Holding King And Country With Dealers (1 Viewer)

[wellington]

Just wondering if anyone else falls behind in trying to obtain all the new sets coming out, then asking your dealer to hold some causing them to get upset because of all the stock thats on hold unpaid for. My dealer says its a growing problem because of the speed at which K&C is releasing them. I'm a good customer and I don't like to get my dealer upset. I totally understand his concerns, sometimes my stuff is on hold for a month or two, BUT ALWAYS PAID FOR ...These new Napoleonics were to be released in January or February, I already had an order outstanding and now these just arrived at his store today...I can't afford to pay for them all in one shot causing an obvious concern for him. I was counting on them end of January beginning of February!!!!!!!...... This hobby is starting to take away from the fun and my VISA hurts!!!!!!!

WELLINGTON

 

[jazzeum]

It's just impossible to buy them all; there's just so many to buy that are all spectacular. I can't speak for Napoleonics but I'm glad there is a hiatus for World War II collectors until March so I can catch up and save money.

I also don't think Andy expects us to buy it all at once. He realized that there are some people who can only buy a set here or there. Last year, I would buy most of an issue at once. This year, I may be more judicious and have to not buy everything at once. As an example, I'm going to pass up on the new Char B. I'd rather put that money into Afrika Korps or Eighth Army.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I know its hard on the dealers to hold stuff for us, but at the rate stuff comes out, its very difficult to buy it right away. Its kind of a give and take thing: If I am buying large quantities of product from a dealer over a period of time, I feel I should be able to ask them to hold stuff until I can afford to come in and get it. On the other hand, if the dealer needs to make a sale to keep in business, has a buyer, and I cant afford to pay at that time, I would never tell him to keep holding it for me. Dealers like Gideon and George have always been great about this kind of stuff.

 

[Njja]

It's just impossible to buy them all; there's just so many to buy that are all spectacular. I can't speak for Napoleonics but I'm glad there is a hiatus for World War II collectors until March so I can catch up and save money.

I also don't think Andy expects us to buy it all at once. He realized that there are some people who can only buy a set here or there. Last year, I would buy most of an issue at once. This year, I may be more judicious and have to not buy everything at once. As an example, I'm going to pass up on the new Char B. I'd rather put that money into Afrika Korps or Eighth Army.

Hmmmm Brad, are you sure on the Char B? A limited production of 250 is going to be gone fast. You don't want to be chasing that next year. If I look closely I think I can see one sitting right there on a shelf in your office.

Njja

 

[jazzeum]

You're killing me, aka Mr. No Willpower

 

[Njja]

Just don't wait too long, I ordered the British Sherman early on from K&C UK, never heard back from them, sooo....I put through an order with Treefrog......oops sold out! I finally got the last one from Marjorie. So don't think about it to long.
We are like hungry buffalo on a wind swept plain on these limited edition pieces. I never thought the 1000 piece Winter Tiger would sell out that soon.

Njja

 

[Steven Chong]

...I ordered the British Sherman early on from K&C UK, never heard back from them

Dear Njja:
I ordered the British Sherman from the Nevilles when it was mentioned on the Forum, received a confirming e-mail, and received the set before Christmas. Their website still lists it; so if U.S. dealers are sold out, you could always try them again.
As for the thread question, my dealer holds items for me; but I have been dealing with him for over ten years. However, it usually is in the context of waiting for other ordered items. Both he and I prefer to just one shipment per month in a large parcel.

 

[Njja]

Dear Njja:
I ordered the British Sherman from the Nevilles when it was mentioned on the Forum, received a confirming e-mail, and received the set before Christmas. Their website still lists it; so if U.S. dealers are sold out, you could always try them again.
As for the thread question, my dealer holds items for me; but I have been dealing with him for over ten years. However, it usually is in the context of waiting for other ordered items. Both he and I prefer to just one shipment per month in a large parcel.

Thanks Steve, I figured my order just fell through the cracks with K&C UK. I ordered it as soon as it was announced but I know they have been really busy with the show and move. I'm just glad I didn't miss it........I had enough of that with the TK03 to last me for awhile!

Njja

 

[Tony Neville]

Guys

to just to come from a dealer perspective!

We have some members who are in the same boat wellington, especially the Naps collectors who like more than one of each item.

One of the things that we offer is a credit card payment spread. i.e pay up front a set amount from your card and when you get to a certain amount we let you know and you decide on the item that you want. it allows you to pay smaller amounts but buy bigger items. We do not charge for this. We have a few customers who pay us £50 per month and then they take items as and when most of the time they are in credit but if it is a small amount owing we let them know and they tend to catch up on the payments.It would however be a nightmare if all collectors did this!!!.

We do hold items for collectors (especially our members) but this is usually for those that have been buying for a while.

Nija

re your Sherman this i am really sorry for. Yes we have had some cracks in our normal service with the taking on of the shows new website and the move!!. It is a shame as i personnally took orders and reserves for the sherman and felt that we got 100%, we shipped a lot to the states and had a good response. Steven is correct we still have them for sale from here.

All cracks now smoothed over and all logistics working fine from our new depot.

regards

Tony

 

[Gideon]

There was just way to much being released in too short period of time.

I found myself in a strange position of wondering if I should even bother with all the new stuff, seeing as it would be around for a while, or concentrating on the more popular sets.

I wound up basically ordering newer stuff for a number of my customers with very little shelf stock and focused more on the DDay sets - which are usually more popular.

It was really getting out of hand. I wish Andy could strike a better balance. Maybe more of a quarterly thing instead of monthly?

 

[Njja]

Guys



Nija

re your Sherman this i am really sorry for. Yes we have had some cracks in our normal service with the taking on of the shows new website and the move!!. It is a shame as i personnally took orders and reserves for the sherman and felt that we got 100%, we shipped a lot to the states and had a good response. Steven is correct we still have them for sale from here.

All cracks now smoothed over and all logistics working fine from our new depot.

regards

Tony

No problem at all Tony I look forward to doing business with you in the future. You have certainly had your hands full the last few months! Good luck in your new location, I look forward to dropping in to see you on my next trip to the UK.

Njja

 

[wellington]

For any of the dealers out there, was your order of the new Napoleonics (VARIATIONS) shipped in full or half and the other half to follow ???

WELLINGTON

 

[bsager]

This series was only shipped in partial with the rest to follow in february. Better get an order in soon as I have sold all of mine except the 4 left on ebay. They are very nice pieces.

Bill Sager

 

[wellington]

I agree the fun of the hobby for me has turned from fun to now a constant worry about funds and trying to keep up.

WELLINGTON

 

[Njja]

I agree the fun of the hobby for me has turned from fun to now a constant worry about funds and trying to keep up.

WELLINGTON

Enjoy what you have, don't worry about keeping up. Just grab what you like when you can. I'm glad there is such a nice selection now to choose from.
But you should never let the collection get out of hand, nothing wrong with selling an occasional piece or two to finance the new items you want to add.

Njja

 

[Njja]

Well there are quite a few dealers out there, and most of them are excellent. I have a very good relationship with several dealers, and I recommend you do the same. If you are tied to one dealer you can find yourself behind the eight ball on occasion.
Having run businesses my entire life I also realize a dealers cash flow problem. To the buyer, it seems terrific to be able to buy the items at a discount, but you must consider the inventory he must carry and his overhead.....rent, insurance, taxes, electricity, packing materials, labor all of which comes from his profit ONLY. Many dealers find themselves in the position of making money for everyone but themselves, so if you ask your dealer to hold items for you its like a loan.
Andy C. may have extended billing for his dealers, but sooner or later everone has to get paid. So find yourself a couple of good dealers.......hmmm say for instance the folks that sponsor this forum. I have done business with Shannon for quite a number of years. I still remember the day my King & Country Roman Fort (with extra sections) arrived in a hugh box.......shipped for $4 thanks again Shannon!
After 35 years of collecting I have a partiner (my collection) now its his turn to pay the bills....something new comes in something old goes out. I find it works quite well.

Njja

 

[Gideon]

K&C extending billing terms? I've never heard of such a thing. I only wish I got the same terms I have with other producers - and discount which shipping severly chips away at. That 15% hurts.

Njja, your assesment of the challenges small businesses face is dead on. Those are exactly the issues I found myself facing when I decided to shut the shop down and to the e-world completely.

I do have a considerable amount of older stuff to move out. You might see me soon at a show or two...

 

[Njja]

What no 10% and net within 30? Business is certainly a lot more difficult then most people would believe. One of the toughest lessons to learn is to buy what your customers like....not what you like. Easy to say...difficult to do.

Njja

 

[DMNamiot]

I agree the fun of the hobby for me has turned from fun to now a constant worry about funds and trying to keep up.

WELLINGTON

I hate to step into the King and Country arena for a lot of reasons, but I dont like seeing a fellow collector having to make decisions like this about his hobby. It susposed to be fun, but at the rate some of these sets are retired it can become tiresome for all of the wrong reasons. I know I too have been tossing around expanding my collection to get a figure from St Petersburg, which will probably end up being the most expensive one I have ever bought, but if I wait too long and it is sold out then I have to run the risk of trying to find it on the secondary market like ebay, which as well all know too well will probably cost more in the long run. However, maybe one of you fellows with Andy's ear can voice the concern about production run times and see if there is a chance he will extend some of his set runs, excluding, of course, the limited editions which with numbers like 250 will go bye bye very fast indeed. I got very frustrated with Britains when they retired the entire Durbar series and I was short about three sets which I am still looking for but, thankfully, I have at least seen them out there and if the prices stay where they are I will be able to finish this set and go to work on the display board I have been thinking about. Anyway, I just figured I'd throw in my two bits.

Dave

 

[Louis Badolato]

Guys,

Don't you realize that this thread is evidence of Andy's genious: Short production runs and quick retirement generating demand, regularly scheduled monthly releases, including second paint schemes of popular sold out vehicles, providing supply. Andy is an excellent business man, and that is why K&C is the 800 pound Gorilla of the toy soldier world right now. That being said, I also am having a hard time keeping up with production. I little bit of a slow down would be greatly appreciated.

We can always try to tackle the subject at the Symposium.

Louis