Are TMC taking the mickey?!

[centenary]

Ive mainly found TMC do some good deals and Ive taken advantage of these. But are they taking the mickey here?

An OO scale HST in Midland Pullman livery, pre owned and one fan not working, £528! Seriously?! It's not even DCC fitted never mind with sound. https://www.themodelcentre.com/r30077pre0

Here's another example, Dapol Yeoman JHAs, outer wagon, pre owned, £66!
https://www.themodelcentre.com/4f-050-002pre

OK you might say it's discontinued and hard to find? Rails, Kernow and my local shop have supplies of the same for at least £16 cheaper. Rails is asking just under £40.

[Bigmet]

'Let the potential customers decide for themselves' is the effortless way forward!

[centenary]

'Let the potential customers decide for themselves' is the effortless way forward!

Weirdly, earlier today, I sent a friend who has a soft spot for Class 70's, a link for one, pre owned, DCC ready and weathered, £129 with Rails. He said £149 was a bit pricey! I asked which one you looking at, it's £129. Nope, he said. Checked Rails again and it is now £149!

[Dad-1]

Almost everything is going up in price this month !!
You must know why !!

Geoff T.

[centenary]

Almost everything is going up in price this month !!
You must know why !!

Geoff T.

Doesnt stand to logic that a used, DCC Ready, not 100% working HST is over £120 more than a new, boxed with sound HST though.

https://www.themodelcentre.com/r30097txs-21

[Phred]

centenary wrote:
Doesnt stand to logic that a used, DCC Ready, not 100% working HST is over £120 more than a new, boxed with sound HST though.

Agreed, but I think logic has pretty much disappeared in the new world order.

[Bigmet]

Could it be that there was relatively limited supply of the model in this livery? Seen plenty of similar examples these last dozen years, estupido money relative to the original model price asked - and sometimes obtained - in s/h sales.

[SRman]

TMC seem to be taking a leaf out of Hatton's book in having some very reasonably priced second-hand models and some stupidly priced ones. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason for some of the prices, but they are a business and can charge whatever they think they can get for an item.

[centenary]

TMC seem to be taking a leaf out of Hatton's book in having some very reasonably priced second-hand models and some stupidly priced ones. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason for some of the prices, but they are a business and can charge whatever they think they can get for an item.

The price is now showing as £440. Maybe the box having a pre order sticker on it at £440 had something to do with it! Or maybe they saw this thread?

[Mountain]

Could be a case of...

BOSS: "Don't put it on too cheap. We need to make a profit on this..."

EMPLOYEE "OK..." (Inserts a very high price)...

[centenary]

Could be a case of...

BOSS: "Don't put it on too cheap. We need to make a profit on this..."

EMPLOYEE "OK..." (Inserts a very high price)...

I noticed the Dapol JHAs have also been reduced to £60 which is still £10 more than my local store and £20 more than Rails.

[Mountain]

Could be a case of...

BOSS: "Don't put it on too cheap. We need to make a profit on this..."

EMPLOYEE "OK..." (Inserts a very high price)...

I noticed the Dapol JHAs have also been reduced to £60 which is still £10 more than my local store and £20 more than Rails.

Uhmmm. Still around £40 more than the max I would pay if I wanted to buy a rake of them. Lovely things and good quality but not cheap...

[aleopardstail]

may as well put them up initially at a higher price. TMC often do decent discounts (so need a higher starting price to discount from...), see if they shift. if not they get a reduction later

do wonder with some stock prices, I mean the ultra detailed expensive stuff is perfect on a small shunting layout where everything is up close.. but for a full rake of %WHATEVER% thats more of less moving scenery?

[Phred]

aleopardstail wrote:
TMC often do decent discounts (so need a higher starting price to discount from...), see if they shift.

Puts me in mind of a large men's clothing retailer I once worked for in Brisbane city. Every day of the year had a sale on. The 'Post Christmas Clearance' was followed by the 'Summer Sale' which was followed by 'March Madness'... you get my drift. I never saw an item offered at the original full price it was allegedly marked down from.

Not relevant, but I'll tell you anyway:
The winter westerly wind that blew up Queen Street outside the store was perishing cold and people waiting at the bus stop would often stand just inside the entrance doors so as to avoid freezing. One morning, I noticed a man standing at one of the counters, staring into space. When I asked if I could help him, he said: 'No, I'm waiting for a bus.'
Well, I thought it was amusing.

[aleopardstail]

aleopardstail wrote:
TMC often do decent discounts (so need a higher starting price to discount from...), see if they shift.

Puts me in mind of a large men's clothing retailer I once worked for in Brisbane city. Every day of the year had a sale on. The 'Post Christmas Clearance' was followed by the 'Summer Sale' which was followed by 'March Madness'... you get my drift. I never saw an item offered at the original full price it was allegedly marked down from.

Not relevant, but I'll tell you anyway:
The winter westerly wind that blew up Queen Street outside the store was perishing cold and people waiting at the bus stop would often stand just inside the entrance doors so as to avoid freezing. One morning, I noticed a man standing at one of the counters, staring into space. When I asked if I could help him, he said: 'No, I'm waiting for a bus.'
Well, I thought it was amusing.

there is apparently a sofa retail outlet on an industrial estate in the UK somewhere, this is where the "full price" is on sale to allow the "discount!" banners

the place gets next to no business

to the point a former PM here was noted as the only person to ever buy a full price DFS sofa