[Darren Boyle]

This thread is a very intersting (and sad) read. I feel gutted for Kevin and Keith, since they were both good guys to deal with (as a supplier to them) and even as a "competitor" (in shop terms) they never gave us any grief whatsoever and we just got along fine, dealing with what respective customers came our way.

Unless either Kev or Keith came out and disclosed the real reasons they are gone, then most people will never know the truth, it may have been any one or a combination of the reasons talked about right through this thread....

It is no hidden fact that business is slower than normal at present for many industries (including ours) and many business's are struggling along trying to make ends meet etc.... The R/C car business is NO different at present.

Customers do sadly expect "everything" (as some would say they are entitled to) they do want the very best prices, everything in stock in surplus quantities, delivery at the speed of light (plus they want the postage for free of course), they want to return items after any time scale just because they "dont want them now", they want the website to be smart looking and easy to navigate, plus they want a full time stock level checker (all of which costs money to put in place), they want knowledgable/experienced people to man the phones for help and advice for as many hours in the day as possible (7 days a week too if it could be done), they want a shop full to the brim from floor to ceiling of £1,000's and £1,000's of items they can came and browse at, warranties that run on for years upon end, they want you to be at trackside with your full shop at every race meeting around to supply them that £2 urgent spare parts that they have broke on the car they did not buy from you.....etc etc (I think you get my drift)

My point is, these things are all great, we all "want" those things, but they ALL cost money. FREE postage for one is great, but somwhere along the line somoene IS paying for it (whether it is the customer or the store is absorbing the cost themsleves), the latest full EPOS/Live Stock level websites etc do not come cheap and more important nor does the time involved in maintianing them and booking the stock in manually either, it ALL costs money and takes up LOTS of time, which has to be found from sales.........

I have to hand it to Microtech, they wiped the floor with our own store in several areas (website, live stock levels, FREE postage etc ALL included here) but is the cost of this higher service or whatever you wish to call it been their ultimate downfall? Only Kev and Keith know that answer, guys I wish you both the very best in whatever you end up doing.....

Darren

Edit; And before anyone says or jumps down my throat, the paragraph in the middle is NOT aimed at anyone in particular, it is simply a general summary of what model shops are asked for and get requested day in and day out by many of the their customers. Most customers are a pleasure to serve and are most grateful for all and any efforts that are made to service their needs as complete, quickly, and cheaply as possible, but many expect more than can be achieved within reason and cost sadly...