Farish / Dapol Collectors clubs ?

Westbury · April 01, 2015, 06:40:37 PM

Both Graham Farish and Dapol run collectors clubs are any of them worth joining ?

Anyone members of either to comment on the quality of what you get, magazines, collectables etc ?

Cheers...

ChrisWV10 · April 01, 2015, 06:53:24 PM

I'm in the Bachmann Collectors club and I think you do get your money's worth from membership.

A quarterly mag, members edition wagon, catalogue of your chosen scale, good quality calendar and even a card at xmas ! Well worth the fee imho.

C.

Malc · April 01, 2015, 07:08:06 PM

You do get some good offers with Bachmann. I got caught out by Dapol. I joined in October, but the membership is not 12 months from when you join, but starts on 1st January, so I got 2 1/2 months for my money.

MikeDunn · April 01, 2015, 07:18:35 PM

Quote from: ChrisWV10 on April 01, 2015, 06:53:24 PM
A quarterly mag, members edition wagon, catalogue of your chosen scale, good quality calendar and even a card at xmas ! Well worth the fee imho.

Agreed ...

The magazine is always worth a read (unlike the poor effort I got from Dapol, or the so-so one from Hornby). A lot of nice stuff in there. The Collector Club items are generally decent (depends where your interest lies, of course), and the calendar is a nice touch.

Never had to have second thoughts on renewals (we're in both the OO and N versions), unlike the recent Hornby changes (deteriorating rapidly) or the (in comparison) rubbish from Dapol - I doubt I'll ever renew that !

Mike

DesertHound · April 01, 2015, 07:48:06 PM

Quote from: Malc on April 01, 2015, 07:08:06 PM
You do get some good offers with Bachmann. I got caught out by Dapol. I joined in October, but the membership is not 12 months from when you join, but starts on 1st January, so I got 2 1/2 months for my money.

Malcolm

That's shocking behaviour! (On their part).

austinbob · April 01, 2015, 08:00:46 PM

Never thought of joining these clubs so I thought I'd give them both a try to see how I get on.

gc4946 · April 01, 2015, 08:01:11 PM

Another offer from Bachmann/Farish every year for free with their subscription is the chance to visit behind the scenes on a preserved railway, on a privately chartered train, accompanied by a surprise new model announcement, as well as having their display cabinets at the event.

Last year they visited the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, I attended that club event and thought it was great as I saw behind the scenes at Oxenhope, Haworth loco shed and the Vintage Carriages Trust workshop at Ingrow.

I don't know yet where they're heading to this year.

MikeDunn · April 01, 2015, 08:07:46 PM

Quote from: DesertHound on April 01, 2015, 07:48:06 PM
That's shocking behaviour! (On their part).

IIRC, it is stated clearly that the Club runs Jan-Dec

DesertHound · April 01, 2015, 08:58:02 PM

Quote from: MikeDunn on April 01, 2015, 08:07:46 PM
Quote from: DesertHound on April 01, 2015, 07:48:06 PM
That's shocking behaviour! (On their part).
IIRC, it is stated clearly that the Club runs Jan-Dec

Surely they could make it quarterly though, or something similar. Seems a bit harsh taking cash from someone with only a couple of months of the year left, regardless of whether you put it in the terms and conditions.

Just my opinion.

Dan

UPINSMOKE · April 01, 2015, 09:10:59 PM

I joined Dapol in Feb but did have to gee them up after waiting two weeks before anything was sent to me. Was not impressed when I was sent last years calendar in my membership package. You do get 15% off of website purchases though but the 15% does not stretch to their Monthly offers, I think this should as your a member.

Not sure if I will renew in the future.

Westbury · April 01, 2015, 09:13:35 PM

Cheers guys decided to give the Bachmann / Farish one a go and signed up.

One of those SDJR 4F's does look appealing !

DesertHound · April 01, 2015, 09:25:04 PM

Quote from: UPINSMOKE on April 01, 2015, 09:10:59 PM
I joined Dapol in Feb but did have to gee them up after waiting two weeks before anything was sent to me. Was not impressed when I was sent last years calendar in my membership package. You do get 15% off of website purchases though but the 15% does not stretch to their Monthly offers, I think this should as your a member.

Not sure if I will renew in the future.

To balance up my previous thoughts, a 15% discount doesn't sound bad. So that's on their website. How do their website prices compare to other retailers (e.g. Hattons)?

I do find that Dapol have some tasty offers on their specials pages from time to time but if you were planning to buy regular priced items then the 15% could add up over a year (depending upon how much you plan to spend of course).

Dan

Newportnobby · April 01, 2015, 09:36:51 PM

Given that the Farish website prices are full RRP and that dealers are allowed to offer up to 15% discount for the first 12(?) weeks after release then I can't really see the benefit of being offered that Collector's Club discount

I also presume that if you bought something through the Collector's Club and it proved to be a lemon you send it back to Barwell?

DesertHound · April 01, 2015, 09:45:14 PM

Quote from: newportnobby on April 01, 2015, 09:36:51 PM
Given that the Farish website prices are full RRP and that dealers are allowed to offer up to 15% discount for the first 12(?) weeks after release then I can't really see the benefit of being offered that Collector's Club discount
I also presume that if you bought something through the Collector's Club and it proved to be a lemon you send it back to Barwell?

Good point Mick!

Newportnobby · April 01, 2015, 09:53:10 PM

Quote from: DesertHound on April 01, 2015, 09:45:14 PM
Quote from: newportnobby on April 01, 2015, 09:36:51 PM
Given that the Farish website prices are full RRP and that dealers are allowed to offer up to 15% discount for the first 12(?) weeks after release then I can't really see the benefit of being offered that Collector's Club discount
I also presume that if you bought something through the Collector's Club and it proved to be a lemon you send it back to Barwell?

Good point Mick!

No doubt someone will point out the flaw in my thinking, Dan