Shite in Miniature II

40,624 · Monday at 10:35

32 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Oh it’s wider than that - they’ve been closing one a month for two years now

Last month was Croydon, Luton previous month, then East Kilbride, Dundee, Birmingham Fort, High Wycombe, Huddersfield, Sutton Coldfield…

There has been a recruitment freeze in force since November

Perhaps they're leaving the big-box experience to Smyths, and pivoting to corner the toy market in convenience locations - I think that's been a big shift for The Entertainer over the past year.

Could be their business model is now focusing on growing sales through the Tesco concessions and online business, rather than operating separate retail stores?

While it's never good to see toy shops shutting, their Belfast store has been selling less and less of the stuff I'm interested in for a while now. Unhelpful opening hours and stale stock means it's hard to justify going out of my way to visit them lately.

40,624 · Monday at 10:40

29 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

If you're feeling particularly bored, there are six Corgi Juniors Buick Regals in the above pic, three of which are fairly unusual colours - can you spot all six?

39,344 · Monday at 10:49

2 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Entertainer is closing branches, and mine is one of them. It's only been open eight years.

I don’t think they help themselves with this closed on Sundays bollocks

31,973 · Monday at 11:29

38 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I don’t think they help themselves with this closed on Sundays bollocks

Yep, nobody does that any more.

Everyone who works in retail knows that working some weekends is part of the job and (should) get the appropriate rest days.

40,624 · Monday at 11:53

They're closed on Good Friday too, so all their standalone stores will be shut at the end of the week - and possibly on Easter Monday as well? Can't be good for business, especially over the school holidays.

I'm not a fan of the massive over commercialisation of everything, but as someone who worked in retail for years too, I'm not sure I would have appreciated forced 'days off' to fit with the owners' religious beliefs.

Of course, if staff are being fully paid for these days when the stores are shut then that's a different matter, but I'm not sure that's the case.

55,903 · Monday at 12:21

It seems both my local charity shops have been given a load of old diecast, the one open Sundays had them in the annoying bags for £1.99, which netted me the Rolls and Rover yesterday. The other one, which is always expensive, want £4.99 for their bags. There is a Max Wax Corgi Beetle in one but most are junk with a smattering of tired Matchbox

55,903 · Monday at 12:30

Monday is usually a bad day to go car hunting, as the shops have been cleared out over the weekend. However Smyths had some goodies, starting with one of the new F&F premiums I missed the other day

Is that an Alfa?

I also found the other Villains casting I wanted

That's an F-Bomb in all but name isn't it?

The Mrs plucked the Track Fleet Porsche off the peg for me

Casting doesn't look as altered as the 240 estate was for this series, just a tow hook on the back

Lastly, a new Color Shifter caught my eye

42,709 · Monday at 12:50

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Of course, if staff are being fully paid for these days when the stores are shut then that's a different matter, but I'm not sure that's the case.

Had a look, they are. Also paid leave on their birthday. Well I never

Monday at 13:13

3 hours ago, flat4alfa said:

Oh it’s wider than that - they’ve been closing one a month for two years now

Last month was Croydon, Luton previous month, then East Kilbride, Dundee, Birmingham Fort, High Wycombe, Huddersfield, Sutton Coldfield…

There has been a recruitment freeze in force since November

Huddersfield is my local branch but is still trading and nothing online that I've seen to say it is. It wouldn't shock me though as our town centre is in its final death throes!

39,344 · Monday at 13:23

32 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Had a look, they are. Also paid leave on their birthday. Well I never

Next you’ll be telling me they get sick pay! 😂

10,775 · Monday at 13:36

3 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Perhaps they're leaving the big-box experience to Smyths, and pivoting to corner the toy market in convenience locations - I think that's been a big shift for The Entertainer over the past year.

Could be their business model is now focusing on growing sales through the Tesco concessions and online business, rather than operating separate retail stores?

While it's never good to see toy shops shutting, their Belfast store has been selling less and less of the stuff I'm interested in for a while now. Unhelpful opening hours and stale stock means it's hard to justify going out of my way to visit them lately.

And yet they've just opened a new store in Milton Keynes shopping centre that can't have come cheap. They closed their original store there quite a while ago but now (as of last October) have what looks like a bigger one in a more prime location. No idea what it's like as I haven't been inside yet.

42,709 · Monday at 14:31

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

Next you’ll be telling me they get sick pay! 😂

It seems not but they do have life cover with Death in service at 4x salary, which is at the extreme end of a type of sick pay

20% staff discount crikey

I might have to reconsider my assessment!

11,388 · Monday at 15:26

5 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

I was thinking... I wonder why very few models are made with an actual 'driver' sat at the wheel?

It would make sense for them to have a driver, but when I was a kid I usually removed the driver when fitted. The examples I can remember are Corgi Elans in the Lotus gift set, although I do still have them as I have the complete box as well and the Corgi Marcos 1800 no idea where he went. Dinky police Transit had a driver and again I removed and lost him. I'm sure some others I owned must have had a driver, but I can't think what at the moment.

55,903 · Monday at 15:54

Spotted a few cheap old Hot Wheels on the UK Diecast Sales FB page the other night

Don't mind a purple 'vette

I definitely don't mind a Range Rover

But the seller also had this, and despite being labelled Dunes Racer, it's our old friend the 4X4 Open Back Truck

31,973 · Monday at 16:39

Up to a point, all early 1/76 Hong Kong bus models had a driver. He was even waving in some of the 'Collector's Model' buses!

55,903 · Monday at 16:57

42,227 · Monday at 17:10

Race cars have drivers.

Taxis sometimes have drivers

Dinky FX4 Cabs have drivers,

even the Jubilee one

5,173 · Monday at 17:38

I’m talking the vast majority of small scale Matchbox, Corgi, Hot Wheels, Majorette etc.

Opening parts such as doors, bonnets, boots, sunroof’s etc. and even objects moulded into the parcel shelf but no driver!

22,306 · Monday at 18:15

On 13/04/2025 at 10:16, ETCHY said:

How fucking much, I assume ?

On 13/04/2025 at 11:01, eddyramrod said:

Perfectly assumed. I honestly thought that acronym had gained enough traction here to be universally recognised.

I have always thought it was Hedge Fund Money

22,306 · Monday at 18:26

Because of YT I came across a Dutch video about a model shop in Rotterdam. It is mainly trains but it does have die-cast/plastic vehicles and model kits.

I never heard of it. My step daughter lives near Rotterdam. Hope I can get to teh shop sometime. Any hows if you are in the Netherlands maybe something to plan in to visit.

https://www.meijerenblessing.nl/artikelen/schaalmodellen

The address is at the bottom of the page.

13,540 · Monday at 20:02

Don't forget this chap:

Although he does appear to have an issue with overly firm suspension and loose steering wheel.

42,709 · Monday at 20:13

Later that week he had piles and never recovered fully

13,540 · Monday at 20:42

Assorted acquisitions from the last week or so, including a long birthday weekend down in Kent/East Sussex:

My selection from the boxed Corgis at a local charity shop (along with purchases for some of you here).

Gift from Miss SL, chosen when we popped into Smyths in Leicester recently. She did at least pay for it herself, so we've moved-on a bit....

The Datsun 510 is particularly nice.

Bits and bobs from the car museum/antiques shop in Rolvenden. Ought to redo the Camry as a replica of the 2.2 Sport I used to have. Just found photos from when we visited there back in 2006, not sure if much has changed. At ome point I'll post photos of the diecast displays.

From Sackville Emporium in Bexhill. A funny little place, and without asking I effectively got the Corolla for free with the Princess.

Smyths in Eastbourne. Shame about the overly large wheels on the van.

11,388 · Monday at 21:19

35 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Assorted acquisitions from the last week or so, including a long birthday weekend down in Kent/East Sussex:

My selection from the boxed Corgis at a local charity shop (along with purchases for some of you here).

Gift from Miss SL, chosen when we popped into Smyths in Leicester recently. She did at least pay for it herself, so we've moved-on a bit....

The Datsun 510 is particularly nice.

Bits and bobs from the car museum/antiques shop in Rolvenden. Ought to redo the Camry as a replica of the 2.2 Sport I used to have. Just found photos from when we visited there back in 2006, not sure if much has changed. At ome point I'll post photos of the diecast displays.

From Sackville Emporium in Bexhill. A funny little place, and without asking I effectively got the Corolla for free with the Princess.

Smyths in Eastbourne. Shame about the overly large wheels on the van.

You could have popped in to see us in Bexhill!

Glad you had a good time in the area and some great finds there too...

42,709 · Monday at 21:43

4 hours ago, Tenmil Socket said:

I’m talking the vast majority of small scale Matchbox, Corgi, Hot Wheels, Majorette etc.

Opening parts such as doors, bonnets, boots, sunroof’s etc. and even objects moulded into the parcel shelf but no driver!

Lone Star 'Tuff Toys' 'Citroen' might fit the bill