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Modelzone
Topic Started: Jun 25 2013, 08:19 PM (2,028 Views)
peebeep
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Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious
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There are various sources reporting that Modelzone is seeking to go into administration. This may not be terminal, but the word is they expanded too big, too quickly, so if you lose your local branch that will be the likely reason. You have to wonder how this might impact on Amerang.

peebeep
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Mentalguru
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Owned by Jen
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Not surprising- highly marked to retail max prices, outlets in high foot traffic areas- and therefore very high rates, along with contracting discretionary spend market.

Shame though :(
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Jelly071
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i Do hope they find someone to buy them
Edited by Jelly071, Jun 25 2013, 10:31 PM.
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The Hooded Claw
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Me? I'm saying nothing…

THC
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Floyd
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I like to mottle things.
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The only time I have ever bought anything from modelzone was during their specials, as mentioned the prices were standard retail prices and was far easier to find cheaper online. I will give them huge credit for flogging me the Airfix 1/24 mossie for a mere 50 quid....bargain.
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chrism
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Their website has today gone down and been replaced by a statement to effect of placing company in receivership
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peebeep
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Quote:
 
"On 26 June 2013, Richard Michael Hawes, Nicholas Guy Edwards and Robert James Harding of Deloitte LLP were appointed Joint Administrators of Modelzone Holdings Limited, The Amerang Group Limited, Modelzone Limited and Amerang Limited (together the "Companies"). The affairs, business and property of the Companies are being managed by the Joint Administrators. The Joint Administrators act as agents of the Companies only and contract without personal liability. The Joint Administrators are authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). All licensed Insolvency Practitioners of Deloitte LLP are licensed in the UK"


peebeep
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Mentalguru
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Owned by Jen
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Oh crap. For us, Amerang = Hasegawa


Being unselfish, I pass my sincere warm thoughts to the people who suddenly find themselves without a job. Osbourne- please get a grip- you need taking out the back and shooting.
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dave v
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Went into my local one here in bristol last week only to find half empty shelves thought it was a restock obviously not. How will this affect the supply of Hasagawa kits, and if another importer comes to the rescue will the price come down.

Dave
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Walrus
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A bristle short of a full brush
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As Rich said on the Osprey thread, I hope a new importer will be more realistic with regards to prices.
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The Hooded Claw
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It should be pointed out that the viable element of the business IS Amerang!

They only recently signed off on the Fujimi import reverting to them.

THC
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mcevoyi
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Hi all

I just like to ask....is it just modelzone that in the pooh ...or the whole of amerang ?

And has any one got a list of all the products that amerang import / distribute
It would be very interesting to compare the uk price for kits ..and the rest of the world .... the point being ..haseg kits are a shed load more expensive in the uk
Than most of the world ....did amerang price them selves out of business
By not keeping an eye on the non uk retailers on the www
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peebeep
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All the subsidiaries under Modelzone Holdings Ltd are affected, including both Amerang companies. Amerang are distributors of a wide range of model and R/C products, including importing Hasegawa, but I'd guess the latter to be a relatively small part of their business. I've heard it said that they were running a generous margin on Hasegawa kits, but there are other factors that affect the price of stuff coming from Japan, although the recent pricing structure is without doubt breathtaking. I personally haven't bought a new Hasegawa kit for ages and I bet there's a few people here who would say the same.

peebeep
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mcevoyi
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Thx for the reply ..

I woundered if the same price strategy was also applied to the other products
And and a result ..all of us ..hit the www for the best price ...

Not sure who imports meng ....but why is the a-39 tortoise uk price £49.99 rrp
When i can pop in to a friendly retailer in hong kong and pick the kit up of the shelf for just over £10 ...some one some where is taking the pixx out of our hobby

Example ...revell 1/32 hawk .21.99
And the .....revell 1/32 he 111 39.99
Like to point out ..the kits are molded in shengzeng province of china

Am i not correct that trumpeter are imported by amerang ? ..
1/32 harrier GR 7 .£95 .......
Edited by mcevoyi, Jun 27 2013, 06:46 PM.
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Walrus
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A bristle short of a full brush
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I don't accept the excuses about exchange rates.
To buy directly from HLJ for example the prices are much more reasonable. Same exchange rate.
Even postage is not that bad given the kit is half a world away.


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peebeep
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It's not just exchange rates, but also duty and it works both ways. European products are just as disproportionately expensive in Japan as Japanese products are here. I'm assured by a modeller domiciled in Japan that Airfix prices there are equivalent to Hasegawa prices here. Conversely Tamiya/Hasegawa is cheap as chips in the home market. Nonetheless it seems that the Amerang margin was very generous in their favour. If you can buy from Far East traders and not get stung for duty/handling, do it while the going is still good.

peebeep
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ptcruiser
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The import tariff for model kits into the Eu is 0%. VAT however we know is 20%, but that would apply to wherever the kit originates. Exchange rates may have moved but not THAT significantly. All this means the viable excuses for prices are rapidly diminishing.

Rich
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Mike W
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Hook down, wheels down... call the ball
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mcevoyi
Jun 27 2013, 06:44 PM


Am i not correct that trumpeter are imported by amerang ? ..
1/32 harrier GR 7 .£95 .......
Pocketbond import Trumpeter alomg with Academy, Roden, AFV Club amongst others.
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Walrus
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A bristle short of a full brush
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From HLJ
The Airfix prices seem fairly comparable to the point of being a tad cheaper
Have used the RRP. HLJ have discounted some of the kits.
Airfix.com price in parentheses

Airfix Gnat £4.34/Y650 (£5.99)

Airfix BAe Hawk £8.00/Y1200 (£10.99)

Airfix Sea Vixen £38.69/Y5800 (£39.99)
Edited by Walrus, Jun 27 2013, 10:02 PM.
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peebeep
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ptcruiser
Jun 27 2013, 09:22 PM
The import tariff for model kits into the Eu is 0%.
Erm, I think that applies to products being shifted between EU nations, but not those outside. Goods from non-EU countries will be subject to duty if they are above a certain value and as you point out VAT. Then there's the Royal Mail 'handling charge' for paying duties on your behalf.

peebeep
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