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Model Expo questionable practices.

Corsair

Corsair

Joined
Dec 13, 2022
Messages
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Location
Homosassa, Florida
So, now I'm posting this here because Model Expo keeps filtering out my post so it never shows up on their posts on Facebook.

A little while ago, they posted a notice that they had a sale and "Everything is 40% off". Also in their ad, there was a picture that stated you can trust them because they provide trust and integrity.

I thought "Great, I've been looking for a deal on a Proxxon item. I'll check out their web site".
In their web site, you could not get any Proxxon item to show up. They just magically disappeared from their site.

Then, the 40% off ended and they have a new sale and like magic, all the Proxxon items are back on their site.

If on their 40% off sale they stated that Proxxon items are not included, I could understand that and it would have been the end of it as far as I'm concerned. But when there are no exceptions listed and they deceptively remove items from their web site, I really have an issue with it.
It's a shame since we have so few kit manufacturers here in the states and I don't have a problem with their kits. In fact, I have several of them. However, I think that after this event, our relationship has come to an end and I will encourage others to also seek kits from other manufacturers.

Jeff
 
If they are an official Proxxon dealer, they are not allowed to sell below the agreed price since German companies use this policy for decades to protect mum and pop stores from the big guys.
 
RolandR said:
If they are an official Proxxon dealer, they are not allowed to sell below the agreed price since German companies use this policy for decades to protect mum and pop stores from the big guys.
Click to expand...
However, when they were selling OcCre kits, the manufacturer told them they couldn't sell below a certain price threshold and they did anyways. Then made a big dramatic scene about it and sold off/discontinued all their kits. ME has some shady and questionable business practices at best.
 
Down in the fine print I remember that usually Proxxon is not included in the big sales. Buying direct from Proxxon USA is usually as cheap as you can get.
 
That's sort of funny Corsair.... When the 40% ad came out I couldn't find an exclusion for Proxxon on the ad.

I wrote to MoeelExpo... "Saw your 40% this morning. Opened to check Proxxon prices. You no longer sell Proxxon? Website shows 'No Products Found'."

And received this reply...

"Hi Robert,

At this time, we are not selling Proxxon.

Best Regards,
John Garcia"
 
In at least one of their 40% Off ads they said in the copy something like “all the items we’re legally allowed to”. When I couldn’t find any Proxxon products I assumed this was the reason.
 
It is amazing how some marketing/sales minds work. You always lose more by being less truthful. You turn off people who might be customers in the future by getting a disreputable reputation. Just be honest with your customers.
 
I hear you Jeff, “not selling at this time” means what? During the sale?

You know, it’s usually to good to be true, fine print etc.

So we walk to another vendor.

Have a good weekend,

-Rich
 
lakedaisy said:
That's sort of funny Corsair.... When the 40% ad came out I couldn't find an exclusion for Proxxon on the ad.

I wrote to MoeelExpo... "Saw your 40% this morning. Opened to check Proxxon prices. You no longer sell Proxxon? Website shows 'No Products Found'."

And received this reply...

"Hi Robert,

At this time, we are not selling Proxxon.

Best Regards,
John Garcia"
Click to expand...
But as soon as they came out with their next ad, the Proxxon tools were back on their site. And at the same price they were previously.
 
This reminds me of the ole "bait n switch" marketing schemes. I use "schemes", instead of "scams" because, for some parties, this was seen as an acceptable marketing practice, although, certainly not by the consumer's group. The electronics store, in my scenario, was known for this. This was before the existence of online stores and "brick and mortar" stores would advertise, in the news paper fliers, incredible deals that would attract consumers from miles away, only to be told, when they arrived, that the item had been sold out.

So one day, I saw this TV, by a leading manufacturer, listed at a "too good to be true" price. So I drove 45 minutes to the store and from a pay phone right outside of the store's front doors, yes, I said/typed pay phone, I called and asked if they still had the TV in stock as I would be driving from a distance away and didn't want to get there only for them to be sold out. I was assured they were in stock.

So I walked in and straight to the TV department and aske for the TV. "Sorry, Sir, but they are all sold out." :mad: So I asked for the manager and he came to me and apologetically said he was "sorry for the inconvenience" and would be happy to sell me another, comparable TV, but unfortunately, could not offer a sale price. ROTF So I calmly explained to him that I called 5 minutes ago from the phone outside and was assured there were units in stock to purchase. Also, that I did not see a single TV leaving the store, as I walked in. I did not mention I was aware of questionable marketing practices by the company directly, but I may have muttered "bait and switch" somewhere in our conversation. I may have asked the question, "I wonder if the Star Ledger, our local newspaper, would be interested in my experience/story.

To wrap this up, I was offered a very great price on a high end TV. For a very brief moment, I thought about reaching out to the Start Ledger anyway, but my word was still my word. And, while I did think about the people that get caught in this trap, this mouse got his cheese. It was a good day.
 
Similar story to Ken’s…
In college during the mid 1970’s I worked part time for a car dealership parts department. The sales manager would always order a base model vehicle from the manufacturer. This was always a no frills, no extras model with crank windows, no AC, vinyl seats, etc. naturally the price point was very attractive. So, in the print adds he could offer a particular model at rock bottom pricing. The catch was that he told his sales people that whoever sold the base model would be fired! ROTF ROTF ROTF
 
Mark up an inferior TV, offer a big discount, people will buy based on the discount amount even if it’s an inferior product….

The exploitation of human nature….a fact of life….
 
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