Re: Was: assemblying FT minis Now: about supply...

Adrian spake thusly upon matters weighty: 

  Another BIG contribution to this problem is the consolidation
> of game-stuff distributors over the past decade or so.  Without going
into
> the sordid details, there are far fewer distributors for gaming stuff
here
> in North America than there used to be,

The amalgamation of two distributors seems to have caused Books and 
Battlefields in Kingston to have a lot of difficulty getting stuff 
in, and I've heard other Canadian companies complain of similar 
problems. I've advised them to cut out the middle man and go directly 
to KR - I don't mind using distributors (they serve a function) IF 
they are organized and can deliver - otherwise they are cutting their 
own throats AND mine and that bugs me. 

> Since there's not a lot of competition, if you order one item (say, a
> single FT starship blister), it may be that the store gets such a
small
> discount that they will not make enough money to cover the costs of
> processing your order.  This kind of thing happens a lot and annoys
> everybody - but that's the reality of the industry on this side of the
pond.

Sure, and for people like KR, that has to be frustrating and costly. 
I think KR and others in a like boat should make a point to get 
Internet Point-of-Sale systems running so as to eliminate this issue. 
If the demand exists, the product should be getting sold. 
 
> We alternate between them depending on availability of what we're
after and
> the fluctuating value of our peso...er...dollar  (this has led to the
odd
> situation where it was actually cheaper for us here in Canada to mail
order
> a bunch of stuff from Australia and pay the postage than it was to get
the
> stuff from the US or the UK, which are obviously a LOT closer...).

Yes, that is true. International monetary markets do strange things 
sometimes.

> If your local store can't supply you what you want when you want,
bypass
> them and get it direct from one of the manufacturers - they're good
guys.

And point out to your local store that you are doing that - and that 
they should do the same - everyone likes to support their local store 
so encourage the store to seek out faster avenues of distribution.
 
 They have an extensive selection of miniatures from MANY
> different companies, including MUCH historical stuff, and are one of
the
> few stores I've seen with a good selection of FT and DS minis (little
SGII
> though).  They mailorder, and have a fairly extensive online
catalogue.

And if you are in Calgary, they have a HUGE store - easily in the 
area of 3500+ square feet.

> And Alberta doesn't have a provincial sales tax.  And it's in Canadian
$$.
> Haven't looked at prices recently, tho.  Try their website -
www.sentrybox.com

And they have a mailing list for product updates one can get put on. 
 
So, I think folks like US have to point out to our retailers that a 
distributor that can't provide does us no good, and them no good, and 
folks like KR need to be aware and monitor their distributors for 
performance. And they need to arrange methods for those of us who get 
little or no service to spend our hard earned sheckels on their 
wonderful product.

Tom.  
/************************************************
Thomas Barclay		     
Voice: (613) 831-2018 x 4009
Fax: (613) 831-8255

 "C makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot.  C++ makes
 it harder, but when you do, it blows away your whole leg."
 -Bjarne Stroustrup
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