Search Results

Noted to this point

It worked Chris, I got an instant notification of your comment! NW

Noted to this point

Pay attention Bond!!!! Every time we have ordered a new batch of live drives (30) a note is put on file. We are currently awaiting our next consignment from DPC Micro. As shop Manager i am very happy with our current modus operandi. Please remember we supply our bespoke items to CLUB MEMBERS only and not general public. Therefore our pricing, packaging, distribution channels work very well indeed. I have a constant demand for our Live-drives from around the world!!! I have sent around 10 to Austrailia over the years!! I think your ‘Marketing‘ urge is running a little amok along with the fact that you apparently don’t know what is shipping out on a regular basis from the club shop. The sales reports are updated monthly by Eric and myself and made available for viewing by Chris. Be assured we have all of the club interests at the centre of all decision making And yes, the club shop has brought in a nice windfall since I launched it! £8-10K turnover x 8 or so years. You do the maths.

There looks to be some original spare parts already packeted and numbered so I guess these should go staright into the shop for sale by Nick. Also looks to be a lot of used spares which might be useful for servicing and recovering the broken locos we see in the pics. But we might be able to sell them as used spares if in good condition. As for the locos, tenders and their bodies we should be able to get some working again either to sell or use as club locos. I suggest that, after they have been catalogued and numbered with a unique ID, they be sent out to those experienced enough to attempt to re-build them and assess their condition for future use. This is gold for us!! 😁 and let's see what George and Nick come up with.

Adrian the sheet you refer to is the one that tracks EBay prices. There is already a draft Loco Sales Policy in the process of being finalised for consideration by the committee and a full explanation con be found on this link. https://membership284.wixsite.com/ools-com/forum/policy-discussions-decisions/ools-loco-sales-policy?origin=notification To arrive at a fair frice for both buying and selling from/to club members we monitor the Ebay prices, take off the EBay and PayPal charges, and then compare the derived amount wiith the average of the last fives years (nearly six now) of club and add for sales add in a a reasonable profit. This gives a figure that we know is fair but it is then a judgement call for the Loco Sales Manager to add or remove a little depending on the circumstances. Nigel is continuing along the same lines as started by Maurice with one change and that is to add in any servicing and/or parts cost to the buy in price before adding the notional profit (average of £100 per loco). In seeking to broaden the appeal of Live Steam, as a Non Profit Making Organisation, surely we should be minimising the cost for members to initially get involved ? We are not a commercial organisation seeking to maximise our ROI/profit. The buying and selling of locos is a service the Club offers to members. Simply Models and others  Ebay pricing could actually be doing us a favour in steering people to OOLS Club where models are available at a sensible price including servicing and a 3 month warranty. Maurice didn’t seem to see any need for “price matching” Ebay. So if it ain’t broke don’t fix it If you dont agree wiyth methodolgy then as suggested by David and Val bring it up at trhe next AGM.

Hi Charles, Chris did nothing unethical, you are making assumptions of the process that occurred in the discussions that went on regarding the purchase and payment of these locos.

I would suggest collecting the spares asap and do the museum bit in November when it's re-opened. I can go anytime!

PS Did you see the used and 'serviced' DTFS sell on ebay last night for £1570 or so. That would give £975 profit to the recent buyer of ours that we sold for £595.

Well done Chris. It sounds as though there may well be a treasure trove of bits to collect. I would echo Adrian's comment that it may be better to separate a museum visit and the collection. Striking while the iron is hot, may mean we get the spares, before someone else does. Waiting and trying to fix a date when committee members are abailabe could delay the collection. I suggest speed is of the essence.

Following recent postings on the WhatsApp group I would like to respond to the criticisms and questions in respect of my background/business experience and how I discharge my current role as Loco Sales Manager. I retired in October 2019, for the previous 7 years I was responsible for the management and operation of several large contracts in the Aerospace sector including with Airbus direct and several Tier 1 companies. The total value of the contracts was around $30 million. They involved processing and supplying material and/or semi-finished components on cost, and on time, against forecast, to a network of subcontractors in the UK, USA, several European countries, Malaysia and Korea. A critical part of the contracts was purchasing material in support of the supply. I had sole responsibility for this function, negotiating pricing and leadtimes with suppliers in the UK, USA, Europe and Japan. The annual value of purchases was of the order of $11 million From late 2019 until March 2023 I was retained as a consultant by a Swedish company who were keen to enter the Aerospace market. From a “blank sheet of paper” I negotiated pricing etc with suppliers, again in the UK, USA. Europe and Japan with spend authority from management of $1 million. I determined inventory levels and selling price structures across the product range and led a team of “raw recruits” in developing the market. When I left, annual sales had grown from almost zero to $2 million over a period which included the pandemic when the aerospace industry virtually came to a standstill So in summary I believe I have a little more than “ an ounce of business nounce”, certainly when compared to my detractors Moving on to OOLSC Loco Sales, I was asked by Chris to take on the role as having done it himself since Maurice passed it had added to what was already a significant workload and was relatively easy to pass on. Like anyone new to a role, I didn’t just dive straight in but sought guidance from Chris in respect of pricing structure, market conditions, likely demand etc . I then came up with a price (buying or selling) which I ran by Chris for input/authorisation. Having gained the experience, I have been “flying solo” for the past few months. Here are the specifics from that period: 19 Locos/Sets Purchased at a cost of £6115 7 Locos Sold for a Total of £3438 I have so far sold approx. 1/3rd (37%) of the locos bought recovering just over half (56%) of the total purchase price for 19. Leaving 12 locos/sets available to raise £2677 to break even. That’s an average of £223 per loco and the cheapest price we sell any loco at is £300 ( Mallard Loco only and Seagull Loco only.)  We only have 1 Mallard Loco only to sell, the rest will be sold at well above £300 3 Locos currently available for sale on the website   It should be noted that a decision was taken not to offer locos for sale without being serviced. This placed a considerable workload on Chris and Eric which is gradually being worked through. In addition with the decision to adopt PAT testing, we have 6 Mallard Sets held back pending completion of said testing.   I hope this answers the criticisms and questions raised

Adrian,, I think you answered your proposal with your last paragraph!! We as a body are mostly retired or soon to be retired enthusiasts of live steam. We have no intention of proselytising for ever more about the ins and outs of the now obsolete Live Steam range. We are trying to enjoy our hobby and encourage those that ask to dig their locos out and have a go. We have given them instruction. We can even help for a cost. The locos are much like many of their owners, We cannot forever keep dragging up the fact that they are old and stiff and may not work. People have to learn a few things themselves for goodness sake. And that will always involve spending money,,,,, With us or someone else. Keeping up with what we do is more than enough work for those of us that contribute! We need to stop trying to complicate everything by making it all into a live steam circus!!! Elephants are banned from circuses now! Sometimes the Elephant will always be in the room and will be quite happy So long as he’s fed and watered!!! You may wish to be the Messiah of Hornby live steam but your Apostles will be few and far! Let’s just play trains in peace and enjoy it! Others ‘may’ follow!!!