🚀 go-pugleaf

>>For unique, low production run models, the direct sales method gives a 
>>better (and faster) return to the manufacturer than the hobby store route.
>
> I wasn't suggesting the hobby store route. I was suggesting that the 
> manufacture appoint an agent (one agent) in the overseas countries where 
> he/she expects to sell several models, to eliminate the customers' pain of 
> trying to import the models individually, that's all.

I might add (given the inclusion of UK model groups) that the same applies 
the other way. Some odds and sods from the UK can be bought in Australia (eg 
Brunel Models) but most of odds and sods right up to kits can only be bought 
from the internet (eg Mainly Trains) or direct from the manufacturer. The 
internet stuff is no problem, but the smaller cottage industry types seem to 
struggle to do anything other than straight UK transactions. At the moment 
I'd like to buy significant quantity of an item (I'd rather not mention any 
names for obvious reasons such as I'd eventually like to receive the 
product) but despite a number of emails over time I can't even get a price 
on freight to Australia. The company website gives no indication of 
alternative sources of purchase, specifically won't accept credit cards 
(understandable but adds significantly to my cost and inconvenience trying 
to organise a cheque on a UK bank or postal order then posting it to the 
company) and generally makes it reasonably difficult for me to buy off them. 
I presume my business is not significant to them or just too hard to deal 
with. And I might add that the UK market would be several times larger than 
the Oz market due to higher population and more trains to be interested in, 
especially given the relative sizes of the two countries.