A Container full of tanks

[wibblywobbly]

I am hoping that we can figure something out here, but as Rik says, there needs to be a substantial discount on the retail price.

Is there any way that we can get a 'price per model'? There is a huge difference between retail on a Leopard, and a Sherman, so are we talking £300 off the retail price on anything, or would it be a % discount. Eg 40%?

The biggest problems as I see it are:

1. Collecting the funds, and it would not be unreasonable to ask subscribers to pay up front to confirm an order. There is no way that anyone is going to take orders and run the risk of a buyer backing out. All orders/funds would have to be placed by a specific date to fulfill a bulk purchase, and if insufficient orders were received, all funds would have to be returned. Electronic bank transfers would be the only method that I would use to facilitate this.

2. Distribution. Whoever takes the orders needs to factor in postage costs, and be prepared to despatch the parcels (they are not small boxes). Maybe we all pay a premium of £10 to cover the inconvenience, non-refundable if the order does not materialise. It would be up to the co-ordinator to state the terms on which they were prepared to co-ordinate.

3. Exchange rates. Are we paying a fixed price that will be held within a specified period, or would it be subject to the exchange rate when the order is processed?

4. People need to bear in mind that whoever takes on this task is NOT acting as a dealer, and understand that if there are any problems then it will not be acceptable to take up gripes with them. It would have to be on the basis 'bought on trust', with no comeback whatsoever on the co-ordinator. At the end of the day, the reason we pay a premium for any retail product is because the dealer has to pay for premises, stock, storage, returns, tax, etc etc. To simplify things by thinking that a dealer rakes in the everything above the wholesale price as profit is a huge mistake. If you want that reassurance that problems will be resolved then pay full retail and buy from a dealer.

As an example, I could buy a full option Sherman 56014 from the far east for £360.00 inc postage. If I was stung for import taxes and VAT I am looking at, at least, £70 on top, so £430+.

Buying in the UK, £370 with free postage.

So, just how many people would 100% commit to buying the tank of their choice, under these terms, through this channel. If it is less than 18 then it is not viable, if it's more than 50, it looks like we will get the best price?

Perhaps we should start a new thread, strictly to gauge serious buyers, and see what we get?

Just my opinions - 

Rob G

[Matdragon]

im in with that, you say 18 people, could it not just be 18 tanks ? for example if the price is right im up for getting more that one

[grim_marmazet]

Im the same as Matt, depending on price I might want 2.
Rob hit it on the head though, its a big undertaking, if I had the space id store them. Whoever is willing to distribute would have a complex task to send out 18 tanks at minimum, so I think the £10 to cover costs, hell they may even end up with a free tank! 
Cheers,
Rik

[wibblywobbly]

I have also just realised that Saxon is quoting in $, $300 is £176, so if this is the case, these are substantial savings.

[nw explorer]

I am quite prepared to run the tanks out in my artic to motorway services,we could get for instance pallet delivered to D.H.l global in Trafford Park
i could pick up from there and deliver to most m/way services over the next few days.That way we dont pay postage.

                                                                    might be worth thinking about

[grim_marmazet]

That would be awesome nw explorer. Would you still be able to arrange postage for people who dont drive, or would be unable to meet at services? Of course people would have to pay the costs. I think this could work out well.
Cheers,
Rik

[nw explorer]

As i sub to Dhl i can get a reduced courier rate for u.k deliveries.Alternativly If people were prepared to wait 2-3 weeks i get to most places in that time.

Also i have access to secure storage.

[wibblywobbly]

That is a stunning offer. To be honest we could do what we used to do on the Hilux Surf forum. Set up a relay across the country. If parts were expensive to post we just figured out who could collect and who they could take them to. We delivered parts and accessories up and down the country virtually for free doing that. Eg I could pick up a few from say Michaelwood or Leigh Delamare, and someone else could collect from my house and so forth.

If we can figure out a distribution network, then all we need are accurate costs per tank including price, vat, customs, and postage etc. We also need someone to take on the finance management, and here is a suggestion. If Matt or his dad can organise something then we all pay a premium on the tanks, and the premium can go towards the forum costs, and events etc. Maybe even pay for an annual get together in a disused warehouse so that we can battle like our US cousins do on You Tube?

(It was only a suggestion Matt - 'get lost' is a perfectly reasonable response).

Rob G

[grim_marmazet]

I assume there delivery would be based on where it was going? Now we need to make a list of how many tanks we want, and then to find out how much for the lot.
Cheers,
Rik

[nw explorer]

Thats a great idea as quite a bit of any savings we make are going to get swallowed up in postage costs.In a normal week i get all over the country so meeting up would not be a problem.and it would be nice to meet some of you.