blackgates eng

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Terrible business model not using the internet.

Tony

[NR67Participant @nr67]

Have good comms now with Mat at Blackgates. Next month there is a new catalogue apparently and these will be posted out if you ask.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I suppose it depends on what you plan for the business if it is good or not. The owners must be close if not over retirement age and probably want to ease back rather than build the business. They have many items particularly in the way of castings that nobody else does so if you want those you have to buy from blackgates anyway.

They may not be that capable with computers so would have to bring someone in to develop the website, keep on top of stock control and deal with the web shop side of things. Question is will they increase business enough to cover those extra costs and even if they do would the small increase in profit be worth the hassle.

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

As per earlier post , contacted them today and order's on its way . Usual personal superb service as far as I'm concerned .

[David HillParticipant @davidhill34977]

2026 update: I just spoke to Jax (Jackie) on the phone who is very nice.

They are very much in business but looking to retire and sell the business on.

The next owner might choose to update the website, which is an absolute time capsule of a thing. Maybe even add ecommerce …

 

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Ian –

Maybe nort order on-line but you can do so by ‘phone.

 

It might be to save costs. I don’t what providing an on-line shopping facility costs the retailer but I don’t suppose it’s free for them!

[Nigel Graham 2]

On Nigel Graham 2 Said:

Ian –

Maybe nort order on-line but you can do so by ‘phone.

 

It might be to save costs. I don’t what providing an on-line shopping facility costs the retailer but I don’t suppose it’s free for them!

I would have thought that any cost to allow ordering online would be covered by the extra trade, I, for one, will not order from them as trying to see what they have via the PDF catalogue is not very good in my eyes

[paul raynerParticipant @paulrayner36054]

I have been using Blackgates for years. I have always found them very helpful, even though “an old fashioned way of doing business ” I will continue to use them as long as they are trading. They have lots of castings etc, not even listed. For those who don’t like the “old fashioned way” that’s their loss.

 

[paulmichael1084Participant @paulmichael1084gmail-com]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>I’m waiting for the castings for Jason’s metric build  from the last few editions of the mag.</p>
I’ve spoken to them on the phone a few times and I have to say they are a pleasure to talk to. I also emailed back and forth a few times

 

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

For me it’s what they sell that matters, not how they sell it.

I don’t regard the lack of on-line ordering a problem.

I have ordered via the Internet from other retailers, and simply see it as one shop using one system, and another shop, another.

They can be a bit elusive at times but they do reply to messages eventually. I’ve never had any real complaints and have no qualms about using Blackgates in future.

After all, the range of model-engineering stockists seems to be shrinking, not helped by people boasting about  buying everything from US and Chinese box-heavers; and I regard refusing to use one of our own stockists merely for no on-line system as churlish and self-defeating.

Besides, isn’t patience a basic skill in craft hobbies? It used to be.

 

The only hiccup I have had with Blackgates is with an item I ordered back in May. It has still not arrived, but that is NOT Blackgates’ fault. I learnt, to my surprise, that the manufacturer is Polly Model Engineering, who seem more concerned with putting kettles on than making the goods. I gave PME a gently sardonic nudge about this while buying other items from its stall at the Newton Abbot show; but have still not received the parts. Eventually I made my own version. To Blackgates’ credit, it has not charged me for them.

[David HillParticipant @davidhill34977]

I’m sure that online ordering would cost Blackgates lots of money and frustration to set up, and would badly disrupt their existing business processes.

There’s usually a certain amount of back-and-forth required before an order can be fulfilled in this type of business. That is best done by phone and (e)mail, or visiting in person if that’s practical.

They would be less able to control the number of orders on their books if it was opened up to ecommerce. That would probably create an unmanageable backlog and they would struggle to meet demand.

This thread exists because some have found them hard to reach, leading them to wonder if they are still trading at all. My post here was intended to quell those doubts and confirm that they are very much still in business.

I suspect that they may feel better able to control their own workload by phone and email, instead of entering the wild west of ecommerce. That’s perhaps why they are sometimes hard to reach; they’re focused on work in hand rather than always touting for new business. Good on them.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Indeed webshopping does not always work well. I’m sure most know of another supplier that has a name similar to a well know maker of traction engines. They had a site where you could order that set of castings you lusted after. However they did not show on the site if they had any stock so you could end up waiting a long time to get the parts, if they turned up at all.

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

I rang last week to place an order. No answer at first but Jacque rang me back a few minutes later.

my order arrived the next morning, so very happy.

 

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

i rang Jacquie quite late on Wednesday afternoon with a small order , which then arrived yesterday morning.  Excellent service as usual . What’s not to like ? Use it or loose it. No connection with the company .

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