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Post by crblue on Jan 16, 2024 15:34:21 GMT -8
www.modeltrainstuff.com/customer-notice/I assume it's related to Hatton's buying them, and then moving the warehouse, but they really don't give anything of substance. The website is still up though, and you can still look around.
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unit
New Member
Posts: 45
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Post by unit on Jan 16, 2024 17:20:35 GMT -8
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Post by es80ac on Jan 16, 2024 19:30:35 GMT -8
If Hatton is shutting down, why buy Mb Klein in the first place?
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ictom
Full Member
Posts: 103
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Post by ictom on Jan 17, 2024 8:19:09 GMT -8
Could be the scenario that the purchase of MTS was more than they could handle. If they ran into a major cash crisis, it might also be why they left MTS running for a while.
It's all conjecture, but Hattons noted in a youtube video with Jennifer Kirk that this all started for Hattons in Sep. 2023, when the MTS purchase supposedly took place.
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Post by valenciajim2 on Jan 17, 2024 18:59:22 GMT -8
There could be several factors at work here. First of all, given higher global interest rates, acquisitions are more difficult to finance. Second the UK economy is not performing very well, so that may put profit/cash flow pressure on Hatton's. These are private companies, so we will probably never really know the complete story.
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Post by crblue on Jan 18, 2024 13:04:48 GMT -8
Could be the scenario that the purchase of MTS was more than they could handle. If they ran into a major cash crisis, it might also be why they left MTS running for a while. It's all conjecture, but Hattons noted in a youtube video with Jennifer Kirk that this all started for Hattons in Sep. 2023, when the MTS purchase supposedly took place. That would be very disappointing if the purchase of MTS ended up being the reason that Hatton's closed. |
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Post by bnsf971 on Jan 18, 2024 15:30:15 GMT -8
If you read between the lines of how the notice is written, it says Hattons UK is closing. Nothing is said about Hattons US, (AKA MB Klein). For all we know, they bought Kleins with the intent of closing in the UK, and moving operations to the US.
We're all going to have to grab some popcorn and watch how everything plays out.
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Post by lars on Jan 19, 2024 16:36:34 GMT -8
I spoke with a hobby shop owner this week. His take from speaking with the Hattons folks, was that Hattons was having a hard time dealing with EU trade regulations post-Brexit and saw MTS as a way to have an easier distribution to the EU (apparently it's easier to deal with the EU from the US?). It sounds like MTS was financially not great following the death of the original owner and it was hard to get a understanding of their inventory and obligations. His take was that MTS is done and not coming back.
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Post by sauconyard on Jan 20, 2024 5:44:03 GMT -8
I spoke with a hobby shop owner this week. His take from speaking with the Hattons folks, was that Hattons was having a hard time dealing with EU trade regulations post-Brexit and saw MTS as a way to have an easier distribution to the EU (apparently it's easier to deal with the EU from the US?). It sounds like MTS was financially not great following the death of the original owner and it was hard to get a understanding of their inventory and obligations. His take was that MTS is done and not coming back. This actually makes a lot of sense. Don't forget that Brexit likely created a whole lot more difficult issues for a company that is likely quite reliant on EU trade. Having lived and worked in the UK in the last 5 years, GDPR alone is a huge expense with fines that are signficant. This is likely a delicate line to walk to free up the capital in the UK and move it to the US, where the business can be run more profitably. Hopefully, all the former customers of both will return. Although I'm guessing the owner factored this into the equation. I'll support them if prices and service are good. I spread my purchases around to keep as many people in the game as possible. |
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Post by ncrc5315 on Jan 20, 2024 7:17:30 GMT -8
I read on another forum, the owner of Hatton's is moving his operation to Fremont NE.
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Post by Baikal on Jan 20, 2024 8:46:43 GMT -8
I spoke with a hobby shop owner this week. His take from speaking with the Hattons folks, was that Hattons was having a hard time dealing with EU trade regulations post-Brexit and saw MTS as a way to have an easier distribution to the EU (apparently it's easier to deal with the EU from the US?). It sounds like MTS was financially not great following the death of the original owner and it was hard to get a understanding of their inventory and obligations. His take was that MTS is done and not coming back. This actually makes a lot of sense. Don't forget that Brexit likely created a whole lot more difficult issues for a company that is likely quite reliant on EU trade. Having lived and worked in the UK in the last 5 years, GDPR alone is a huge expense with fines that are signficant. This is likely a delicate line to walk to free up the capital in the UK and move it to the US, where the business can be run more profitably. Hopefully, all the former customers of both will return. Although I'm guessing the owner factored this into the equation. I'll support them if prices and service are good. I spread my purchases around to keep as many people in the game as possible. Heard of a van that's loaded with models
Packed up and ready to go
Heard of some small town, out in Nebraska
A place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the ukraine
I'm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstone, lived in a ghetto
I've lived all over this town
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
This ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey-dovey
I ain't got time for that now
Transmit the message to the receiver
Hope for an answer someday
I got three passports, a couple of visas
You don't even know my real name
High on a hillside, the trucks are loading
Everything's ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nighttime
I might not ever get home... Britts should turn down their heaters, raise retirement age to 75, and mind the gap: |
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Post by nebrzephyr on Jan 21, 2024 7:20:03 GMT -8
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Post by crblue on Jan 24, 2024 10:23:53 GMT -8
And they're gone. WFT Hattons?
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Post by riogrande on Jan 24, 2024 10:40:46 GMT -8
And they're gone. WFT Hattons? It kind of appears that Hattons took MBK down with them. But had Hattons not bought them, I would guess MBK would have shut down anyway in a matter of weeks or months. Anway, I was already prepared do bid modeltrainstuff a farewell and had made peace that it was gone and didn't really expect it to return back to business. It was nice while it lasted. RIP MB Klein. |
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Jan 24, 2024 12:39:20 GMT -8
The model railroad market was too hot not to cool down. The Great Model Railroad Recession of 2023 - 2024?
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Post by NS4122 on Jan 24, 2024 13:51:28 GMT -8
As far as MB Klein goes, it dates back a few years. It was alarming to me when they closed the retail store. It's never a good sign when a business contracts. Over the years it seemed liked discounts got shorter and service wasn't as good. They stopped selling ScaleTrains shortly after the retail store closed. Also, they started collecting sales tax for out of state buyers, which made them less competitive. They were my go to source, but I've haven't done much business with them at all over the last several years. The model railroad market was too hot not to cool down. The Great Model Railroad Recession of 2023 - 2024? |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Jan 24, 2024 14:00:22 GMT -8
Sales Tax collection has become a very aggressively pursued deal for many states. Sad to see this all take place. The tax man loves messing with the little guy, can't afford to fight back.
Slightly off topic, a recent BLI purchase received this week, Cryogenic car, was Made in Vietnam. New to me, but the world certainly is in flux.
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Post by riogrande on Jan 24, 2024 15:27:27 GMT -8
Slightly off topic, a recent BLI purchase received this week, Cryogenic car, was Made in Vietnam. New to me, but the world certainly is in flux. I've wondered if Vietnam would be a good place for model train manufacture to move to as China becomes a less desirable place - costs, and arbitrary security measures etc. |
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Post by el3625 on Jan 24, 2024 15:45:19 GMT -8
About 6 weeks ago I used my last $50.00 coupon that I earned on some for-sale freight cars. I only had about 100 points left in my account after that purchase. I guess you could call that "good timing". I will miss MBK, I purchased A LOT from them, and I also saved a good $1,500.00/$2,000.00 dollars in $25.00 and $50.00 coupons off plus all of the free shipping I received over the last 3-4 years. Now that my home layout is pretty much finished, yea-right, I really do not need many supplies and I have enough locomotives/freight cars for now. I am sure something will come up in the future that I "must" have but now I just love running my trains. They were alright by me, always helping me out with any issues I ever had. I never had any problems with them. They helped me build my layout. Sorry to see them go.
Bruce
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Post by sauconyard on Jan 25, 2024 5:12:13 GMT -8
If the rumor that Hattons is moving to the US and reorganizing the company for a relaunch, this is an odd way to treat an active customer base. Again, maybe that was factored in and shuttering both businesses and relaunching with a new name, etc is the way to go. Although I could also be convinced that there was a debt-fueled plan to combine the businesses that flamed out badly with higher interest rates and the whole thing collapsed.
I always thought MBK's best asset was their website which I found to be quite logical and easy to use, especially versus other online shops. If the business is shutting down and its not complete lipstick on a pig technology, that seems to be worth something to a competitor.
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Post by riogrande on Jan 25, 2024 7:03:24 GMT -8
If the rumor that Hattons is moving to the US and reorganizing the company for a relaunch, this is an odd way to treat an active customer base. Again, maybe that was factored in and shuttering both businesses and relaunching with a new name, etc is the way to go. Although I could also be convinced that there was a debt-fueled plan to combine the businesses that flamed out badly with higher interest rates and the whole thing collapsed. Best laid plans of mice and men, or the road to hell is paved with good intentions? I agree. A well designed web store is a major part of a successful e-commerce business. Not sure how easy it would be to revamp it for another business however. |
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Post by lvrr325 on Jan 31, 2024 3:24:51 GMT -8
Sales Tax collection has become a very aggressively pursued deal for many states. Sad to see this all take place. The tax man loves messing with the little guy, can't afford to fight back. Slightly off topic, a recent BLI purchase received this week, Cryogenic car, was Made in Vietnam. New to me, but the world certainly is in flux. This is one reason I use eBay as an online platform. While they charge fees on the total transaction price, they handle the entire sales tax aspect on items even in my own state. I don't have to spend time messing around keeping track of each state and each city's sales tax rates and then sending three dollars to Utah, ten to Ohio, 28 cents to Rhode Island, etc. Even my own state's sales taxes are a pain, they want you to basically wire the money, but their computer won't talk to anyone else and they don't tell you the payment didn't go through until you get a nastygram weeks later demanding interest on top of the payment. I'm just going to mail in the money this year. |
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Post by bnsf971 on Jan 31, 2024 4:26:24 GMT -8
Slightly off topic, a recent BLI purchase received this week, Cryogenic car, was Made in Vietnam. New to me, but the world certainly is in flux. I've wondered if Vietnam would be a good place for model train manufacture to move to as China becomes a less desirable place - costs, and arbitrary security measures etc. In October, I purchased a very high-end, very expensive laptop. I unboxed it, and none of the USB ports worked on it. I returned it and got a second one. It worked well, until I saw the sticker on the box that said "Made in Vietnam". I returned it promptly. I am one of those people that will never knowingly purchase anything made in that country. |
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