narrow categories?

[JulienW]

Having a layout at a show is a good way to go about things, though it may be worth putting the word out to the exhibition organisers that such an 009 layout is available to be invited (if you see what I mean).

[alan]

Is it just me, or do other users find the categories for posting a bit narrow (no pun intended)?

There is nowhere for discussion of events, introductions or indeed just a simple 'everything else' section.  I am about to ask a question about modelling magazines, but will have to put it in prototype matters (like this post) as there is nowhere to put it.

The categories here were a sort of "first guess" of what was likely to best serve the needs of the members. I'm happy to consider additional categories (to include what that category should cover) and I would appreciate an email with any suggestions as it's easier for me to pick and prioritise.

Please note, though, that I and the rest of the Committee are adamant that there should not be a "General/anything else" category as we have leant that lesson the hard way through inappropriate posting on other fora. Thanks for your understanding on this.

My email address is in the News.

Alan

   

[binleywoods]

Unlikely that "new" items on the Sales Stand will be listed here, essentially because access to the sales stand has to be "a level playing field" with all members having equal opportunities to purchase. To list here would give forum members an unfair advantage, and to list after appearance in the News would serve no useful purpose.

As a new(ish) member I would like to have equal access to the Sales Stand. Unfortunately, I have to work every Saturday and that precludes me getting to most exhibitions where the Sales Stand is likely to feature. I also work shifts which means that weekday evening area meetings are also difficult. As I'm on holiday at the moment, I made the effort to travel 90 miles to Pewsey yesterday, but that is not going to happen very often - so I'm disadvantaged.

I accept that the forum doesn't have a wide membership but I would doubt that only 10% of Society members have internet access, and I bet that many more members browse the Society website than belong to the forum. Of course, you may never know because a lot of useful information is in the broader website open to all, and you don't need to register to browse it!

By not taking the Sales Stand into the internet-era it is giving an unfair advantage to those members who attend events - what percentage of the membership is that? More than 10% probably but I doubt if it reaches 50%. A playing field that's as level as the Lickey incline.

Can't we have a sales list on the Society website? It would have to be in the Members Services area, but who knows, it might encourage a few more members to join the forum!

[Alan Feldon]

As I live in Greece I have no chance when a sales list is printed in the news.How about a compromise that when a list is printed in the news then the day after despatch its also posted here.
alan feldon

[JulienW]

With respect to the sales stand and internet listings would it not be better to contact Brian direct with these suggestions?  Brian is not a member of the forum (to the best of my knowledge) so is unlikely to do anything about it as he is not likely to see these messages, and if members apparently can not be bothered to contact Brian directly (whose contact details are on Page 3 of 009 News and who is the designated committee member responcible for Members Sales) with such questions/ suggestions then why should anyone else be bothered to pass on messages that appear on this, or any other, group to Brian?

For those who for whatever reason are unable to get to the shows that Brian gets to Brian operates a very successful mail order servce which is available to members only.  This is by far the best way to access the sales stand, by writing to Brian, either by post or e-mail (see page 3 of 009 News) or using the telephone, to see if he has what you are after, particularly as any list he produces for the News will be a month out of date by the time the News is on members doormats. Brain may put an embargo on list items being sold before the list is published, but of course any stock that has arrived once the editorial deadline has passed will not be listed and likewise bits and bobs (usually scratchbuilder parts) may not get into the news.  Also if Brian listed everything there may not be room for anything else in the News!

Admittedly a sales list does not appear in every copy of the News, but I suspect that logistically it would be very difficult to get one in every month keeping track of stocks that turn over fairly rapidly.  As a case in point I missed out on a kit at Pewsey that arrived about 2 p.m. and was sold by 4 p.m. because I thought about the purchase rather than buying as soon as I saw it- -there is not way this would have appeared in any list, and had I not gone to the stand at the right time I would never have known about it.

If he does not have what you are after, Brian also operates a series of 'wants lists'.  It may take a while before one comes in but once your name is at the top of the list for that item he will let you know he has it in ASAP.

I am fairly confident that all members of our Society are able to contact Brian directly by either letter, telephone or e-mail regardless of their geographical location, working patterns, illness, disability or what-have-you to ask Brian if he has X or Y (or even Z), and if he has not got one (or any) he will keep an eye out for one for you.  As a playing field you can't really get flatter than that!

But remember that asking Brian "What have you got?" is not a good idea and it may be wise to narrow the criteria a bit... ;)

[garrywhiting]

The reason why there is no online sales list is because there are simply not enough hours in the day to maintain such a list.
All the Society officers give freely of their time to provide the services that are available. Brian,as Sales officer, already spends a considerable number of hours each day dealing with postal enquiries, telephone calls and emails. Then there is time spent packaging sales, delivering to post office etc. This all happens every day, every week and every month on a voluntary basis. At particularly busy times, other volunteer helpers assist with packing, but that also involves time freely given on behalf of us all.

Brian is entitled to some free time, and even the production of the occasional list in the 009 News, takes much time and effort.

Brian doesn't use this Forum, because he just doesn't have the time.

Please also remember that there is an embargo on telephone calls between 16.00 and 19.00 hours UK time each day and also after 21.00 hours.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Sadly (or pehaps thankfully!) for those of us who are unable to get to see the sales stand for the "must have, impulse buy bargains", the best solution is to send Brian a shopping list and I am sure he will keep an eye out for what people want. Some may want pristine models while others are looking for "bags of bits" to cannibalize for kit bashing.

[MickT]

Well said Julien! (And Garry!)
I can confirm that Brian is not a member of this forum so would not read anything published here. I quite often get involved with helping Brian one way or another with the sales operation including spending the odd day at his home assisting with packing and despatch etc with the considerable turnover of stock via mail order.

There was an aspiration a while ago to publish an illustrated sales list on the Society website and I even spent some time taking quite a lot of photos for the Society for this purpose, but it proved to be impractical largely for the reasons Garry mentioned - time. It is simply not possible to devote the time needed to maintain an up to date sales list of ever changing and rapid turnover stock. Remember that probably 50% of the stock is second hand individual items and another 20 or 30% is "bits", part-kits, accumulations etc etc etc. It would be quite easy to list the new stuff such as Kato and Bachman chassis etc when there has been a box of 50 or 60 purchased, and an enterprising IT-competent member could probably volunteer him/herself to create a stock control database to show how many items are in stock at any time, ergo Hattons etc mail order depts, but how would this be covered in the case of individually described single models? Think about it - there may well be 4 or 5 Roco diesels in stock - all second hand, all in different conditions and all individually priced. Who is going to maintain such a list and ensure that it is kept up to date (otherwise there is no point having it) - I'm sure that any member volunteering to do this job would be welcomed! Brian already works virtually fulltime on sales for the benefit of members and members certainly do benefit from the time and effort he puts in.

As has already been stated, the best way to take advantage of the members sales SERVICE that is voluntarily provided is to send Brian a "Wants List". You need to be as specific as possible obviously.

Mick

[MickT]

As a new(ish) member I would like to have equal access to the Sales Stand. Unfortunately, I have to work every Saturday and that precludes me getting to most exhibitions where the Sales Stand is likely to feature. I also work shifts which means that weekday evening area meetings are also difficult. As I'm on holiday at the moment, I made the effort to travel 90 miles to Pewsey yesterday, but that is not going to happen very often - so I'm disadvantaged.

Just a little extra to my previous posting to put the above comment into a more correct perspective. Brian took the Society Sales to Pewsey on Saturday 15 August. There are currently only TWO more outings for the sales stand booked this year - Expong at the end of October and the Northampton Group members day in mid November which I think is on a Sunday so you should be OK for that one! Now there's plenty of notice there and it is not exactly as if the sales stock is "on the road every week" - not this year it isn't anyway. With that in mind and the already given advice about contacting Brian directly with wants, then I would say that is about as fair and level that it is possible to make the playing field. There is also an option to ask Brian if you can visit to view stock - I know of members who have done that and have been present myself helping with mail order when members have visited his home. Brian also puts a considerable effort into dealing promptly with overseas members both on the buying and the selling side. I don't think it is fair to say that anybody is at a disadvantage with the current processes of the Society Sales, you just need to be aware of the extent of the facilities provided and to make use of them

Mick

[Isle of Stoner]

As someone who runs a web shop as part of my day job I can confirm that keeping it up to date is a nightmare. Ours is not attched to our stock data base and people have an unerring knack for ordering the one thing that is out of stock currently.

Brian does a brilliant job. If we want a web shop we would need to employ somebody full time just to keep the site up to date not to mention packing and posting all the bits...

Cheers

John

[Alan Feldon]

Julien
youve summed it up beautifully.Even when Brian produces a sales list it cannot possibly cover everything he has in stock AT THAT TIME!
If you cant get to a show then send Brian a list of wants-it works for me and I think his service is second to none.In fact without him I couldnt do any modelling here,which to me says it all.
Alan Feldon

[JulienW]

(flipant comment tme)

Perhaps it is a good thing that Brian does not do more shows, publish list in the News etc... ???

My bank manager, and also my wife, certainly approve of what that does for my finances! ;D