[Norman Byrne]

Hi Alan,
Not that bloody bug striking again - seems to be around at the moment, John's Garrett, Smudges electrics, Jim's Points, Guy's wrong Glass, The Lost Postman & many many more no doubt - think it might be seasonal disorder ........... Don't forget tomorrow is TF; check that trap door is closed & sure those buckets will reappear
Read J's Servo posts in tea breaks too perhaps !
And if really bored - track cleaning - just ducking now; but Smile

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

Hi Alan,
Not that bloody bug striking again - seems to be around at the moment, John's Garrett, Smudges electrics, Jim's Points, Guy's wrong Glass, The Lost Postman & many many more no doubt - think it might be seasonal disorder ........... Don't forget tomorrow is TF; check that trap door is closed & sure those buckets will reappear
Read J's Servo posts in tea breaks too perhaps !
And if really bored - track cleaning - just ducking now; but Smile

Indeed, it's the post that doe's my head in. Tidy Friday i like but as i had nothing to do yesterday already tidied.
SD really is a thing and maybe now the days are getting shorter it's having an effect on everyone.
I refuse to be beaten and it will happen just a bit slower than planned.
Enjoy your TD and look forward on reports of GWR 3000.

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

Order stuff on a Wednesday get an email today from two suppliers saying your parcel will be delivered between 11am-1430
I havn't even seen a postman for three days. I'm beginning to think i've upset the whole postal service.
What the hell is going on with the PO. I'm not the only one everybody's moaning so i sent a snotty email, NOW i'll upset a few people.

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

That's one arrived today, let's hope the other also comes today so i can motor on with quality MR time over the weekend

 

[Shedman]

I think we all go through peaks and troughs of enthusiasm. Clearly when things aren't going so well we are at our most vulnerable!
I try to take a more relaxed approach to the hobby now- after all it's supposed to be fun! If something isn't playing the game and I'm getting frustrated I try to divert attention elsewhere.
On the postal front I must be very lucky. Once things are actually posted they all arrive in the allotted timeframe.
What has irritated me lately are shops not complying with what the say on websites.
One rang me to say an item I had ordered was not available even though it shows in stock and still does!
A second supplier said 'order within 30 mins for delivery in 24hrs'. It took 9 days 'due to staff absence', and again the same promise was on the site all the time!
I am lucky in having a local model shop who are very good with discounting for regular/supportive customers so having to buy online is a rarity.

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

Hi John, that's good you have a local.
My nearest is only a few miles away but like you've mentioned i look on there website it shows items in stock so i drive 4-5m and it's not in stock and when i complained as it's happened twice i was told "we don't update as it costs money"
I manage my own website it's not difficult.
I won't go there anymore and it's a shame the owner isn't really interested in the hobby or customer service for that matter.
If i see them at MR shows i give a wide birth.

 

[PAPPA.B]

I don't understand how it cost money to update a website surely you would just do this on a computer and most shops use bar coding which helps with stock control. My local shop is Antics and I can either go into town (Gloucester) or drive over to Stonehouse to their Warehouse I'm about halfway between them. But unless I'm passing I would ring them just to make sure they have what I'm after they are always helpful even if they are not the cheapest. Your local shop can't want the business enough seems odd!

 

[Smudge8617]

It costs money simply because their sale and stock systems aren't connected, so they sell an item over the counter or on their website but their stock system doesn't know that till they physically update that system, as every item would have to be manually checked then their stock system updated, someone would have to do that every day rather than the job they're employed to do, hence "costing them money" (it doesn't really, it costs them time more than anything else)

On eBay, if it says 1 item in stock and you try buying 2, you can't, because their system automatically deducts any sales from the seller's known stock level and it knows there is only 1 left, if you buy that 1 item, then no one else can buy the same item as eBay's system knows the last one has been sold and until the seller updates eBay it will stay at "Sold Out"

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

It is odd I don't get it.
They don't have any decoders or latest releases in stock. Personally I think the owner is running it down and will eventually have to close.
I'll keep an eye on that as I'd love to take it on.

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

It costs money simply because their sale and stock systems aren't connected, so they sell an item over the counter or on their website but their stock system doesn't know that till they physically update that system, as every item would have to be manually checked then their stock system updated, someone would have to do that every day rather than the job they're employed to do, hence "costing them money" (it doesn't really, it costs them time more than anything else)

On eBay, if it says 1 item in stock and you try buying 2, you can't, because their system automatically deducts any sales from the seller's known stock level and it knows there is only 1 left, if you buy that 1 item, then no one else can buy the same item as eBay's system knows the last one has been sold and until the seller updates eBay it will stay at "Sold Out"

Absolutely right Smudge
They don't want to pay someone to modernise their site. Bankruptcy imminent me thinks.

 

[Smudge8617]

It is odd I don't get it.
They don't have any decoders or latest releases in stock. Personally I think the owner is running it down and will eventually have to close.
I'll keep an eye on that as I'd love to take it on.

Definitely sounds as tho' he's reducing his stock levels in anticipation of closing/selling the business or perhaps reducing his MRR-related stock to increase stock in some other hobby-related areas like RC items.

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

Definitely sounds as tho' he's reducing his stock levels in anticipation of closing/selling the business or perhaps reducing his MRR-related stock to increase stock in some other hobby-related areas like RC items.

Don't tell anyone but it's not a "he"

 

[Norman Byrne]

Maybe a MRF Shop with Loft, Basement, High Level Layouts too - Food for Thought of course only

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

It has an open staircase from the shop
I shouldn't give anymore away.

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

I had in one of my delivery's a pack of figures hikers, dog walkers for my woodland and in the pack seems to be a huge book blue in colour I have no idea what that's for.

 

[Norman Byrne]

Hi Alan,
They look great.
What about either the missing band stand or a prayer outside the crumbling building, priest & all - just add DCC Sound (pick your track - Allie Sherlock maybe) ?
Cheers, & Happy Modelling, Norm

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

It's an ideal world here at FV no religion or politics but there are class divides as all will be revealed later.

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

It's an ideal world here at FV no religion or politics but there are class divides as all will be revealed later.

😆🤣

 

[Shedman]

Hi John, that's good you have a local.
My nearest is only a few miles away but like you've mentioned i look on there website it shows items in stock so i drive 4-5m and it's not in stock and when i complained as it's happened twice i was told "we don't update as it costs money"
I manage my own website it's not difficult.
I won't go there anymore and it's a shame the owner isn't really interested in the hobby or customer service for that matter.
If i see them at MR shows i give a wide birth.

My place doesn't have a website so on the 'dog & bone' to check. I find talking to a human is generally more reliable😁. Sadly it's becoming more difficult though!

 

[Alan@Formill Valley]

So I hope everyone has had a good and productive MR day.
My MY revamp was miscalculated by some 50mm so on to plan B which does exist but was hoping it wouldn't come into play best laid plans bla bla.
Instead I've removed the whole MY and have made a start on the new, I now need hornby medium TO which I'll order tomorrow everything else is there so another frustrating wait for post.
In the meantime I've taken out all point motors and associated wiring and I'll get on with setting up servos.
Some people and animals may appear in the woodland tomorrow to amuse myself.