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Post by wagnersteve on Mar 12, 2024 17:52:40 GMT -8
3/11/24, starting about 9:45 p.m., EDT Joe Grubba of FDH sent an email about two hours ago announcing this, which I have just now seen and read. He is now President of both FDH and Model Train Stuff. He has hired one high MTS manager to provide continuity. They are not yet ready to set a date for launching the new MTS website, but suggest that interested modelers go to www.modeltrainstuff.com to get on the mailing list to receive announcements. In my opinion, this is very good news. I have often bought from both MTS and FDH, though not as much as some participants on this forum. |
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Post by es80ac on Mar 12, 2024 17:57:52 GMT -8
FTD’s loyalty program sucks in compare to MB Klein. Not really something to get excited about for me.
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Post by sauconyard on Mar 12, 2024 18:26:21 GMT -8
The two will merge in 12 months, no reason to run two platforms.
Never a fan of FDT, but purchased regularly from MBK until about a year ago. But plenty of others options to choose from, thankfully.
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Post by wmcbride on Mar 12, 2024 18:31:17 GMT -8
When they were first Factory Direct Trains, they used to have some really decent sales on Genesis, etc. with low shipping. Now, not so much. Better deals can be had easily elsewhere.
Bill McBride
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Post by locochris on Mar 12, 2024 18:43:33 GMT -8
FDH usually seems to be more expensive than other retailers, in my opinion.
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Post by wmcbride on Mar 12, 2024 19:12:11 GMT -8
FDH usually seems to be more expensive than other retailers, in my opinion. Yep. I don't see the new Model Train Stuff undercutting FDH on prices. Bill McBride |
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Post by lvrr325 on Mar 12, 2024 19:36:13 GMT -8
This is basically FDH taking over a competitor without really taking them over. They bought the rights to the name and probably the customer data. They will probably pick up some business through that data. They may maintain an MBK home page that redirects to a shared ordering site.
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Post by sauconyard on Mar 13, 2024 4:57:12 GMT -8
This is basically FDH taking over a competitor without really taking them over. They bought the rights to the name and probably the customer data. They will probably pick up some business through that data. They may maintain an MBK home page that redirects to a shared ordering site. Bingo. But you might not get a "free" BLI hoodie if you order via MBK.  factorydirecthobbies.com/collections/free-gift-with-select-broadway-limited-locos |
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Post by cpr4200 on Mar 13, 2024 8:42:18 GMT -8
Read on FB that Hatton's has a new owner. Only bought the name, not the store.
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Post by sauconyard on Mar 13, 2024 9:37:20 GMT -8
Read on FB that Hatton's has a new owner. Only bought the name, not the store. Yep, this clarity was helpful. The UK market is smaller and I expect the shock to the system there of Hatton's closing was much greater than MBK. railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/rails-hattons-faq |
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Post by markfj on Mar 14, 2024 3:33:04 GMT -8
Well, I had some enthusiasm about this announcement, but after reading the comments above that is gone. Too bad, MBK was great in its heydays.
Thanks, Mark
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Post by riogrande on Mar 14, 2024 4:42:02 GMT -8
Any time a transfer of a business to a new owner, to me it is a totally new business and will need to build their own reputation and process. So while the name may remain, this is a new business. They will have to build trust and customers anew.
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Post by grabirons on Mar 16, 2024 13:20:52 GMT -8
This is interesting. So what happens now? Was there some sort of beef that fdh had with mbk besides basically being a manufacturer with a store although Walters does it and they're still doing it quite well.
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ictom
Full Member
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Post by ictom on Mar 19, 2024 11:27:37 GMT -8
Read on FB that Hatton's has a new owner. Only bought the name, not the store. Yep, this clarity was helpful. The UK market is smaller and I expect the shock to the system there of Hatton's closing was much greater than MBK. railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/rails-hattons-faqIs the UK market really smaller? I have no facts, but publications, web presence, youtube creators, mfrs, etc. - even hobby shops, seem to outnumber what we have in the states. As it originally stood, the Hatton's purchase almost confirmed that, too. |
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Post by riogrande on Mar 20, 2024 6:59:08 GMT -8
When I visited the UK a few years back, I was in a store with a large magazine wall and I saw a lot of different train magazines there. Based on that, it seems like trains are very popular in the UK.
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Mar 20, 2024 12:41:45 GMT -8
Is the UK market really smaller? I have no facts, but publications, web presence, youtube creators, mfrs, etc. - even hobby shops, seem to outnumber what we have in the states. As it originally stood, the Hatton's purchase almost confirmed that, too. The popularity of model trains is cultural. They are very popular in the UK -- and in Germany. Much less so here in Sweden -- less popular than in the US I would hazard to guess. |
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Post by jeoffreythecat on Mar 20, 2024 13:36:10 GMT -8
Popularity is not directly related to the size of the market. The US has four times the population of Germany and five times that of the UK. So even if a smaller percentage of Americans are into model trains, the financial size of the market could be bigger due to having a larger population.
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ictom
Full Member
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Post by ictom on Mar 21, 2024 0:28:10 GMT -8
Popularity is not directly related to the size of the market. The US has four times the population of Germany and five times that of the UK. So even if a smaller percentage of Americans are into model trains, the financial size of the market could be bigger due to having a larger population. True, but things like publications have costs that are not proportional to population. When you look at the numbers of publications, the number of pages they have, and the numerous and giant multi-page full-color advertisement pages, they absolutely dwarf what we have in MR, RMC, and MRN. |
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