Tornado

Here’s the latest appeal from the A1 Trust - dig deep folks ….. (link to items via link below) …

https://mailchi.mp/a1steam/scwishlist?e=23eef07876


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Amazon shopping for cereal bowls FFS!!! Bet you could get most of that stuff far cheaper elsewhere!

 

Interesting new fundraising strategy which turns its back on their success in funding the building of Tornado and the start of the P2 project.

what next I wonder? Selling 2m pencils to fund Tornado’s never-ending overhaul?

they’ve lost the plot!

 

I'm... staggered.

Really?

 

Really. Dropped into my inbox yesterday.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Just a thought.... isn't it any different from sponsoring a rivet...

 

No it’s a bit odd, when two of the other loco owning groups I’m involved with run short of mundane things they ask the working members to rummage around at home to see what they can donate. What does it matter what colour or shape the cereal bowls are! I’m obviously off their contact list still as I didn’t get that communication but I bet I’m contacted now I’ve cancelled my covenanted contributions

 

I suggest they try Nisbets rather than Amazon. FFS

 

I'm still in two minds about doing the same now I'm a 'pensioner' (albeit one that is still working to some extent). I really would like to see more happening with the P2 but we just don't know how much of an effect David Elliott's untimely passing will have had on so many loco builders and their projects. I just hope his "brain dump" was successful and will enable others to carry on his work.

 

I’ll have to Google that


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

They’re catering suppliers, we use them at work, what the A1 trust have asked for they could get from them for a fraction of the cost.

 

It's convenient to create an "Amazon Wish List" but it's a mistake to believe they're cheaper than everyone else, rather like eBay. In the past I've found car parts are often cheaper from a main dealer than eBay/Amazon.

Plus Amazon's tax affairs are... well, the less said an'all that.

 

Meanwhile back in the workshop, away from such domestic frippery, the overhaul continues ….




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Indeed, but few supporters would be able to order directly from wholesale suppliers.

 

Perhaps better to order some decorated tornado ones to sell and keep a few back,,, those scouring pads are a good idea ; found them good for wiping oil onto the motion - a rag is aborbent and will lift off as much as it leaves behind.

 

Tableware branded "Tornado Support Coach"? I bet you're right, and they could sell a useful amount of that.

 

Looking at their website it seems anyone can order on line.

 

Can I go all contrarian and suggest that it is actually an interesting idea, and probably at least worth the attempt. (After all - if no-one buys anything, they haven't lost much).

On the one hand - yes, if they went to other suppliers, they could probably get those items at a more favourable price. But think of it from the donors' point of view. Vast numbers of people have Amazon accounts and I am sure for many people, buying one click from Amazon is a regular occurrence. So the barrier to entry for a donor is incredibly low - much lower than, say, going to a site like JustGiving, setting up a new account etc just to make a single donation. Plus there is the visceral point (exploited by fundraising schemes of the "sponsor a component type") that you get direct feedback on what exactly your gift was used for: you aren't donating ten pounds that gets lost in the overall budget, but instead some specific item.

Maybe it will work, maybe not. But fair play for trying something a bit different, and with a very low barrier to donating.

Tom

 

Yes, that's my point. As Tom says anyone can order something from Amazon for them very easily, and beyond setting up the list none of their volunteers needs to do anything. If they got their support coach equipment from a catering supplier it would be slightly cheaper on paper, but less convenient for both supporters and volunteers.

It certainly seems like a worthwhile thing to try. It occurs to me that probably in these days most heritage orgs buy a certain amount of stuff from on line retailers like Amazon, and could probably maintain a similar list of non-urgent requirements their supporters could purchase for them.