Osimabu

iTrader: (2)

I've been trying to find somewhere in Leicester or nearby that sells Britains farm models, and there doesn't seem to be anywhere except on-line sellers.

Am I looking in the wrong place, or have they all just closed down? Time was we had three in my local village (now suburb...), but there's nothing today.

Our big one, Dominoes, closed down last Autumn.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks folks.

r33gts2009

iTrader: (2)

Toys r us should have those models , I'm prity sure I've seen them in their stores mate

RS_Matt

It's the model shops that are dropping like flies

Mi dad has a model railway and I collect 1:18 cars but ebay/amazon is a big culprit in it all.

belliott69

iTrader: (3)

Britains are quite hard to find now, is it the military or the farm models you were looking for. If its the farm models I have a person I know who still does them.

Doh just re-read it is the farm models, will see if I can find his email address and phone number out.

Chip

This shop by us does them

http://www.lendonsmodelshop.co.uk/in...highlighted=on

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Toys R US killed the toy shops.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Same place as all the local 24hr petrol stations.

corradoboy

We've ruined shopping by allowing Amazon, eBay and the major outlets to dominate. We recently needed a new fridge/freezer and when we considered where to look at the options, all there was was Curry's. A bit of Googling revealed Appliances Direct had opened a showroom 20 miles away, and then a relative told us about a local place worth a look, but nothing else except online. If you want to touch, feel and see the item before shelling out your hard earned it's getting very difficult. Seduced by lower prices we've betrayed ourselves into a corner

Turbohot

Yes, imo the best buying is when you buy after engaging as many natural senses as possible into buying. Second hand browsing on computer screen is inadequate. Actually it's browsing through the third layer hence third hand; if you wear glasses.

Bugatti

There was a toy shop on the A6 in Loughborough town centre. Not sure if it is still there, Haven't been there in a long time but they used to stock lots of models/toys.

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

Same in carlisle our only toy shop has closed and no decent modle shops anyware
Shame Internet has ruined it

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

Not another one of these threads again

Osimabu

iTrader: (2)

Sorry, I haven't seen one on here before.

Looks like the toy shops have simply gone, as I suspected. What a shame.

RS_Matt

A lot of tuning/Ice shops have gone near us, Eurocar and Unicar were pretty well known back in the day!

It is the era of the computer for hobby/pastime/escapism.

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

It's a bit like how all the enthusiast camera shops have gone too. Not to mention half of the entire high street!

deanb1980

my mate had a market stall selling genuine hello kitty toys and stuff like that he lasted about a month. no one is buying from shops anymore especially when people like amazon can deliver it next day for cheaper than parking

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

This ^^^^^^ 100%

I did opine a few years ago as to what people will do when there is no Currys etc. for them to go and look at their new TV before buying it cheaper online, but I got laughed at!

ScoobyWon't

TBH, if I was to choose a high street retailer to visit, it would be John Lewis. At least you stand a chance of getting a price match, plus a decent warranty.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

If I got to Stockport to shop, I have to pay, it costs me fuel and the parking company wants my reg number, I have to run the gauntlet of ********* smacking their door against mine and the general annoyance of going in several shops looking for some, remember "Hmm, no, we dont stock them, you may want to try xyz"

Amazon/Ebay is just too compelling, needed a new "Loft Box" TV signal distributor thingy, nipped on Amazon, got the exact same one and will arrive before next weekend, imagine traipsing round trying to find one of those, or the bearing for the tumble dryer I bought the other day.

The high street is dying back a bit, it will never go, it is a leisure pursuit for a lot of people, witness the Trafford Centre, **** all I want to buy but seems very popular, its rammed all the time, clothes will always need to be available in person for trying on, but a TV, if the specs are all there I dont really need to touch one, got sick of our local Comet, the assistant, for a given item would go in the back four times before they found something in stock, it got to the point when I just said to bring out whatever they had.

Bought an AV amp the other day, ordered it Wednesday at 10AM, it arrived at 10AM the following day, was from Richer Sounds, save me the drive and the parking, plus actually getting time to take two/three hours out to go is difficult and would involve waiting for the weekend and the missus coming and scaling back the purchase.

I order stuff in bulk off the net, it saves money in the long run, cutting disks, one at B and Q is £12, pack of ten is £15 off the net.

I used to love going in the Toy Shop when I was a kid, mine will remember Toys R Us but I dont think they were deprived, Toys R Us is awesome if you are a kid, the local one was cosy and smelt awesome, but it was a big deal when Toy and Hobby opened in Stockport, 5 floors of toys, much more choice, called progress I guess.

Osimabu

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the suggestions as to possible places to try, I missed those earlier. Loughborough Model Centre have moved to Derby now, but I'll have to make a trip I think.

Turbohot

I miss Woolworths. They sold a lot of plastic. I found Toys R Us a headwreck! Everything everywhere, too much to confuse me. Woollies were at least organised. I bought a lot of board games and other toys for my kids from there. One of them was something that folded like a globe, but opened into a fascinating castle; like a big form of Polly Pocket thingy. The Hungry Frog was another one that my son really liked. Water guns, Crazy Daizy and paddling Pools were cool as. I can never forget the interactive furby from Woolies. People queued to get that toy, it was so overrated! I was damn lucky to get one for my child before it ran out of stock. Factually, it was hardly interactive. It had compulsive impulses of its own The stupid thing drove my daughter nuts with its random, nonsense, squeaky utterings! My kid tried burying it under her pillow, didn't work. She tried drowning it in the bath, didn't work. She tried throwing it on the floor, didn't work. Eventually we bagged it for some charity shop, and even in the bag, it was talking utter sh!te! I don't know how the OAP volunteers in the charity shop got on with it. ******* nuisance! Anyway, I do miss Woolworths, and I miss those days.

Whoever is buying toys for their little kids, you will look back one day, and say to yourself- "Ah, memories! " The difference is that you will not bond with those toys like we did- as buyers. Your bonding will be cyber-bonding, where ours was the earthy one.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Does the Furby post on SN ?

Osimabu

iTrader: (2)

Based on the description, I do indeed!

Turbohot

I so knew that was coming when I was writing my post.

I did miss a Jacko Furby here. Good to see you back.

Turbohot

Another one caught in action.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

Pretty much sums it up, items are cheap to post (if not free) with a returns policy, no reason to shop in the real world. I needed some grass killer, could of gone down to B and Q after work tonight, parked up at the other end of the car park, dragged the kids out, in the cold wet weather. Walked around the massive place six times looking for it.. I rolled over in bed, opened the ebay app and ordered it to my door for £5 less.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

My local camera shop seems remarkably resilient, and I can't really explain how. Last time I was in there, they tried to fob me off with a discontinued model from the previous year at full RRP.

Shame about Jessops, though, I put a lot of business their way. At least Park Cameras are still around and doing OK.

Absolutely. If you want me to shop in your town, charging me to cram my car into a tiny space in a multi-storey is not a good start - and expecting me to lug my shopping home on the bus is even worse.

That's the big difference. For items I actually need to see or try before purchase, there's no substitute for bricks & mortar, but for something that's completely described by its make and model, a retailer has no value to add.

The most obvious example is music. What possible reason could there be to buy a CD in person, when I can order it from the much wider selection at Amazon, have it delivered the next day, pay less, *and* get the MP3 to listen to in the meantime?

TVs are an odd one. I'd love to be able to see what the picture is like, but TV shops usually set them up so badly that it's impossible.

I always buy hi-fi in person, there's no substitute for a proper demo. Richer Sounds do seem to be able to do this as well as being price competitive, so full marks there.

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Aaah can you remember your mum taking you to the local toyshop? Mental excitement.

My local one was McDowell's (no longer ) in Braintree, Essex - back in the 70s/80s. The memories.

TheWaterboy

Try these guys, online but not many shops out there as previously stated.

http://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/c-...x?section=-24-

dsmith

When parking is more expensive in town centres than delivery its pointless to travel for less choice. Hopefully some councils will wake up soon - and see that motorists/people have to be actually encouraged and not penalised to go into town centres.

Same applies to rates...the model where a shop pays a small fortune compared to someone operating out of a storage unit is unsustainable. But it probably wont change for the better until its too late.