🚀 go-pugleaf

In message <4274C0F2.9020905@cia.com.au>, Lambing Flat 
<bullack@cia.com.au> writes
>G'day all :-)
>
>Ron received the first test shots of the 620/720 class 2 car diesel 
>body recently and after hurriedly assembling some of the parts a couple 
>of shots have been posted on the web site.
>
>More to come when they are fully assembled and painted.
>
>James McInerney
>Eureka Models Webmaster: http://eureka.m.bigpondhosting.com/

James

Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent? I'm 
certainly interested in the Beyer-Garratt model (with DCC and sound) but 
I don't really want to go through all the hassle of paying import duty 
to the Post Office before they'll deliver a package from Australia. It's 
much easier for us in the UK to buy overseas models from a UK supplier.


-- 
Jane
OO in the garden http://www.yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk/railway/railway.html

Jane Sullivan <jane@yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk> writes:

>Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent? I'm 
>certainly interested in the Beyer-Garratt model (with DCC and sound) but 
>I don't really want to go through all the hassle of paying import duty 
>to the Post Office before they'll deliver a package from Australia. It's 
>much easier for us in the UK to buy overseas models from a UK supplier.

I can't answer for James on Ron since I don't have any connection to Ron's
'Eureka Models' venture, but this issue gets raised constantly because we
already have one very major (from the Australian model railway market's
perspective) producer of Australian prototype locomotives which will not
distribute any other way than by direct mail order.

It's a bit of a dicotomy because I run a small business myself and
understand the complexities that come with marketting/distribution. So
adding distribution of products via other parties into the business model
comes with a massive increase in expenses, both in terms of time (esp. if a
sole-trader), and money.

The other factor working against these Australian model railway businesses
going through agents/distributors is the way smaller market and interest
base for Australian prototype products compared to the US and European
prototypes. Whereas an Australian business may have 10000 models of a
particular prototype locomotive produced by a factory in China, a US
business could have 100000, or more, models made. That reduces per-unit
cost, gives better and higher-priority access to manufacturing facilities,
and gives much better leeway to absorbing distribution costs.

Certain people have been very dirty on me for talking about this issue, but
it's always going to exist for our local producers purely because of the
difference in size of the market and potential interest base by at least a
factor of 10 between local prototypes and overseas prototypes.

The problem is finding a point where the benefits of each approach can be
balanced and still make any venture into producing models viable. For the
local businesses who distribute only via direct mail-order channels, they've
obviously worked out that they couldn't go the way of having
distributors/agents and continue doing what they do in terms of developing
and producing high-quality models without a massive increase in per-model
price and/or production/sales volume.

One of the businesses here has been very successful in terms of volume of
sales (and has re-run one model about 3 times so far), but for the local
Australian prototype market, that seems to be very much the exception rather
than the rule. Producing RTR locos is also a very a different proposition
from producing kits or detail parts.

I'd like to see businesses who opt to only do mail-order distribution of
Australian-prototype model locomotives try other ways but it's up the
business owner to see if changing the business model will still make it
viable later on down the track.

All that side, having an agent in another country could be a good thing but
it still means a lot of extra administrivia which either has to be done by
the same person or small group of people developing the models, or
additional staff have to be hired to take care of it.

Regards,

Craig.
-- 
Craig Dewick - Professional Train Manager (RailCorp) + HO Scale Rail Modeller
http://www.railzone.org -- Check out the RailZone Online Forums! Send email to
craigd@lios.apana.org.au -- RailCorp Train Crew Council: http://www.rctcc.org
Oz Rail Safety List: http://lios.apana.org.au/mailman/listinfo/aus_rail_safety

Jane Sullivan wrote:
 > In message <4274C0F2.9020905@cia.com.au>, Lambing Flat
 > <bullack@cia.com.au> writes

 >> Eureka Models
 >
 >
 > James
 >
 > Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent?

I can't speak for Ron, (hopefully he will speak for himself ;-), but
Craig has certainly summed up the situation quite succinctly in his post.

I'm afraid that the days of being able to buy everything one wants from 
one's local hobby shop appear to have gone......
But on the other hand, the internet has made it possible to purchase a 
much wider range of items at lower prices, so, as in all things where 
change occurs, one "wins some and looses some....."

James McInerney

Eureka Models Webmaster: http://eureka.m.bigpondhosting.com/

My G gauge garden homage to the now long gone railways of Tasmania's
west coast, the "Rurr Valley Railway"
http://www.cia.com.au/bullack/rvrtitle.html

also http://www.cia.com.au/bullack/ , where the steam era NSWGR
secondary lines live on in HO at bucolic "Lambing Flat"

and http://members.optusnet.com.au/lambingflat/ for the family stuff!

Lemming Flat wrote:

> Jane Sullivan wrote:
>  > In message <4274C0F2.9020905@cia.com.au>, Lambing Flat
>  > <bullack@cia.com.au> writes
> 
>  >> Eureka Models
>  >
>  >
>  > James
>  >
>  > Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent?
> 
> I can't speak for Ron, (hopefully he will speak for himself ;-), but
> Craig has certainly summed up the situation quite succinctly in his post.
> 
> I'm afraid that the days of being able to buy everything one wants from
> one's local hobby shop appear to have gone......

And is that meant to be good thing, from the point of view of competition??    

As a manufacturer/importer it seems that you are trying to set up a monopoly
in terms of distribution. Agree??  I thought that you guys were marketing
yourselves as the "modelers friend"??? 
 

> But on the other hand, the internet has made it possible to purchase a
> much wider range of items at lower prices, so, as in all things where
> change occurs, one "wins some and looses some....."
> 

Maybe yeah, maybe no.  The Jury is out on that one!!

But what about local support of spares and the like?? It can be rather
painfull waiting weeks or months for stuff to arrive in the post. 

Rages about conspiracies, capitalism and the evils of the internet vis-a-vis 
the local hobby shop, I checked out the samples at the Brisbane show.

First class. A very nice job, the speaker placement is to be commended. By 
the way, inspecting the Garratt drawings I note - with joy - the speaker 
mounted in the firebox, firing down. Finally! A steam loco that does not 
have its chimney/cylinders/whistle etc located in the tender! If only space 
had been found for a second speaker to fire upwards into the smokebox. But 
that's wishing for perfection.

A good job all around, congrats to all involved.
"Lambing Flat" <bullack@cia.com.au> wrote in message 
news:4274C0F2.9020905@cia.com.au...
> G'day all :-)
>
> Ron received the first test shots of the 620/720 class 2 car diesel body 
> recently and after hurriedly assembling some of the parts a couple of 
> shots have been posted on the web site.
>
> More to come when they are fully assembled and painted.
>
> James McInerney
> Eureka Models Webmaster: http://eureka.m.bigpondhosting.com/
>
> My G gauge garden homage to the now long gone railways of Tasmania's west 
> coast, the "Rurr Valley Railway" 
> http://www.cia.com.au/bullack/rvrtitle.html
>
> also http://www.cia.com.au/bullack/ , where the steam era NSWGR secondary 
> lines live on in HO at bucolic "Lambing Flat"
>
> and http://members.optusnet.com.au/lambingflat/ for the family stuff!
> 

On Mon, 2 May 2005 22:35:57 +1000, "Steve Magee" <sjmagee@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Rages about conspiracies, capitalism and the evils of the internet vis-a-vis 
>the local hobby shop, I checked out the samples at the Brisbane show.
>
>First class. A very nice job, the speaker placement is to be commended. By 
>the way, inspecting the Garratt drawings I note - with joy - the speaker 
>mounted in the firebox, firing down. Finally! A steam loco that does not 
>have its chimney/cylinders/whistle etc located in the tender! If only space 
>had been found for a second speaker to fire upwards into the smokebox. But 
>that's wishing for perfection.
>
>A good job all around, congrats to all involved.


I looked at the photos and was rightly impressed.  I thoought it was a very good
piece of die work.  I can't comment on the fidelity to prototype, since I have never
seen the prototype, but the model is very nice.   I am gettting so much Australian
stuff on the railroad that I am going to have to switch to modeling NSWGR, or VR.
Which statement makes me wonder if anyone in Oz models broad gauge to scale?


SM: Ocean Springs
http://www.oceanspringschamber.com/

C. Dewick wrote:

> Jane Sullivan <jane@yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk> writes:
> 
> 
>>Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent? I'm 
>>certainly interested in the Beyer-Garratt model (with DCC and sound) but 
>>I don't really want to go through all the hassle of paying import duty 
>>to the Post Office before they'll deliver a package from Australia. It's 
>>much easier for us in the UK to buy overseas models from a UK supplier.

Why sell direct instead of through a distributor?
Money - as a manufacturer you get a better and faster return selling direct.

Consider:
You have decided to be come a model manufacturer.
You are going to produce a model of the little known Bogroll & Flynn 
6-3-8+TF

It will cost you $ 100,000 up front.
You want to make 10% on your money for your time.
So you need to recover $ 110,000.
If the selling price is $ 500.00 you need to sell 220 models.

Now suppose you want to sell the models through hobby shops. They expect 
to receive a 40% discount AND want 30 days to pay. So now you are a 
bank. Add another 5% to your costs for this trouble.
You now need to recover $ 115,000 but your selling price to the stores 
is only $ 300. You now need to sell 384 models.
That is 75% more product.

If you think the market can handle that many models you can go the hobby 
store route. If you think you will have problems selling 220 models then 
you stay with the direct model.

Now I have simplified things a bit. The costs of having the mould made 
are more likely double my estimate. Producing the models, painting and 
packaging, shipping the product from the factory to you, and advertising 
will probably add the same again. And the price point is most likely too 
high for the market.

Try doing the math with a model selling at $ 199.99.

For unique, low production run models, the direct sales method gives a 
better (and faster) return to the manufacturer than the hobby store route.

Regards
Bill Dixon

In message <1WCde.16397$0X6.15316@edtnps90>, B Dixon <WDixon@telus.net> 
writes
>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.
-- 
Jane
OO in the garden http://www.yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk/railway/railway.html

"Jane Sullivan" <jane@yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk
> wrote in message > 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.

Which brings up the problem of exactly how many copies you have to have 
sales for in the other country to make it worthwhile, ignoring for the 
moment any profit for the agent and the obscene amounts charged by freight 
forwarders for brokerage, customs clearance at each end, insurance, freight 
etc, all of which are going to go on to the retail price at destination

-- 
Tony Bailey
Mercury Travel Books

>>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. 

"Ocean Springs" <argirode@mindspring.com> wrote in message 
news:4276570d.579025@news.east.earthlink.net...
> On Mon, 2 May 2005 22:35:57 +1000, "Steve Magee" <sjmagee@yahoo.com> 
> wrote:
>

>
> I looked at the photos and was rightly impressed.  I thoought it was a 
> very good
> piece of die work.  I can't comment on the fidelity to prototype, since I 
> have never
> seen the prototype, but the model is very nice.   I am gettting so much 
> Australian
> stuff on the railroad that I am going to have to switch to modeling NSWGR, 
> or VR.
> Which statement makes me wonder if anyone in Oz models broad gauge to 
> scale?
>
>
> SM: Ocean Springs
> http://www.oceanspringschamber.com/

Froggy

You are permitted to model VR in steam days, but only if you have a 
streamlined S class Pacific in blue livery. Preferred name is Sir Edward 
Henty (whoever he was), hauling the Spirit of Progress towards the change of 
gauge at Albury and NSW. Sheer beauty, unmatched by any NSW design, and I 
live here! :-) An R-class Hudson would then be permissable. Otherwise, 
NSWGR!

Not aware of any VR/SAR modellers who actually model HO in Broad gauge - 
that would be 18.375 mm track. Maybe there are some of those dedicated 
soles, quietly working away in their train rooms and shunning publicity, but 
I know not. Seems to be that, like our British friends with OO, they have 
accepted the compromise and got on with their modelling.

Would LOVE to see your friends faces at your round robin club if you turned 
up with a Eureka Garrett... :-)

All the best

Steve 

>  Which statement makes me wonder if anyone in Oz models broad gauge
to scale?

I replied to this, but just realised that it was by email, rather than
to the newsgroup.  I know of some modelling BG.

4mm scale, 21mm gauge is in use by at least two people, one is building
to the 21mm gauge equivalent of P4.  Another I know is modelling in
3.5mm/foot, but using P87 standards with a gauge of 18.4mm.  I have
heard of modellers using HO scale and EM gauge track, which at 18.2mm
is pretty close, but don't know any of these people personally.

Of course, those modelling in 1/4" scale and using 32mm gauge track
are closer to BG than they are to SG.  :-)

John Dennis

B Dixon <WDixon@telus.net> writes:

>C. Dewick wrote:

>> Jane Sullivan <jane@yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk> writes:
>> 
>> 
>>>Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent? I'm 
>>>certainly interested in the Beyer-Garratt model (with DCC and sound) but 
>>>I don't really want to go through all the hassle of paying import duty 
>>>to the Post Office before they'll deliver a package from Australia. It's 
>>>much easier for us in the UK to buy overseas models from a UK supplier.

[ much of Bill's followup not repeated... ]

>For unique, low production run models, the direct sales method gives a 
>better (and faster) return to the manufacturer than the hobby store route.

All of what you say is true and I'm well aware from running my own business
(in IT, but as a value-added reseller, so there are some similarities) that
unless the volumes of sales are massive and there are ways to leverage
reasonable returns over big sales volumes, the addition of supporting
distributors/retailers is an impost which makes a small business producing
locomotive models turn from being viable to not viable overnight if there
isn't enough elasticity in the business model to cope with the additional
resources that are needed.

Craig.
-- 
Craig Dewick - Professional Train Manager (RailCorp) + HO Scale Rail Modeller
http://www.railzone.org -- Check out the RailZone Online Forums! Send email to
craigd@lios.apana.org.au -- RailCorp Train Crew Council: http://www.rctcc.org
Oz Rail Safety List: http://lios.apana.org.au/mailman/listinfo/aus_rail_safety

Jane Sullivan <jane@yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk> writes:

>In message <1WCde.16397$0X6.15316@edtnps90>, B Dixon <WDixon@telus.net> 
>writes
>>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'm in agreeance with you Jane - I think that appointing a single
distributor to support products from an overseas (in this case, Australian)
manufacturer makes a lot of sense especially from a marketting/sales point of
view. The manufacturer can drive the production side to keep costs contained
and the distributor can collaborate with the manufacturer on marketting and
sales support. Providing the distributor does it's job well, the sales will
flow the revenue back to the manufacturer in such a way that the
manufacturer can continue to supply existing products and develop new ones.

This would be especially beneficial for the European market where there is
much more awareness of Australian prototype models than in the saturated
US-centric model railway market in the USA/Canada. I personally feel that
until the US model railway industry pulls it's head in a bit, it will be
very difficult to see a lot of penetration by Australian prototype models,
even with the high profile (locally anyway) of Austrains and now with Ron
Cunningham's Eureka Models venture adding to the availability of
super-high-quality RTR Australian-prototype models.

I've never once seen an add for Austrains locos in any of the issues of MR
or RMC I read (and I get RMC on subscription), for example. With the success
of the NR's (which is Austrain's 'signature' model at the moment), you'd
think there would have been at least some promotion directly in either one
or both of the premier model railway mags in the US... 8-)

On the flipside, did Lima's Australian prototype products ever do any good
in markets outside of Australia? My guess is that they were basically
unknown in the USA/Canada and better known in Europe, but Europe has plenty
of well-established manufacturers and Lima's Australian-prototype products
were never a peak item in the companie's product inventory.

Regards,

Craig.
-- 
Craig Dewick - Professional Train Manager (RailCorp) + HO Scale Rail Modeller
http://www.railzone.org -- Check out the RailZone Online Forums! Send email to
craigd@lios.apana.org.au -- RailCorp Train Crew Council: http://www.rctcc.org
Oz Rail Safety List: http://lios.apana.org.au/mailman/listinfo/aus_rail_safety

"Tony Bailey" <mercurytravel@optusnet.com.au> writes:

>"Jane Sullivan" <jane@yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk
>> wrote in message > 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.

>Which brings up the problem of exactly how many copies you have to have 
>sales for in the other country to make it worthwhile, ignoring for the 
>moment any profit for the agent and the obscene amounts charged by freight 
>forwarders for brokerage, customs clearance at each end, insurance, freight 
>etc, all of which are going to go on to the retail price at destination

That's why I said anything like this adds a huge load on the business model,
and for a small business with one or just a couple of staff, unless it's a
business with a ginormous turnover it's difficult to make it work. 

The problem is that by taking this as the pure and simple reason not to
trying distributing through other 'service providers', there's only so far
the marketting bandwagon can be pushed before focus on the manufacturing and
development side is lost. There's more to a business than just the financial
side - there's 'equity' in the people themselves and that drains away from
time to time.

I don't think any of us would want to see Austrains or another similar
operation suddenly shut down because the staff have lost the will to keep
the 'intensity' level up. 8-) The niche in which Austrains and Eureka are
moving into has always existed but it's being widened as the model railway
hobby continues to evolve.

Craig.


-- 
Craig Dewick - Professional Train Manager (RailCorp) + HO Scale Rail Modeller
http://www.railzone.org -- Check out the RailZone Online Forums! Send email to
craigd@lios.apana.org.au -- RailCorp Train Crew Council: http://www.rctcc.org
Oz Rail Safety List: http://lios.apana.org.au/mailman/listinfo/aus_rail_safety

Jane Sullivan wrote:
> In message <4274C0F2.9020905@cia.com.au>, Lambing Flat
> <bullack@cia.com.au> writes
> >G'day all :-)
> >
> >Ron received the first test shots of the 620/720 class 2 car diesel
> >body recently and after hurriedly assembling some of the parts a
couple
> >of shots have been posted on the web site.
> >
> >More to come when they are fully assembled and painted.
> >
> >James McInerney
> >Eureka Models Webmaster: http://eureka.m.bigpondhosting.com/
>
> James
>
> Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent?
I'm
> certainly interested in the Beyer-Garratt model (with DCC and sound)
but
> I don't really want to go through all the hassle of paying import
duty
> to the Post Office before they'll deliver a package from Australia.
It's
> much easier for us in the UK to buy overseas models from a UK
supplier.
>

But it's hardly a great hassle, is it? The PO send a card saying they
have a parcel with duty owing. You ring the number and pay the duty by
credit card, or send them a cheque. They deliver the parcel. You can
even request delivery to your local PO to guarantee you do not miss the
delivery, for the princely sum of 50pence!

I admit it's slightly more hassle than the old system where they would
actually deliver the parcel and you payed the duty to the postman, on
delivery.

MBQ

C. Dewick wrote:

> Jane Sullivan <jane@yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk> writes:
> 
>>In message <1WCde.16397$0X6.15316@edtnps90>, B Dixon <WDixon@telus.net>
>>writes
>>>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'm in agreeance with you Jane - I think that appointing a single
> distributor to support products from an overseas (in this case,
> Australian) manufacturer makes a lot of sense especially from a
> marketting/sales point of view. The manufacturer can drive the production
> side to keep costs contained and the distributor can collaborate with the
> manufacturer on marketting and sales support. Providing the distributor
> does it's job well, the sales will flow the revenue back to the
> manufacturer in such a way that the manufacturer can continue to supply
> existing products and develop new ones.
> 
> This would be especially beneficial for the European market where there is
> much more awareness of Australian prototype models than in the saturated
> US-centric model railway market in the USA/Canada. I personally feel that
> until the US model railway industry pulls it's head in a bit, it will be
> very difficult to see a lot of penetration by Australian prototype models,
> even with the high profile (locally anyway) of Austrains and now with Ron
> Cunningham's Eureka Models venture adding to the availability of
> super-high-quality RTR Australian-prototype models.
> 
> I've never once seen an add for Austrains locos in any of the issues of MR
> or RMC I read (and I get RMC on subscription), for example. With the
> success of the NR's (which is Austrain's 'signature' model at the moment),
> you'd think there would have been at least some promotion directly in
> either one or both of the premier model railway mags in the US... 8-)
> 
> On the flipside, did Lima's Australian prototype products ever do any good
> in markets outside of Australia? My guess is that they were basically
> unknown in the USA/Canada and better known in Europe, but Europe has
> plenty of well-established manufacturers and Lima's Australian-prototype
> products were never a peak item in the companie's product inventory.
> 

In the case of the 44's as they would sell in both Greece and in Spain as
they were used there mods of course. and the 45 was used in Greece and the
body shells of the 48 look close to a greek bo-bo alco branch liner.
  
-- 
Spam Bait

�john.howard@aph.gov.au
minister@transport.nsw.gov.au
alanjones@2gb.com

C. Dewick wrote:

> Jane Sullivan <jane@yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk> writes:
> 
>>In message <1WCde.16397$0X6.15316@edtnps90>, B Dixon <WDixon@telus.net>
>>writes
>>>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'm in agreeance with you Jane - I think that appointing a single
> distributor to support products from an overseas (in this case,
> Australian) manufacturer makes a lot of sense especially from a
> marketting/sales point of view. The manufacturer can drive the production
> side to keep costs contained and the distributor can collaborate with the
> manufacturer on marketting and sales support. Providing the distributor
> does it's job well, the sales will flow the revenue back to the
> manufacturer in such a way that the manufacturer can continue to supply
> existing products and develop new ones.
> 
> This would be especially beneficial for the European market where there is
> much more awareness of Australian prototype models than in the saturated
> US-centric model railway market in the USA/Canada. I personally feel that
> until the US model railway industry pulls it's head in a bit, it will be
> very difficult to see a lot of penetration by Australian prototype models,
> even with the high profile (locally anyway) of Austrains and now with Ron
> Cunningham's Eureka Models venture adding to the availability of
> super-high-quality RTR Australian-prototype models.
> 
> I've never once seen an add for Austrains locos in any of the issues of MR
> or RMC I read (and I get RMC on subscription), for example. With the
> success of the NR's (which is Austrain's 'signature' model at the moment),
> you'd think there would have been at least some promotion directly in
> either one or both of the premier model railway mags in the US... 8-)
> 
> On the flipside, did Lima's Australian prototype products ever do any good
> in markets outside of Australia? My guess is that they were basically
> unknown in the USA/Canada and better known in Europe, but Europe has
> plenty of well-established manufacturers and Lima's Australian-prototype
> products were never a peak item in the companie's product inventory.
> 

In the case of the 44's they would sell in both Greece and in Spain as
the prototypes were used there with local mods of course. And the 45 was
used in Greece and the body shells of the 48 look close to a greek bo-bo
alco branch liner.
  

>That's why I said anything like this adds a huge load on the business
model,
and for a small business with one or just a couple of staff, unless it's a
business with a ginormous turnover it's difficult to make it work.<
    This would totally depend on volume.  If the direct sales out of country
amount to say 100 models over a year it would be immensely cheaper to box
100 units and ship at one time.
    But a couple of problems could occur.  One would be the agent should be
able to pay for those 100 units.  The discount to that agent shouldn't be
more than the cost/time of the manufacture shipping the units one at a time.
And true the business model would change but probably for the better in this
limited case.

"manatbandq@hotmail.com" <manatbandq@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Jane Sullivan wrote:
>> Lambing Flat <bullack@cia.com.au> writes 
>> >G'day all :-)
>> >
>> >Ron received the first test shots of the 620/720 class 2 car
>> >diesel body recently and after hurriedly assembling some of the
>> >parts a couple of shots have been posted on the web site.
>> >
>> >More to come when they are fully assembled and painted.
>>
>> Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent?
>> I'm certainly interested in the Beyer-Garratt model (with DCC and
>> sound) but I don't really want to go through all the hassle of
>> paying import duty to the Post Office before they'll deliver a
>> package from Australia. It's much easier for us in the UK to buy
>> overseas models from a UK supplier. 
> 
> But it's hardly a great hassle, is it? The PO send a card saying
> they have a parcel with duty owing. You ring the number and pay the
> duty by credit card, or send them a cheque. They deliver the parcel.
> You can even request delivery to your local PO to guarantee you do
> not miss the delivery, for the princely sum of 50pence!
> 
> I admit it's slightly more hassle than the old system where they
> would actually deliver the parcel and you payed the duty to the
> postman, on delivery.

One of the few things our postie (in Canada) actually delivers to the 
front door is COD items. She carries an electronic gizmo, which reads 
your credit card, and you sign with a stylus on a small touchscreen. If 
you're not home, she leaves a card to pick it up from the Post Office.

-- 
Martin S.

"manatbandq@hotmail.com" <manatbandq@hotmail.com> writes:

>Jane Sullivan wrote:
>> In message <4274C0F2.9020905@cia.com.au>, Lambing Flat
>> <bullack@cia.com.au> writes
>> >G'day all :-)
>> >
>> >Ron received the first test shots of the 620/720 class 2 car diesel
>> >body recently and after hurriedly assembling some of the parts a
>couple
>> >of shots have been posted on the web site.
>> >
>> >More to come when they are fully assembled and painted.
>> >
>> >James McInerney
>> >Eureka Models Webmaster: http://eureka.m.bigpondhosting.com/
>>
>> Is there any reason why Eureka models will not appoint a UK agent?
>I'm
>> certainly interested in the Beyer-Garratt model (with DCC and sound)
>but
>> I don't really want to go through all the hassle of paying import
>duty
>> to the Post Office before they'll deliver a package from Australia.
>It's
>> much easier for us in the UK to buy overseas models from a UK
>supplier.

>But it's hardly a great hassle, is it? The PO send a card saying they
>have a parcel with duty owing. You ring the number and pay the duty by
>credit card, or send them a cheque. They deliver the parcel. You can
>even request delivery to your local PO to guarantee you do not miss the
>delivery, for the princely sum of 50pence!

Would be nice if Australia Post had a facility to do that - Australian
Customs won't accept credit card payments so you've got to go to the post
office where the parcel is held, pay over the counter, and get the goods.

But it still doesn't answer the question of a local distributor in the UK.
8-) And that's what Jane was asking about initially.

Craig.-- 
Craig Dewick - Professional Train Manager (RailCorp) + HO Scale Rail Modeller
http://www.railzone.org -- Check out the RailZone Online Forums! Send email to
craigd@lios.apana.org.au -- RailCorp Train Crew Council: http://www.rctcc.org
Oz Rail Safety List: http://lios.apana.org.au/mailman/listinfo/aus_rail_safety