Eduard marketing

[StephenLawson]

". . .On a different note I just recieved the new 1136x Albatros v Fokker Dr.I red box special which only included 1 set of photoetch for 2 dr1 kits. The model cost just under $200 including shipping. I checked with Eduard and they said that this is correct and a second etch set +masks would be $17 Imho this is taking the mickey out off its customers by eduard. I was hesitant in buying this kit, but as I have a complete collection of all their 1/48 ww1 kits I had to take the plunge. Any opinions ? Best wishes AM"

[quote]

"Hi Stephen,
I've received my red "special edition" box yesterday. I suppose this is the privilege for having paid the full E.U. price. . . It's a very nice package but I noticed that Eduard only included PE parts for one Albatros and one Fokker kit. Given the price of the limited edition they could have provided the PE parts for the two Dr.I kits. Regards JF"

Yet their website says. ". . .1136X Price: $130.00 USD. . .4 sheets of photo-etch. . . ."

". . .1136 Price: $74.95.00 USD. . .4 sheets of photo-etch. . . ."


And then this.

Hi Stephen,

I'm not sure about that. There are indeed 4 PE sheets in the box:
- Two for the Albatros
- One for the Fokker
- And a VERY small one for the figures

The Standard boxing is advertised with 4 PE as well. I just think Eduard wanted to make easy money with that red box.
Next time I'll be more careful!. . ."

[StephenLawson]

Still another correspondence.

"Hello Stephen Here´s what I got from eduard.

'As M. was writing, there is not any missing PE-set. The second kit of Fokker is like a special bonus. There is not the second PE-sets and mask. We don’t suppose somebody will build both of kits. The modelers usual want built as well as unbuilt kit. The PE-sets for the second kit is not including to the price of this kit too. We advice on our web site there are 4 pcs of PE and 2 masks in the box. And it is all, what is part of this box. I hope you could understand.

With regards
Jana Sulcova,
Eduard Model Accessories


PS: It is possible we will able to produce several PE-sets and mask as special additional set to this limited edition for such modellers, which will be interesting it. The price will be 17 USD (of PE-sets + mask for one kit of Fokker Dr.I) It will be possible to add this item to their next order.'


I have replied to this email from Eduard asking them for some justification or at least explanation and will put it to the forum members for their opinion. I don´t want to do a Ralph Nader on this, it just seems a bit mean on Eduards behalf. . ."

[MerlinV]

Um,... I think I read Eduards response correctly...

We don’t suppose somebody will build both of kits. The modelers usual want built as well as unbuilt kit.

I don't know where they are doing their market research, but if they were to ask this little black duck they would learn that if I buy a special release containing three seperate kits, then I fully expect to be able to build all three with all the available bells and wistles.

IMHO, At the very least, a fret containing perforated gun jackets, Pilot harness and instruments should be included for the second Dr1.

And I wonder why I have not forked out $85 (Australian) for the Bristol Fighter (Crocodile)...

I have passed up the majority of Eduards later releases, with the exception of the camels and the DH2's. And if they don't release the Caproni as they stated they would, then I wll continue to pass them up.

Roden must be rubbing their hands with glee!

Sigh...

Hugh.

[trackpad]

Hi, All,

"We don’t suppose somebody will build both of kits. The modelers usual want built as well as unbuilt kit."

This is nonsense on stilts. Merlin has it right: modellers do not buy kits with the avowed intention of letting them sit on shelves for the rest of their natural lives. Obviously, if they don't think we'll build them, why in God's name offer them?

The whole idea of this offering (I thought) was to build models of the aircraft flown by the brothers von R (using the same "extras" such as PE). I can't think of any reason NOT to build them. And then to be told by the company that I (the modeller) want (to keep) an unbuilt kit...spare me!

Roden, as noted, must be ecstatic!

[RAGIII]

I feel that Eduard has become WAY TOO commercial for me! The advertising may state 4 PE frets, but reasonable expectations would be that the parts to build all of the kits are included! Especially at the price. One Acronym comes to mind,
BOHICA!!
Anyone needing an explaination can PM me
RAGIII

[dak66]

Creating a Collectors item to be traded or sold as complete one day not a kit to be built .
I was seriously going to buy the Red Box edition but as alot of us have said that is alot of money for what you get and then to find out that you only get etch for 1 Fokker triplane seems like BS to me not a bonus.
I will buy the Double set when that comes out or the single for sure I understand business is business but the seems like a Flim Flam to me .
Cheers thanks for the info Stephen.

[MerlinV]

Creating a Collectors item to be traded or sold as complete one day not a kit to be built .

That might be what they think they are doing, but without the rest of the components required to build the kit (Etch), the kit is worthless as a collectors item anyway I would have thought. You can just see the Item on Ebay can't you.
Eduard Fokker DR1. Plastic only. No etch or Decals. Starting Bid, $1.00

And at US$130.00 at the very least they could have plumped for the extra fret of etch... For Eduard to ask buyers of the big red box to hand over another $17.00 for an etch fret that will have cost them all of 50 cents to make is quite unrealistic (and downright Mean) I feel.
Maybe as a gesture of good will, Eduard could send out the missing fret to those customers who purchased the 1136X , or at the very least, offer it at a discount for these customers with no freight charge.
Or am I being unrealistic?

Cheers,

Hugh

[dak66]

"And at US$130.00 at the very least they could have plumped for the extra fret of etch..."

Sure they should it's bad business if you ask me it's not giving the customer a complete product .Cmon Eduard throw the other etch bits and Masks in the box .

[SteveS]

Originally Posted by dak66

"And at US$130.00 at the very least they could have plumped for the extra fret of etch..."

Sure they should it's bad business if you ask me it's not giving the customer a complete product .Cmon Eduard throw the other etch bits and Masks in the box .

What really makes me laugh is that in both variations of the kit, they're including the Albatros that goes for 10 bucks in a weekend kit! Big deal! I've got a stack of them already and enough aftermarket decal sheets to build them at least twice.

Yes, I'll also wait for the combo version....that is if they supply all six wings and not just five.... After all, I buy a combo (or triple kit) to build all included, not just one. Next, will they be telling us they don't need us at all?

Sorry Eduard, but you blew it. My monthly modeling allowance just bought me the 32nd scale Roden, N-28



Salute,
Steve

[Familyman]

This sounds bad! Now Eduard seems to have gone too greedy.

They've released big and fancy Royal, double etc boxes before, but there's always been stuff inside worth the money, I think. Even in the new Der Rote Flieger box. I paid 57 Euros for mine and got the new Dr.I, worth 25 E, I think, and an Albie D.V kit worth 20 E (it is, however, with PEs, coloured PEs and paint masks). That'll leave 4 Euros for the resin geezers and Moritz the Dog per piece, which is reasonable.

"Who needs another Albatros kit?" is fair criticism for the box, but you can't really say, that you are not getting enough stuff for your money, can you?

If the red box, however, is almost twice as expensive as the Rote Flieger box and has to offer only one set of Dr1 plastic parts and a Blue Max replica for the extra money, it is not worth its price, is it?!!

So, let's criticize Eduard heavily! I think they DO listen. Last time there was a big whining when Eduarad announced, that from now on everything will be in orange boxes with PEs and and paint masks and stuff and there will be no more reasonable priced basic kits. And what we got? The Weekend series!

Mikko