discussion Is this the death toll for Modelzone?

[Vaughan]

I'm off down to Modelzone this morning to spend my voucher, lets hope they're still open for business.

 

[Vaughan]

Just been to Modelzone in the hope they were still trading. The store looked as normal with offers in the windows of 20% discount on selected items so no change there. Staff said that they had only found out yesterday by email of the receivership issues. I said are the vouchers still valid they said yes but only to half there value, this is really galling as my son had bought the voucher. Anyway I purchased a model a Hasegawa 1/32 Fw190 A5 and the new Humbrol clear acrylic varnish and Decalfix(its not available in the only existing model shop, Langleys, left in Norwich).

Here's hoping that the staff don't lose thier jobs as there was talk of store closures. I'm still annoyed abut the voucher as my son doesn't earn a great salary.

It's like going into Tesco and purchasing £10 worth of food, handing over a £20 note and then being given no change. Modelzone still have my sons money but there's nothing I can do.:sad:

 

[Guest]

If the store hasn't gone into liquidation and/or closed down then im sure theyre obliged to offer full redemption for the voucher.

If the store is noted officially as in receivership or liquidated then the voucher owner becomes an unsecured creditor and has to register a claim with the liquidation company, the claim will be considered when all the main creditors/banks/shop staff have been paid (so no chance really)

Offering half value just seems to be their way (legal or not) to pay out less than whats been taken in and I'll bet it wasn't written on the terms and conditions that should be either printed on the voucher or the customer told in person or directed towards an online copy.

Myself and business partner went through all this when we wanted to offer vouchers for photography services at our shop, too much red tape ... So we didn't bother.

If offering half measures is acceptable by law these days then it stinks and you and your lad have my sympathy.

 

[Guest]

Answer do not trust these companies.

Photographer I have worked with handed over in the morning £7000 for his international advertising for the year. In the afternoon the company were declared bankrupt.

Death of trust & voucher presents.

Laurie

 

[Vaughan]

Just looked at my receipt from Modelzone and they gave me the full £20 on my voucher their till can't have been adjusted to take half the value. I'm one happy man:thumbsup:

 

[Guest]

good news Vaughan, lets hope it works that way for a few others before they realise

 

[Guest]

Just to add to the sad news of modelzone,their Ebay shop has stopped trading.The shop is still there but there is no stock.

 

[ojays]

I spoke to the staff at our MZ this morning and was told they close shop on the 17th!

Gregg

 

[Dave W]

Visited Modelzone at Lakeside shopping centre yesterday.Closing in seven days time says a notice outside the shop.Still a few shelves of kits on sale.Mostly Academy and not discounted by much.

 

[Guest]

I have to say i don't really hold with people losing their jobs, however with the death of model zone the local corner shops might well start attracting more business again which could see local shop prices fall a bit. My local shop in birkenhead are and have always been very helpful in the sense that if they don't have it they can usually get it in and quickly too, I was never a huge fan of MZ as they never seemed to have anything i wanted and most especially needed so i won't be sorry to see them go... i have had one or two bargins there but thats all really. As for the internet i do use the net but i have to say iam a little old fashioned and like the freindly atmosphere in my local shop as they do go out of their way to try to accomodate my needs.

scott

 

[rickoshea52]

They're even selling the staff lockers at Basingstoke!

 

[stona]

As for the internet i do use the net but i have to say iam a little old fashioned and like the freindly atmosphere in my local shop as they do go out of their way to try to accomodate my needs.scott

I don't think that is old fashioned. Everybody would like a nice friendly, helpful local shop. The problem is not everybody is prepared to pay for it. Most people look after their wallet first and who's to blame them?

Modelzone, whilst not exactly a corner shop operation, over extended, taking out leases on stores that were simply not profitable. You could argue that was down to bad management, but sadly several hundred people find themselves looking for another job. It does illustrate the problem of having a high street presence as opposed to an out of town warehouse, or even a lock up for smaller operators.

I think the last model shop within Birmingham itself is Parabellum in the jewellery quarter and it is virtually an online operation with minimal opening hours. It was still trading last time I looked!

Cheers

Steve