MRC Discontinuing handling Hasegawa?

[plheure2]

Hi guys:

At my monthly model club meeting last night, one of the members mentioned that MRC (Model Rectifier, an importer) will no longer be handling the Hasegawa line of models, per Hasegawa. I guess it was announced on the Hasegawa web site. Anyone hear anything to this regard? If this is true, Hasegawa kit prices are going to take another increase. Our poor wallets!!

 

[kgambit]

Right idea but the wrong distributor. Dragon Models USA was the Hasegawa USA distributor NOT MRC.

Here's the announcement:

1/22/2010 US agent for Hasegawa, Dragon USA, will no longer supply Hasegawa to the US after February, no replacement announced.

And more detail:

Dragon Models USA and Hasegawa part ways

Dragon Models USA, the North American distribution and importation arm of plastic model manufacturer Dragon Models Ltd., has announced it will cease importing and distributing Hasegawa models as of February.

Dragon's Alain Yuen said that while Hasegawa's models are top-notch, the company's "marketing strategies" didn't work for the current market and economy. Hasegawa has produced few new kits recently, opting instead to introduce a slew of limited-edition products with variant decals and parts.

An industry source said Hasegawa's current production schedule makes it difficult for distributors to get one batch of products into the pipeline before another wave of repopped kits arrives. The situation leaves the distributor with a tremendous amount of inventory and a reduced hope of monetizing it.

Yuen says Dragon's Cyber Hobby brand will fill the niche left by Hasegawa, with original model kits in aircraft and ship categories. The first of these kits will be a new 1:48 Messerschmitt Bf 110D-3.

Interestingly, Hasegawa has been Dragon's exclusive distributor in Japan. That relationship will be terminated in March 2010, Yuen said. How Hasegawa's departure will shape the Japan-based company's distribution in China is yet to be determined, as Dragon also handled supply in that country.

Hasegawa has been contacted for comment, but thus far has not responded. - Tim Kidwell; Hal Miller contributed to this article http://www.modelretailer.com/mod/default.aspx?c=a&id=1037#J

 

[vikingBerserker]

Very interesting.

 

[Catch22]

Hmm, strange, maybe it's time to start stocking up? I know a local store here has stopped carrying them due to their cost.