discussion Model companies

[Alan 45]

do you ever think they look on forums like this for market research ?

 

[Guest]

slightly oblique answer (and actually not much help in this case sorry !) but I do know most car manufacturers have full time staff who search forums/chatrooms to judge customers true intentions/thoughts.

 

[john i am]

Not sure Alan but I love companies who do bogof offers and if there were more of these then in the model world I would make all my purchase exclusively to them Cheers John here's hoping.................

 

[Alan 45]

I reckon they must do some sort of research in this area I mean what better place to find out what people want or what differences they can make to kits than by snooping on your customers

 

[monica]

that is a very good question Alan, I would like it if they did, and see how and what we do to there models, and what

we say we could realy use,

 

[Gern]

Trouble is though Alan, only a very tiny number of modellers actually express any opinions or post on these forums - we've got over 3000 members on here I think, but how many of them post anything? It begs the question how much notice should the manufacturers take of such a small minority?

 

[Alan 45]

Trouble is though Alan, only a very tiny number of modellers actually express any opinions or post on these forums - we've got over 3000 members on here I think, but how many of them post anything? It begs the question how much notice should the manufacturers take of such a small minority?

Maybe the 2047 not posting are company's seeing what we are saying

Seriously though I do think they may not as the only market research but as part of a bigger research campaign

 

[Guest]

Is more easy for them "call" Google and ask the most research items....

 

[Alan 45]

Is more easy for them "call" Google and ask the most research items....

That's a good answer Polux mate never thought of that option

 

[Guest]

Every year Google post a list with the most "wanted" topics.

I suppose if you are a factory or a brand, should have some kind of "business" with them and pay for that information.... But is only my theory

 

[tr1ckey66]

Most top companies have social media teams. However, I think to monitor every forum, website and blog for market research purposes would require 1000s of man hours and would not be cost effective. Better to formulate a questionnaire and get a direct response. Plus modellers are not short in coming forward with regard complaints etc so the industry has a pretty good idea of it's triumphs and failings

 

[eddiesolo]

There are many factors they use, sales of various kits, sales from other manufactures and what is hot and likely to do well in TV series or films. As for forums etc...I very much doubt it, as said only 20% post regular and of that 5% are all things, with the various other percentage aircraft, armour, etc.

Si

 

[Ian M]

The real answer is who knows other than the man himself. For all we know they have a member on a few of the forums around the world.

I am pretty sure that there are a couple of members on BM that are employed in a manufacture. As to it being a part of the job..?

For all we know we have one or two as well. Their main interests are to read what is being said and not blow their cover and get spammed with thousands of mails with "great ideas" or frustrated abuse.

Ian M

 

[Alan 45]

I agree Ian it may not be an employee job but it maybe part of the job

 

[john i am]

The real answer is who knows other than the man himself. For all we know they have a member on a few of the forums around the world.I am pretty sure that there are a couple of members on BM that are employed in a manufacture. As to it being a part of the job..?

For all we know we have one or two as well. Their main interests are to read what is being said and not blow their cover and get spammed with thousands of mails with "great ideas" or frustrated abuse.

Ian M

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[Guest]

Twist the question round and ask how much info. can they get from forums. I bet it is very little as there is very little there to give any info on their models or any other manufacturer.

Their biggest and best source of information will be the data on models sold. The next I think will be their competitors on what they are doing with new model ideas and marketing.

It would also be interesting to see how manufacturers sales are targeted. Where their largest group % of customers come from. Casual dedicated and between model makers.

Laurie

 

[Ian M]

The problem with that Laurie is that they can see what is being bought but not what people would like. Maybe this is why they still churn out 109's and Spitfires, and the same with Tiger tanks and panzer mk xxx

I am sure that in some way they trawl forums to see what people are saying about the kits they sell and what people would like to build. As I said we will never know for sure.

Having said that... Why cant the just look on e-bay and see the silly prices hard to find kits sell for. High prices being a good gauge of supply and demand is a good indicator of there being a market.

Ian M

 

[Lee W]

I want to know why no one has produced a 1 /35 fv432 in plastic, not all of us can afford a resin kit!

If there's a manufacturer or a researcher out there TAKE NOTE!!!

Lee