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[Colin Bishop]

True enough DG and we have to accept it but I wasn't just thinking of electronic parts. Also in my mind are the conditions under which Chinese goods are manufactured. I needed some N Gauge figures for my latest model and all the suitable ones on offer come from China. They are painted (to some extent) and cost very little but I get a picture of women or kids in China being paid next to nothing for putting blobs of paint on thousands of 10mm figures and probably ruining their eyesight in the process. I'd guess the employees of Component Shop get a rather better pay deal for putting together their products even if the individual components inevitably come from China.

I also buy fittings and items from Marks Model Bits, Mac's Mouldings, ModelBoatBits and other UK 'cottage industry' manufacturers plus there are the likes of SLEC and Mobile Marine Models who also actually make things in the UK and at fair prices with great customer service. I will always give my business to them before considering Chinese suppliers.

Often it is a case of 'use it or lose it'. I fill up my car from my local village garage. They are independent and charge a bit more than Sainsbury, Tesco etc. Bu the nearest Sainsbury, Tesco etc. are around 10 miles away. The village facility is really useful to us locals and we are happy to pay a premium to keep the facility. Price isn't everything but so many people seem to think that it is. If things are cheap then there is often a reason and it is worth checking just what that might be and what the consequences can be. So many people just seem to chase the lowest possible price which is why air travel has become hell on earth for those of us who dare venture abroad for our holidays.

Colin

[Circlip]

" I get a picture of women or kids in China being paid next to nothing for putting blobs of paint on thousands of 10mm figures and probably ruining their eyesight in the process."

  Yes, and so did we before becoming "Civilised," Affluence and Entitlement kicked that into touch and although individual components may come from China gluing them together over here ain't cheap.

Regards Ian.

[dodgy geezer]

" I get a picture of women or kids in China being paid next to nothing for putting blobs of paint on thousands of 10mm figures and probably ruining their eyesight in the process."

  Yes, and so did we before becoming "Civilised," Affluence and Entitlement kicked that into touch and although individual components may come from China gluing them together over here ain't cheap.

Regards Ian.

I take emotional arguments with a large pinch of salt nowadays. 

My impression is that China has learned from the Russian experience of Communism, and is conducting an economic war against the West rather than a military one.  I am sure that a lot of Chinese industry is subsidised to a great amount - their postal service certainly is. They may oppress minorities, but they have grown a huge middle class. With their history they are particularly scared of mass uprisings, so they would not want to keep large sections of the populace in penury.

It will be interesting to see the results of Trump's tariffs.

[Neil]

Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis....

i wish i was that clever that i was multi lingual.............might have a clue  as to what you ment.

[roycv]

I recall the saying by Oscar Wilde "She knows the price of everything but the value of nothing".
Previous posts have suggested that the new warfare is to undermine the economy of a country and it does seem to be happening.
Roy

[dodgy geezer]

I recall the saying by Oscar Wilde "She knows the price of everything but the value of nothing".
Previous posts have suggested that the new warfare is to undermine the economy of a country and it does seem to be happening.
Roy

It looks as if we are doing a lot of the undermining ourselves. of course... :(

[roycv]

Well DG we are the customers/consumers and as we can no longer trust the likes of Amazon to give genuine references about products, where else is there?  I have had terrible service from an Electrical utility company yet they have a 3 star billing.  I would like to see black stars for a negative feedback, but that would soon be abused by the trolls.
I recall seeing 2 convicted Trolls coming from the courts of justice.  Had you seen them or met and spoken to them face to face you would have taken no notice of anything they said.  The Internet allows for anonimity and we have seen the sad cases of the young being talked into terrible decisions.
On the whole it has been a good thing but as in many things there are unexpected consequencies.

The government makes a recommendation we do something, e.g. like buying diesel powered cars, which I thought was crazy at the time anyway.  Now things have changed.  I am not sure that electric cars are the answer either as many older houses do not have the infrastructure to enable the high current usage required.
I read another crazy idea where when you bring your car home you use the car battery to power your home and charge it up again when you are asleep.  With NiMh batteries there is a loss of 40% each time you recharge a battery, I have been trying to find out what the losses are for LiPo batteries.  But balancing that with the loss of 3 car transporter ships alegedly due to car battery fires, do I want a hazard like this linked to my house?

I have the Which, consumer magazine, and they have been checking on Black Friday deals.  It turns out many are a complete con!
Now why did I think that was a surprise?  The biggest con we are all subjected to is insurance.  I insure what I am forced to insure and I cannot afford to replace or loose and the rest I look at what is the chance of it happening? 

The 'white goods' we all have in our kitchens is a case in point.  If you buy reputable makes often with a good 5 year warranty you do not need separate insurance.  A lot of the scam phone calls I get tell me that my non-existent insurance policy needs renewing!  Judging from the cost of this insurance I am making a good profit from not having any.  That is including replacing aging or worn out items that would not be covered anyway.


Regards,
Roy

 


 

[kinmel]

It looks as if we are doing a lot of the undermining ourselves. of course... :(

I am buying from AliExpress etc at their Wholesale price and pay the 20% VAT due at U.K. Customs on that amount.    U.K. wholesalers buy from China at Wholesale and pay 20% import duty, they then add their margin and sell onto U.K. retailers and the retailers add their margin and charge 20% VAT  on their retail value.
All my savings are made in the U.K., the Chinese wholesaler gets no more whether I buy from him, or in the U.K.

[roycv]

Hi Kinmel a friend in a past job told me he imported big time for the National distributors in the UK.  He said that an early web cam on the front of the house came into the country at around £20 but by the time it got to well known UK wide retailer it had £100 added to the retail price.

I agree I often pay some tax but in the main some items are so cheap that I balance the price against the number of items to get free postage.  I recently bought 5 off 10 amp esc's for a total of £13.80.  I use them all the time now.
Regards
Roy

[Neil]

Ordered a couple of speed controllers from Iain at Component Shop at the Blackpool show in October and told him there was no rush as wouldn't be sailing any time soon as too cold.
Phoned him 2 days ago to ask if they were ready or had been sent and missed as i was going to say still no rush as it was getting even colder and another gent said they were being worked on and would be sent soon.
They arrived this morning safe and sound............but its still to cold, so they'll keep till spring............but great service, and my thoughts and memories of Dave Milbourn will live on in my boat.

[SteamboatPhil]

I am guessing Neil’s speed controllers just arrived so he couldn’t finish the post 

[Neil]

they have that, Phill................and Dave would be calling me the usual names he saved for me  when we'd see each other at shows.............and of course, he was always right, 

[dodgy geezer]

Colwyn Bay MBC is opening it's own "shop" for members.
The club is purchasing a wide range of stock that will be available to purchase at the lakeside and and members will only pay the cost price.

From abroad we can buy in a pack of 5 servos for the price of one bought in the U.K. and for small items we can buy boxes of 100 for the price of 1unit bought locally, blade fuses are an example.
We have started with the range of spares that members need if they suffer a failure while sailing - ESC, motors, servos, props etc.   The intention is to add everything extra that you need to build a kit at home, so you can purchase all the extras your model will need at one place without waiting. Small items - washers, fuses, small screws and bolts that come in boxes of 100 will be handed out free.

Our initial investment is about £200 and that will increase as the scheme develops to include additional items, especially club owned tools such as a soldering station with free consumables

Not only will members save money, but we hope that by standardising then in time most users will be able to help others carry out repairs and setting up.
It is an experiment and is designed to operate at a small loss in the hope that entry into this hobby will become easier for new members while providing tangible benefits for our existing members.

As an aside, if you want to buy British, can I suggest that you consider purchasing a bulk pack of 4MM Twinflute polypropylene 4mm sheet?  The original trade name was CORREX...   
This can be bought as 10 pack sheets of 8x4 for less than £100, while the individual sheet price can be £25 or more, and they won't deliver 1.  Sell them at £10 and you will be making a profit....

There are many uses of Correx, but one of particular interest to boat modellers is illustrated here:
   http://eezebilt.tk/box1.html

[Nick-R]

I live in a semi rural location in the West of Scotland.  My nearest town is Greenock which had a model shop in my boyhood.  Glasgow had a few - the famous Clyde Model Dockyard for example.  These are all gone now and the only “model shops” in Glasgow nowadays seem to be completely focussed on plastic kits.  Glasgow is, in any event a 60+ mile round trip for me so the internet is my sole source for supplies.  I have used Amazon for some more general stuff but for more specialist goods I have had excellent service from Cornwall Models, Howes, Hobbies and Leeds Model Shop.  Can’t criticise any of them and when I had to exchange an item which I incorrectly ordered, the service from Howes was above and beyond!


The lack of model shops is just symptomatic of the High street in general.  The internet has taken over and we can’t change the march of progress!

[kinmel]

Well, our club "shop" has been up and running for five months.
Our monthly turnover of routine stock exceeds £100- selling at cost price, or lower. Shrink tube , silicone wire, nuts & bolts, XT60s etc are bulk buys, so there is no charge for small quantities. 

Since Temu and Aliexpress now treat us as wholesalers we get faster free delivery and better discounts, which allows us to extend our offer to include buying specific items to order for club members - radio sets, particuler motors etc  Order one Sunday, collect next the Sunday.
We know there are specialist U.K. retailers who make their own unique, wide range of "model boat" fittings etc and sell them online; our club members buy from them, but often the cost of an item is doubled by P&P.    Starting with just one well known U.K. supplier, but without his knowledge,  we now stock most of his range. We have paid the proper retail price and benefitted from the much lower P&P of bulk purchasing.    The items are sold to members at the retailer's list price as a service to club members, we recognise this is a low turnover project of an extensive (expensive) stock. It may be extended, or abandoned according to sales over time.
It is early days, but members strongly support the project and is yet another way to attract new members.