wouldn't allow it through due to no postage options for the UK. This is the message you get:

Edited By Ron Gray on 02/04/2020 09:51:02

Looks as though I got the motor just in time then Ron.... Mike

[Mike Blandford]

I ordered from T9HobbySport yesterday, the Royal Mail tracking says it will be delivered today.

When it arrives, it will be picked up while wearing gloves and placed in a quarantine area in the spare room, along with the gloves, and not touched for 72 hours. Maybe that is being paranoid, but why take chances?

The 72 hours applies to everything we get, including food shopping, we have a quarantine shelf in both the fridge and the freezer, and several pairs of gloves each.

Mike

[Ron Gray]

You were indeed luck Mike and as the law of sod kicks in, HK reduced their price of some of their smaller LiPos which made them very attractive as I'm doing quite a bit of drone flying in the garden at the moment. Not sure if I should still place an order for them from the UK and fingers crossed I get them when they come back (when???). On the other hand when they come back I will be back into 'proper' flying so the drone will probably be gathering dust.

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Posted by Mike Blandford on 02/04/2020 10:56:52:

I ordered from T9HobbySport yesterday, the Royal Mail tracking says it will be delivered today.

When it arrives, it will be picked up while wearing gloves and placed in a quarantine area in the spare room, along with the gloves, and not touched for 72 hours. Maybe that is being paranoid, but why take chances?

The 72 hours applies to everything we get, including food shopping, we have a quarantine shelf in both the fridge and the freezer, and several pairs of gloves each.

Mike

Hi Mike we order things from T9 and he still mail ordering like you say.

I think most model shops are trying to at the moment but I do think that with the suppliers closing and supply is not coming from overseas stock will become a problem and shops will probably close.

I just wanted to say that your quarantine idea is pretty much what we do at home as well things left on the path and then left for 24 hours maybe more lots of hand sanitiser washing your hands you cannot be too careful keep safe and good luck Steve

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Posted by Airtek on 02/04/2020 08:50:57:

Hi Airtek - I might be wrong but are you Peter ( Caldercraft) as if so I think we’ve met . Apologies if I’m wrong? We used to deal with Caldrrcraft years ago.

Hi Steve, yes it is me Peter, 40 years in the trade and thouht I’d seen it all but it would seem there is always more! Nice to touch base with you again, it’s been a long time.

I agree with all the points you have made. We’ve had Brexit, GDPR, making tax digital, strict regulations on model flying plus of course the big one of having to compete with companies that can sell tax free.

This situation has been hitting Airtex since February. We order our own brand things from China 4-5 times a year and we put an order in just before their New Year celebrations so we would be first in the que for when they got back, but we all know what happened then of course. Consequenttly we soon ran out of stock of our top selling items which as yet we still haven’t got. I was speaking to one of our Chinese suppliers yesterday and she said that most are back to work but they are suffering from comonent shortages. We have stuff out there some to be finished and some waiting in the DHL warehouse but of course we can’t sell them from there.

The lead up to us deciding to temporary close was manic to say the least. Essentially as everyone dropped out and went into isolation I was left on my own to deal with probably the busiest time we have ever had. The post collections stopped and then we had to make a 20 mile journey for carrier drop offs as their local drop off point closed. During this time being left on my own I was unable to take telephone enquiries and had to answer a lot of e-mails telling us we wern’t answering the phones. To cut a long story short I ended up collapsing, andI really hesitated before posting on this thread but thought it would be interesting to see if there was any glimer of empathy out there.

It’s a really difficult decision for any trader to make whether to carry on or not at the moment. It’s a case of dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t and it’s very interesting to note that virtually all posts have been from customers. To be honest if our situation was different we would continue, and I have an offer of help that may make that happen although by the way things are going everyone may have to stop soon.

Please everyone stay safe and above all be nice to each other. There is a back story to everything I have barely scratched the surface here!

 

Pete

hi Pete it is indeed nice to be in touch with you again it’s been a long time. I’m 34 years in the trade more of my life in the trade then out of the trade 24 years out 34 years in.But apply that in the 24 years I was modelling from the age of eight or younger to say that modelling is been my life would be an understatement. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions at the moment. I really feel it for you we to have had problems with supply from China because of New Year and then the virus which was kind of masked by the new year at first.Cos when off work in China for the Chinese New Year and then just didn’t come back.I mentioned Brexit as trading through that time was just terrible affected customs currency. It’s affected many aspects of retail not just the model trade but the whole country look how many stores we lost businesses we lost during that time.i’m a firm believer that leave or stay whatever was decided should’ve just been done and the indecision for three years which crippled business would not of got on. It was my far worse by all the arguments afterwards and it split the country.

Making tax digital what can I say it’s increase the workload is increase the overheads it’s increase the bills from the accountant it’s been a total disaster.I could do with employing somebody just to deal with Mate tax digital.

I don’t see what’s been gained because that the records that are submitted digital are not automatic from the businesses so still the same as it was before but just extra work. It’s so badly for and doesn’t take account of exports and allsorts of other things thatWe have ended up keeping manual records as well it’s just doubled all the work.Know when it’s a vat quarter the accountant is on the phone more than ever.we always used to have a couple of phone calls but now they have to phone to check everything.

I do sympathise Peter and I do think I know what you’re going through we shut to the public calling before the government guidelines we had some rather bad instances with people coughing and spluttering in the shop putting all the staff at risk another customer is at risk and not really caring about it. I let the staff decide what they wanted to do and they decided to close to callers a few days later the government restrictions came in so we would’ve had to close to calls anyway. No we are doing mail-order but it is difficult everything is affected carriers supplies but we are trying. Some short time and a couple of staff laid off.

I

Cont .

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 02/04/2020 12:54:27

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Cont for pete Airtek

I also feel like you do quite a few retail stores in all lines of business Are not going to reopen.with most of all trade suppliers in the UK will be closing and supply of some overseas companies are not supplying -  eventually even the mail-order shops will close. My accountant was suggesting the situation will go on for at least six months and he feels eventually in the next few weeks all non-essential businesses will close like in Italy.i’ve been mail ordering some bits and pieces for myself for all over the place because I honestly don’t think it will be available in a ifew months.

Of course while we all feel it’s about business and closing and the emotions of that situation  when it’s your own store and business and you’ve put so much effort into it.I overworked that much in the 90s it’s affected my health.i’m on the most vulnerable list so I can’t even  help the guys at the shop which is getting to me a bit.

The re ports  this morning are we still receiving orders still filling quite a few orders and so on the day today should reach quite a few people. I think it’s going to be a day-to-day decision what’s going on.Stay safe Peter it’s good to hear from you what a dreadful time we’re all in but we’re all in it together.

I’m truly Sorry to hear of your health problems . I have been suffering some poor health and of course the store is still then ill or not. You must keep away from the Virus. I got my venerability letter of the NHS today. It made depressing reading , but then on BBC breakfast it said some on line food stores give preferential slots to those with a letter. So not totally depressing !

If you are a business that has a small rate rebate or rates rebated completely under the previous government scheme there is a £10,000 grant that you could be eligible for I am hoping that we will be eligible as quite a few businesses are another shop phoned us to tell us that they were and they were getting 10K grant rebate. Search the government website for what special help is available .

keep Safe and well and sounds like you made the right decision.

 

good to have contact after all these years

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 02/04/2020 12:05:57

Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 02/04/2020 12:10:15

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Guest]

Thanks Steve, not much I can add to that your experience reflects mine and I suspect many others in the trade. I was just thinking that as I child I remember my dad starting his model business in the shed at the top of the garden which grew to be one that employed over 50 and had a manufacturing base in the USA before the internet came and changed things that I'm not going to let a virus be the end of it all!

We all need to take things day by day, do what's best for our individual circumstances and survive for better times, and of course I include everyone in that.

The grant application is already in and is going to be needed, certainly wouldn't cover standing costs for 6 months but we'll have to wait and see.

I know what you mean about the NHS letter, makes you think, and I don't want to catch this dam thing. My wife is a registrar and has just been put on to dealing with deaths only, and my son who is back home with us is a voluntary paramedic for St. Johns and is going on the front line this weekend. Proud of him but hope he doesn't bring anything home!

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Posted by Barrie Lever on 02/04/2020 12:25:00:

I really hope that the UK model shops can survive this terrible period in our history.

I deal with both Steve Webb and The Model Shop (Leeds) and both are really good business's.

However I will say something controversial now, I will not shed one single tear if HK hits the ropes and ceases trading, they truly put the properly run business's under undue and uncompetitive pressures by their well published avoidance measures (discussed to death on this forum amongst others).

I was modelling way before HK was thought of and I have never bought a single item from them, I will still be modelling if HK disappeared back into the pit that it crawled out of.

B.

Hi Barry,

Thanks for the kind words . I know Martin at Leeds , I don’t speak to him as often as I used to when we were trading Enya . I have great respect for Martin , he’s a total professional and if I could bet on who makes it through all this , I think that Martin and the lads at Model Shop Leeds will make it!

I hope the model trade comes through this .

Regard your comments re Chinese Direct retailing - Id have no problem with it - if UK laws are adhered to, UK taxes paid , retail standards etc

Unfortunately although the UK seems to be applying the laws to such retailers now a days that wasn’t always the case and it gave the ROC direct sellers an incredible advantage as if a business abides by UK retail laws and the costs they inflict , plus import duties and VAT they cannot compete / couldn’t compete with such suppliers.

It was a very unfair playing field and I think it has damaged the UK model trade and the European trade. We lost Graupner recently , it was the second time they’d ceased trading . The company behind the radio sets HOTTs gave then a life line, but now they’ve pulled out of Graupner . The radio will continue . But it’s a loss of a retailer that supported youngsters , supported the Hobby.

The model trade is very price orientated and it breeds buyers that chase constant bargains, the hobby becomes more about how cheap they can make it than the hobby. Direct ROC sellers exploit this. The very people that support them will become the victims as more UK stores close , less stores means less beginners , less beginners means members in clubs and eventually less places and resources for everyone.

To be honest the story is repeated in lots of retail - Fishing, Camera Stores etc etc

Chinese Sellers on eBay with counterfeit servos and RC seem to be tolerated because it’s cheap. If a UK model store sold counterfeit servos - imagine the outcry . They would be quoting safety , trading standards at them and throw the book at them.

Often there’s an acceptance of poor deliveries , packing etc

Again it would not be accepted if it was a UK model store doing it.

i don’t think it’s controversial what you’ve said , it’s a free country and while certain shops / business have supporters - they also have those that don’t support them . Freedom of speech is a good thing!

 

Thanks for your support

 

steve

 

 

 

 

Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 02/04/2020 14:03:52

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

Posted by Airtek on 02/04/2020 12:32:19:

Thanks Steve, not much I can add to that your experience reflects mine and I suspect many others in the trade. I was just thinking that as I child I remember my dad starting his model business in the shed at the top of the garden which grew to be one that employed over 50 and had a manufacturing base in the USA before the internet came and changed things that I'm not going to let a virus be the end of it all!

We all need to take things day by day, do what's best for our individual circumstances and survive for better times, and of course I include everyone in that.

The grant application is already in and is going to be needed, certainly wouldn't cover standing costs for 6 months but we'll have to wait and see.

I know what you mean about the NHS letter, makes you think, and I don't want to catch this dam thing. My wife is a registrar and has just been put on to dealing with deaths only, and my son who is back home with us is a voluntary paramedic for St. Johns and is going on the front line this weekend. Proud of him but hope he doesn't bring anything home!

Very similar experiences Peter , my family has been in retail since the 60s . I went in a different direction as we were

in the building trade. Retail is a hard life , but can be rewarding , challenging. Yes we have to address our own individual circumstances , but we can still help each other. It was another store that tipped me of about the grant.
you make a terrific point about overheads. I’ve already had the comment that we might be getting 10k for nothing.
wrong we’ve raised taxes , employed people and in reality £10k is not a months overheads .
But it’s something!

Taje care Peter I hope you make it . Like you say after so many years trading you can’t let this beat you. I feel the same

Steve

[Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)]

After some very serious trader chat - 😐 Sorry big posts . I think we should get back to who’s trading , what experiences people are having ? Are deliveries getting through? SWM reports mail order at increased rate of items , but a lower cost of goods in parcels . People seem to be shopping on line for more bits . I want to state this is not an advert for SWM , but we lowered our Carriage Paid To as low a figure we could break even at , with a view it would help customers stuck for bits. I would say to other traders it’s worth considering a drop in the minimum amount you provide free postage . It helps out the clientele and they will remember it. I can’t see me saying that before the crisis!

if you call your local store and the phone doesn’t answer try again . Some business’s are on skeleton crew.

probably easier to order on line in most cases but even with that there are reports of packets and parcels being delayed . There’s the collections of mail order some companies are collecting every two days and not every day , some are turning up any time in the day. So where you order 24 hour with Parcel Force collecting . They may arrive at a store at 10 am when only a few parcels are packed so instantly there’s a day delay . I think we all need to realise these are strange times and we should be laid back about times taken delivering . Yes some stuffs getting there in 2 to 2 days but not all.

keep posting ! Thanks to all that have , including the traders . It’s given insight into the real problems every one is facing . Steering clear of the virus while trying to keep some normality .

Steve

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Mike T]

Posted by Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 02/04/2020 17:26:58:

I think we should get back to who’s trading

Yes...

Just had a delivery from RC World. I was prepared for a delay, but - ordered Mon pm, delivered this am.

Also,an ebay order placed on Monday pm arrived yesterday - as fast as I would expect under normal circumstances.

Maybe the PO, etc has less junk mail to process and is able to deliver 'proper' mail easier?

Edited By Mike T on 02/04/2020 19:22:45