QUOTE (Makemineadouble @ 29 Sep 2006, 08:36)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Do I sence that most people think that Gaugemaster over charge the punter ?
I've found them to be higher priced than most. They certainly aren't in the same range as Hattons or Rails.
QUOTE Neil,
With all due respect, Gaugemaster (AKA The Engine Shed) simply have to keep their prices at the recommended retail. If they started discounting they would upset the retailers who purchase Trix (& many other ranges) that they import.
This goes, to a certain extent to other retailers who also import & wholesale.
These companies could discount to retail, but they would lose trade sales. Believe me, retailers in the UK struggle to make a sustainable profit margin. It may very well be different for reatilers in Germany, but that's the way it is in the UK.
I would agree that some prices do seem high - I also find other trades/professions/products expensive - it would (to me at least) be interesting to know what business people who critisise UK retailers are in !
best regards
Brian
The reason prices are high here is that there is an extra link in the chain. For every extra link there is someone who has to get a cut and the price goes up accordingly.
As a consumer I look for the best possible price regardless of where or who it is. Retailers in Germany can buy direct from Trix or whoever at a more reasonable price than a dealer here could.
The only UK retailers I criticise are those selling overpriced goods. I can see why they are overpriced but I prefer to buy my German outline from lower priced German stores. Similarly I buy all my UK outline from British stores who have the best prices on British outline.
Oh, and I work in Insurance.