Latest news from Matador: within a few months they'll be issuing a model of the Medium C. In the meantime, I'll be working on a decal sheet covering the Medium C, as well as the Medium B and other Mediums + Heavies of different nations in the twenties.
That's all good news, Michel. And it means that my concern for their health was needless, as they are obviously well.
Your message also means that you are in contact with Matador! I have always wondered why they choose to keep their customers 'at arm's length' by not showing an email address. But each to his own, and their models are great, so I'm not complaining.
I look forward to the Medium Mark C Hornet, and your decals.
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In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.
At the last Trucks 'n Tracks, about a week ago, Black Lion had a trade stand and provided workshops on decals. I was standing next to Retrokit (a good friend by now) and have been in touch with Bull Models (who make a fine Russian T-18), Millicast and Matador (their Holt tractor is quite good!). So the whole gang was there actually; even Convoy had a stand, selling a.o. their Jeffry Quad's and Minerva's. Only pity was that Cromwell wasn't able to come. I'll be there next year again (last weekend of feb 2010) so I can advise everyone to come and get the models + decals you need. You can be sure to get enough models to keep you going for another year.
One of the most impressive experiences however, was talking to a WW-2 veteran who had helped liberate Holland in '44-'45 and another who had been in the first wave at D-Day. I hope they're still around next year as well.
I've just ordered from them for the first time, and the lack of contact details did rather take me aback
It's interesting that in these days of t'internet that we expect that not only will any company with whom we deal to have an email address but that they'll respond quickly. I teach a unit on 'the internet and your business' for a trainer who sometimes works at our place and one thing I din into the attendees is that if you're going to have an email address then your customers are going to expect a reply within 24 hours if not sooner. Perhaps Matador work on the principle that they're too busy making models to deal with loads of emails, so don't provide an address!
The other thing is that we've also come to rather expect delivery 'same week' if not 'next day' - so the claim that they aim to deliver within 35 days is also something different.
The fact that you can't actually phone matador is something I find slightly bizarre, though of course it wasn't that many years ago that contacting your customers via the phone was new-fangled....
philthydirtyanimal wrote:
I have always wondered why they choose to keep their customers 'at arm's length' by not showing an email address.
I think you are right, andiS, when you say it is just our expectations and what we are used to.
I have bought from Matador a few times and never had a problem. In fact the service has been excellent, with a handwritten reply to my enquiries at the time.
I really like their output and I would like them to speed up. But I suspect they have been making models for years and are maybe thinking about slowing down! I wonder how we would fill the gap if Matador just faded away?
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In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.
No worries! I talked to them at TnT and certainly didn't get the impression that they were slowing down. They still have plans for the future, including new WW-1 models. I haven't discussed their sales methods with them, but I suppose that setting up a webshop and keeping it running isn't everybody's 'cup of tea'. There are more model producers who rely on selling on shows instead of via internet. Next to that, most small model shops/producers (yours truly included) have their business as a hobby and not as a daytime job, which explains the waiting time to which we all have grown unacustomed.
