New UK based Modelgun Retailer opens up!

Now here's some interesting news

A new Modelgun / Replica Retailer's started a business here in the UK

Take a look here http://www.plugfirecapgunsuk.com/index.html

Should be worth taking a good long look at and making a few enquiries

Now theres something i thought i'd never see

Any idea who/where/why/what

To All

I will quickly let those of you know, who do not know already, it's me!

I know JohnnyV and PFCGUK will be "associated" on the forum but I will not use the forum postings to directly sell, I just hope to continue to use it as a place where I can just enjoy my hobby, hopefully the number of forum members will grow as a result of all this, which can only be a good thing!
There are many reasons for starting this business, PM me if you want the full story
For now I will just say thank you to all those that have helped with advice and support!!

best wishes to you all hope between us we can keep the dream alive!!

JohnnyV

Good luck, John, and well done.

Let me know if I can be of help.

JJ

Good Luck John, it's great to see you up and running now

You'll know what a keen and enthusiastic bunch of potential customers we are and I'm certain we all wish you well.

Good Luck

Nice to know that there is an extra adress for us, model gun enthousiasts!
I'm just a bit surprised by some of the prices of the pre-owned items and I think other forum members will understand what I mean.
So I also hope that items which are for sale on this forum (most of them for very reasonable prices), will not all be bought to sell them further, because that would do our hobby no good...

Excellent! This could be useful for me in the future.

By the way JohnnyV, how were you able to start this business? I mean what procedures did you have to go through to be able to buy and sell RIFs? I'm wondering because I wanted to set up a Film Production/prop rental company in the near future and I don't know what documents I need to allow me to buy replica guns. Is it a simple case of registering as a film production company or do I have to get a certain type of insurance? I'm at University studying Film Production so I'm wanting to go into the film industry.

Hi,

PM me and let me know what Uni course your on and I will try to steer you in the right direction

cheers

yellow wrote:

Nice to know that there is an extra adress for us, model gun enthousiasts!
I'm just a bit surprised by some of the prices of the pre-owned items and I think other forum members will understand what I mean.
So I also hope that items which are for sale on this forum (most of them for very reasonable prices), will not all be bought to sell them further, because that would do our hobby no good...

I was thinking exactly the same

Cerwyn wrote:

A new Modelgun / Replica Retailer's started a business here in the UK

Either there are two such "uber rare UZI complete sets" in UK and they are therefore not so rare, or this is the same set that kickback was selling at the forums, but with over 60% markup.

Sorry to be blunt, but if the later is true, I am very, very disappointed by taking advantage of this Forum.

EDIT: above assumption is based on sellers not knowing about that. Of course sellers are absolutely free to do whatever they want with their models.

Cerwyn wrote:

You'll know what a keen and enthusiastic bunch of potential customers we are

New shop makes sense if it has a new source of supply and thus it can provide either better pricing, or can source exotic models. Jay buys directly from Japan, Francky and Shazhib obviously also source everything directly. Unless the new shop has a direct sourcing, I do not see how it will be cheaper or more interesting for our group. From that point of view the new shop does not change much.

JohhnyV wrote:

There are many reasons for starting this business
...
I will not use the forum postings to directly sell

Will you use them to directly buy and resell in your shop?

EDIT: of course you are free to do that, it is not for me to impose any selling conditions here on forums.

Thank you all very much for the feedback
I was torn between answering / not answering...........

But since direct points have been made / questions asked I will respond as best and honestly as I can.

Quote :

So I also hope that items which are for sale on this forum (most of them for very reasonable prices), will not all be bought to sell them further, because that would do our hobby no good...

I hope coincidence has not made you think that I have purchased many items from the forum (even though it is peoples right to sell to who they like) as taking just one item for example, the Kodusai Python, the one on our site was never on this forum.
In order for the model gun market to expand again in the UK it has to grow, as many posting on the site say the hobby is declining, when compared to aisoft, de-acts etc.
My business will not grow unless the market expands, nor will model guns as a hobby, or the forum.
I believe this new business can only be good for the forum in the end, I guess I understand what some of the members are trying to say, but with "closed" attitudes the hobby will never expand, good for some to get cheap guns in a closed market, but not good for modelguns in general, and that's what were all here for.

Quote :

New shop makes sense if it has a new source of supply and thus it can provide either better pricing, or can source exotic models. Jay buys directly from Japan, Francky and Shazhib obviously also source everything directly. Unless the new shop has a direct sourcing, I do not see how it will be cheaper or more interesting for our group. From that point of view the new shop does not change much.

I will not comment on other suppliers, I respect them to much.
Initial stock was the key to get this business started, and because we have got it started, we do now have access to direct sources of stock in Japan. These sources could not have been accessed as an "individual" only as an operating business). So yes, direct sourcing where appropriate, and more interesting to people who have not yet discovered "our group".
As for pricing, When you take into account delivery charges, all of the items on our site are priced competitively and we stand by them. Please feel free to compare us and buy from your chosen supplier.
I understand the personal comment on the price of the UZI, this is subjective, (personally I think its a great buy and worth the money, when you compare it against other poorly performing guns available for same amount) also please remember that that price potentially includes 15% VAT for me to pay and 21% corporation tax for me to potentially pay.

Quote :

Will you use them to directly buy and resell in your shop?

If I can help someone to dispose of anything they no longer require at the price they are asking, and they don't mind, of course?, just as I will help them to find anything they do require but cannot source elsewhere.

Anyway, I have been honest! Lets just hope someone who had not heard of modelguns before sees the press adverts, finds the website, is taken by the Uzi, buys it, finds the forum, tells his mates its a good thing, and off we go!!!

Once again, A very big thank you for all the encouraging emails and replies.
best regards to everyone on the forum
John

Id suggest that the Governments VCR act put paid to any ideas of the hobby expanding in the UK chap...


Id say that since Oct 2007 the UK market has shrunk by 80%

and you should also take time to read up on another UK "retailer" that had a go at importing and selling replica guns ( albeit blank ones ) without doing the proper checks / hoop jumping and I do believe he is now at her majesties pleasure .

as well as some of his customers getting that unpleasant early morning knock .......

buying stuff from here in order to retail it and thus depriving the forums members the chance of a cheap deal isnt exactly cricket either.

DOC

Hi Doc,

I know what you mean..Spent the last 4mths working with the police and Home office (including home visits!!) ensuring that I avoid the knock at the door! Proper checks must be done, that way there is no problem, No room for error!!

Smootik said

Quote :

EDIT: above assumption is based on sellers not knowing about that. Of course sellers are absolutely free to do whatever they want with their models

I have always made situation clear, I am honest and clear in any transaction.

I've also been torn between responding here or not, but I think I should now.

A new Retailer has opened up here in the UK, something I didn't think I'd see in a long long time taking our VCRA legislation into account.

This new company will be facing stiff competition from MGCUK here in the UK, Modelguns-Worldwide in France, and of course from Francky and shazhib in Japan.
Personally, I'm looking forwards to seeing how this company gets on, can they be competative What will after sales service be like Will accessories and consumables be readily available
If this Company delivers, then I'll be glad to have them, if they don't deliver, then I'll not be spending my money there. It's that simple really.

If items on the shelves are too expensive, I won't buy them, I'll buy elsewhere. We've all got that choice.

Every single member here has their right to their opinion, and rights to express them, but
please let's not shoot the guy down before he has a chance to get started and please let's not appear to be getting into arguments about this, especially with him directly

As an observation, if you look at Modelguns for sale on dealer's websites, the majority are pre-owned. Some of the more desireable models are up to 40yrs old and have probably passed through a few owners' hands. Business being business, most of those transactions would've made somebody a profit wouldn't they
It wouldn't be the first time I've seen a modelgun sold, only to reappear on this same forum with a higher asking price either

Let's just be grateful that a new dealer's opened up for business, things would be a darn site worse if one of the few left closed.

JohnnyV wrote:

Thank you all very much for the feedback
I was torn between answering / not answering...........
...
I hope coincidence has not made you think that I have purchased many items from the forum
...
If I can help someone to dispose of anything they no longer require at the price they are asking, and they don't mind, of course?

Thank you for taking time and answering here, I do appreciate it.
I hope it will clear any misconceptions I might have.

I commented only on UZI as it's provenance seemed quite clear to me. Apologies if I were wrong assuming this is the one that kickback sold here.

If this UZI were indeed kickback's, then as long as he knew that UZI is going to end as a shop item and agreed on that ("they don't mind") - no problem for me. I guess it would be up to sellers to comment on that. Some sellers say explicitely that they post something at a special price for forum members only, while for example ebay price is higher ("market/commercial" price instead of "for friends"). I always thought that all sales through forum were of this non-commercial type, and that pricing was specifically made significantly lower "for friends". I do not think this is "closed" attitude. Again - it is for sellers to comment on that, I were only a buyer on these forums.

Yes, I were afrad that as a business you might buy out all "cheap" items here from forums and resell them through your shop to other clients. As a private buyer this does seem unfair to me. However you had the courage to identify yourself, and any seller can now decide himself on his policy. Based on that, as long as seller knows that you will resell item and agrees - I do not have a problem with your buying on forums. My concern was about "silent running".

For items imported from Japan there is no question that you need to pay shipping (hopefully you can get better prices as a business for bulk-shipping), import taxes (15% is still a good number, it's ~25% for Poland), and tax on profit you make (I guess this is what UK "corporate tax" that you mentioned is).
However if the UZI you sell is the one from kickback, there is no import tax (item was already in UK), shipping is fairly cheap, and your gain is over 130GBP (assuming you paid 290GBP and resell at 485GBP). This I would call unfair gain, and "help someone dispose" is not a valid argument here for me - UZI was sold in merely 4 hours, not giving other forum members much chance to think of the purchase ;-)

No hard feelings!

Hi Smootik,
thank you for your reply!
There were never any hard feelings , just explaining the way things are
Just for your knowledge the VAT 15% is another UK TAX!! VAT Registered Companies must charge it on VAT liable items sold, Import duty is another tax I pay not mentioned!! registered companies can claim back VAT, but I am not VAT registered yet so cannot at present.

Anyway best wishes
John

JohnnyV wrote:

Just for your knowledge the VAT 15% is another UK TAX!! Companies must charge it on all items sold

Ooops forgot that you need to charge VAT also if you resell an item in that scenario...

Interesting that governements will profit from almost any activity ;-)

Cerwyn..I know what you are saying but :

JohnnyV wrote:

Companies must charge it on all items sold,

In fact its illegal for you to include VAT into your sale price and not give it to the tax man.

you do not have to charge VAT on items sold in the UK if you are under the allowable threshold for the year.

There is a formula for how to achieve a sale price but you canot do it by adding 15% VAT and not declaring it.

I appreciate what you are saying cerwyn but its not fair this poor advice/info goes unchallenged.

DOC

Sending PM as this is not the correct venue for this

DOC wrote:

Cerwyn..I know what you are saying but :

... I appreciate what you are saying cerwyn but its not fair this poor advice/info goes unchallenged.

DOC

No problem and thanks Doc, I'd certainly agree that any poor advice/info given here, whatever the subject, shouldn't go unchallenged and uncorrected.

smootik wrote:

I always thought that all sales through forum were of this non-commercial type, and that pricing was specifically made significantly lower "for friends". I do not think this is "closed" attitude.

Yes, I were afrad that as a business you might buy out all "cheap" items here from forums and resell them through your shop to other clients. As a private buyer this does seem unfair to me.

However if the UZI you sell is the one from kickback, there is no import tax (item was already in UK), shipping is fairly cheap, and your gain is over 130GBP (assuming you paid 290GBP and resell at 485GBP). This I would call unfair gain, and "help someone dispose" is not a valid argument here for me - UZI was sold in merely 4 hours, not giving other forum members much chance to think of the purchase ;-)

No hard feelings!

Exactly what I was trying to say...
If the items are coming from another source (so not this forum), or if the items are for sale for more than a week or so, it's great! I just think forum members who want to have something 'for private use' should have the first chance on this forum.

Fair point well made!
Feedback is everything to me at this stage, this forum is important.
On the rare occasions that a model appeals I will not make any offers on it unless it has been around for a few weeks.
best regards
john

Cerwyn wrote:

As an observation, if you look at Modelguns for sale on dealer's websites, the majority are pre-owned. Some of the more desireable models are up to 40yrs old and have probably passed through a few owners' hands. Business being business, most of those transactions would've made somebody a profit wouldn't they

No problem with profits here. It's just that I always thought most (if not all) "second-hand" were previously owned by people in Japan, not locally. Business making effort of finding used replicas in Japan (even if it is "just" Yahoo Auctions) and importing them is a value-add that I can appreciate.

JohnnyV wrote:

On the rare occasions that a model appeals I will not make any offers on it unless it has been around for a few weeks.

Sounds reasonable for me.

I am not sure if I should post here. I am around here since 2005, but did not have the chance to post a lot lately.

Well, I do not have a problem if someone starts a modelgun business, trying to earn some extra money. Making a living just by selling PFC models in Europe today is just not possible I'd say.

I like it that John is speaking frankly, identifying himself. This is important to establish trust. If his prices and service are good, I may buy from him in the future. If it is all about selling with no other service, I doubt if his business will live long. Of course I wish you all the best and hope you will get along well.

But my feelings are mixed. When I started with modelguns I didn't know anything about them. I got so much advice and help from kind forum members FOR FREE. They helped fixing problems, getting spares and heven helped finding and obtaining rare models. No matter how much I bothered them, they were (and most are still) there. I found some true friends here and our friendship goes far beyond modelguns today. This is it what makes this "strange" hobby so special for me. I was a modelcar collector for many years and finally gave up when almost everyone in the collector's scene tried to make profit, outsmarting other collectors.

Although collecting those odd models is a lonely hobby, it is the people, not the guns that make this hobby so special. At least that's the way it turned out for me.

Nicely put Mike .

I fully agree with all your comments .

Most guys on here will go out of their way to help and assist you .

It is a lonely hobby - very true - unlike airsoft where you have " meets " and " skirmish " etc .

The people on here are what makes our hobby special .

Carl.