[JustPlaneNuttz]

Originally Posted by Gambit

Except for a handful of brick and mortar stores who sell Corgi most of their diecast is sold on the intranet.

Cyberhobby had a good idea to sell factory direct but it failed because they didn't follow through with customer support services and their shipping price list was poorly setup.

I never had any problems with Cyberhobby and the shipping wasn't more than I was already paying.

Why sell to a wholesaler who then sells to websites each adding to the price along the way?

Doesn't make sense to ship a boatload of diecast to the UK and States then sell it off cheap the next month, what's the point of doing that.

Then Corgi releases the BOB set at 150 units only to see these show up on the intranet at 3 times the price.

Why produce what you know will be a sought after release and then allow the secondary market to earn a higher profit margin than Corgi.

If these diecast makers want to maximze their profits then sell factory direct, its 2008 not 1968!

All some very good points, there Gambit, but I can't trust Corgi to get a club membership right, let alone set up an online retail presence (AND worldwide, no less!). Funny how others can do it, though. In Corgi's mind, it appears that not much has changed in the business of their business SINCE 1968(!!!) You are right -- they are behind the curve -- waaaaayyyy behind!

JPN

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by JustPlaneNuttz

All some very good points, there Gambit, but I can't trust Corgi to get a club membership right, let alone set up an online retail presence (AND worldwide, no less!). Funny how others can do it, though. In Corgi's mind, it appears that not much has changed in the business of their business SINCE 1968(!!!) You are right -- they are behind the curve -- waaaaayyyy behind!

JPN

This was (roughly) my thought too. Corgi has zero experience running a retail operation. Unless they hired someone who knew how to do it they would likely be horrible at it.

This is also a one shot deal. They can't screw their dealer base and then go back to them later when their attempts to sell online fail.

Also don't underestimate the number of people who do not purchase via the net. How many people here and on the UK forum have said they would only buy models they have seen? Do you think a Corgi that is doing all the shipping is going to inspect the model for you before it is shipped? The minimum wage dude in the warehouse ain't going to do that to a collector's level of satisfaction.

If Corgi's problem is pricing going factory direct and doing it right could save their bacon. If their problem is on the production side then going direct is moving the deck chairs on the Titianic.

[Celtic]

I mentioned this on the other Corgi thread (July deliveries), but can Corgi survive in the market with a six or seven month (or more) lull in sales? There have been no meaningful deliveries from Corgi since last Fall.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Celtic

I mentioned this on the other Corgi thread (July deliveries), but can Corgi survive in the market with a six or seven month (or more) lull in sales? There have been no meaningful deliveries from Corgi since last Fall.

Latest new release I have received would be AA36205 FO Peter Wykeham-Barnes Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, and that made to my door just a couple of weeks back.

[Gambit]

Originally Posted by 1250ships

This is also a one shot deal. They can't screw their dealer base and then go back to them later when their attempts to sell online fail.

If Corgi's problem is pricing going factory direct and doing it right could save their bacon. If their problem is on the production side then going direct is moving the deck chairs on the Titianic.

Your right, going factory direct now would probably be a disaster.

If I remember right CyberHobby gave a discount to retailers as I think they had a seperate web page for stores who bought in bulk.

They could always start it by just offering limited editions factory direct. That would have been better than just sending 150 sets of the BOB to the UK.

As far as I know we still haven't received the silver Halifax or any of the other token-related giveaways.

The guys in the UK received some but I don't think everyone got one.

[Celtic]

Originally Posted by Gambit

...As far as I know we still haven't received the silver Halifax or any of the other token-related giveaways.

The guys in the UK received some but I don't think everyone got one.

I think those of us in the US can kiss that one goodbye. I'd be happy just to continue getting my WWII fighters...

About Corgi mail-order, I don't think the pooch would be able to resist the temptation to sell at the full recommended price for their models. Without dealer competition, we would be paying prices 30% or more per model.

[smartd]

Originally Posted by Celtic

I think those of us in the US can kiss that one goodbye. I'd be happy just to continue getting my WWII fighters...

About Corgi mail-order, I don't think the pooch would be able to resist the temptation to sell at the full recommended price for their models. Without dealer competition, we would be paying prices 30% or more per model.

Hell Corgi cannot even give us a website that is easy to navigate,

[Gambit]

I was hoping the Working Range Graf was going to be released so that's gonzo along with the token models.

The whole promotion was a failure from the get go as didn't the WW1 models show up too late to claim the plane.

Until its sorted Century and Dragon will get my business

[Gambit]

Here is an update from Corgi

"All Corgi releases should be taken as stalled until further firm notice is issued. We are waiting on firm confirmation (rather than wild rumour) as to exactly what is going on.

All 2008 releases are now going to be AT LEAST 4 months late, if we see them this six months at all. Remaining 2007 releases, there is a batch that's been made but confirmation of actual release is sketchy. Anything beyond that is looking rather vague to put it mildly."

Now it could be 6 months!

I was thinking that may be the company who bought Corgi last year has taken over their production facilities for their own purposes.

[Andrew]

With such a big delay, i think Corgi can forget about their moulds that are competing with the likes of HM. namely the A-4 and A-10. I remember corgi announcing long a go the Blue Angels A-4. But now HM is releasing it much much earlier.