Sierra Soldiers first Zulu exclusive set (1 Viewer)

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Peiper007

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Went to the London show yesterday. Firstly great show, not just for the soldiers, but the people [both exhibitors and visitors] who one meets there, great crowd and atmosphere as always.

However, have a few questions on the first Zulu set from Sierra, firstly there has been many people asking on this forum if it would be sold in the UK? We got a no, as it was an exclusive for Sierra, who was at the London show yesterday and selling it off the stand? Four of us got together and bought four from the website in the states and paid for them on this understanding! Which means we will pay for the sets and the import duty plus the Royal Mail costs......... we did this on the understanding it was only available from the US. Plus I also heard that there will be a number available via a dealer in the UK?

The above is particularly poor practice from W Britains and Sierra. When I asked the guy from Sierra I got very a very short, bordering rude, answer. I was effectively told 'tough'. I will not be buying the other sets and will cancel my orders.


Secondly - I thought Bachmann were the official UK distributors [possible the exclusive distributors], so why are Sierra allowed to do this? After all it is Bachmann who undertake the promotion and advertising in the UK! This looks like a 'bit of a kick in the teeth' for what I have found to be a nice set of very helpful people.


The above is not the way that W Britains have operated in the past. Ken Olson and W Britains have been very quiet on this issue, which I find is an answer in itself.
 
Peiper007 said:
Went to the London show yesterday. Firstly great show, not just for the soldiers, but the people [both exhibitors and visitors] who one meets there, great crowd and atmosphere as always.

However, have a few questions on the first Zulu set from Sierra, firstly there has been many people asking on this forum if it would be sold in the UK? We got a no, as it was an exclusive for Sierra, who was at the London show yesterday and selling it off the stand? Four of us got together and bought four from the website in the states and paid for them on this understanding! Which means we will pay for the sets and the import duty plus the Royal Mail costs......... we did this on the understanding it was only available from the US. Plus I also heard that there will be a number available via a dealer in the UK?

The above is particularly poor practice from W Britains and Sierra. When I asked the guy from Sierra I got very a very short, bordering rude, answer. I was effectively told 'tough'. I will not be buying the other sets and will cancel my orders.


Secondly - I thought Bachmann were the official UK distributors [possible the exclusive distributors], so why are Sierra allowed to do this? After all it is Bachmann who undertake the promotion and advertising in the UK! This looks like a 'bit of a kick in the teeth' for what I have found to be a nice set of very helpful people.


The above is not the way that W Britains have operated in the past. Ken Olson and W Britains have been very quiet on this issue, which I find is an answer in itself.
Click to expand...

You never know maybe this is just a handshake agreement and not an official wbritains blessed arrangement to move product between Sierra and select UK dealer(s). I think this is part of the fun or more often than not the frustration with exclusive sets. Those across the pond had to deal with horrible customer service and inflated shipping costs for modelzone AZWs exclusive. It was a stroke of genius when wbritains agreed to ship exclusives via their distribution network to save costs before taking over the last exclusive entirely after bankruptcy. I think Bachmann is likely the distributor for normal releases as the risk (prepaid cost) of exclusives is left entirely with the individual dealer based on my conversations with my local dealer who has done wbritains exclusives in the past. Hopefully Ken will shine some light on whether the current exclusives will officially be offered in the UK as well as whether other dealers will be offering different AZW exclusives than what Sierra is offering..
 
Peiper007 said:
Went to the London show yesterday. Firstly great show, not just for the soldiers, but the people [both exhibitors and visitors] who one meets there, great crowd and atmosphere as always.

However, have a few questions on the first Zulu set from Sierra, firstly there has been many people asking on this forum if it would be sold in the UK? We got a no, as it was an exclusive for Sierra, who was at the London show yesterday and selling it off the stand? Four of us got together and bought four from the website in the states and paid for them on this understanding! Which means we will pay for the sets and the import duty plus the Royal Mail costs......... we did this on the understanding it was only available from the US. Plus I also heard that there will be a number available via a dealer in the UK?

The above is particularly poor practice from W Britains and Sierra. When I asked the guy from Sierra I got very a very short, bordering rude, answer. I was effectively told 'tough'. I will not be buying the other sets and will cancel my orders.


Secondly - I thought Bachmann were the official UK distributors [possible the exclusive distributors], so why are Sierra allowed to do this? After all it is Bachmann who undertake the promotion and advertising in the UK! This looks like a 'bit of a kick in the teeth' for what I have found to be a nice set of very helpful people.


The above is not the way that W Britains have operated in the past. Ken Olson and W Britains have been very quiet on this issue, which I find is an answer in itself.
Click to expand...


Firstly it was great to meet our customers at the show and we are very pleased that they liked the exclusive sets so much.

I would like to thank Clive who helped us out at the last minute and kindly allowed us to share his table. Originally we had only planned to bring over the pre -production sets to show.

We did not have an opportunity to formally introduce ourselves at the show, but you are most welcome to contact me via phone or email and I will gladly address any individual concerns you may have.

To address some points you raised.
When we decided to produce these exclusive sets and we committed the funds to have them produced, we were not sure we could offer them for distribution via Bachmann, as we did not believe this was an avenue open to us.

The arrival of the sets late last week allowed us to make some available to Clive as a thank you for helping us at the show. We have also had customers from one other dealer contact us, who do not use the internet to ask us if we could supply there preferred dealer. We were happy to help out and they should be having some sets arriving soon.

On your particular order we have a free international shipping offer for shipments over $250.00. Your order qualified so we paid the postage on your shipment, you did not have to pay the actual postage costs. Yes UK rules require you pay import duty, but most collectors who buy from overseas know this. Plus a UK dealer also has to pay this and include this in his Uk selling price.

If you have a preferred Uk dealer that you like to buy from, please ask them to get in contact and we will try to help, or if you prefer contact Clive, I am sure he will help.


Mike
Sierra Toy Soldier company
 
I had to pay huge shipping costs, taxes etc...to get the ModelZone exclusives. It could be just me but there seems to be some bitterness towards WB lately. Not sure why as there haven't been any significant changes recently.





Personally I would prefer not to have any exclusives as it would be cheaper all round for the collector.
 
Hope you guys get it soon, of course it is a dramatic pose. Robin.
 

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Thanks gents !!


Looks like I will have to contact Sierra, I did a pre-order but haven't received word if it has been shipped.
 
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I had changed my email address but looks like there was an issue, anyway sorted now and received word today that it has shipped !!! Woo Hoo I hate missing out on a set.
 
Received my set today, haven't had a close inspection of it though but from what I have seen I am very pleased with it. Looks like the second set will be here shortly too :)
 
Just had notification saying the second set Thrust & Block is being shipped . That's sooner than I thought

Kev
 
The third one is due in Sept/Oct... interesting to see where they go next with the exclusives and whether 500 is too many for an exclusive.
 
zulucollector said:
The third one is due in Sept/Oct... interesting to see where they go next with the exclusives and whether 500 is too many for an exclusive.
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I hope the next Sierra set has a run of at least 500. At that number collectors can obtain a set at the retail price.
Brian
 
The 2nd Sierra Zulu exclusive set arrived today. Set 200 of 450.
 
Yep 3rd and final, due to the dealer this coming week, so collectors will be displaying very early Sept. other than the Ambulance and club figure, this wraps it for known releases for Britain's. Robin.
 
Just wanted to point out that the third quarter catalog went to the printers yesterday...
 
Found a way to adapt a passenger. Robin.
 

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