WHY?

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

Why is it that i can buy a small pair of snips in one shop,poundland for £1and the exact pair by the same maker in another shop for £3 so it just goes to show it pays to look around

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Andy

Poundland is a huge company that can drive down wholesale prices by bulk buying direct from the manufacturer, which is usually in China. Your local hobby shop buys its stock from a UK based wholesaler.

Companies like Poundland are enticed into occupying high street locations by local authorities who offer very beneficial deals on building rental and business rates, the idea being that shops such as Poundland attract more customers back into run down shopping areas. Your local hobby shop has to pay full rent and rates.

The looser is the local hobby shop and unless they can increase turnover by selling on the Internet they will inevitably be forced to close.

But we are also the looser's because the local hobby shop is a mine of expert information and a contact point for local model makers (try asking someone in a pound shop about the best engine for your next project)

After Poundland's beneficial deals have ended they just shut up shop and move somewhere else.

Result…..you have lost a lot more than cheap tools

For myself I would rather support the local hobby shop….yes its more expensive but I dont mind paying the extra couple of quid as I prefer the personal service and the free expert advice.

Paul

Andy I'm sorry for hijacking your thread and banging on but I feel very strongly about small specialist shops being forced to close, its just short sighted commercialism on the part of local authorities.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Paul. Hear hear.

And when did any local authorities or politicians worry about the longer term view, eh??

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

It's not just local councils though. Most retail premises are rented and when the lease is due for renewal the property companies that own the ships are still looking for big hikes in the rent despite the economic situation and the fact that the turnover of the shops cannot meet the increase. It's not just hobby shops that are affected, almost all independent retailers are vulnerable too, not to mention more established chains.

Model shops are especially hard hit as the local customer base is usually very small and, as Paul says, unless they can diversify into online selling they are pretty much doomed!

Local councils could entice more people back to the high street if they would stop pushing up car parking charges to bolster their budgets. Their job should be to support local commerce but they are doing exactly the opposite because they have different perceived priorities and see the motorist as an unlimited cash cow.

Colin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Be fair Colin after all something has to pay for the gravy train that all of these otherwise useless people con a living from.

Society is divided into 3 sections:

The thinkers: People who invent things and make our world a better place.

The doers: People who are good with their hands and produce things that the inventors dream up.

Politicians: People who cant do anything and exist by taxing the other two thirds.

The definition of Politician is derived from the words "poly" meaning "many", and "tics" meaning "blood-sucking parasites."

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Well Paul, having spent about 35 years working in local government…..

I did invent a computer property commitment accounting system back in 1987 which is still in use as a reference facility today as it is easier to use than the multi million package that succeeeded it.

I certainly wouldn't pretend that the public services are perfect but having had quite a bit of experience in dealing with the private sector in the context of outsourcing I can't say that their performance was altogether impressive either.

as you say, it all comes down to individuals. Some are good at their jobs and make a difference and some aren't and I don't see that much difference between the public and private sectors in that respect.

I would agree that the standard of politicians is poor, but generally hasn't that always been the case?

Colin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Colin there is a world of difference between people who work hard in local government (thinkers and doers) and the self promoting fools who are elected to run local government (politicians.[see above])

To classify politicians as poor is to give the word poor an unsavoury and somewhat distasteful aspect.

Got to go now as M15 are at the door!

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Chaps. I am thinking that Andy will not pose any more questions if the answers get this deep!

Wheres my copy of the Red book gone??

Ashley

Gosh…. Colin worked in local government……..shock horror!! no no no I dont want to know any more sordid details…

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Deep?

I've kept this light just in case any politicians read it as they tend to get out of their depth on a damp pavement.

I'm not anti establishment I am just anti politician as its down to them, and bankers, that we are in the state that we are now. (you don't see any of them out of work or having to cut back)

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Damp pavement… I like it..

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ashley, it was a noble calling and so I responded….

Not a bad pension either!

Colin

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Posted by ashley needham on 14/07/2012 19:33:45:Gosh…. Colin worked in local government……..shock horror!! no no no I dont want to know any more sordid details…

Behave yourself, Ashley, or I shall reveal my former employ………………
DM

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Spanish customs and exercise….? Ooops!

Why haven't they called you out of retirement to man the desks at Heathrow Dave?

Colin

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

We all love to hate politicians and banks but, to be fair, there are some very good politicians, just as there are some very bad ones. The big banks, on the other hand, are in it for the money, pure and simple, despite their advertising.

We have 3 levels of government in Australia, local councils, state and federal. In the case of my local area we have, in my opinion, 3 very good people working for us. Our lady mayor works hard for the area, although she is not always supported fully by some of the other councillors. Our state member I have known personally for more than 30 years. He is an extremely popular and hard working representative of our electorate, and a very genuine and honest person. Our federal member, also a lady, is a veritable dynamo, tiny in stature she works tirelessly for her constituents. I might add that these 3 people are not members of the same political party, so any suggestion of political bias on my part is untrue, I am basing my assessment on performances alone.

Public servants are also fair game for criticism, and I'm sure that some are deserving of it but, as Colin said, there are many in the private sector who are also a waste of space. It seems to me that the main criticism levelled at public servants is "they are spending OUR money" not always wisely and without any real accountability. Whether this is fair or not is debatable.

Peter.

[Eric Moffat 1Participant @ericmoffat1]

gentlemen, my dear old dad always said, "we get the government we voted" such is democracy!

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