Every buy anyting from a Hobbytown store?

[bnonut]

I occasionally stop at one in Blacklick Ohio. It has a little bit of each popular scale. I usually buy a car or trucks.

Years ago stopped at the one on the eastside of Columbus and the had a Mantua 2-6-6-2 kit marked down to $40 bucks. The package was sun faded.

Sometimes if you are in a hurry then you might need to pay the higher price at the local hobby shop or Hobbytown.

We have two LHS , Michaels and Hobbylobby. For scenery goods after the local hobbyshop closes the HobbyLobby is the place to go.

Mark

[GearDrivenSteam]

Yeah well, when somebody does me WRONG, I spread the word. I will agree with what’s been said about having different owners though. I’m sure that makes a lot of difference. I think the main Hobbytowns that are the poor stores are probably the company owned ones. Most of the experiences I’ve had with franchised stores owned by individuals has been good, hobby related or not. I do tend to hold a grudge, too. LMAO

Well as much as I hate to say it, it’s looking like Hobbytown has high prices, poor selection and poor service in comparison with other hobby stores. Not all of these responses are bad, but for the most part, they aren’t good. I wonder if this is pretty much indicitive of the way they do business on a large scale. At this point, I’d have to say yes, judging from the responses.

Gee Bob,You sure enough made your point on how bad they are several times…LOL![;)][:P][:o)][swg]

[Anonymous]

I would never again buy an item out of our Hobbytown USA stores in Appleton and Oshkosh because of the owner, I do on occasion by from the Green Bay WI store, who has given me no negative issues, unlike the other owner has at the other stores.

[MAbruce]

After reading everyone’s thoughts I paid the new one in Nashua a visit. He’s only been there for two months so he has all the basic stuff that everyone mentioned in there posts. He had quite a few of the newer Athearn RTR locos and cars at MSRP, a few Athearn BB cars, lots of Model Power built-up structures, a few Atlas structure kits, MRC Tech4 power packs and lots of Woodland Scenics and Lionel stuff.

The owner told me that he can order anything I need out of the Walthers catalog and his selection in general should be expanding within the coming months. I had gone there hoping to pickup a few decoders for my locos but looks like I’ll be getting those online.

I’ll check back with the new store in a few months and see if anything has changed.

Where in Nashua is this store located? There’s a very well stocked LHS on the Nashua/Tyngsboro boarder called Hobby Emporium - so I wonder if they are going to compete.

There is/was a Hobbytown in Burlington MA. Not worth the trip. The store seemed geared to a little bit of every hobby at MSPR all around.

[Cannoli]

The Hobbytown in Nashua is on Amhearst St right near the plaza that has Target, Texas Road House and Marshalls, on the same side as that plaza. The store itself is in a small plaza with a Gold’s Gym and is hard to see if you pass by it quickly.

Hobby Emporium is my primary LHS as they do have a decent selection and the MRR guy, Ian, is always quite helpful. If Hobbytown is going to compete with them, they are going to have to increase the stuff they carry, we’ll see how the next few months work out for them.

Recently a coworker also recomended Maine Trains in Chelmsford, MA, I may check them out as well.

[grayfox1119]

CANNOLI: I have been to Maine Trains in Chelmsford, the owner is an English gentleman, very nice guy, he has a layout (HO) in the store that was featured in the June isse of Craftsman Mag. He had a descent selection and the prices were not bad. There is another new LHS in Townsend, Ma, which is near the NH border, at the junctions of routes 13 and 119. The store is on route 119. Go to this site to check it out and comments by customer from Georgia no less: http://www.lighthousehobbies.com Of course if you don’t mind the drive, you can go to The Brass Caboose ( Hartmanns ) in Intervale ( just north of North Conway on routes 16 & 302. He has quite a nice Museaum there as well as a large store, the biggest that I have seen in all New Enland thus far.

[ben10ben]

There’s a hobby town about a half hour away from me in Lexington that I really don’t visit all that often. The reason is that 5 minutes away from it, there’s a shop about the same size that sells nothing but trains. Although the prices are about the same both places, the other shop has a much better selection and the service is much, much better. The only time I might visit Hobbytown is because their hours a little bit better. Hobbytown is open 7 days a week and stays open until about 7:00 during the week, while the other shop is closed on Sunday and Monday and closes at 5:00 on all the other days.

[MAbruce]

Recently a coworker also recomended Maine Trains in Chelmsford, MA, I may check them out as well.

I’ve been there many times. The owner (Gerry) is a real good guy, and took over ownership of the store two or three years ago. It’s primarily HO, but he’s got a small (and increasing) selection of N-scale. Not near what Ian has at Hobby Emporium, but more than what I have seen at most general hobby stores. I have not been there in a while, so I’m not sure how much bigger the selection is these days - but I think it’s worth a look.

There’s also Ken’s in Sudbury. He’s all N-scale and certainly worth a look. Another nice guy to deal with.

[Anonymous]

I have visited the Hobbytown in Augusta, Ga. Purchased items both times and recieved discounts both times. Owner/operater was helpful and knowledgeable. Phil