Model Railway Forum

Hornby today announced the relaunch of their Scalextric Club - membership of which also includes 10% discount on orders from their website.
Wonder if something similar may be coming to the railway Collectors Club?

Stranger things have happened

I notice the club membership fee across brands equates to the approx price of the ‘free’ model.
Yes I realise you get extras like the magazine and discount, etc but the fee all seems a bit too cut and dried.

I commented some time ago that Hornby had reintroduced the club discount on Scalextric but not railway items. This week I saw that they had also relaunched the club for overseas members so I exchanged emails with the Head of Brand in Margate.

This was her reply:

As you may be aware we stopped discounting our products several years ago now in order to not undercut our retail customers, however at the time the club discount went against that, hence why it was stopped. The strategies and retail customers between the Hornby and Scalextric brands are very different, hence why the discount has not been reintroduced for Hornby. I do appreciate the frustrations though and apologise that we are no longer able to offer this benefit as part of the membership.

Interesting that many of the retailers they do not want to undercut are quite happy themselves to undercut Hornby (assuming they can get the stock).

Next time I am in Margate I intend to ask at the Visitor Centre if membership of the Scalextric Club entitles the holder to discount on all items in the shop (as the old Hornby membership did).

Personally I believe Hornby see the older Hornby buyer as a cash cow to be milked as often as possible.

Although I joined the club for a few years I really didn’t think it was worth the money. I never wanted or kept the free loco and without the discount it was definitely not worth it. I aways considered it more of a kids club. Free little loco and badge.

Agreed, Brian.

With the discount, I would preorder with Hornby, but when they removed it, I was prompted to prorder with retailers.
They had their stock allowances cut this year which lead to cancelled preorders.

Either way the customer gets screwed.

I agree as well Steve.

I have just received an email from Hornby announcing that they are giving 10% Discount to club members on all orders placed before December 31st 2021.

The discount, exclusive for Club Members, will be automatically applied at checkout and can be used multiple times before 31st December.

Sorry, I should have posted this on Steve M's thread - not awake

Mod: Posts merged.

The 10% discount is back......until 31 December.
Only applies to online purchases but it could be an indication of things to come.

Realistically it only matches the discounts that the main retailers give but with the restrictions Hornby had placed on supplies to retailers it may come in useful for pre-orders as Hornby have in the past, honoured the price at the date of ordering rather than the higher price that is often charged at the delivery date.

I may have to revisit some of my previously cancelled pre-orders.

Last time I was at the Hornby Visitor Centre I did see that they also have a discount card for the over 60s just for purchases at the HVC. I know that only suits a few because of location but I may have to look into that. And for anyone in the area, they have announced a pre Christmas open day with a 'small ex-display sale'.

Completed the trip to Margate - joined the Hornby 60+ club which provides 15% discount in the HVC on Mondays and Wednesdays plus free entry to the museum and a free cup of tea - all for £10 per year. First purchase will be a 'Clan' and a decoder which should save around £30

Fish and chips in Ramsgate where the Medway Queen is being restored. One of the Dunkirk little ships which they hope to have finished in time for her centenary in a couple of years.

And, in a link to Hormby, she is on the slip where Hornby had planned to build a new visitor centre a few years ago.