I'm hearing you guys on higher model prices, but just keep in mind up till now the only customers we have been trying to flog these to are antique Cat collectors who are members of ACMOC, or the occasional folks at Trade Shows, and clearly that market is fully tapped out if we can't even offload the models we have on the shelf at highly discounted prices, time to widen the market in my opinion, and work through the Cat. Inc Licensee and all those thousands of Cat. Inc. Dealer stores around the world selling Cat stuff 6 days a week, you could move 200 of each toy if you sent one out on consignment to every Cat Store just in the USA I reckon.

Most the folks here on ACMOC saving old Cats are strapped cash wise paying off a mortgage, or divorce, or kids College education, or just plain bills, and only a handful can afford both the real thing and the toy, as I said, we have flogged this small market to death, time to broaden the marketing approach if we agree the toys have a future in our club, and as you will see in my original post if you read it again, I did say ACMOC Financial Members get a discounted price.

I'm all for ACMOC selling parts, I need a couple of container loads for my 25 old wrecks, I've just about finished having the 2 Ton Stromberg Aircleaners hand made by a old artisan here in Oz and I think they look great, and I was thinking to offer those through the ACMOC Store in the USA if the Club are interested, as for knocking off John Hahn I'm not so keen on that, he has done a fantastic job over the years saving the style and quality of the Cat seats and I've done the costings here in Australia on making good quality seats from scratch and I can tell you John is not making a lot of money for all the work he puts in, plus we need to show some respect to hard working and honest members our own ACMOC family in my humble opinion.

What ACMOC should do is send 30 of those toys off on consignment to every ACMOC Club in the world and ask that they be displayed for sale at all official club functions, because as you know yourself Ianoz, the shipping cost to Australia per model is very high, what $50 or $60, but to ship a box of 20 various models to Lance Jones might only cost $30 more, and you know Lance is coming down to the Corryong Rally of Wombats to sign up new members, and attends most the old machinery rallies in southern Qld, if he can't flog a few toys at those rallies I'd be very surprised.
Regards
Mike

Not sure were that came from:noidea: I would hope that ACMOC would never spend the time and money to try to compete with sales for a item that is all ready made so well. I am thinking about parts that are not made. I have a Cat that belonged to John and have bought way more than a few seats:thumb:John does seats that is his nich . The club needs to find it's nich in making something that is not offered and making it well. Models and magazines and shirts only get you so far

"JasonPayneCrawlers" wrote:

Not sure were that came from:noidea: I would hope that ACMOC would never spend the time and money to try to compete with sales for a item that is all ready made so well. I am thinking about parts that are not made. I have a Cat that belonged to John and have bought way more than a few seats:thumb:John does seats that is his nich . The club needs to find it's nich in making something that is not offered and making it well. Models and magazines and shirts only get you so far

I bought 3 seats from John Hahn myself and was very impressed with the quality, the only problem is getting them to Australia which can cost half as much again.

"Mike wrote:

I'm hearing you guys on higher model prices, but just keep in mind up till now the only customers we have been trying to flog these to are antique Cat collectors who are members of ACMOC, or the occasional folks at Trade Shows, and clearly that market is fully tapped out if we can't even offload the models we have on the shelf at highly discounted prices, time to widen the market

Mike , Go back and read what Pete has written .The models are not Just sold exclusively to ACMOC members .
Model sellers have access to Boxed lots of models .
www.keystonediecast.com/1-16/
The club Advertises in model collectors magazines and attends shows to sell at .
In reality there is not a lot more the club can do to market the models .
The idea of having models at Cat dealerships Sounds good ,But Most people ring up for their parts ,so I would imagine very few would actually go in personally.

"JasonPayneCrawlers" wrote:

Not sure were that came from:noidea: I would hope that ACMOC would never spend the time and money to try to compete with sales for a item that is all ready made so well. I am thinking about parts that are not made. I have a Cat that belonged to John and have bought way more than a few seats:thumb:John does seats that is his nich . The club needs to find it's nich in making something that is not offered and making it well. Models and magazines and shirts only get you so far

.
Exactly the point I was making Jason .By having the Manifold moulds And selling Manifolds Puts ACMOC in direct competition with Rosewoods ,Who Advertise in the ACMOC Magazine .
Selling the side covers Puts the club in direct competition with George Rankin ,another Advertiser in the magazine .There
is a young Guy "Scott" {I think }Who is also making side covers .
If a seat maker decides to donate Seats and equipment for making them to the club Is the board going to say ,what about John Hann ,Or sell them to the members .

As a paying member I wonder if non paying members have the same "rights" on the BB as a paying member. If I skip around the net and look at various forums I often find that pictures are unavailable if you are not a member or not logged in. Has any thought been given to different levels of interaction based on being a supporting member versus just being a user.
Always wondering?
Roger

Old Iron,

the general public can view the forum and see the post but not any attachements.
I hope this answers your question.

I like this healthy discussion, keep kicking around ideas and we may just come up with some very good options for the club.

By general public do you mean non paying or just non registered? If one registers can they see the attachments for free? Just wondering if there is an option worth discussing. I really like the idea of archiving and selling pages of parts or owners manuals if we can legally do so without stepping on toes.

Non registered user can read the BB but not the attachements, sorry for not being clear.
Of course we are going through some major changes to how the BB system works, so they may be some changes to how someone can "view" the BB, Bruce will have to give the details

There has been some talk about scaling back the ACMOC magazine, well we have discussed that and considered our options to reduce the that cost.
It was decided at that time that some of our membership joined ACMOC just to get the magazine, and if we scale that back then we might have a negative inpact on the club vs. a positive impact.
A lot of effort is put into each and every issue to make it the best that it can be.
The magazine is also the only communication that some members have with ACMOC, you would be surprised how many members do not use a computer!
I know from speaking to a lot of the "older" generation that they are very happy with the ACMOC publication and look forward to getting each issue.


If anyone has a subject or information that they would like to share in the magazine just let Bruce, myself or the office know and we will make every attempt to get it in the magazine.

Even though I use a computer I look forward to receiving my magazine. Got one today and look forward to reading it this evening.