Cancelled orders with Hattons

I’ve seen on many forums that Hattons have been unable to fulfill there pre orders. Anyone had their orders cancelled?
Seems to be mainly around 2021 HST stock

I had ordered a  number of items through Rails of Sheffield including the HST only to have them cancelled when they were dropped by Hornby. I then tried to order them through a number of other retailers including Hornby direct, only to find all the items had been sold via pre order. It seems that unless you pre order and perhaps pay a deposit your chances of getting some items is nil. I also had an order for some Dapol N scale Mk3 coaches to complete a set after a considerable wait it appears they are no longer available. I guess the only way I will get them now is to hand craft the models myself.

Hattons seems to have ongoing issues with pre-orders exceeding their capacity to supply.  First they were refused stock by Bachmann allegedly for persistent breaches of the terms of trade.  Then they continue to take orders for quantities of items in excess of what they can supply from other manufacturers.  

I seldom deal with Rails of Sheffield but have never had anything cancelled by them which was not first cancelled or changed by the manufacturer.  

On larger forums such as RMweb there is sometimes a member of the retailer's team active as a posting member who can comment on such things.  Hattons and Rails are certainly both represented there as are others.  

I haven't seen any specific comment from either business but without trawling the now sizeable RMweb forum index I doubt I would spot anything unless it came up as a recent post ("within the past hour) at the time I was reviewing the recent post listing.

Hatton used to be my "go to" retailer Rick - plenty of stock, easy ordering, fast delivery and, probably more important, usually the cheapest on the net.

My word, how things have changed now.  As you say, they no longer supply Bachmann stuff and I'm not a huge fan of Hornby.  Their stock levels appear to be low - maybe that's because I want the same stuff as everyone else does, and they are regularly beaten on price by what I'd term a "normal shop", not a "box shifter".  They do however, still deliver to France without any problems or post-Brexit hidden costs.  That's more than can be said for some retailers !!

Alas though, whilst it won't break their heart, they have lost me as a "first call" customer - my loyalties now lie with wqhoever can supply my needs at a sensible price …………..

I wonder if they now regret flexing their muscles against Bachmann ……………… :hmm

Oof, I hope they're able to get things sorted re: Bachmann.

The only issue I ever had with Hattons was an order in 2010 getting stalled on shipping because Hornby were taking forever to ship out more stock of loco detail packs (I ultimately removed the pack from the order because I wanted the bogies more).

No issues with my other orders (a Hornby Duck in 2009 and an Airfix 14xx in 2019).

I imagine the overselling doesn't happen with secondhand stock.

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

Hatton used to be my "go to" retailer

Alas though, whilst it won't break their heart, they have lost me as a "first call" customer 

Same here.  Hattons was never my first port of call but was usually checked for price comparison.  As some members here will be aware I choose to support a Camborne-based business first when ever I can.


As things now stand with manufacturers stipulating the maximum discount which may be offered by retailers (which has had the effect they desired of levelling the playing field somewhat) the only difference in price is often now the shipping which is to an extent outside the retailer's control.  Most businesses within our hobby probably have trade arrangements in place notwithstanding which it is sometimes still possible to get "free" shipping where the retailer swallows the cost against their own profit margin.  


I doubt Hattons has shed a tear over the loss of my business but I have refused to use them for a few years now.  Pretty much since they left Smithdown Road and ceased to be a retailer in the conventional sense, in fact.  

Rick, as much as I understand your desire to support that Camborne-based dealer, when they are £21 dearer than Hattons & almost double postage cost for one Hornby R3575,, not very hard to make a decision.

My problem is I don't model GWR and understandably, as Cornwall is a long way from both the LMS and LNER so those regions don't feature heavily in their stock range…………..

 As most deliveries have been on hold either because of Covid or, more recently, Brexit, it's some time since I bought  anything other than "accessories" so can't really comment on current price differences………… :roll: :roll:

Additionally, as Maxmill Mk 2 is considerably smaller than Maxmill Mk 1, I now have a surfeit of rolling stock, particularly passenger stock, and some of the wrong locomotives ………..

[user=606]Sol[/user] wrote:

Rick, as much as I understand your desire to support that Camborne-based dealer, when they are £21 dearer than Hattons & almost double postage cost for one Hornby R3575,, not very hard to make a decision.

That is an uncommonly large differential for 2021.  I know there are a few examples.  My recent purchases, excluding commissions only obtainable from one source, have been within £1 - £2 of Hattons, Rails and Gaugemaster's prices for identical items with broadly similar postage.  

Overseas postage varies a lot; I suspect some places of which Hattons may well be one accommodate a large amount of the expense at a cost to their profitability where others apply either full price or a negotiated courier rate.  When I was in Australia and frequently ordered from UK retailers it was the shipping more than the item price which fluctuated between sources.  

Hattons no longer sell Bachmann so they had to cancel all their Bachmann PreOrders
Rails of Sheffield no longer sell Hornby so they had to cancel all their Hornby PreOrders.

Some makers like Hornby and Dapol not only sell through their dealer network but also sell direct themselves.

What happened with some of the Hornby PreOrders was that because the production run was of a limited number, Hornby found that they had sold their entre production run to their own customers pre ordering on their own website, so they had to cancel deliveries to their dealer network.

It may be cheaper ordering from a dealer but if its a popular item the makers will prioritise their own customers who coincidently are paying them the full price direct.

How you order is a risk you take with any popular items as once the batch is sold it can be many years before another batch is run at their factory.

Paul

Is there any information out there about whether Horby HAVE or WILL  fulfill orders to thier smaller distributors ? Have they maybe made that decision to restrict/ under supply the box shifters in favour of direct sales and sales through smaller retail shops? As mentioned Direct sales enjoy full retail price and without the cut price competition from box shifters, smaller retailers will be able to maintain a better margin ? And be more inclined to promote Hornby ?   If you are going to be doing smaller, more targeted runs this makes sence as you dont end up with a flooded market and stock sitting in the warehouse or on smaller retailers shelves that will EVENTUALLY end up being shifted by the box shifters at even GREATER discounts.  

 I think the writing was on the wall when the likes of Rails and Hattons started comissioning thier own models, in direct competition to Bachmann and Hornby plus the Advent of companies like Accurascale moving into the main stream RTR market.  Hornby really have no choice but to Adapt if they want to survive, Smaller, leaner, faster to react to the market and their competitors as they MUST now view the box shifters?

I think it comes down to a choice now, how much do you want that new release ? Do you order with a box shifter at a discounted price but risk non supply ? Order from your local shop at full retail but as they will be placing much smaller orders with Hornby, more chance of supply ? OR direct with Hornby, full retail but much greater chance of getting your grubby mitts on that prized model ??

Place your bets !

( Blimey that was a thoughtfull musing from me !  Back to normal, think ill go attack the privet hedge with a chainsaw) 

Cheers

Matt

[user=2135]Paul-H[/user] wrote:

Rails of Sheffield no longer sell Hornby so they had to cancel all their Hornby PreOrders.

News to me, 'Hornby' and 'Hornby Railroad' are still listed when you click on the manufacturers tab on the Rails of Sheffield Website.


Ed

Just as Bachmann products are still available from Hattons. 
In this case, at least, many are “pre-owned” (21st Century-ese for Second Hand) but some are new. Either existing unsold stock or they have found a back-door route by purchasing through a third-party in small quantities. 

[user=1338]Ed[/user] wrote:

[user=2135]Paul-H[/user] wrote:

Rails of Sheffield no longer sell Hornby so they had to cancel all their Hornby PreOrders.

News to me, 'Hornby' and 'Hornby Railroad' are still listed when you click on the manufacturers tab on the Rails of Sheffield Website.


Ed

That's because its old stock.  They announced last year they would no longer be selling Hornby, so once their stock is gone its gone.

Just shows, I don't read "that other" (RMweb) website very much  



Ed

[user=1338]Ed[/user] wrote:

Just shows, I don't read "that other" (RMweb) website very much  



Ed

It is enormous these days.  The only way to keep abreast of something seems to be locating a thread in the forums and selecting "Follow" which should generate an email as regularly as your settings permit.  Daily digest or every time someone posts are the two most popular options.  


RMweb has been very useful and I continue to visit and post daily although much of my activity there is currently confined to the social side rather than active muddling.  There isn't a lot of activity here to record.